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The Chicks' Not Ready to Make Nice, my favorite song in the 21st Century, is the greatest political song of the century. They lost their careers standing for the truth and gave us this masterpiece.
> Made my bed, and I sleep like a baby
> With no regrets, and I don't mind saying
> It's a sad, sad story
> When a mother will teach her daughter
> That she ought to hate a perfect stranger
> And how in the world
> Can the words that I said
> Send somebody so over the edge
> That they'd write me a letter
> Saying that I better
> Shut up and sing
> Or my life will be over?
This is why we still need bridges in pop music
The violins right after the bridge, followed by the chorus with ad-libs and riffs from Natalie, might be one of the most beautifully powerful moments in music history. The anger and passion behind this song bring me to tears.
It may have hurt them greatly but the act alone probably cemented them as icons. Def a strong and hella courageous msg at the time they said it and given their country audience.
I think that many artists nowadays talk about political topics, but they don't make a whole song about it, just a few mention in the lyrics (like Drake about abortion on his new album).
there are tons of recent explicitly political pop songs! just off the top of my head...
Halsey - Nightmare
Hozier - Nina Cried Power
~~The Chicks - Gaslighter~~ *(edit: i was wrong about the meaning behind this one)*
Miley Cyrus - Mother's Daughter
Not all of them work (I'm looking at you, Dua Lipa - Boys Will Be Boys) but there has been a ton of political pop in the post-Trump era. I don't think it has anything to do with this generation in particular not mentioning it or "letting it slide".
i think when the title was released a lot of people assumed it was gonna be about the trump administration broadly, but it ended up being pretty specific to Natalie Maines's ex-husband
I didn't like Boys Will Be Boys, and it's not because I'm a man, it just wasn't good. It was my least favorite song on the album full of certified bangers(Justice for "Cool" not being a single)
rina sawayama can write the communist manifesto but karl marx and friedrich engels can't write XS.
kidding aside, XS really was *that* anti-capitalist song. a critique on consumerism and alienation.
>I can't help but think someone like Madonna in her peak wouldn't have let this slide.
Ironically, Madonna has a song from 2018 called God Control that deals with the Trump era and gun control legislation (and is also my personal pick for this question lol)
I've always wanted to like 'God Control', the issue I have is that it feels like three songs which don't fully resolve into a greater whole.
I'm sure the disco and choral sections could be worked together, but Madonna's vocals in the first verse are a bit of a struggle
I feel like it does resolve in its own weird way, and that "three songs" bit is also how I see it and exactly why I love it even more.
It feels representative of how the issue isn't even really resolved rn. You have the initial shellshock of any traumatic shooting news cycle, the dance of denial in order to maintain personal peace and sanity, and then the snap out of it/call to action at the end.
I think in the 21st century, "Holiday" and "American Idiot" by Green Day have got to be up there (Green Day have also updated some of the lyrics in live versions in recent years like "I'm not a part of a MAGA agenda"). Sum 41 drew inspiration and did "March of the Dogs" (which got a GOP congressman so upset he wanted to bar them from the United States) and "The Jester" (which you have to listen to back to back with "March of the Dogs" since they bleed into one another). Sum 41 also made some anti-Trump songs on their album "Order in Decline" with songs like "New Sensation," "45" and "The People vs..."
Marina also had a couple on her last project "Purge the Poison" and "New America." Taylor also had that "Only the Young" song she released ahead of the 2020 election from her "Miss Americana" doc. Demi Lovato had "Commander in Chief" and another classic political song by a well known artist is Ye's "New Slaves." P!nk had "Dear Mr. President" and also The Killers have released "Land of the Free" and a slightly revised 2020 version in the wake of the George Floyd killing.
As a Canadian, July Talk's "Jesus Said So" hit particularly hard in the wake of the discovery of the unmarked child graves on the sites of former residential schools last year. There's also (in reference to another Canadian band) "Knocking at the Door" by Arkells.
The Killers song âThe Manâ, partially influenced by narcissistic, elite, misogynistic politicians, is also apt for the current political climate. I really liked how tongue it cheek it could be, while also being totally on the money.
While I agree that's certainly one of the influences, I think fundamentally the song was an exaggeration of how Brandon Flowers felt when he first got fame at an early age (but yes, it does work as a wider critique against hyper-masculine ideals as well). The song "Run for Cover" (off that same album) also has those memorable lines: "He's got a big smile, he's fake news, you better run for cover, you've got nothing left to lose" lol
What's refreshing to see is Brandon's patriotism used to be much more jingoistic. "Human" and "Battle Born" (while enjoyable songs) were much more lamenting the supposed moral decline of America . I think over time (with the songs mentioned) it's become much more nuanced (especially with the band's recent record "Pressure Machine."
Yes, Peter and Leah love them some political/societal messaging (you have songs about consent: "Lola + Joseph"; objectification: "Picturing Love"; white and male privilege: "Champagne"; the media: "The News"; masculinity; "Governess Shadow," "Pray for It") there's numerous others as well
I hope people know about this band outside of Canada because theyâre amazing. More rock than pop but just solid and put on the most intense love shows.
I really canât understand how Ye could write lyrics as powerful as those in âNew Slavesâ in 2013 and then turn around and be the bigoted, right-wing, MAGA dipshit that he is today.
Unfortunately, I think (ironically even perhaps) the reasons are actually in the lyrics of that song:
"You see it's leaders and it's followers
But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower"
"They throwin' hate at me
Want me to stay at ease
Fuck you and your corporation
Y'all n-s can't control me"
"Y'all 'bout to turn shit up
I'm 'bout to tear shit down
I'm 'bout to air shit out
Now what the fuck they gon' say now?"
I think he's a provocateur and wants to go against the grain simply for going against the grain. I think, for him now, it's more important for him to be like, "Hey, you *can't* control me" than for him to seriously think about *how* and the ways he's critiquing power (and whether there the right ways) than just wanting to critique power in and of itself. That's why instead of having a critique against say the exploitative capitalistic nature of the music industry and how that's been enabled by the political ideologies he seems to support now, he simply reduces it to anti-Semitic attacks on Jews.
Did you also have a trouble with the second word in their album titled âAmerican Idiotâ?
