The topic of campaign theme song is a vital one. Music’s power to convey a message and further a platform isn’t to be underestimated. Understanding the weightiness of this most essential campaign decision, Hillary Clinton embraced the democratic process by asking her supporters to vote for her stump song online. And when results were tabulated, she upheld them! For awhile! Until she stopped! And now it’s so long Celine’s “You And I,” hello Big Head Todd’s “Blue Sky.” Better BHT than Heather Schimd, but what happened to respecting the people’s choice? What ever happened to democracy, man? Hill’s been silent on the topic but, and you didn’t hear this from us, Celine is Canadian. Just sayin’.

Anyway, some notable campaign songs from elections past:

1972: George McGovern: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Paul Simon)
1976: Jimmy Carter: “Ode To The Georgia Farmer” (K.E. and Julia Marsh)
1976: Gerald Ford: “I’m Feeling Good About America” (Robert K. Gardner)
1980: Ronald Reagan: “California Here We Come”
1984: Ronald Reagan: “Born In The U.S.A.” (Bruce Springsteen)
1988: George H. W. Bush: “This Land Is Your Land” (Woody Guthrie)
1988: Michael Dukakis: “Coming to America” (Neil Diamond)
1992: Bill Clinton: “Don’t Stop” (Fleetwood Mac)
1992: Ross Perot: “Crazy” (Patsy Cline)
1996: Bob Dole: “Soul Man” (Sam and Dave)
2000: George W. Bush: “I Won’t Back Down” (Tom Petty)
2000: Al Gore: “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” (Bachman-Turner Overdrive)
2004: George W. Bush: “Only in America” (Brooks & Dunn)
2004: John Kerry: “No Surrender” (Bruce Springsteen)
2008: Hillary Clinton: “You And I” (Celine Dion), “Blue Sky” (Big Head Todd And The Monsters)

And footnotes to the list, remember Springsteen and Petty asked Regan and Bush to stop using their tunes. As for this year, staying on the Democratic side of things, apparently Barack’s chosen Chicago rap duo Kidz In The Hall‘s “Work To Do” as his campaign song. And, one hopes, the Kids In The Hall as his campaign comedy sketch troupe.

Anybody know what songs the Republican frontrunners are using? Huckabee should try this. How about Tay Zonday on “Chocolate McCain”? Also for gift-giving season, here‘s a compilation of presidential campaign songs (greatest hits!). Bet Sufjan does a killer “Tippecanoe And Tyler Too.”