12 environmentally conscious songs to add to your playlist

If music has the power to bring people together, it can also convey important messages. Songs for a cause, including environmental ones, help raise awareness, challenge and inspire the public to take action: these are known as “protest songs” (or, in French, chansons de protestation).

Many artists, both French and international, use their fame and songwriting talent to speak out about the climate, the environment and biodiversity, warning the world about the threats facing our planet. 

The Meanwhile Boutique team has put together a selection of 10 songs for a cause to “green” your playlist (the full playlist can be found at the end of the article).

More than 39 minutes of music for the environment

#1 - [ Earth ] by Lil Dicky 

To raise awareness of the consequences of global warming, rapper Lil Dicky called on more than thirty international artists for the hit “Earth”. Ariana Grande, Sia, Bad Bunny, Adam Levine and many others agreed to lend their voices to portray wild animals in this song for a cause. The music video was made with the support of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which is highly involved in environmental issues. 

All proceeds were donated to various non-profit organizations working for the well-being of the planet, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.
 

#2 - [ Ta planète ] by Tryo 

“Dans ton corps, dans ton cœur, c'est ta planète
Ta maison, ton trésor, que tu maltraites
"C'est ton arbre que tu brûles d'une allumette
Tu as entre tes mains le soleil de demain”

The French band Tryo is no stranger to protest hits. After singing an ode to nature and the animal kingdom in "L’hymne de nos campagnes" 24 years ago, Tryo returned this year with “Ta Planète”, a song expressing the importance of protecting our Earth. Its poignant lyrics are illustrated by an equally alarming music video showing the ecological situation: a burning house and a little girl scrolling through television channels showing natural disasters. 

Since forming, the French band has been highly involved in environmental issues and supports numerous NGOs, including Greenpeace, Colibris and Sea Shepherd. In 2008, the band released “Ce que l’on sème”, an eco-friendly album whose booklet was printed on paper from sustainably managed forests.

You can also discover products designed to preserve forests.

#3 - [ All the Good Girls Go To Hell ] by Billie Eilish 

With the music video for “All the good girls go to hell” (all the good girls go to hell in French), Billie Eilish conveys an important message. Portraying an angel fallen from heaven landing on Earth in what appears to be an oil slick, the opening images depict the devastation of oil spills. A fallen and soiled angel, tainted by its environment, with equally ambiguous lyrics. 

Through her music and numerous actions, the American singer has not hesitated to use her influence to speak out about the planet. In June 2022, Billie Eilish organized “Overheated” (overheated) at London’s O2 Arena, a series of climate conferences featuring numerous speakers as part of her latest tour, “Happier Than Ever” (happier than ever).

#4 - [ Baise le monde ] by Orelsan 

“New weekend, new flow, new tracksuit
I haven't even taken off the tag
(Wow, wow, wow, wow, what's that?
What's this marvel, bro? What's this tracksuit?
Where does this tracksuit come from?
An Indian paid two euros a day plants a seed
Which he waters with carcinogenic chemicals
After six months and a lot of water, like eight thousand liters
It produces a kilo of cotton that he ships to China
Where it's sorted, washed, and spun to make yarn
In a Chinese factory bordering on slavery”

Among the most popular rappers in France, Orelsan plays with rhymes and metaphors to denounce ecological disasters. In this song, he highlights the reality of pollution and overconsumption caused by human activity. Plastic in the oceans, exploitation in factories, the use and devastating effects of chemicals… no environmental or social issue is overlooked.
Just like Meanwhile Boutique, which selects these committed brands according to an eco-responsible charter of 17 values.

“Baise le monde” is not Orelsan's only song for a cause. Environmentalism is also one of the main themes that inspired the rapper for his latest album, “Civilisation”. 
 

#5 - [ Earth song ] by Michael Jackson

It is one of the most popular songs about environmentalism. At the time, environmental issues were already a concern. The idea of "Earth Song came to the king of pop in the 1980s, while he was on tour in Austria. One evening in his hotel room, he imagined a song where the Earth becomes a human being, capable of feeling the pain of the wounds inflicted by pollution, deforestation, war or animal cruelty. The song was released a few years later accompanied by an equally poignant music video filmed in all corners of the world - Croatia, Tanzania, Brazil and the United States.

Michael Jackson was highly committed to environmental and social issues. He co-wrote “We are the world” with Lionel Richie, a charity work in favor of the fight against hunger in Africa, and also founded the Heal The World Foundation to provide assistance to children and the environment.

You can also discover brands offering products with a human and social impact, working with NGOs, ESATs and associations and/or supporting solidarity, environmental and humanitarian projects.

#6 - [ Les séquoias ] by Pomme

“Before the murdered trees
Before everything is gone
I want to go back to the alley
Hear the redwoods cry”

Through a gentle ballad with the air of a lullaby, the singer Pomme evokes environmentalism and the climate dangers threatening the planet. For this song, she draws inspiration from her stay in Burgundy where she isolated herself to compose her album. Pomme discovers an alley of redwoods, these tall trees with impressive trunks, which give her the impression of breathing again…but this is accompanied by a deep concern for the future of wildlife and flora, devastated by human activity. 

“Les séquoias” is not Pomme's only song for a cause. Environmentalism being a subject that is especially close to her heart, the French artist displays her commitment to the planet and the environment in “les animaux sont nos amis”, a song whose proceeds allowed the adoption of a beluga in Quebec.

By the way, do you know Pomme leather? It is a vegan material alternative to animal leather. It can be found on shoes or bags. Discover the wide choice of vegan products offered by Meanwhile Boutique.
 

