Protest music has long been a powerful reflection of a society and of a culture. It’s been around for centuries; as long as people have been getting frustrated with society, they’ve made anthems using those feelings as fuel for their creativity. As music styles, human emotions, and social issues can be so widespread and diverse, protest songs are too. These songs are usually written with a specific movement or issue in mind, with hopes to spark cultural or political change, and to inspire the movement to a new level by gathering people together to spark change or reflect. Protest songs usually skew liberal and often fall under two major categories: politically charged (topical songs taking issue with the government), or culturally focused songs targeting the injustices marginalized groups face. This broad classification gives songwriters room to experiment with what message they want to express and how they want to express it. With the political state of America this past year feeling almost dystopian, how has music released this past year been a reflection of the people’s cultural and societal mindset?
There is a historical soundtrack to resistance, dating back to the early years of this country’s formation. The first American protest songs were made with a purpose, which was to draw people together around a central mission. Using simple verse that carry heavy meaning, the songs were often inspired from hymns or remade from songs people already knew. They’d use lyrics that are simply written so they’re easy to learn and remember. These early songs were less about aesthetic and finesse than about utility and purpose. More of the first widely known protest songs in America came from slaves, derived from hymns with themes of freedom and escape. Based on the Old Testament stories of Moses freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, “Go Down, Moses” was reportedly used by Harriet Tubman as a code song while operating the Underground Railroad. As America ended the Civil War and its class and race divides evolved, protest music also shifted and adapted with the music of the early 20th century. More advanced music recording started to take place in the 1930s, and record players and radios became more mainstream. This technological advancement meant that songs could escalate outside of oral tradition, and gain more traction. This evolved into the first stage of “pop,” with genres like big band, jazz, and ragtime emerging. More dynamic protest music followed soon after, with music and lyrics that became more complex than the simple, easy to learn Civil War era songs. With the advent of modern folk music on radios in the 1940s following World War II, popular protest music gained even more traction and dominated the scene until the chaotic late 1960s and early 1970s. Using the mostly acoustic format, folk musicians like Pete Seeger and, ten or so years later, Peter, Paul, Mary, and Joan Baez, aired their political views to a country reeling from the civil rights movement and heading into the Vietnam War. The music brought political movements together because it was skillfully composed and had both direct political criticism and a lot of metaphors. Both protestors and fans were able to engage with and take ownership of songs in a new way as a result of songs being performed at large concerts and aired on television. The folk protest movement was sparked by the Oklahoma singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie, who is arguably the most well-known figure in the genre. During the Dust Bowl, Guthrie grew up in a working-class household, discussing socialism around campfires and listening to protest songs by labor organizer and singer Joe Hill.
As musicians from a variety of genres use their platforms to highlight topics like racial justice, economic injustice, and the presidential election, music in 2024, and into 2025, continues to be an influential mirror of America’s political and social inequalities. With musicians like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole incorporating themes of social injustice and resistance into their songs, hip-hop remains a dominant medium for political expression. It is becoming more and more expected of pop singers to speak out as well; Beyoncé’s Renaissance period and Billie Eilish’s environmental activism serve as examples of how mainstream musicians address global concerns. In a time of extreme polarization and cancel culture, some musicians are avoiding direct political remarks out of fear of negative reactions. TikTok’s emergence as a political battleground has also changed the way protest music circulates, with indie artists’ viral soundbites frequently influencing political debate just as much as well-known chart-topping songs. In this context, music reflects America’s profound ideological divisions while also acting as a uniting factor.