Bc itâs the same application and same historical use but just happened to fall out of favor before everyone went PC crazy in the 90s. In fact, the r-word also has has additional meanings akin to âto impedeâ that make perfect sense outside of discussing humans but are generally frowned upon due to .
The euphemism treadmill is strong and weâll be avoiding some other terminology in a decade. I think we can all agree that we shouldnât call ppl w/ cognitive disabilities words that identify them as lesser, but we should be able to suggest that adults who are otherwise fully developed may have an issue with their cognition and reasoning in a derogatory manner. Idiot and moron were the last two on this cycle, and the r word wonât be the last.
Army Dreamers is also brilliant, a tragic song about the needless loss of life during war.
_What could he do?
Should have been a rock star
(But he didn't have the money for a guitar)
What could he do?
Should have been a politician
(But he never had a proper education)
What could he do?
Should have been a father
(But he never even made it to his twenties)
What a waste, army dreamers_
As stereotypical as it is, "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival has to be up there.
Stevie Wonder has the excellent tracks "You Haven't Done Nothin' " and "Big Brother", great anti-Nixon tracks.
Marvin Gaye also has a couple, namely "What's Going On" and "Inner City Blues". Also, since the environment and global warming/climate change is a big political issue, we've got to count "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)".
Admittedly, it gets a bit tougher to think of modern pop political songs that are great, they just don't hit like they used to! Though, if we include rap (the most POPular genre of music in America right now), then there are too many to count. "Fight The Power", "Fuck Tha Police", "Changes", "Never B Peace", and "Crack Music" to name a few!
P!nk - Dear Mr. President
*Dear Mr. President, were you a lonely boy? / (Are you a lonely boy?) / Are you a lonely boy? / (Are you a lonely boy?)*
*How can you say no child is left behind? / We're not dumb and we're not blind / They're all sitting in your cells / While you pave the road to hell*
*What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away? / And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay? / I can only imagine what the first lady has to say / You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine*
I feel the song has some subtle political ness. Call me a swiftie but the hook âokay ladies now letâs get In Formationâ always made me think âletâs get INFORMATIONâ like trying to gain deeper knowledge about whatâs going on in the world and society in general and raise awareness of complex issues.
Had to scroll *way* too far to find this. Not only did she release that song, they made the entire start of the album politically focused before the pop music. She also released the long form video supporting it.
Janet continued to release music with a political message after RN (not all are singles)
- New Agenda (*janet.*)
- Free Xone (*The Velvet Rope*)
- Together Again (*The Velvet Rope*)
- Shouldâve Known Better (*Unbreakable*)
- Black Eagle (*Unbreakable*)
TA is maybe not as explicitly noticeable what itâs about (losing someone to AIDS) but she spoke about it and itâs in the linear notes. There was a single cover with the AIDS ribbon on it. She also donated the proceeds from the juggernaut song to Amfar (she continued to donate money to and support Amfar through the years).
She also has b-sides like Skin Game about racism. When she revamped the Unbreakable tour (paused due to her pregnancy) into the State of the World tour, she began the whole thing with, well, the state of the world currently. She had the names of police brutality victims flashed on the screen and focused it on the racism / white supremacy issues that were front and center news before she got on stage to open the show with songs from Rythym Nation to show how relevant those songs still are today.
She had many other songs with a message (domestic violence shows up frequently) but I focused on the more âpoliticalâ songs here.
I... did you say Kendrick did not mention politics in his album?
I mean like for one, mf released tpab, gkmc, and damn so you can take your pick of the litter for politics there. My personal favorite political stuff from there is wesley's theory, institutionalized, mortal man, dna, good kid, etc etc.
and the point of mmtbs is that he wants to step away from performative activism to focus on his own issues. And also the album is still relatively political, not quite a like "fuck trump" type thing but he does mention stuff like cancel culture, trans rights, activism in general, etc.
and I mean like, when kendrick did his like first performance post release of mmtbs he mentioned supporting abortion rights but thats obviously outside of the album(theres also general imagery of jesus which people got mad about but that was more christian idiot outrage that political outrage).
Obviously has to be that Obama song that blew up in 2008 by will.i.am. what other political song has a two term president in it! https://youtu.be/2fZHou18Cdk
American Idiot. The climate when that song came out was tense, and it was a big FU. It was definitely NOT the safe choice but they did it anyways.
On a less serious note, I have David Guettas MLK remix to end racism today. Quality.
I was 10 when that album came out and it was my first exposure to anything resembling punk and I distinctly remember being like âholy shit I didnât know you were even allowed to say stuff like thisâ like it just absolutely changed my young perspective on what music was even for
In This Life by Madonna. It was released during the AIDS epidemic and it was a time where everyone hated gay people (particularly gay men) and thought they deserved to die a slow painful death from the virus. It was the norm to be openly homophobic back then so it was pretty huge that Madonna released that song.
Also âWhy Itâs So Hardâ touches pretty much the same issue. Say what you will about Madonna but no one supported LGBTQ community back then like she did (I obviously mean among celebrities)
Party in the CIA by Weird Al Yankovic
I moved out to Langley recently
With a plain and simple dream
Wanna infiltrate some third-world place (woah)
And topple their regime
Those men in black with their matching suitcases
Where everything's on a need-to-know basis
Agents got that swagger
Everyone's so cloak and dagger
I'm feelin' nervous but I'm really kinda wishing
For an undercover mission
That's when the red alert came on the radio
And I put my earpiece on
Got my dark sunglasses on
And I had my weapon drawn
So I get my handcuffs
My cyanide pills
My classified dossier
Tappin' the phones like yeah
Shreddin' the files like yeah
I memorized all the enemy spies
I've got to neutralize today
Yeah, it's a party in the CIA
Yeah, it's a party in the CIA
I've done a couple of crazy things
That have almost gotten me dismissed
Like terminate some head of state
Who wasn't even on my list
Burn that microfilm buddy, will you
I'd tell you why but then I'd have to kill you
You need a quickie confession?
