Why don't the current mainstream pop stars care about social issues?
 

Back during the 70's and civil rights movement we had artists like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayweather etc who made socially conscious music that reflected the times.

I ask this question because currently it appears we still are a society that faces similar issues, Ferguson, Black Live Matters Movement etc.

However, none of the current music reflects any of the social issues or important conversations that evolve around the problems that affect Americans today.

Why should we always look to Stevie Wonder for social tributes when we have current artists today that can use their influence to talk about the same things?


I think it is quite alarming especially that NONE of the mainstream Black A list artists had nothing to say about Ferguson. As an African American, I was pretty disgusted by that. I am not trying to make this into a race issue but just expressing my personal experience and opinion on the matter. This is strictly about social issues


To me that speaks volumes anyway you wanna slice it. I am not asking for these entertainers to be politicians but if they are given a platform in which they can use their music and influence to broaden an issue or bring to light a problem, why not do that?

The current generation of artists doesn't seem to care about the problems "ordinary" people face the same people that puts money in their pockets and I have always found this disturbing.

Thoughts?

Do you think artists should make music that reflects the times? Do you think music that discusses social issues helps brings to light problems that we face? Do you think this has a positive or negative impact? Do you think music can be a powerful tool in aiding in social changes or social movements?

Personally, I really care about social issues so this really matters to me.

xoxo

Posts a topic that's explicitly about race issues

"I am not trying to make this into a race issue"

Anyway regarding the discussion: I think there's more socially sensitive music out there than you think. Even unknown acts do it, hell my band's album "Frownland" is all about our ****ed up society. We may not have genuises like Marvin Gaye for example dropping stuff like "What's Goin On" anymore but none of the current A-list black artists today are anywhere near as brilliant as he or Stevie Wonder ever was so how profound of an impact would current artists be able to have anyway? I for one am not interested at all in hearing Drake or something attempt to make a political album.

This topic is not about race issues specifically but more so the issue of social issues being discussed in music.

I think that pop stars can still incorporate social issues in their music. Its quite alarming with all that is going on with various issues that affect society that they dont seem to have an interest in talking about these issues in their music. I am not expecting the music to be the same artistically as Stevies or James but at least the thought is what matters. This current generation however doesn't seem to care about social issues and are more interested in their own wealth.

It doesn't make sense to ask why pop artists themselves are not addressing social issues. The problem is why major record labels are not promoting artists that do.

They talk about it via Twitter these days.

Yeah this is just a better way of saying my point. There are plenty of socially-conscious artists out there making interesting stuff. I don't understand why we need this to be in mainstream music specifically

There are some pop stars though that do have a certain level of input in the direction of their music. Once they reach a certain level of fame or success for the label, they do have some input. Its interesting that some of the big name pop stars dont care to discuss social issues in their music like artists of the past. Yes, I agree this is also a big problem with major labels as well.

Some of the big name's oddly don't talk about it at all...

Thanks, but I am mostly talking about the big name pop stars.

Well I just think it is interesting because the bigger name stars of the past talked about these issues and used their platform to bring forth change. They used their music to do this and the current pop stars oddly dont care about the same issues. They dont care to use their platform to positively change society or to impact people. They seem to only care about their money and image which I think is sad.

Those two are pretty big names tbh, they come from an independent label but they have a pretty massive fan base. They reached gold status with one of their records, hit numbers two and one on the Billboard charts and iTunes sales, respectively.

If you just want black social issues, yeah maybe. Waits talks about things like that all the time, Springsteen's Wrecking ball was a very political album, Neil Young's "Living with war" the same, U2 never shut up about it, Marillion have a seventeen-minute track called "Gaza" (shut up Frown!) on their latest album, hell, even Roseanne Cash and Steve Earle are talkin' about issues. So, you know, people are singing about the world we live in and its injustices and inequalities. Maybe you're just not listening to the right artistes.

You keep saying they don't care. We don't know that. And to be honest, comparing the civil rights movement with the Ferguson thing is whacked.

And don't forget that the grand jury in Ferguson spent 3 months going over all of the evidence and interviewed over 60 people before they decided not to indict that cop. So it might not be the best case for an artist to take a stand on.

why hasnt George RR Martin wrote anything about Ferguson?

The race riots are coming. Just a few more chapters on Daenyers' hair.

Did you read the title of this thread?

I am not asking to be smart but asking as a serious question because none of these artists fit the description of the artists I was referring to in my question.

I referred to the current mainstream artists :)

You're calling Springsteen and Young other than mainstream? And Roseanne Cash is Johnny's daughter, so unless you just mean "pop" artistes, in which case your question answers itself, then your argument is invalid. And if you think U2 are not mainsteam, then words fail me.

