The message was clear during the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. During the broadcast, which aired on NBC on Oct. 14, several left-wing singers posted a message to quit and vote.
Billie Eilish, who supported Joe Biden and spoke at DNC, was the first artist to mention the vote. She accepted the award as a top artist and reminded viewers of the vote and of being safe in the year of the coronavirus.
Oh my god this is so crazy. Thank you Billboard thank you to all of the women who have come before me and paved the way for me. I love you, please vote. Please wear a mask, please wash your hands, be safe.
The longest political speech came from Lizzo, who announced the impeachment of President Trump last year. She won the Top Song Sales Artist Award. Lizzo freaked out in a VOTE outfit, talking about oppression.
Lizzo: Hello. I just want to say thank you to Billboard, thank you to Atlantic, thank you to Team Lizzo, thank you to everyone who listens to my music and supports me. Just want to say I’ve thought a lot about oppression and The voices that refuse to be suppressed I wonder if I would be standing here now if it weren’t for the big black women who refused to have their voices suppressed I just want to say for now, when you are at home and watching This, you are thinking about changing yourself to feel worthy. This is your sign to stay true to who you are. Let me tell you something When people try to suppress something, it’s usually because that thing has power, they’re afraid of your power, there is power in who you are, there is power in your voice. Whether through music, protests or your right to vote, use your power, use your voice and refuse to be oppressed. Thanks to Billboard.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms introduced the winner of the Inaugural Billboard Change-Maker Award. She began her speech by acknowledging, “There are difficult times across the country. Americans are living with the effects of COVID-19, economic hardship and the crushing pain of systemic racism. “The winner of the award was the rapper Killer Mike from Atlanta.
Singer Demi Lovato sang her anti-Trump song for the audience. The song is titled “Commander in Chief” and she repeats the line “How does it feel to be able to breathe?” This is probably indicative of the police brutality and street protests / riots, as the lyrics also include, “We’ll be on the street while you bunker.” From the chorus: “Commander-in-Chief, honestly / If I had done the things you did I couldn’t sleep / Seriously, do you even know the truth? / We are in a crisis, people are dying / While you lay down your pockets deep. “
Interestingly, the show didn’t show the big word “VOTE” that appeared behind her at the end of the song, even though the NBC official account tweeted a picture of it:
The Billboard Awards weren’t as news-heavy as one might expect, but it was certainly enough to make many roll the eyes of activists. I suppose it was too much to expect a lecture-free awards ceremony this year, especially just before the general election in November.
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