Usually, this is the part of the television coverage of the convention that sends even the most avid political junkies running to the fridge for a snack break. The roll calls, in which each state calls out the number of its delegates voting for a particular candidate, are largely a pro forma, ceremonial procedure, a bit like the Price Waterhouse segment at the Oscars, only maybe a little more boring.
Not this time.
At yesterday’s DNC, Democrats turned their roll calls into a wild, boisterous dance party, with virtuoso DJ Cassidy spinning special songs for each state. Arkansas got Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop,” California got selections from Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and Kendrick Lamar, Montana got Lenny Kravitz’s cover of “American Woman.” And so on, and the whole thing lasted just over 75 euphoric minutes.
“I got a call from Ricky Kirshner, the producer of the DNC, and he said, ‘How would you like to be the first musical maestro of a convention call sheet?'” DJ Cassidy – real name Cassidy Podell – explains how he got the job. “To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what it was.”
Podell is no newcomer to politics, having helped with the musical programming of the 2012 Democratic National Convention and Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, and performed at the White House for Barack Obama’s 50th birthday.th birthday. Less political, but just as zeitgeist-shaking, he DJed at the wedding of Jay-Z and Beyoncé in 2008.
But nothing the 43-year-old DJ with the straw hat has achieved in the past – including his popular BET show, Pass the microphone (which he also turned into a live show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas) – has never been louder than his DNC performance on Tuesday night. The roll calls were broadcast on CNN and MSNBC (who knows Fox) with virtually no interruptions by pundits and were featured prominently in the convention highlights on cable TV the following day, which is all the more remarkable considering that the film also featured stirring speeches by Obama and his wife Michelle.
Lenka Ulrichova
Even former RNC chairman and current MSNBC anchor Michael Steele — who, it turns out, was a DJ himself during his college days — couldn’t help but rave about Podell’s skills when the DJ appeared on Jen Psaki’s show for a quick interview right after the convention. “Just the artistry,” Steele gushed. “This brother worked hard to put this together… Respect to everybody.”
“I really didn’t expect it to be such a big hit,” says Podell. “But afterward, I stayed up all night reading tweets and Facebook comments. So many people wrote how the music moved them to tears. It wasn’t just music that created hype; it was music full of emotion. That’s what I strive for, but I never thought it would strike such an emotional chord.”
Putting the set together was a superhuman effort, especially since he only had about three weeks to work on it—Kirshner had approached him directly after Biden withdrew and Kamala Harris took his place as candidate. Plus, Podell, who normally works alone, had a ton of collaborators on this playlist, not just the DNC producers but all of the states and territories involved in the roll call. They all wanted a say in which song would represent their hometown.
“Some were pretty easy,” says Podell. “Like ‘Empire State of Mind,’ right? But some states were more interesting. The first suggestions I sent to Florida, for example – Pittbutt, DJ Khaled, Flo Rida – ended up not being what we decided on. We settled on ‘I Won’t Back Down’ by Tom Petty, which turned out to be some kind of state anthem that I didn’t know. But I was glad to pivot because the title of the song says it all.”
What Podell did at the United Center in Chicago will likely change American presidential politics forever. “You’ve changed the way party conventions will do this in the future,” Steele assured him. But come to think of it, last night’s dance party could have ramifications here in Hollywood, too. One can’t help but wonder if perhaps certain high-ranking officials at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences might want to call up a certain DJ. Perhaps to discuss that Price Waterhouse post.
And if so, what would Podell tell them?
“I would suggest we talk in private,” he says. “Perhaps the morning after the next Oscar ceremony.”
