Let me start by saying that conscious music is still out there but unlike back then when it was easily accessible these days we have to go out of our way to find it. I remember Lukas Graham said, “please give me a redemption song we need one real bad, no one seems to write them now that John and Bob are gone but all I know is, we need one right now.” I resonated with that statement and I would like to talk about that.
A LITTLE BACKSTORY
Songs that talk about the times we are in and what we are going through have always been there and as I have already said, they were readily available and blasting throughout our radios, televisions and all forms of platforms that we used to store or have music on before the age of streaming. Music has always been a tool, for resistance, propaganda, awareness, healing, relaxation and Artists were very observant of that; they would highlight some of these themes throughout their career, I do believe through the passing of time some of these themes have evolved or better yet the consumer has started shaping what they would rather consume in turn creating a system where the consumer + producer + transporter have made the decision of what they would rather choose to push forward. This has given the opportunity for negativity to be what gets to be shoved down our throats via our eyes but mostly our ears. Labels get to decide, consumers get to accept, artists get to cater to that. Back then they would resist and put out whatever inspired them regardless of chasing charts, streams, sales or accolades.
I’m speeding, I’mma keep trying
I’m going, I’mma keep riding
Even though life tries to hurt me every time
If I leave, I’m not leaving in silence
You won’t see me crying
You gon’ see the fire in my eyes
If I go, I’mma start a riot
I’m fighting for my life, yeah
I’mma give y’all all of me tonight
If I leave
Present Day Music
I was listening to What a day by Naika. She talks about crime, she talks about war, she talks about the destruction of the environment, she talks about cancer and she talks about the state of being foreign in different countries and how it affects people but at the same time, people turn a blind eye to it instead the world keeps on going.
What a day indeed, foreign troops came into Haiti
So much suffering from the greed, and the world keeps going
What a day for crime, kids are dying in Palestinе
Blood is paving Congolese mines, and thе world keeps goingWhat a day to breathe, poisoned air to chemical seas
Planet’s wrecked, it’s hard to believe how the world keeps going
With lyrics that are clear and loud as this, how can we not pay attention and fully grasp what is going on around us.
A lot of present day music that is on repeat in our gadgets and in traditional media, is music that rarely teach. I am in support of music that empowers one self, a little gloating BUT at the end of the day that is not what I enjoy listening to all the time. The songs are barely artistic and encourage people to growth or even opening people up to what is happening in the world.
GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE
During the Apartheid regime in South Africa, Mirriam Makeba stood tall and used her beautiful voice to tell the stories of the plight of the African people. She artistically wove different stories that highlighted the home that she had been kicked and locked out of, firmly talking about the oppression, the theft that happened and stems way further than 1886. Ayra Starr in Who’s that girl makes a nod to Ken Sarowiwa who happened to be a freedom fighter via motivation. Bob Marley sang about freedom and redemption, Michael Jackson sang about protecting children and trying to make the world a better place.
Oliver Mtukudzi sang about Aids, Evison Matafale was bold and sang about peace and change to the point that the current government of that day jailed him and he later lost his life. It is not like these artist didn’t have a lot to lose when they sang about these actual living experiences, people were reminded of their past, they were warned, they were motivated, they were consoled. But today we wake up and look forward to a release of an artist telling us about how well endowed they are and how good in bed they are, artist who don’t progress past cheating, killing and promiscuity.
WHAT CHANGED?
Ed Sheeran currently has a tour that is in North America right now, during that tour Macklemore on his set decided to talk about a cause that is dear to him. The safety of the children in Gaza, The freedom of Palestine and how the war is affecting them. P!nk went on her social media and started ranting, that opened up conversation online where other people were calling the Thrift store artist an Anti-semitic which he decided to go on his socials to deny but further solidify hi stance on Palestine and the children in Gaza.
Robert Kraft a billionaire that owns Gillete, an american football team, a stadium and several businesses. The man is popularly known for being close with Israel’s prime minister and allegedly close friends of the late infamous Jeffrey Epstein. Robert sends an ultimatum to Ed telling him to kick Macklemore or lose out playing in his stadium, he also lobbied other stadium owners to do the same. Fearing for his pockets, Ed decides to kick Macklemore off his tour and his reasoning was:
I don’t take sides. I have kids coming to the show I would rather have them not hear that.
well maybe he didn’t say exactly that, but he might as well have. For a man that is singing about Coitus to these so called children, the man who performed for Ukraine doesn’t take sides.
Well due to this, Ed has ended up losing his open acts which include Lukas Graham, Finneas, and his main band.
A lot of artists now let money dictate their movements, their songs, their engagement topics. This has created a world where people would rather fall for anything than stand for something that could or would potentially bring help.
THE REALITY
The world is slowly waking up, some people no longer wait for billionaires, artists to dictate how they feel. Even so Art is supposed to be full expression, if creatives continue to create from trends, if they continue to avoid the hard hitting conversations, if they continue to skirt around causes that their consumers are directly affected by; then what are they doing? Where are the artist that would sing about the children being the future and needing to be taught well so they can lead the way to a better future? Who will sing about paradise road and how paradise is almost closing now. Who will sing about a change that is going to come? who will sing about global warming,? who will sing about child labour? who will sing about hunger? who will sing about abuse?
IN SUMMARY
Conscious music brings so many changes, people can dance but also understand the realities of the world we are living in. When Stromae sang Papaoutai (people just danced), he sang about celebrating those who are hardly celebrated (people still danced), when Outkast sang Hey Ya (they didn’t listen they just danced). This shows that the decline has been happening for a while.
We need to go back to listening and creating music that will push/encourage us to change, help, care, move.
P.S: This is a link to some of the songs that inspire change, highlight issues and more. I will slowly be adding to it, take a listen.
WordsOfWizdom 
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