The Billboard Music Awards aired Wednesday night, and musician Demi Lovato performed her powerful, politically-charged ballad “Commander In Chief.” The heartfelt song critiqued President Donald Trump’s leadership. Lovato’s new single demands sympathy and it is a song that voices the concerns every American needs to listen to as they head to the voting polls this November.
The lyrics are direct, addressing significant issues impacting Americans during these unprecedented, tumultuous times. Lovato is speaking to the President on behalf of the American people stating, “I’m not the only one / That’s been affected and resented every story you’ve spun.”
Lovato craftily weaves in urgent issues at the top of voters’ minds in this year’s upcoming election, such as nonsensical ‘herd immunity’ response to the coronavirus response: “We’re in a state of crisis, people are dyin’ / While you line your pockets deep.” Lovato’s lyrics touch on the Black Lives Matter protests plight, proclaiming, “Commander in Chief, how does it fell to still / Be able to breathe.”
Lovato released the music video for the song after her Billboard Music Awards performance, and the video perfectly compliments the song. The video’s ensemble showed diversity, an array of people from different backgrounds, singing her lyrics, enhancing the idea that this song is the words from the American people to the President.
Most notably from the music video, is the elder man wearing a hat that reads “Make America United Again,” a parody to the divisively favored hats used for President Trump’s campaign that reads “Make America Great Again.”
Lovato has received backlash—as expected—for singing an honest song about America’s current state. Her response to those unsupportive of her new song was exquisite as she took to her Instagram story and wrote “I’m … bummed that you expect me, a queer Hispanic woman, to silence my views/beliefs in order to please my audience.”
Demi Lovato is not the first musician to criticize a sitting president through her music. Musician P!nk wrote about former President George W. Bush in 2006 with her song “Dear Mr. President.”
Today, more celebrities, ranging from actors and musicians to athletes, are speaking up, becoming politically and socially charged. When celebrities use their platforms to voice the value of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, they should not be met with ridicule and “canceled.” This condemnation of celebrities speaking about injustices for the voiceless needs to stop because passive bystanders unintentionally support offenders instead of advocating for the oppressed.
If people did not understand the upcoming election’s magnitude, Demi Lovato provided direct, visual messaging to comprehend the dire stakes. Her song directly sends the message of the lack of empathy President Trump has had regarding these alarming issues. Demi Lovato succinctly crafted a beautiful piece about America’s current climate and state, something she should be praised for and not ridiculed nor denigrated for.
Iana Fields is a sophomore studying English creative writing at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Iana? Tweet her @FieldsIana.
