It’s been a minute since the last Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held in Chicago—in 1996, when Bill Clinton and Al Gore were on the winning list. But to illustrate the passage of time from a pop culture perspective, it’s been so long… since attendees performed the Macarena together.

If imagining the ’90s seems like another time, footage of that year’s convention — which was held at Chicago’s United Center and will return there in 2024 when Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz officially accept the nomination — seems otherworldly, as an arena full of delegates sang and danced to the song, butt-jiggling at the end and all.

It’s hard to watch the C-SPAN footage and not hit rewind when then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, wearing a pink suit and bob, cheered them on and wisely did not participate herself. (When she ran for president herself in 2016, the clip resurfaced. She made sure it went viral again in 2020.)

Different dance skills were on display, which made the whole thing even more entertaining. Honestly, give the attendees an E for their efforts. If this happened today during a break between convention speakers, we’d assume everyone would be too busy looking at their phones to notice.

“Macarena” mania at the 1996 DNC

“Macarena” by Spanish pop duo Los del Río was originally released in 1993. Inspired by the movements of a flamenco dancer, Antonio Romero came up with the idea during a studio session and recorded the song with his partner Rafael Ruiz.

While the song enjoyed modest success, an August 3, 1996 remix by Miami-based producers Bayside Boys fared differently. The newer version featured a dance beat and cheeky English lyrics about the hip-swinging woman named Macarena – “They all want me, they can’t have me/So they all come and dance next to me… And if you’re good, I’ll take you home” – and it shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 14 weeks.

This was supported by the music video, choreographed by Mia Frye, which was essentially a dance tutorial with a couple of women in booty shorts going through the moves step by step.

Just three weeks after the remix was released, the DNC took place on August 26-29, and the song was already a catchy tune that had people feeling the moves. The Macarena became a “nightly ritual.” in Chicago, according to reporting by the New York Times.

When Gore spoke at the convention, he used the song as a punchline. He joked that he would do his version of the viral dance and then stood there like a statue, harping on his reputation for being stiff.

The New York Times described the scene of dancing delegates as a “virtual music video” and said it “signaled the vitality, ethnic diversity (the lyrics are in English and Spanish) and relative looseness of the Democrats” after the Republican National Convention two weeks earlier, at which Bob Dole — who, at 73, was 23 years older than incumbent Bill Clinton — accepted his party’s nomination. However, the New York Times reported that “Macarena” was also played at the RNC, where it did not have the same impact — or inspire a dance marathon.

At the 1996 Democratic National Convention, the Macarena was not always the order of the day. The Democratic National Convention also featured Aretha Franklin, Emmylou Harris and the cast of the Broadway show The Rentwhich the New York Times compared to a “variety show” with “overly symbolic star appearances.”

It’s important to note that while “Macarena” played a role at the DNC, it was never an official campaign song. Bill Clinton used Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 song “Don’t Stop” beginning in 1992. (The group reunited for Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.)

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak – founder of Trax on the Trail, a website and database that tracks music in the U.S. presidential campaign – told the Kansas City Star that politicians use music to “rouse the crowd and create a transition between speakers.” Over time, the type of music played has changed from American standards to pop. Gorzelany-Mostak pointed out that Bill Clinton paved the way for this with “Don’t Stop.”

What will be the soundtrack to this year’s DNC?

Anyone tuning in this year will hear Beyoncé’s 2016 anthem “Freedom,” Harris’ official campaign song. Harris made a surprise appearance on the first night in Chicago and was greeted onstage with the song. If not a recorded version played by the DNC’s DJ, who helps spice up the convention, then perhaps a surprise live performance, as many hope.

Equally widely discussed – and also entirely speculative – is that Taylor Swift is planning a surprise performance and promotional campaign. Swift is currently on tour and will finish her six-date run at Wembley Stadium in London on August 20th. She will not be touring again until October 18th.

Mickey Guyton and Jason Isbell performed on August 18. The theme was “For the People,” and President Biden delivered a speech to the convention at the event. (James Taylor was pushed out due to time constraints.)

Although all the performances have not been announced, there will be plenty of music in Chicago this week. At the parties surrounding the convention (there are over 100 events), John Legend, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Drive-By-Truckers, SistaStrings and Lil Jon will perform at events.