From Marvin Gaye to Childish Gambino, “Earth Song” to “S.O.S) here are 12 popular environmental songs released over the past 50 years.
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Artists often use their art to offer their commentary and spark conversations on the political, social, and cultural landscapes of their time. At the moment, there seems to be no more poignant example than Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter. The 27-track album that sees the 32-time Grammy-winning artist challenge genres and constrictions still imposed on Black artists even after the Civil Rights Movement. Similarly, the topic I’m here to talk about today is equally as important as racism’s prevalence in America and similarly has been one that artists have been singing about for decades. Today, I’m here to talk about the artists who have let out a rallying cry or tearful wail about what is happening to our beloved home. Well, not really talk. I’ll let the artists’ words and visuals do the talking. I am here to share the songs that highlight the destruction of climate change.
Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” and others on this list have been released over the span of 50 years. That’s a long time for artists to comment on fossil fuel pollution, the loss of biodiversity, deforestation, air pollution, and countless other environmental disasters plaguing our global society for generations. Listening to these lyrics, struck a chord within me. While society has made progress- banning certain single-use plastic items, cleaning up our water resources, creating legislation to reduce deforestation, etc.- urgent actions must be taken now to combat the impacts of climate change. After all, wouldn’t it be nice if songs like “Earth Song” became a commentary about our past and not our future?
"Ah, things ain't what they used to be. Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas. Fish full of mercury. Radiation underground and in the sky. Animals and birds who live nearby are dying."
Mercy Mercy Me ~ Marvin Gaye ~ 1971
Big Yellow Taxi ~ Joni Mitchell ~1971
A Day In The Life Of A Tree ~ The Beach Boys ~ 1971
License To Kill ~ Bob Dylan ~ 1983
Indian Summer Sky ~ U2~ 1984
Natural Beauty ~ Neil Young ~ 1992
Earth Song ~ Michael Jackson ~ 1995
S.O.S (Mother Nature) ~ Will.I.Am ~ 2007
Skies of L.A. ~ Celine Dion ~ 2007
Eyes Wide Open ~ Gotye ~ 2011
Feels Like Summer ~ Childish Gambino ~ 2018
All The Good Girls Go To hell ~ Billie Eilish ~ 2019
