Watch Michael Stipe and Jon Bon Jovi perform R.E.M.’s ‘The One I Love’ at Kamala Harris rally

4 November, 2024

Michael Stipe and Jon Bon Jovi

Michael Stipe was joined by Jon Bon Jovi last night (November 3) for a rendition of R.E.M.‘s classic single ‘The One I Love’ at a Democrat rally in Georgia.

The duo performed the track together at a get-out-the-vote Kamala Harris-Tim Walz rally at the Cobb Galleria Centre with Stipe taking lead vocals while Bon Jovi played acoustic guitar on the track. You can view footage below.

Earlier, Stipe also performed ‘Driver 8’ from R.E.M.’s 1985 album ‘Fables Of The Reconstruction and he mocked Donald Trump by chanting: “It’s fun to get out the V-O-T-E, it’s fun to get out the V-O-T-E,” in the style of The Village People’s ‘YMCA’.

The track has become synonymous at Trump’s own rallies, with the former US President often busting moves to the song.

Stipe also urged people to get out and vote adding: “Thank you for being here and thank you all for voting, or getting ready to vote. I want to encourage everyone in Georgia because we know what it means. We’ve been here before. We know what it means when you get every single person in your community, your church, your skate club – whatever the hell it is, get them out, talk to them, get them there to vote.”

The former R.E.M. frontman has heavily campaigned for Harris in the run-up to the presidential election tomorrow (November 5), last month, digging out his band’s deep cut ‘Wendell Gee’, at another rally in Georgia.

The band also shared a new lyric video for their 1986 hit ‘I Believe’, as part of their ‘We Are Hope Despite The Times’ campaign to encourage people to vote last week.

Last month, they also released ‘We Are Hope Despite The Times’, a digital compilation of songs to mark National Voter Registration Day.

Since then, Stipe has publicly endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on multiple occasions. He recently performed at a campaign concert for Harris, and spoke to Doug Emhoff – Harris’ husband and a former entertainment lawyer – about his support for her alongside Jason Isbell.

R.E.M. have always been vocal about the importance of participating in elections. Back in 2016, Stipe and Mike Mills spoke of their fear of Donald Trump’s presidency during a Q&S session at the London Borderline and added that they hoped that his election would “galvanise” disillusioned American voters.

In 2019, the group reacted to Trump’s use of their song ‘Everybody Hurts’ in a meme which positioned his State of the Union address against down-cast-looking politicians including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.

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