American Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is asking YouTube viewers to pick her campaign theme song.
The politically lightweight tunes come from artists including U2, Celine Dion and Shania Twain. The list has been narrowed to ten, including five tunes suggested by voters.The contest reflects the growing importance of the internet in political campaigns, particularly in the targeting of the youth demographic. In a carefully calculated address to her audience, Clinton says to camera, "I want to know what you're thinking on one of the most important questions of this campaign. It's something we've been struggling with, debating, agonising over for months. So now I'm turning to you, the American people."
Or course, the exercise has been subjected to scrutiny and criticism, with Syracuse University professor of television and popular culture Robert Thompson telling Associated Press, "I'd rather have a candidate ask me what I think about major issues. The way it's being used is: Let's have you guys come and tell me what's the best way to package myself to sell myself to you."
The campaign-suggested songs are:
'Suddenly I See' by KT Tunstall
'Rock This Country' by Shania Twain
'Beautiful Day' by U2
'Get Ready' by The Temptations
'I'm a Believer' by Smash Mouth
The voter-suggested songs are:
'Are You Gonna Go My Way' by Lenny Kravitz
'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now' by McFadden & Whitehead
'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' by The Police
'You and I' by Celine Dion
'The Best' by Tina Turner
