For decades, politicians of all stripes have wielded the sounds and aesthetics of popular musicians to connect with voters.

There was Bill Clinton and his use of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” to convey his campaign’s focus on the nation’s future. President Trump danced to the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” at his campaign rallies. Kamala Harris made Beyoncé’s “Freedom” the anthem to her presidential campaign, writing in a social media post that “freedom is what we are fighting for.”

And in New York City, Bill de Blasio embraced Lorde’s “Royals” to signal his intent to restore City Hall to a by-the-people, for-the-people form of governing after being elected mayor in 2013 to replace the billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg.

The trend continues in full force for the 2025 mayoral election in New York, where the leading candidates — Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Mayor Eric Adams, who are Democrats, and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa — all have distinct sounds to their campaigns, including pop hits, E.D.M. and rap.

“With music, the politician can tap into the emotional register of the voter,” said Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, a professor of music at Georgia College and State University.

Sometimes, a politician’s choice of a song can spark the ire of the artist, who doesn’t want to be associated with their views. Beyoncé, Rihanna, the Rolling Stones, Celine Dion and many others have opposed President Trump’s use of their music.