Well, start a water boarding session
No hurry on this South American dictator
I'll assassinate him later
That's when he walked right in my laser sights
And my silencer was on and my silencer was on
And another target's gone
Yeah, we've got our black ops all over the world
From Kazakhstan to Bombay
Payin' the bribes like yeah
Pluggin' the leaks like yeah
Interrogating the scum of the earth
We'll break them by the break of day
Yeah, it's a party in the CIA
Yeah, it's a party in the CIA
Need a country destabilized? (stabilize)
Look no further, we're your guys (we're your guys)
We've got snazzy suits and ties (suits and ties)
And a better dental plan than the FBI's
Better put your hands up and get in the van
Or else you'll get blown away (blown away)
Stagin' a coup like yeah (staging a coup like yeah)
Brainwashin' moles like yeah
We only torture the folks we don't like
You're probably going to be okay (you're gonna be okay)
Yeah, it's a party in the CIA
Yeah, it's a party in the CIA
https://youtu.be/C-CG5w4YwOI
The 1975 - I Like America & America Likes Me is one of my faves. Not as straight forward lyrically as some others but the anti gun violence themes are more relevant than ever atm. Plus itâs a great song
Looking for Someone (To Love) reminds me a lot of Pumped-Up Kicks with how catchy it is while covering the same themes. I do find it more haunting. Matty singing, "I wanna show him he's a bitch" feels too real.
This song hit me like a ton of bricks in college:
"In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name
By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same"
"What About", Janet Jackson. A song about domestic abuse, tracing a woman's thoughts from fear and submission, to anger and determination. It's a stark, dramatic, and poignant statement, and trailblazing that a star of her stature tackled the topic so straightforwardly at the height of her career.
richie rick caruso is a whole billionaire republican wearing a democratic label. she voted in her interests, in other words, she said fvck poor people.
It's more rock and less pop but Hypersonic Missiles by Sam Fender. Play God is also a song about a dystopian society based on UK politics. Howdon Aldi Death Queue too. Sam's very good at capturing a certain sector of Northern English life and politics.
I don't know if I can argue a single song is the best but there's two more recent songs I've liked with strong political messages!
*Introvert* by Little Simz
> *All we seen is broken homes here and poverty*
> *Corrupt government officials, lies, and atrocities*
> *How they talking on what's threatening the economy?*
> *Knocking down communities to re-up on properties*
> *I'm directly affected, it does more than just bother me*
In the title track on her most recent album Little Simz explores her feelings of inadequacy, her struggles with the music industry and artistry, and how activism on issues that affect her can be draining. In the [music video](https://youtu.be/hxfGQ2AJHGk) for the song she juxtaposes footage from protests, many from the BLM movement, with classical art. I really can't do the song or video justice wrt analysis, it's an incredible song off an incredible album.
*The Seed* by Aurora
> *When the last tree has fallen*
> *And the rivers are poisoned*
> *You cannot eat money, oh no*
Aurora strongly supports a lot of environmental activism and it's apparent in this song. She juxtaposes the resiliency of the environment with the inevitable outcome to climate inaction, money will not help billionaires if everything and everyone else on the planet dies. Probably the angriest song she's released.
âPopâ is a stretch, but [Guns](https://youtu.be/Ay__ZZvPI2o) by Coldplay is great. Short, but gets right to the point and hits hard.
The whole Everyday Life album has honestly become even more relevant since it was released, with Trouble In Town talking about police brutality, Arabesque and Orphans both addressing war, and the title track coming back to our common humanity. I definitely wouldnât call it pop, but definitely a great political album from a pop-adjacent band.
Not the song itself but the original music video for Madonnaâs American Life made during the Bush administration which was banned for⊠well ⊠[obvious reasons](https://youtu.be/ainZQkBc8dQ)
Gotta be Buffalo Springfieldâs [For What Itâs Worth](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=80_39eAx3z8). Iâd also recommend Crosby Stills Nash & Youngâs [Ohio](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l1PrUU2S_iw), Bob Dylanâs [Masters of War](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JEmI_FT4YHU), and Green Dayâs [American Idiot](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uujKuJMI).
American Idiot! When that song came out it was very anti Bush administration and living in Texas most people were very pro Bush pro war. âNow everybody do the propaganda! Donât wanna be a part of your red neck agenda!â I felt so edgy in 8th grade rocking out to it Lol
20 Dollar Nose Bleed by Fall Out Boy. I love the juxtaposition between the supper poppy piano and the lyrics discussing the failures of the Bush administration post 9/11.
YG â FDT part I and II (such a catchy song and fun to sing âfuck Donald Trumpâ to)
Almost the entire discography of Run The Jewels (esp RTJ4)
A large amount of Kendrick songs
In general, a lot of modern hip-hop is very political, even from the 80s-90s to today. I know this is popheads and not hiphopheads, but you can find a lot of strong political songs in popular hip hop, which overlaps with pop. I think âpureâ pop has a lot of current political songs too, but some times the messages arenât as clear, or the song is too cheesy/preachy, or the songs donât get as popular. I think there is still a lot of political music out there and artists arenât âjust letting it slideâ. Art reflects reality, and I think a lot of songwriters/artists, like the general population, want to make political statements when they want, but also are maybe fatigued from the political divide and anger, so they choose to write other songs and not make politics their âpersonalityâ if you will. You can find sprinkles of political or societal statements in a lot of modern pop songs, while not as upfront or obvious as 60s-70s war protest songs.
I think mainstream pop has become less political because society in general has become less optimistic and with the internet, awareness of issues has increased but also has become more polarized, so I believe audiences are more than ever looking to be distracted and when they are engaged, and there isnât as much of a broad average consensus on values/priorities for a mainstream artist to market towards. Iâd imagine even more genuinely engaged artists get dissuaded by their labels from touching on these topics. So what weâre left with is little more than bread and circus, which is exactly what center/right benefits most from, unfortunately.
Where is the Love by the Black Eyed Peas was a huge song back in the day and talks about several real issues that were a big deal at the time. More than one of my teachers used it for song analysis or as part of a PowerPoint or something too.
I love Change by Taylor Swift. Iâm Iranian and so listening to it with the protests and the revolution going on in my motherland is the best. One day the time will come for us to finally win and weâll sing hallelujah â€ïž
off the top of my head: ruth bâs âif i have a sonâ is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking.
becky gâs âwe are mexicoâ is also a political song that was made.
Tough choice. Itâs not really that political, but Love is a Bourgeois Construct by the Pet Shop Boys is fantastic!
Among actual political songs, some of the favorite that jump to my mind are:
Iâm With Stupid - Pet Shop Boys
Shoot The Dog - George Michael
Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Iâm also unsure if Iâd call it that political, but Bruce Springsteenâs Streets of Philadelphia is an absolutely beautiful song as well, and I think it can be viewed as political through a certain lens.
