https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/1if7r28/why_are_there_no_current_political_hits/
created by gimpsarepeopletoo on 01/02/2025 at 14:43 UTC
1070 upvotes, 308 top-level comments (showing 25)
You would think with such a tumultuous time USA there would be more politically driven hits. Am I missing some? Are they too controversial to alienate 50% of the population for record labels?
There's some good stuff I've seen on Tik Tok, but can't think of any big hits
Comment by [deleted] at 01/02/2025 at 14:54 UTC
3489 upvotes, 14 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by WalkingInsulin at 01/02/2025 at 15:53 UTC
169 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Save us Streetlight Manifesto
Comment by BoardgameEmpire at 01/02/2025 at 14:52 UTC
664 upvotes, 9 direct replies
Jesse Welles is prolific. But, yeah, we could use a few "For What It's Worths" or "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" to get the people moving.
Comment by bambinoquinn at 01/02/2025 at 15:07 UTC
373 upvotes, 6 direct replies
I think there are so many artists afraid of alienating a portion of their audience. We saw that alot in october/November with certain artists avoiding making any sort of statements etc
Comment by CinaminLips at 01/02/2025 at 15:23 UTC
230 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Here I am scrolling through reddit and see someone asking about political hits and I think to myself, wow, that's bold of them to just ask out in the open like that...
Then I noticed the sub-reddit and it made more sense.
Comment by GSilky at 01/02/2025 at 14:52 UTC
484 upvotes, 3 direct replies
It's rare overtly political music hits the charts. I would say Kendrick Lamar is 99% political, so not sure if your premise stands firmly.
Comment by Ill_Pressure3893 at 01/02/2025 at 16:16 UTC*
77 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Off the top of my head, from the past year: Pearl Jam’s “Dark Matter;” Hozier’s “Nobody’s Soldier;” Green Day’s “The American Dream is killing Me” ���.
Comment by RODjij at 01/02/2025 at 15:13 UTC
75 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That's because big money owns & controls everything we consume now compared to how powerful they were in the 60s-90s time period when those kind of songs were popular.
It's not uncommon to see anti establishment people eventually flip their opinion around once they get more older & more rich.
Comment by scott_wolff at 01/02/2025 at 16:25 UTC
42 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Punk bands haven’t stopped putting out political hits. The newer punk bands are carrying that torch today as well.
Comment by girlplayvoice at 01/02/2025 at 15:23 UTC*
86 upvotes, 4 direct replies
I think tbh we’re in a generation of all talk no action. I’m not saying we haven’t done any good, but I just feel like we’re genuinely uninterested and don’t care for what’s going on. Everyone’s posting their social justice stuff on their stories and highlights etc, but most of those people don’t care to do anything.
Edit: I reread this and my comment seems insensitive to a degree. I feel like the social and political climate - no matter your stance - is overwhelming and overstimulating. Although I’m a millennial, I grew up listening to music that challenged issues head on. I primarily think of The Clash as an example. My frustration is definitely the lack of action because as an individual I take active steps to actually volunteer and contribute to causes I care about. But the social media to actual action is not comparable so it’s frustrating when you want to have conversations about issues, but no one talks about it in person but would rather repost a meme about an issue someone posted. Everyone does it for the gram. This isn’t to say there weren’t any good music coming out of the 2020 timeframe, there was, but I don’t know if it created the action and follow through we needed.
Maybe the political songs we have now are just different and present it indirectly. 🤷🏽♀️
Comment by Raccoon_Expert_69 at 01/02/2025 at 15:26 UTC
51 upvotes, 3 direct replies
The algorithm won't let a political song rise to the top. Macklemore put out hind's hall last year and while it's not exactly "hit" material. It's catchy and very political but no one heard or saw it.
Comment by theoneandonly78 at 01/02/2025 at 15:21 UTC
39 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Because RATM won’t workout their issues and get out there. What better place than here? What better time than now?
Comment by The_Revhell at 01/02/2025 at 15:06 UTC
101 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I’m ready for a new Run the Jewels album.
Comment by goldendildo666 at 01/02/2025 at 15:15 UTC
33 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I wonder if it's because people are so divided now- a political song would not be popular today because you alienate half of your audience.
Back in the day we could all agree that we should tear the fascists down and nazi punks need to fuck off, but today that's a controversial opinion somehow.
Comment by empyreantyrant at 01/02/2025 at 16:01 UTC
22 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I saw the title before realizing which sub this was from and thought OP was asking why there aren't more assassinations. 🫣 haha
Comment by sambull at 01/02/2025 at 15:19 UTC
20 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They removed DJs
Comment by sodsto at 01/02/2025 at 15:09 UTC
24 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Not from the US, and not even recent -- they've been around for 15+ years -- but Idles are popular and political. Dig into Joy as an Act of Resistance, or if you want some live energy, A Beautiful Thing.
My blood brother is an immigrant. A beautiful immigrant.
Comment by whycantisee47 at 01/02/2025 at 16:02 UTC
14 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Macklemore dropped a song about Gaza and it got buried by YouTube.
Comment by PatriotMB at 01/02/2025 at 15:27 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The Menzingers- America You’re Freaking Me Out
The Lyrics are on point with the hypocrisy in America right now.
Comment by bkosick at 01/02/2025 at 15:42 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
No one is payola'ing for them.
Comment by Amorisxxx at 01/02/2025 at 17:35 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
A lot of rap is political in a way. I'd say that Kendrick can be political. Talking about black acceptance and black pride is, unfortunately, still very needed and political. Chappell Roans music supports queer (specifically lesbian) pride, which is also political. While we don't have something like Bella Ciao, there's a lot of music that shows community for marginalized groups
Comment by Nakuip at 01/02/2025 at 15:24 UTC
21 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Honestly, protest music and its role in our society has died away with the need for live performers.
The grass roots of all things are dead and have been replaced by automatons. This extends from service to art and beyond. What makes the scenario striking is symbolism, not circumstances. This has been happening around us every day for years, but the hollowing out of human experience feels poignant in the absence of political art.
Comment by The_Big_Daddy at 01/02/2025 at 15:55 UTC
20 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The insidious thing about capitalism is it co-opts even attempts to criticize it or challenge it into profitable products.
Comment by W0gg0 at 01/02/2025 at 16:26 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Try Randy Rainbow. He’s a hoot and has a large back catalogue on his YouTube channel. His live concert tour starts May 31, 3025.
Comment by devil_akuma at 01/02/2025 at 17:13 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
While I do also believe the Corpos are running the whole show I also think time is a factor. We are (unfortunately) two weeks in of this "gesture to everything" and most of the artists that could are probably cooking up something.
