John Fogerty Joins TikTok To Shoot Down Trump’s “Fortunate Son” Usage & Support Biden 2020
![](https://static.stereogum.com/uploads/2020/10/John-Fogerty-1603976941.jpg)
TikTok may be a young person’s game, but the app has done a lot to revive interest in some older songs — in Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” for instance, or in Matthew Wilder’s “Hold Me Down.” These days, more and more legends are joining the app, and one of them is taking the opportunity to respond to a political situation in real time. John Fogerty is now a TikToker, and his first post is a clear response to Trump-campaign fuckery.
Fogerty formed his old band Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1968, after serving as an army reservist. In 1969, Creedence wrote “Fortunate Son,” an angry and anthemic anti-war anthem that has since gone on to score virtually every Vietnam movie. (The song just got a music video two years ago.) Recently, Trump has been playing “Fortunate Son” at rallies, defying cease-and-desist orders from Fogerty. Trump’s song choice is ironic in the stupidest way possible. So Fogerty has responded via TikTok.
In Fogerty’s first-ever TikTok post, his granddaughter introduces him: “Today, with school being online, I thought I would give a little history lesson. My grandpa wrote a song called ‘Fortunate Son.’ He was a veteran. It was about himself and others who were forced to fight a war they didn’t support, yet around him were others of privilege and upper class who didn’t have to. My generation can’t let this happen again. Hit it, grandpa!” The camera then pans over to Fogerty, who launches into a blistering solo-electric take on “Fortunate Son.” It’s extremely cute! And also pretty righteous! The video doesn’t mention Trump or Joe Biden by name, but Fogerty posted it with the #biden2020 hashtag, so we know where he stands. Check it out below.
♬ original sound – John Fogerty
Make some room in the Hype House for grandpa.