Taylor Swift Tosses Her Voice in The Ring in New Campaign Ad

Taylor Swift’s ‘Only The Young’ Finally Fulfills Its True Purpose As a Campaign Anthem. 

On Friday, Oct. 30, Rep. Eric Swalwell tweeted a new Biden/Harris 2020 political ad featuring Taylor Swift’s, “Only the Young.”

Released earlier this year along with her Miss Americana Netflix documentary, the activist anthem had yet to be tapped for any actual activist purposes. This is the first time the song has underscored a political ad, and the first time Swift herself has lent one of her own songs to a political movement.

According to Swalwell, his campaign reached out to Swift just last week asking for permission to use the song which he told CNN feels to him like, “an anthem for 2020 and a call to action for the youth vote,” he also revealed that Swift was kind enough to allow him to use the song entirely for free!

The ad itself encourages voter turnout, focusing specifically on young people. Opening with a quote from vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, “Why are so many powerful people trying to make it so difficult for us to vote?”

The ad then launches into a powerful collaboration between the visuals and Swift’s lyrics. Timing her lyric, “the big bad man,” with a visual of President Trump pulling his mask off while still Covid-positive in front of the White House, and, “they’re too busy helping themselves,” with footage of Amy Coney Barret’s confirmation hearing and several incidents of Police Brutality caught on camera from this summer.

The effect is absolutely chilling. Check out the video below!

The ad has drawn tons of attention with comments flooding in on twitter from young and old voters alike.

And Taylor Swift fans had some feelings, of course!

Imagine jumping up and down to Only The Young by Taylor Swift on Nov. 4 and not bawling crying to it. Manifesting.

— Erica ❤️❤️ NOLA (@EKSwiftie) October 26, 2020

About the Author

Danica Creahan

Danica Creahan is a student of Journalism at Loyola Marymount University with a passion for story-telling and rewatching 90’s TV shows.