#7 - [ Beds are burning ] by Midnight Oil

“Beds are Burning” (our beds are burning) denounces the impact of human activities on the planet and more precisely, the exploitation of the Australian Aboriginal Pintupi lands by British settlers. Invited by indigenous populations to come and perform in remote regions of Australia, the members of the band Midnight Oil, were able to see with their own eyes the living conditions of these peoples forcibly driven from their own lands. They then decide to make a song about it. 

Peter Garrett, the singer of Midnight Oil, is highly committed to the planet. From 2007 to 2010, he puts down his microphone for politics and becomes Minister of the Environment, then Minister of Education in Australia.
 

#8 - [ Aux arbres citoyens ] by Yannick Noah

“Since we must change things
To the citizen trees!
It is high time we stand up
A world for tomorrow!
No more time to know who is to blame
To rely on luck or others
Now we fight
With you, I believe in it”

Inspired by the lyrics of the Marseillaise, “To the citizen trees” is an anthem in favor of ecology. In this song, Yannick Noah urges all the citizens of the world to commit themselves to the planet while denouncing the inaction of world leaders. His music video is playful with simple animations, to understand the environmental consequences affecting our planet. 

“To the citizen trees” is not the former tennis player's only committed project. The artist also participates in numerous charitable works and sponsors several associations, notably Enfants de la Terre, Terre-des-Hommes in Switzerland or even the “Children's Appeal for the Environment” operation by the ecological organization WWF France.
 

#9 - [ Fake Plastic Trees ] by Radiohead

Many interpretations have been created around “Fake Plastic Trees” (fake plastic trees) : and one of them is linked to ecology. For many people, this song by Radiohead seems to evoke the theme of mass consumption. According to the singer of the British band, Thom Yorke, it would refer to London's largest business center, Canary Wharf. The music video for this song takes place in a supermarket where Thom is pushed into a shopping cart wandering among several characters in a long aisle filled with colorful cans. 

Thom Yorke and the band Radiohead are fervent environmental activists. Moreover, their album “The Eraser” is inspired by environmental issues. For years, they have been pressuring the British government to push it to adopt strong laws against climate change. Among the efforts related to their musical activity, the band pays great attention to the places where it performs. It advocates for venues accessible by public transport and takes measures to limit its carbon footprint during its tours. 

#10 - [ Y’a plus de saisons ] - Gauvain Sers

“It's true that the weather is superb
For a Sunday in February"

"There are those who are already tanning on the grass
And those who worry about the degrees”

Gauvain Sers, a young artist from Creuse, uses his committed pen in “Y’a plus de saisons” and makes the observation of a world in full agony. On a cheerful tune, he lays out the different issues weighing on the environment such as climate change, drought, deforestation or even fires. Lyrics that he puts into images in his music video by playing an ice cream vendor on a bike in the deserted streets of Paris, where the inhabitants are in search of the slightest drop of water. The singer seems to be their last hope, the only one who can help them thanks to the ice cream scoops that could cool them down.

A commitment to the planet that the French artist also maintains in his daily life. In an interview given to Make.org in 2019, he explains having changed “little things” in his lifestyle to become more and more eco-responsible like using less plastic by favoring a reusable water bottle, deleting his useless emails or even doing his shopping in organic stores. 

Discover even more tips to switch to a more responsible lifestyle in our eco-inspiring blog.
 

#11 - Chanson climatique - Le Caribou Volant

"Since we must change things"
"To the citizen trees !"
"It is high time we propose"
"A world for tomorrow"

Le Caribou Volant offers us with "Chanson climatique" a committed and powerful track. Extracted from the album Yapadam l’écho logique (2018), this title highlights the major environmental issues of our time, from global warming to overconsumption.

Through striking images in his music video and a poignant text, this song illustrates the consequences of our lifestyles and invites a collective awareness. The music video, directed by Ninon Moreau, mixes documentary sequences and advertising extracts to denounce the impact of large industries on our planet.

A title that echoes contemporary ecological challenges and pushes us to act right now for a more sustainable future, which we defend every day at Meanwhile Boutique.

#12 - [ La chanson de Meanwhile Boutique ] - EauDeRé

🎶 The committed song of Meanwhile Boutique 💚

A huge thank you to Audrey alias EauDeRé for this concert and this improvised song during the inauguration of our committed pop-up in Marseille ✨

We take this opportunity to tell you Thank you !
Thank you for your support and your efforts for a more responsible lifestyle.

✨ When will the full album of Meanwhile Boutique committed songs be released?

This selection is only a small handful of committed music. There are thousands of protest songs ! Although music carries messages, we must not forget that other artists are activists for the environment through other art forms: painting, literature, drawing... 

To di[vert]sify your playlist:

In the meantime, here is the full playlist on Spotify right here:

So, what is your favorite committed song? If you know any others, feel free to share them with us in the comments 👇🏼

Sources: 

・20 minutes Planète, Billie Eilish announces climate conferences on the sidelines of her "Happier Than Ever" tour 
・Trends, "All The Good Girls Go To Hell", Billie Eilish's new enigmatic music video on global warming
・Pioche Mag, Singer Billie Eilish rewarded for her eco-commitment
・Reporterre, Tryo : "Ecology, it's the fight of David and Goliath"
・RFM, Tryo unveils a new music video for "Ta Planète"
・Radio France, Rap and ecology: the lights are green 
・RTL, Michael Jackson : "Earth Song", a song as a form of protest
・Pure Charts, Pomme chooses "Les séquoias", a committed song on ecology, as a new single