Neil Young rocks with Tim Walz.

The well-known singer-songwriter has personally approved the use of his song “Rockin’ in the Free World” by the vice presidential candidate in the election campaign, a spokesman for Young confirmed to Weekly entertainmentThe song rang out loudly as Walz left the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night.

The title comes from Young’s 1989 album Freedomhas been a political point of contention in previous presidential campaigns. When Donald Trump officially announced his campaign in 2015, he used “Rockin’” as his walkout song – prompting Young’s team to issue a statement claiming that the apprentice Star did not have permission to use the song.

Young, who had supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election but was unable to vote because of his Canadian citizenship, later reversed his position. “The fact that I said I was for Bernie Sanders and then (Trump) didn’t ask me to use ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ doesn’t mean he can’t use it,” he told Reuters, noting that the campaign had in fact obtained a license to use the song. “I have nothing against him. You know, once the music is released, anyone can use it for anything.”

However, the musician changed his mind again after Trump played “Rockin'” and other Young songs during his 2020 campaign. Young initially disapproved of the then-president’s use of “Rockin'” and “Like a Hurricane” at an Independence Day event at Mount Rushmore, writing on social media, “This is NOT OK with me.”

Young then filed a lawsuit against the Trump campaign for playing “Rockin'” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He claimed copyright infringement and noted in his lawsuit that he “cannot in good conscience allow his music to be used as the ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate,” Young said. The New York TimesYoung withdrew the lawsuit in December 2020 after Trump lost the election.

Young also used his discography as a bargaining chip during a dispute with Spotify, eventually pulling his catalog from the streaming service in protest over his support of controversial podcaster Joe Rogan in 2022.

Walz’s social media history suggests he’s an avid listener of ’70s and ’80s rock, with posts that boast about vinyl hauls from artists such as Genesis, Warren Zevon, Steve Winwood and the Moody Blues, as well as John Cougar-Mellencamp and Bob Seger.

He also still listens to 8-track tapes of the Cars, and as governor of Minnesota he signed laws and proclamations declaring statewide honors for musicians like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and Prince. And after Walz’s selection as Kamala Harris’ running mate, Beto O’Rourke recalled having extensive conversations with the governor about Bob Dylan, the Replacements and Hüsker Dü.

Pop music was a defining aspect of the 2024 DNC. DJ Cassidy played a series of state-specific songs during Tuesday night’s boisterous roll calls, which also featured an appearance by Lil Jon. Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Sheila E, Common, Maren Morris, Patti LaBelle, Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton also provided musical performances during the first three nights of the convention.