Top 10 Pop Songs With Social Messages

 
Madonna was fed up with all the double standards set against professional women, after especially after nearly two decades of success pushing boundaries. 'What It Feels Like For A Girl' repeatedly describes women acting powerful, before highlighting how they're constantly told to tone things down. The track's spoken-word sample from 'The Cement Garden' also implies that men see girlhood as degrading in itself. Madonna does inspire female pride as well, bringing a sense of empowerment through her lively electronic pop.  While the music video used a dance remix of the original song, both versions have a strong social message expressing the female perspective . 
 



 
Over fast-paced beats and piano, Gwen Stefani and Andre 3000 tell a story about an interracial couple. While the pair is deeply in love, they still get dirty looks during their first date. Stefani and Andre shed a light on the racial prejudices still upheld in the Western world, portraying both sides of the couple in their vocals. More abstract lyrics like 'When snow hits the asphalt/Cold looks and bad talks come,' bring poetic visuals to their message as well. 'Long Way To Go' also beautifully samples Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have A Dream' speech, to show just how little has changed since then.
 
 
 


 

 
Mike & The Mechanics used synths and mechanical beats to set a more futuristic tone to their protest song.  "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)” describes a hopeless future after conflict, as it follows a father's journey back in time.  Each verse paints war as horrific, with the lyrics decrying religion and politics for leading people to disaster. The message was so blatantly anti-military that the BBC actually banned the song during the Gulf War. The song's bridge even describes a police-state after the bloodshed, with a revolution coming from the next generation.  Even with its sci-fi overtones, the track's vision of the future is still a thought-provoking image.
 
  
 

 
After witnessing all the hate in America on their post-9/11 tour, The Black Eyed Peas wanted to preach empathy. While the song denounces war and terror overseas, it also calls out gangs, the KKK and even the government for breeding hate in the U.S. The Black Eyed Peas also condemn the media for perpetuating everyone's fears even further. 'Where is the Love?' was just as relevant when it was updated in 2016 to reflect on Syria, immigration, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Regardless of the era, the track's theme of love continues to unify fans.
 
 
 

 
To help embrace her own weirdness, Lady Gaga wrote a song about her self-doubt. Gaga sings compassion for all races and orientations, while emphasizing self-acceptance as the foundation for love. The song embraces religion's compassionate morals, but slams people who use their faith to support hate. Gaga created the Born This Way Foundation to carry on her vision by educating disenfranchised youth. While she supported survivors of sexual assault with 'Til It Happens To You,' () 'Born This Way' had a much broader message. The energizing sound and positive energy of the track also made it an anthem for the LGBT community. 
 


 

 
For Black History Month in 2016, Beyoncé's not only celebrated her heritage but the perseverance of the African-Americans and their communities. 'Formation' finds Knowles lauding her distinct African-American features, while she compares her success to Bill Gates. Her booming shouts in each chorus calls on women to rally together, and empower themselves against adversity. Knowles flips a lot of gender conventions in the lyrics as well, offering to take her man shopping at the mall. Beyoncé also gave the song more political edge, with clear signals to the BLM movement, visually calling attention again to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and by releasing the track between the birthdays of two victims of police brutality.
 
 

 
Through painful lyrics about self-doubt, Christina Aguilera finds the strength to love who she is. Writer Linda Perry pulled from her own insecurities to write the song, creating something moving out of her pain.  The tender piano and string arrangements also lend an elegance to the song's sound, inspiring listeners through a different kind of beauty. 'Beautiful's theme of self-worth echoed through the LGBT community, and their continued celebration of the song has helped lift Aguilera's own confidence in dark times. The idea of self-acceptance is expressed in the song as well, as Christina goes from calling herself beautiful to appreciating everyone for what they are.
 
 
 

 
Hailing from West Berlin during the Cold War, Nena were the perfect band to warn about the dangers of war. '99 Red Balloons' tells the story of innocent kids whose balloon show sets off a chain reaction to nuclear war. The song's shocking tale of peace turning to Armageddon was all too real in the eighties, when nuclear conflict was a constant worry. The original German version even explores the devastation of the 99-year war after the initial accident. Nena's frantic but catchy keyboards amps up the tension in the song as well, while making its message accessible.
 


 
 

 
Michael Jackson sang about saving the environment and racial inequality ,but he also knows the biggest change has to come from within. Jackson's lyrics paint a harsh reality of the world, and he quickly realizes that others have it much worse than him. While his music video is more direct in its portrayal of suffering, the song's focus on individual ignorance attempts to reach people on a deeper level. Michael's singing expands to a full choir in later choruses to show the power that comes from helping others. Jackson's over-the-top performance also made the track's selfless morale more appealing.
 
 
 
 

On “Imagine”, John Lennon invites listeners to his ideal version of the world, lulling them in with his powerful piano chords. Lennon envisions a planet without borders or religion, removing the barriers that divide humanity. John goes onto preach a lack of possessions too, insisting that greed would disappear. Lennon himself has noted the lyrical similarities to the Communist Manifesto, while maintaining that “Imagine” was more a vision for British socialism. John Lennon simply wanted to share his belief in an united world, rather than write a protest song. This optimistic view of our society is wonderfully peaceful, and has been inspiring people around the world for nearly half a century.