Nah. Completely depends on your definition of mainstream, dunnit?

She called you old.

The more "mainstream" an artist is the less interesting they are to me /thread

ONCE AGAIN,

CURRENT mainstream.

hahaha I am not talking about old school pop singers, do you understand now?

Why is that?

Katy Perry was trying to raise awareness of shark attacks during the Superbowl halftime show, so that is a step in the right direction.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam...xlarge-169.jpg

I am.
No I do not. If you mean current mainstream, all the artistes I named are that. Just because they don't fit into your narrow definition of what is mainstream does not exclude them.

I do notice the subtext of your OP though, as I'm sure everyone else has. Why don't you just admit you mean black mainstream artistes, which is why you're trying to prove Springsteen, U2 etc are not mainstream where they quite clearly are. If you mean black artistes, say black artistes. It's interesting you haven't mentioned in your OP any of the problems afflicting the world that don't centre on black people.

I've no problem if you mean black artists, but if you do then say it, don't hide behind generalities and trying to redefine what is mainstream and what is not.
Just be honest. And also, a bit of a more concillatory tone, or just a polite one, would be nice. I'm not an idiot. Please don't talk to me as if I am one.

I listen to Avant/Progressive music, mainstream is totally boring to me.

Um, I think you'll find it was the sharks trying to raise awareness of Katy Perry attacks... ;)

Maybe they don't want to use their music as a socio-political soapbox. Maybe their opinions are personal. I don't see why they are expected to speak out just because of their media presence. Honestly, I'd rather they didn't along with everyone else who isn't educated about a topic. Far too many uneducated people argue over politics, religion, economics, etc when they don't wholly understand what kind of effects their ideology would have on the system they are criticizing.

I also don't like the fact that you restrict this to A list artists. I can give you a fuck ton of social-politically conscious artists that are not mainstream.

Also, here is a mainstream example:

Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass

I'm on Soulflower's side for once so I'll help explain: she is referring to current popular artists. Those artists that you named have all been in the game for a long time now, and while they are still relevant I believe that she is talking about artists who started more recently and help define this generation of music (for better or worse). U2 is popular as ****, but I wouldn't go around saying that they're one of the greatest bands of the oughts (if I liked them, that is).

EDIT: On Soulflower's side in the minidebate with TH, I disagree with the OP still.

Lol. She was embarrassing. Missy tore that stage up though!!!

I am not talking to you like you are an idiot. I am not sure where your attitude is coming from because when I ask if you read the OP question I insisted that I was not trying to be smart and clarified the artists I was referring too.

I am not sure why you think that I am talking about ALL mainstream artists when I am pretty specific in my OP post of the type of mainstream artists I am referring too.

I am not sure how I can clarify the type of mainstream artists I am referring too because I feel like I have. Once again, I am not talking about older mainstream artists. I am also not referring to any type of race in particular. However, I was surprised that none of the current black pop stars had anything to say about the Ferguson protests however I have made it clear that I am mostly focusing on social issues and not race

I am specifically referring to CURRENT mainstream artists i.e. Beyonce, Jay Z, Katy Perry, Nikki, Kanye, Taylor Swift etc. I am not talking about older mainstream artists and if you still want to insist otherwise than I don't know what to tell you.

I am not sure how I can explain or clarify my point any clearer than that.

You seem to be the one that is arrogant and has some type of attitude toward my question for whatever reason.

I feel like every thread you post I say the exact same thing. Kanye West. Beyonce too, Pretty Hurts was a big hit last year. Great song and concerned with social issues.

Thanks

Also, I am aware that there are other conscious artists besides mainstream but just pointing out an observation that I notice.

So you don't think that pop stars have a social responsibility once they reach a certain level? Do you think pop stars should at least be in touch with problems that affect everyday people?

That song was a forced song and was unconvincing. Beyonce is fake. After what she did with Ledisi I realize she is nothing but a phony and a spot light hogger.

Cool.

Who said they are not in touch with problems going on in the world. You keep going there and I don't know why.

And no, they have zero responsibility just becasue they are successful.

Again the civil rights movement was a HUGE thing. Ferguson is a blip by comparison.

It might be because we aren't having a civil rights movement right now. I would've seen something about that on TV.

-No. I think they have greater power to do so but they should not feel obligated anymore than any other member of society. I don't put these people on a pedestal.

-If they are interested in it. Again, I don't expect them to do anything different from any other member of society. They aren't special, their career just happens to put them in the spotlight.