With help from Five Thirty Eight and Gawker, we pulled together a list of songs that presidential candidates have been requested to stop rocking to while promoting their message since 1984.
John Mellencamp remains the top musician for Republican contenders: He's stopped his song "Pink Houses" from being used by three separate candidates. Senator John McCain was the most unlucky in his song choices: nine tunes were vetoed by the musicians for use. Only twice have Democratic candidates been told not to use specific songs. To date, Donald Trump has been asked to stop using four songs from his 2016 presidential campaign.
1984 election
"Born in the U.S.A" - Bruce Springsteen, used by Ronald Reagan
"Pink Houses" - John Cougar Mellencamp, used by Ronald Reagan
1988 election
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" - Bobby McFerrin, used by George H. W. Bush
1996 election
"Soul Man" - Sam & Dave, used by Bob Dole with the changed lyrics "You're a Dole Man"
"Born in the U.S.A.," -Springsteen is back, this time used by Bob Dole
2000 election
"Pink Houses" - now John Mellencamp,this time by George W. Bush
"Rock in the U.S.A."- John Mellencamp, granting no song to George W. Bush
"I Won't Back Down" - Tom Petty, used by George W. Bush
"Brand New Day" - Sting, used by George W. Bush and Al Gore — neither candidate won Sting's approval
2004 election
"Still the One"- Orleans, used by George W. Bush
2008 election
"More Than a Feeling" - Boston, used by Mike Huckabee
"Right Now" - Van Halen, used by John McCain
"Our Country" - John Mellencamp, used by John McCain
"Pink Houses" - John Mellencamp, used by John McCain — third time was not a charm
"Barracuda" - Heart, used by John McCain
"Running On Empty" - Jackson Browne, used by John McCain
"Who Says You Can't Go Home" - Bon Jovi, used by John McCain
"My Hero" - Foo Fighters, used by John McCain
"I Won't Back Down" - Tom Petty, used by John McCain
"Take a Chance on Me" - ABBA, used by John McCain
"Hold On, I'm Coming" - Sam & Dave, used by Barack Obama
2012 election
"Eve of the Tiger" - Survivor, used by Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney
"How You Like Me Now" - The Heavy, used by Newt Gingrich
"We're Not Gonna Take It" - Twisted Sister, used by Mitt Romney
"Panic Switch" - Silversun Pickups, used by Mitt Romney
"Wavin' Flag" - K'Naan, used by Mitt Romney
"American Girl" - Tom Petty, used by Michele Bachmann
"Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina and the Waves, used by Michele Bachmann
2016 election
"You're the One" - The Karate Kid, used by Donald Trump
"I'm Shipping Up to Boston" - The Dorpkick Murphys, used by Scott Walker
"Dream On" - Aerosmith, used by Donald Trump
"It's the End of the World as We Know It" - R.E.M., used by Donald Trump
"Hello" - Adele, a parody of which was used by Mike Huckabee
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele, used by Donald Trump
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