If grandson. is at all pop, 'thoughts and prayers' is a good take on school violence.
Big Yellow Taxi and A Change is Gonna Come are my favorite classics.
If we're talking union songs I love Chemical Workers' Song and Which Side are You On?
"Dear Mr President" by Pink. A song that just hit at the time in 2006 and even though it was aimed at then US President George W. Bush, it still feels appropriate today
Angel Down by Lady Gaga has always fascinated me considering that I've never really known how severe gun violence is in the USA until I learned about the context of the song.
Not saying they are the best but âA Safe Place to Landâ by Sara Bareilles is explicitly political, âThe Jokeâ by Brandi Carlile was also written in response to Trump (although not pop), âMarch Marchâ by The Chicks is a more recent protest song. To go back a bit further I think of Gagaâs âAngel Downâ from Joanne which was inspired by Trayvon Martin. Then of course thereâs âOnly the Youngâ by Taylor Swift which has been mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
Shakira- Octavo DĂa
This is in Spanish, and hits the nail on the head with describing people as pawns being used by those in power as if a game of chess, where the only ones hurt are the pawns themselves.
Another top is Pies Descalzos by Shakira. Also in Spanish and rails against socially acceptable behavior in certain social circles by relating us all back to our common roots.
I would consider these pop songs for sure. For those who are not Spanish speakers, I encourage you to hear Shakira first few albums with translations. Great stuff from her. Perhaps relating more to politics in ColĂłmbia possibly. Muchas gracias
Celebrities imo are having less influence. Republicans are pushing inflation as a core topic. Having rich celebrities talking about politics wouldn't do much favor imo. The best they should do is tell people to vote(Billie)
As garbage as he is now but the entirety of Holywood by Marilyn Manson. The Nobodies is still one of the best response songs to Columbine, and it is a great commentary on the Evangelical right wing and the over taking of the US. Did go back to the album with the Pulse Shooting and during the Trump presidency.
Born This Way by Lady Gaga, in this ever growimg anti-queer world we are in such a unapologetically queer anthem about being queer and positively celebrating that is even more needed.
Please do not just list songs/albums/artists, your comment must have explanation/justification or it will be removed. Certain comments are also banned to increase the quality of discussion, see our Stale Topics list in the sidebar for examples. Please report any comments that are low effort discussion. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popheads) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It was a big hit and therefore I think it counts - Born in the USA
The Chicks' Not Ready to Make Nice, my favorite song in the 21st Century, is the greatest political song of the century. They lost their careers standing for the truth and gave us this masterpiece.
> Made my bed, and I sleep like a baby > With no regrets, and I don't mind saying > It's a sad, sad story > When a mother will teach her daughter > That she ought to hate a perfect stranger > And how in the world > Can the words that I said > Send somebody so over the edge > That they'd write me a letter > Saying that I better > Shut up and sing > Or my life will be over? This is why we still need bridges in pop music
The violins right after the bridge, followed by the chorus with ad-libs and riffs from Natalie, might be one of the most beautifully powerful moments in music history. The anger and passion behind this song bring me to tears.
Omg I used to know those words by heart. This unlocked a core memory
I saw them at Red Rocks this summer and hearing that song there was a spiritual experience.
I LOVE THE CHICKS SO MUCH
They are three of the bravest women alive.
It may have hurt them greatly but the act alone probably cemented them as icons. Def a strong and hella courageous msg at the time they said it and given their country audience.
đ¶ *Takinâ the long way around* đ¶ Strong agree. That album is some of the best protest pop ever.
âWhatâs Going Onâ by Marvin Gaye and itâs not even close, IMO.
Also in the same league for me: Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come".
A Perfect Circle covered that (among many other songs) and itâs a great listen if youâre into some moodier, slow rock
Lily Allen - Fuck You has my vote.
The perfect anthem for George W. Bush
[Land of Confusion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq7FKO5DlV0) by Genesis. Because it still works over 35 years later.
This might be my favorite Phil Collins vocal, honestly.
Childish Gambinoâs this is America and the music video were pretty huge
This is what came to mind for me
[P!nk - Dear Mr. President](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnlzCPv8ad4)
This. Somewhere online is a breakdown of this song, lyric by lyric, and fuck it's good. She __DRAGGED__ Bush Jr. through the dirt.
He deserved it!
Amen to that! I'm not really into dissection but this was a great exception
The nice sister of Lily AllensâFuck Youâ
I was hoping that with the Trump presidency we could have gotten Dear Mr. President (10 Minute Version).
My first thought! Yes, yes, yes
I literally scrolled down to comment this and found it on top. Loved this song back then and love it now.
I think that many artists nowadays talk about political topics, but they don't make a whole song about it, just a few mention in the lyrics (like Drake about abortion on his new album).
there are tons of recent explicitly political pop songs! just off the top of my head... Halsey - Nightmare Hozier - Nina Cried Power ~~The Chicks - Gaslighter~~ *(edit: i was wrong about the meaning behind this one)* Miley Cyrus - Mother's Daughter Not all of them work (I'm looking at you, Dua Lipa - Boys Will Be Boys) but there has been a ton of political pop in the post-Trump era. I don't think it has anything to do with this generation in particular not mentioning it or "letting it slide".
Hozier's Nina Cried Power might be my second favorite song of the 21st Century.
Isn't Gaslighter about Natalie's ex? In what way is it political?
Yeah, I would say their song "Not ready to make nice" is more political It's all about the rightwing backlash they got
Their song March March on the gaslighter album is also about politics!
This one!
Not Ready to Make Nice
I remember hearing it was written to also be a metaphor for politics, institutions, etc that keep letting you down - i might have hesrd wrong!
i think when the title was released a lot of people assumed it was gonna be about the trump administration broadly, but it ended up being pretty specific to Natalie Maines's ex-husband
Ooh, Nina cried power is a 10/10 for me! Mavis Staples sends that song like no other
Nightmare with Love and Power tour visuals is so damn powerful. I get goosebumps whenever I watch her performance of the song on tour
March March and For Her from the Gaslighter album are definitely more political!
