Whether Popular Music Can Be a Protest Kind of Music

Pop music is one of the most influential platforms worldwide and is apart of a majority of the western worlds day to day life. Although pop music has such an influential presence in today's world a majority of the songs being released are predominantly about ‘love’ while other topics hardly get a look in. This plays into the role that pop music is meant to be catchy and uplifting music. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino have recently used their platform to speak their mind and share their political views and empower and inspire their audiences. Garofalo believes that there are two categories for artists who choose to engage in the political world. One being called political activism and the other political argument. The first describes the case of musicians who have acquired a public presence which they use to support causes or candidates. The second captures the case of those who use their music to give expression to their political views, a lot of artist show sign of both (p. 50). An example of the latter would be Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin who was very active politically during the Iraq war but as he explained to The Guardian in 2003 that his “songs have nothing to do with war, they are all about the sad insecurities of a balding rock star”.

Lady Gaga and Macklemore have both used their platform and music to express support and homage to the LGBTQ+ community. Macklemore with his 2012 single, Same Love, and Lady Gaga with her 2011 single, Born This Way, which has often been referred to as an international gay anthem. Beyonce is seen as an empowering presence and in every way celebrating the independent woman she praises in her music. Beyonce has used her huge platform to address racism, stereotyping, police brutality, and infidelity in her album “Lemonade”. As these songs are catchy and uplifting Beyonce is able to discuss serious issues in a more light-hearted and simplified way. She even expanded on this and created a visual aspect to go alongside the music to show these political issues visually which made more of an impact as it added another dimension and allowed her to get her messages across in a very direct and in your face way. Other popular music artists have followed suit and used visuals along with their music to help get their voice heard, Kendrick Lamar vocalises his dislike for retouched images in his single, HUMBLE, when he raps: “I’m so fucking sick and tired of the Photoshop / Show me something natural like afro on Richard Pryor / Show me something natural like ass with some stretch marks'. Where Childish Gambino addresses gun violence in his song, This Is America and uses strong imagery to reinforce the issue. Both these songs have over 500 million youtube plays and counting. Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino are all passionate supporters of social justice movements such as #BlackLivesMatter. By continuing to create these music videos Beyonce, Lamar and Gambino haven’t only pledged their allegiance to this movement but also encouraged their fans to do so too.

Pop music listeners weren’t used to hearing political messages in songs, so they didn’t want to hear them, politics has since been a more popular topic among young people. Lindmark writes that being “woke” has now become fashionable among young people and that the 21st-century has witnessed an increase in conversation on topics such as women’s rights and social justice. This has potentially lead to an increase in pop artists pursuing this route in creating music which is politically driven. Lindmark goes on to say that pop culture critics have growing anxiety that this rise in progressive thought within youth culture could be a temporary thing, despite the positive influence of traditional pop culture. Pop music has recently played a huge role in empowerment with various movements and social communities such as #BlackLivesMatter and the LGBTQ+. This has also forced pop artists to move on from the usual characteristics of pop music and try new things to stand out and differentiate themselves from other pop artists to allow them to be someone who can empower and influence young people.