The 2024 Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago with a frenzy that left one of America's most beloved singer-songwriters, James Taylor, completely snubbed. Scheduled to perform between Dr. Jill Biden's speech and Ashley Biden's introduction of her father, President Joe Biden, Taylor never got his moment as the event dragged on, overrun by the self-congratulatory antics of politicians who couldn’t seem to share the stage.
Despite having performances from Mickey Guyton and Jason Isbell, the first night of the DNC was marked by inflated egos and an obliviousness to timing that threw the whole schedule off track. Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and other speakers basked in extended rounds of applause, seemingly unaware (or uninterested) that their overblown rhetoric and endless self-praise were cutting into the evening's entertainment.
The decision to skip Taylor’s performance only underscored the tone-deafness of the event, which prioritized political grandstanding. Instead, the DNC opted to keep the focus on the self-indulgent politicians on stage rather than on Taylor’s timeless music, proving once again that their priorities are out of tune with what people actually want to see.
LJ Fino of First Class Records pointed out the cringe-inducing nature of the event in a post on X: "Joe Biden lied again to the American electorate. He just claimed that there are fewer border crossings today than when Donald Trump left office. FACT CHECK: In 2022, 2.27 million border crossings took place; the most ever recorded in a single year."
As much as the Democrats pride themselves on embracing the arts, this was a moment where their lack of awareness—coupled with their insatiable appetite for applause—showed just how disconnected they’ve become.