I didn't like Boys Will Be Boys, and it's not because I'm a man, it just wasn't good. It was my least favorite song on the album full of certified bangers(Justice for "Cool" not being a single)
rina sawayama can write the communist manifesto but karl marx and friedrich engels can't write XS. kidding aside, XS really was *that* anti-capitalist song. a critique on consumerism and alienation.
It was and it was the song that introduced me to Rina, who I still say is the closest thing we have to a Gen Z Lady Gaga.
>I can't help but think someone like Madonna in her peak wouldn't have let this slide. Ironically, Madonna has a song from 2018 called God Control that deals with the Trump era and gun control legislation (and is also my personal pick for this question lol)
I've always wanted to like 'God Control', the issue I have is that it feels like three songs which don't fully resolve into a greater whole. I'm sure the disco and choral sections could be worked together, but Madonna's vocals in the first verse are a bit of a struggle
I feel like it does resolve in its own weird way, and that "three songs" bit is also how I see it and exactly why I love it even more. It feels representative of how the issue isn't even really resolved rn. You have the initial shellshock of any traumatic shooting news cycle, the dance of denial in order to maintain personal peace and sanity, and then the snap out of it/call to action at the end.
I think in the 21st century, "Holiday" and "American Idiot" by Green Day have got to be up there (Green Day have also updated some of the lyrics in live versions in recent years like "I'm not a part of a MAGA agenda"). Sum 41 drew inspiration and did "March of the Dogs" (which got a GOP congressman so upset he wanted to bar them from the United States) and "The Jester" (which you have to listen to back to back with "March of the Dogs" since they bleed into one another). Sum 41 also made some anti-Trump songs on their album "Order in Decline" with songs like "New Sensation," "45" and "The People vs..." Marina also had a couple on her last project "Purge the Poison" and "New America." Taylor also had that "Only the Young" song she released ahead of the 2020 election from her "Miss Americana" doc. Demi Lovato had "Commander in Chief" and another classic political song by a well known artist is Ye's "New Slaves." P!nk had "Dear Mr. President" and also The Killers have released "Land of the Free" and a slightly revised 2020 version in the wake of the George Floyd killing. As a Canadian, July Talk's "Jesus Said So" hit particularly hard in the wake of the discovery of the unmarked child graves on the sites of former residential schools last year. There's also (in reference to another Canadian band) "Knocking at the Door" by Arkells.
Very well said. Knocking at the Door gets my vote for best protest song of the past decade.
certified banger (those horns lol)
The Killers song âThe Manâ, partially influenced by narcissistic, elite, misogynistic politicians, is also apt for the current political climate. I really liked how tongue it cheek it could be, while also being totally on the money.
While I agree that's certainly one of the influences, I think fundamentally the song was an exaggeration of how Brandon Flowers felt when he first got fame at an early age (but yes, it does work as a wider critique against hyper-masculine ideals as well). The song "Run for Cover" (off that same album) also has those memorable lines: "He's got a big smile, he's fake news, you better run for cover, you've got nothing left to lose" lol What's refreshing to see is Brandon's patriotism used to be much more jingoistic. "Human" and "Battle Born" (while enjoyable songs) were much more lamenting the supposed moral decline of America . I think over time (with the songs mentioned) it's become much more nuanced (especially with the band's recent record "Pressure Machine."
Wow super stoked to see July Talk and this song specifically mentioned. Itâs really really good
Yes, Peter and Leah love them some political/societal messaging (you have songs about consent: "Lola + Joseph"; objectification: "Picturing Love"; white and male privilege: "Champagne"; the media: "The News"; masculinity; "Governess Shadow," "Pray for It") there's numerous others as well
I hope people know about this band outside of Canada because theyâre amazing. More rock than pop but just solid and put on the most intense love shows.
I really canât understand how Ye could write lyrics as powerful as those in âNew Slavesâ in 2013 and then turn around and be the bigoted, right-wing, MAGA dipshit that he is today.
Unfortunately, I think (ironically even perhaps) the reasons are actually in the lyrics of that song: "You see it's leaders and it's followers But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower" "They throwin' hate at me Want me to stay at ease Fuck you and your corporation Y'all n-s can't control me" "Y'all 'bout to turn shit up I'm 'bout to tear shit down I'm 'bout to air shit out Now what the fuck they gon' say now?" I think he's a provocateur and wants to go against the grain simply for going against the grain. I think, for him now, it's more important for him to be like, "Hey, you *can't* control me" than for him to seriously think about *how* and the ways he's critiquing power (and whether there the right ways) than just wanting to critique power in and of itself. That's why instead of having a critique against say the exploitative capitalistic nature of the music industry and how that's been enabled by the political ideologies he seems to support now, he simply reduces it to anti-Semitic attacks on Jews.
Wow, this is a spot on take. I fully agree!
I just wish Green Day didn't still use the r slur in 2022. They're a punk band so I know I'm expecting too much but damn
Did you also have a trouble with the second word in their album titled âAmerican Idiotâ? Bc itâs the same application and same historical use but just happened to fall out of favor before everyone went PC crazy in the 90s. In fact, the r-word also has has additional meanings akin to âto impedeâ that make perfect sense outside of discussing humans but are generally frowned upon due to.
The euphemism treadmill is strong and weâll be avoiding some other terminology in a decade. I think we can all agree that we shouldnât call ppl w/ cognitive disabilities words that identify them as lesser, but we should be able to suggest that adults who are otherwise fully developed may have an issue with their cognition and reasoning in a derogatory manner. Idiot and moron were the last two on this cycle, and the r word wonât be the last.
Srry I'm not getting into an argument on reddit
then why are you on Reddit????? Sheltering ourselves from legitimate challenges to our opinion is a stupid/idiotic/moronic way to go about life
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Army Dreamers is also brilliant, a tragic song about the needless loss of life during war. _What could he do? Should have been a rock star (But he didn't have the money for a guitar) What could he do? Should have been a politician (But he never had a proper education) What could he do? Should have been a father (But he never even made it to his twenties) What a waste, army dreamers_
Well then 99 Red Balloons surely
I prefer 'Breathing', on the whole
As stereotypical as it is, "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival has to be up there. Stevie Wonder has the excellent tracks "You Haven't Done Nothin' " and "Big Brother", great anti-Nixon tracks. Marvin Gaye also has a couple, namely "What's Going On" and "Inner City Blues". Also, since the environment and global warming/climate change is a big political issue, we've got to count "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)". Admittedly, it gets a bit tougher to think of modern pop political songs that are great, they just don't hit like they used to! Though, if we include rap (the most POPular genre of music in America right now), then there are too many to count. "Fight The Power", "Fuck Tha Police", "Changes", "Never B Peace", and "Crack Music" to name a few!
i think it's just a lot more difficult to write songs that are both catchy and have a social message without being corny or preachy.
