Pete Buttigieg, South Bend, Indiana Mayor: “High Hopes” by Panic! At the Disco
December 15, 2019
Contributed
Eight arm pumps to each corner. Eight wrist rolls to each corner. Eight claps to each corner. Finally, jump up and down while waving arms from side to side in the air.
This is not a workout routine. This is the dance created by supporters of Buttigieg, a choreographed bop which has since gone viral. The dance is easy to learn and perform, so it caught on among Buttigieg supporters and captures ideals of youth and energy.
#HighHopes for #TeamPete could this team be any more incredible?! @PeteForAmerica pic.twitter.com/60XUluKnfS
— Meg Hovious (@mrhovious) September 21, 2019
Some call the dance cringey — the hosts of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update joked that it was part of the method Buttigieg was using to garner a “negative percentage of the black vote.”
“Any sort of in-crowd thing can be repellent to people who are not in the in-crowd,” Swiatlowski said. “…I would think your opinion of Buttigieg as a candidate would certainly influence whether or not you found that dance to be corny or unifying.”
At age 37, Buttigieg is the youngest candidate in the field. Using this to his advantage, Buttigieg uses a very high-energy walk-on song by Panic! At the Disco, an American pop rock band from 2004 that tends to have a younger following.
The message of “High Hopes” appeals to young Iowans who are trying to accomplish goals, find a level of security and contentment, and find their political voices in a confusing and complicated political climate. The song advocates for working and prevailing despite adversity.
Swiatlowski said the message about hope also echoes values from the Obama campaign, which makes sense as Buttigieg markets himself as a new version of Obama.
“High Hopes” does have a downside because it acknowledges Buttigieg’s inexperience. Unlike many of his other candidates, Buttigieg has never worked in national politics. His youth is a double-edged sword, and his music choice shows this well.
Buttigieg is in third place with 18% of likely voters.