Been thinking a bit about this, popular music (the ones that hit top 100 charts or whatever) never has lyrics that point out real problems or point to culprits and how they’re fucking our shit, which is very easy to find in punk rock and some variations, as well as rap.
Of course, part of the problem are the record labels themselves, which often hold artists “hostage” in order to profit off them. Bigger ones will obviously prefer to avoid having such lyrics become popular.
Still, there seems to be absolute zero songs in certain genres that even come within 10 meters of talking/singing/teaching/bringing awareness about situations that affect a LOT of listeners, even from far away, and would be extremely helpful in spreading some knowledge.
Granted, doing so is easier said than done, a catchy tune that calls out big oil’s many attempts to burn the world, or big pharma’s frequent price gouging, aren’t things “any idiot” can come up with. But that nobody outside “angry” genres seems to be doing it is what saddens me.
Alternatively, most people don’t want to hear about such things in music because it’s an escape for them. When I’m listening to music its because I want to zone out and forget the world. Often because I’m stressed or overwhelmed. I can relax to the music and drift off.
Every other part of the world is enraged about social issues. Social media, news, TV and movies, advertising, politics, idle chit chat, even the products you buy when they have banners and shit on them. Art can be used to heighten social issues but it’s also used just as frequently to hide away from them and give yourself a reprieve from the storm.