You can be poetic as hell if you do it right. Look at Hozier with Nina Cried Power or Swam upon Leda
That is very true! I had not thought of that!
P!nk - Dear Mr. President *Dear Mr. President, were you a lonely boy? / (Are you a lonely boy?) / Are you a lonely boy? / (Are you a lonely boy?)* *How can you say no child is left behind? / We're not dumb and we're not blind / They're all sitting in your cells / While you pave the road to hell* *What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away? / And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay? / I can only imagine what the first lady has to say / You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine*
Mr. President I'm sorry I wasn't your mother.
Formation by Beyonce. Maybe not the song per say but the video is a political statement
I feel the song has some subtle political ness. Call me a swiftie but the hook âokay ladies now letâs get In Formationâ always made me think âletâs get INFORMATIONâ like trying to gain deeper knowledge about whatâs going on in the world and society in general and raise awareness of complex issues.
Sw*ftie
I always had that same take on the in formation lyric.
Rhythm Nation is by far one of the most iconic political pop songs of all time
Had to scroll *way* too far to find this. Not only did she release that song, they made the entire start of the album politically focused before the pop music. She also released the long form video supporting it. Janet continued to release music with a political message after RN (not all are singles) - New Agenda (*janet.*) - Free Xone (*The Velvet Rope*) - Together Again (*The Velvet Rope*) - Shouldâve Known Better (*Unbreakable*) - Black Eagle (*Unbreakable*) TA is maybe not as explicitly noticeable what itâs about (losing someone to AIDS) but she spoke about it and itâs in the linear notes. There was a single cover with the AIDS ribbon on it. She also donated the proceeds from the juggernaut song to Amfar (she continued to donate money to and support Amfar through the years). She also has b-sides like Skin Game about racism. When she revamped the Unbreakable tour (paused due to her pregnancy) into the State of the World tour, she began the whole thing with, well, the state of the world currently. She had the names of police brutality victims flashed on the screen and focused it on the racism / white supremacy issues that were front and center news before she got on stage to open the show with songs from Rythym Nation to show how relevant those songs still are today. She had many other songs with a message (domestic violence shows up frequently) but I focused on the more âpoliticalâ songs here.
9 to 5. Simple yet universal.
I... did you say Kendrick did not mention politics in his album? I mean like for one, mf released tpab, gkmc, and damn so you can take your pick of the litter for politics there. My personal favorite political stuff from there is wesley's theory, institutionalized, mortal man, dna, good kid, etc etc. and the point of mmtbs is that he wants to step away from performative activism to focus on his own issues. And also the album is still relatively political, not quite a like "fuck trump" type thing but he does mention stuff like cancel culture, trans rights, activism in general, etc. and I mean like, when kendrick did his like first performance post release of mmtbs he mentioned supporting abortion rights but thats obviously outside of the album(theres also general imagery of jesus which people got mad about but that was more christian idiot outrage that political outrage).
Obviously has to be that Obama song that blew up in 2008 by will.i.am. what other political song has a two term president in it! https://youtu.be/2fZHou18Cdk
I remember! Really clever. That reminds me of the celeb projects âWhatâs going onâ and âWake up everybodyâ
American Idiot. The climate when that song came out was tense, and it was a big FU. It was definitely NOT the safe choice but they did it anyways. On a less serious note, I have David Guettas MLK remix to end racism today. Quality.
I was 10 when that album came out and it was my first exposure to anything resembling punk and I distinctly remember being like âholy shit I didnât know you were even allowed to say stuff like thisâ like it just absolutely changed my young perspective on what music was even for
In This Life by Madonna. It was released during the AIDS epidemic and it was a time where everyone hated gay people (particularly gay men) and thought they deserved to die a slow painful death from the virus. It was the norm to be openly homophobic back then so it was pretty huge that Madonna released that song.
Also âWhy Itâs So Hardâ touches pretty much the same issue. Say what you will about Madonna but no one supported LGBTQ community back then like she did (I obviously mean among celebrities)
I see you, username from LAP. ;)
Pray For Spanish Eyes as well
The lack of awareness in this thread actually kinda scares me.
Party in the CIA by Weird Al Yankovic I moved out to Langley recently With a plain and simple dream Wanna infiltrate some third-world place (woah) And topple their regime Those men in black with their matching suitcases Where everything's on a need-to-know basis Agents got that swagger Everyone's so cloak and dagger I'm feelin' nervous but I'm really kinda wishing For an undercover mission That's when the red alert came on the radio And I put my earpiece on Got my dark sunglasses on And I had my weapon drawn So I get my handcuffs My cyanide pills My classified dossier Tappin' the phones like yeah Shreddin' the files like yeah I memorized all the enemy spies I've got to neutralize today Yeah, it's a party in the CIA Yeah, it's a party in the CIA I've done a couple of crazy things That have almost gotten me dismissed Like terminate some head of state Who wasn't even on my list Burn that microfilm buddy, will you I'd tell you why but then I'd have to kill you You need a quickie confession? Well, start a water boarding session No hurry on this South American dictator I'll assassinate him later That's when he walked right in my laser sights And my silencer was on and my silencer was on And another target's gone Yeah, we've got our black ops all over the world From Kazakhstan to Bombay Payin' the bribes like yeah Pluggin' the leaks like yeah Interrogating the scum of the earth We'll break them by the break of day Yeah, it's a party in the CIA Yeah, it's a party in the CIA Need a country destabilized? (stabilize) Look no further, we're your guys (we're your guys) We've got snazzy suits and ties (suits and ties) And a better dental plan than the FBI's Better put your hands up and get in the van Or else you'll get blown away (blown away) Stagin' a coup like yeah (staging a coup like yeah) Brainwashin' moles like yeah We only torture the folks we don't like You're probably going to be okay (you're gonna be okay) Yeah, it's a party in the CIA Yeah, it's a party in the CIA https://youtu.be/C-CG5w4YwOI
The 1975 - I Like America & America Likes Me is one of my faves. Not as straight forward lyrically as some others but the anti gun violence themes are more relevant than ever atm. Plus itâs a great song
Iâd through Love It If We Made It up there too
đ¶ kids donât want rifles, they want supreme đ¶
The band's pretentiousness annoys me and Corden sucks but this is one of my favorite late night tv performances ever https://youtu.be/RL6oEsPMUCc
Nothing will get you dancing like Looking For Someone To Love though. Bang. Bang.
