I don’t know if anyone has broken it to you yet, but just so we’re all up to speed: The world is a raging, insufferable dumpster fire. Perhaps you’ve noticed the global pandemic, the unending fight against systemic racism and police brutality or the looming election that approximately zero people truly feel enthusiastic about.
And as is the unyielding nature of art, music continues to reflect, shape and adapt to the happenings of the world – no matter how dumpster-firey they might be. But in one of history’s most politically-charged years, the songs at the top of the 2020 charts have been awfully quiet in reflecting the tensions of COVID-19, Black Lives Matter and the presidential race.
Make no mistake: Our generation certainly has protest tracks to be proud of. Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” and Kendrick Lamar’s exploration of the Black experience in his albums are still piercingly relevant in 2020. And the 1975’s “Love It If We Made It” continues to capture the exasperation many of us feel toward the current presidential administration – now intensified by the mounting pressure to end it.
But for whatever reason, be it the quarantine-induced solitude or the pressure to become a trend on TikTok, the music in 2020 has opted away from social commentary in favor of a more escapist approach. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's “WAP” is a great song, but it wasn’t exactly trending on Twitter for critiquing the state of the nation. And it’s not like there’s even a problem with this. If there was ever a year in which people needed a way to escape, it’s this one. We deserve to forget about our tribulations for four minutes and dance to Cardi and Meg.
But should we be asking more of our favorite artists? Is it even our place to expect they release songs that raise awareness and unite us in action? Probably not
Art exists as a medium separate from reality for a reason. It’s one of the few remaining things that, for the most part, can’t be policed. People should be allowed to do what they want with it, even if it is to make lackadaisical songs about love and lust just to escape the madness for a while. Maybe especially so. And if artists make certain music only because we demand it, it’s bound to be disingenuous.
But when we’re not taking a break from reality by submerging ourselves in the teen heartbreak mapped out in Taylor Swift's “folklore,” it would be nice to have music that inspires us to push for the 2020-specific change we desperately need. It’s not that artists should be expected to create great protest music. It’s just that it would be really cool if they did.
In all fairness, it’s not as if the modern artist doesn’t have anything to say about the current state of the world. Many musicians have embraced their perceived responsibility to advocate for good causes. It’s just that they often do so in a Twitter thread instead of a chorus. Keeping their music profitable often means preaching activism in their lyrics only to the extent that fits their brand, or not at all.
To be clear, there isn’t a complete absence of social and political criticism in 2020’s music — smaller (but definitely not small) artists are killing the game. Anderson .Paak and Noname’s “Lockdown” is an unflinching take on current racial injustice and includes lyrics referencing COVID-19. Terrace Martin’s collaborative “Pig Feet” is an impassioned amalgam of anger felt by Black people, their families and their communities.
The problem, if that’s even the right word, is that this year’s chart-topping music, the songs that will go on to define this era of uncertainty and fear, are steering clear of needed commentary altogether. Protest music made under pressure from fans would be inauthentic, but at the same time, don’t we the people deserve a sequel to Bob Dylan’s “Blowin in the Wind” or Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”
Perhaps the most earth-shattering, nation-uniting, change-making anthem is coming our way this year, but for now, we’ll just have to go looking for 2020-related protest music on our own.