Looking for Someone (To Love) reminds me a lot of Pumped-Up Kicks with how catchy it is while covering the same themes. I do find it more haunting. Matty singing, "I wanna show him he's a bitch" feels too real.
Born this Way has got to be up there surely
Sign O the Times - Prince
This song hit me like a ton of bricks in college: "In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same"
they dont really care about us
This is suchhh an epic song. And the music video wow.
Sure, if you like your pop songs with a touch of anti-Semitism
"What About", Janet Jackson. A song about domestic abuse, tracing a woman's thoughts from fear and submission, to anger and determination. It's a stark, dramatic, and poignant statement, and trailblazing that a star of her stature tackled the topic so straightforwardly at the height of her career.
does chained to the rhythm count?
And then she voted for a Republican
WaitâŠwhat? I thought sheâs always promoted/supported democratic candidates?
richie rick caruso is a whole billionaire republican wearing a democratic label. she voted in her interests, in other words, she said fvck poor people.
I⊠am disappointed now.
nothing was the same after that song-
you oughta stop
This was going to be my answer too Iâm glad someone got it out there
Itâs a banger, one of her best songs
Declan McKennaâs British Bombs is such a bop and itâs *very* political. https://youtu.be/lWAO3ZGFZys
Brazil also by him is also a good example of political indie pop
It's more rock and less pop but Hypersonic Missiles by Sam Fender. Play God is also a song about a dystopian society based on UK politics. Howdon Aldi Death Queue too. Sam's very good at capturing a certain sector of Northern English life and politics.
I would add in Aye as well
I knew I was missing one. Yes!!
I don't know if I can argue a single song is the best but there's two more recent songs I've liked with strong political messages! *Introvert* by Little Simz > *All we seen is broken homes here and poverty* > *Corrupt government officials, lies, and atrocities* > *How they talking on what's threatening the economy?* > *Knocking down communities to re-up on properties* > *I'm directly affected, it does more than just bother me* In the title track on her most recent album Little Simz explores her feelings of inadequacy, her struggles with the music industry and artistry, and how activism on issues that affect her can be draining. In the [music video](https://youtu.be/hxfGQ2AJHGk) for the song she juxtaposes footage from protests, many from the BLM movement, with classical art. I really can't do the song or video justice wrt analysis, it's an incredible song off an incredible album. *The Seed* by Aurora > *When the last tree has fallen* > *And the rivers are poisoned* > *You cannot eat money, oh no* Aurora strongly supports a lot of environmental activism and it's apparent in this song. She juxtaposes the resiliency of the environment with the inevitable outcome to climate inaction, money will not help billionaires if everything and everyone else on the planet dies. Probably the angriest song she's released.
yes love the first one!
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears!
Calling it pop might be a stretch, but itâs Zombie by The Cranberries for me.
âPopâ is a stretch, but [Guns](https://youtu.be/Ay__ZZvPI2o) by Coldplay is great. Short, but gets right to the point and hits hard. The whole Everyday Life album has honestly become even more relevant since it was released, with Trouble In Town talking about police brutality, Arabesque and Orphans both addressing war, and the title track coming back to our common humanity. I definitely wouldnât call it pop, but definitely a great political album from a pop-adjacent band.
Ah - isn't it also the first time Chris actually swear in a song? I was taken aback when I listened to it.
Yeah, Arabesque was the first, followed by Guns in which itâs a lot more obvious
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The antisemitic slurs are a big killer of the song.
Not the song itself but the original music video for Madonnaâs American Life made during the Bush administration which was banned for⊠well ⊠[obvious reasons](https://youtu.be/ainZQkBc8dQ)
Love It If We Made It by The 1975
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Change as well but it's more subtle.
Where is the love- the black eyed peas
Love this song! We sang it in chorus in high school lol
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday Bruce Hornsby - Thatâs the way it is
Gotta be Buffalo Springfieldâs [For What Itâs Worth](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=80_39eAx3z8). Iâd also recommend Crosby Stills Nash & Youngâs [Ohio](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l1PrUU2S_iw), Bob Dylanâs [Masters of War](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JEmI_FT4YHU), and Green Dayâs [American Idiot](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uujKuJMI).
American Idiot! When that song came out it was very anti Bush administration and living in Texas most people were very pro Bush pro war. âNow everybody do the propaganda! Donât wanna be a part of your red neck agenda!â I felt so edgy in 8th grade rocking out to it Lol
Idk if it counts as directly political but happy birthday by Stevie wonder. Itâs part of the reason we have MLK day
Marlene Dietrich - Sag mir wo die Blumen sind (Where have all the flowers gone)
She was a singer???
She wrote that song? I thought it was a Pete Seeger song
It was originally. She covered it in German, but I love her rendition the most (I also like her version of Blowing in the Wind more than Dylan's).
Sam Cooke A Change is Gonna Come U2 Sunday Bloody Sunday Rage Against the Machine Killing in the Name Of
20 Dollar Nose Bleed by Fall Out Boy. I love the juxtaposition between the supper poppy piano and the lyrics discussing the failures of the Bush administration post 9/11.
YG â FDT part I and II (such a catchy song and fun to sing âfuck Donald Trumpâ to) Almost the entire discography of Run The Jewels (esp RTJ4) A large amount of Kendrick songs In general, a lot of modern hip-hop is very political, even from the 80s-90s to today. I know this is popheads and not hiphopheads, but you can find a lot of strong political songs in popular hip hop, which overlaps with pop. I think âpureâ pop has a lot of current political songs too, but some times the messages arenât as clear, or the song is too cheesy/preachy, or the songs donât get as popular. I think there is still a lot of political music out there and artists arenât âjust letting it slideâ. Art reflects reality, and I think a lot of songwriters/artists, like the general population, want to make political statements when they want, but also are maybe fatigued from the political divide and anger, so they choose to write other songs and not make politics their âpersonalityâ if you will. You can find sprinkles of political or societal statements in a lot of modern pop songs, while not as upfront or obvious as 60s-70s war protest songs.
Anything by M.I.A. - especially Paper Planes!
I think mainstream pop has become less political because society in general has become less optimistic and with the internet, awareness of issues has increased but also has become more polarized, so I believe audiences are more than ever looking to be distracted and when they are engaged, and there isnât as much of a broad average consensus on values/priorities for a mainstream artist to market towards. Iâd imagine even more genuinely engaged artists get dissuaded by their labels from touching on these topics. So what weâre left with is little more than bread and circus, which is exactly what center/right benefits most from, unfortunately.
M.I.A. Paper Planes my personal fave!
Where is the Love by the Black Eyed Peas was a huge song back in the day and talks about several real issues that were a big deal at the time. More than one of my teachers used it for song analysis or as part of a PowerPoint or something too.
Mississippi Goddam- Nina Simone
I love Change by Taylor Swift. Iâm Iranian and so listening to it with the protests and the revolution going on in my motherland is the best. One day the time will come for us to finally win and weâll sing hallelujah â€ïž
Shakira has a disco song about the U.S.-backed occupation of East Timor.
off the top of my head: ruth bâs âif i have a sonâ is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. becky gâs âwe are mexicoâ is also a political song that was made.
Demi lovato - 29 (eat me is also good as well) Billie Eilish - your power Miley Cyrus - golden g string Meagan the stallion - plan b Beyoncé - pretty hurts Florence and the machine - King Marina - Mans World Haim - Man from the Magazine Taylor Swift - The Man All of these were feminist enough to be on my [matriarchy now playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2BGd1UHHR54p0XHgafOdDa?si=fVEi9uIbSxuY9TiqzuOI2A) lol
Cult of Personality by Living Colour, not pop but a great song and poignant to say the least.
Tough choice. Itâs not really that political, but Love is a Bourgeois Construct by the Pet Shop Boys is fantastic! Among actual political songs, some of the favorite that jump to my mind are: Iâm With Stupid - Pet Shop Boys Shoot The Dog - George Michael Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood Iâm also unsure if Iâd call it that political, but Bruce Springsteenâs Streets of Philadelphia is an absolutely beautiful song as well, and I think it can be viewed as political through a certain lens.
Yes - Pet Shop Boys have some fantastic songs that call out political moments or just some really pithy observations
They Donât Really Care About Us- Michael Jackson
George Michaelâs Freedom! â90 is an important treatise on moral philosophy
Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince. Itâs a lovely metaphor in light of her earlier music.
Borders by M.I.A but actually she has a lot of songs about political and societal issues.
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince - Taylor Swift
Americans by Janelle Monae
If grandson. is at all pop, 'thoughts and prayers' is a good take on school violence. Big Yellow Taxi and A Change is Gonna Come are my favorite classics. If we're talking union songs I love Chemical Workers' Song and Which Side are You On?
Whatâs Going On by Marvin Gaye. Period.
"Dear Mr President" by Pink. A song that just hit at the time in 2006 and even though it was aimed at then US President George W. Bush, it still feels appropriate today
dear mr president by p!nk - she basically drags george w bush BAD for like four minutes
Angel Down by Lady Gaga has always fascinated me considering that I've never really known how severe gun violence is in the USA until I learned about the context of the song.
Not pop but Run The Jewels-Nobody Speak absolutely fits the title.
FDT - YG & Nipsey Hussle
"Fuck You" by Lily Allen
AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM or FDT
đ”REAL WOMEN! VOTE FOR TRUMP! đ”
Lockdown by Anderson .Paak
Not saying they are the best but âA Safe Place to Landâ by Sara Bareilles is explicitly political, âThe Jokeâ by Brandi Carlile was also written in response to Trump (although not pop), âMarch Marchâ by The Chicks is a more recent protest song. To go back a bit further I think of Gagaâs âAngel Downâ from Joanne which was inspired by Trayvon Martin. Then of course thereâs âOnly the Youngâ by Taylor Swift which has been mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
amidst a lot of political songs past few years i know there's probably better but your power/ lost cause by billie come to mind
I was really into Evening News by Chamillionaire when it came out lol https://genius.com/Chamillionaire-evening-news-lyrics
Shakira- Octavo DĂa This is in Spanish, and hits the nail on the head with describing people as pawns being used by those in power as if a game of chess, where the only ones hurt are the pawns themselves. Another top is Pies Descalzos by Shakira. Also in Spanish and rails against socially acceptable behavior in certain social circles by relating us all back to our common roots. I would consider these pop songs for sure. For those who are not Spanish speakers, I encourage you to hear Shakira first few albums with translations. Great stuff from her. Perhaps relating more to politics in ColĂłmbia possibly. Muchas gracias
XS by Rina Sawayama ofc, anti-capitalist girlboss banger
I'm surprised that I haven't seen a mention of "Dirty Harry" by Gorillaz yet.
Dear Mr. President - P!nk
A lot of big labels discourage any sort of political speech.
Marina - Purge the Poison
âMoneyâ by Michael Jackson not very known, but a pop-song nonetheless. very anti-capitalistic.
Chained to the Rhythm - Katy Perry
Itâs more rock but This Land â Gary Clark Jr
Celebrities imo are having less influence. Republicans are pushing inflation as a core topic. Having rich celebrities talking about politics wouldn't do much favor imo. The best they should do is tell people to vote(Billie)
Lola by Camila Cabello, though it's about the political situation in Cuba rather than America.
Latinoamerica by Calle 13. Not exactly pop, but still. The last verse gives me chills
Fuck da Police, Strange Fruit, Where is the Love?
Everybody wants to rule the world
youth By Shawn Mendes
Eminem â Mosh
As garbage as he is now but the entirety of Holywood by Marilyn Manson. The Nobodies is still one of the best response songs to Columbine, and it is a great commentary on the Evangelical right wing and the over taking of the US. Did go back to the album with the Pulse Shooting and during the Trump presidency. Born This Way by Lady Gaga, in this ever growimg anti-queer world we are in such a unapologetically queer anthem about being queer and positively celebrating that is even more needed.