13 Songs About Making A Difference

Last Updated on: February 18, 2023

Many people think that making a difference requires one to do something enormous to have any effect but that isn’t the case. At some point in life, we all get that inspiration to want to do something that will be remembered once we are gone. Here is a list of songs about making a difference.

1. Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror

This is the fourth single from Michael Jackson’s album Bad. He switches from self-reflection using himself as a model to try and get the message that every person needs to make a change individually. To change the world and make it better, he realizes that the place to start is himself. He has to put his own house in order first.

The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks.

 

2. Big Sean – One Man Can Change The World

Big Sean reflects on the positive influences in his life, the struggles he faced to get to where he is now and how his grandmother influenced his life. Speaking to MTV, he had this to say about his grandmother when she passed:

I just lost my grandma, so, right before she passed, I wrote this song. A major part of the song is about her. She never got a chance to hear it. It’s just an emotional thing. And I’ve got my mom here with me.

I’m having a hard time accepting her death, but I must acknowledge my grandma’s life, a true hero

 

3. John Mayer – Waiting On The World To Change

The song is about John and his generation’s inaction in regard to current world conditions. The youth feel powerless and feel as though they don’t have the means to fight because they are young and to some degree ignorant and scared. He also talks about the leaders’ corruption and their disconnect.

The song is from John Mayer’s 2006 studio album Continuum and was able to win the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.

 

4. Justin Bieber – Pray

Justin sings about the different problems that he has seen on TV affecting people all over the world. He sympathizes with the children suffering, soldiers having to die in wars they are sent to and the homeless. He wants to find a way to make his contribution to making the world a better place. He feels bad leaving some food on the plate because some people would die to have just a little food we want to throw out.

Justin stated he was inspired to do the song by Michael Jackson’s ‘Man In The Mirror’.

 

5. Various Artists – We Are The World

The song was done as a way to raise funds for Haiti and featured several popular artists at the time. It was a remake of the 1985 song We Are The World by USA for Africa. The main objective was to raise attention to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and to raise funds for the people who suffered from it.

 

6. The Black Eyed Peas – Where Is The Love?

The song was inspired by police brutality, racism and terrorism. The Blackeyed Peas want to strike up a conversation and invite unwanted thoughts in order to resolve them. This way we can kill the negativity and have more actual love. There was also a call to the society asking them to practice what they preached in church which is love for everyone.

This was the first song to feature Fergie as an official group member.

 

7. Demo Lovato & Joe Jonas – Make A Wave

The song was done for Disney’s Friends for Change project. The song is about working together to make a change.

 

8. Michael Jackson – Heal The World

It is another one of Michael’s many anthems on improving the world’s circumstances. He is telling others to be considerate not for just themselves but the next person and to look out for someone else other than themselves.

 

9. Ben Harper – With My Two Hands

Ben sings about making a change in the world for the better just by using his own personal efforts to do small things which can add up to something big.

 

10. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Same Love

This is a song from the album The Heist and has played a big part in making the issue of gay and lesbian equality more understandable to mainstream audiences. The singers try to push the message that being gay is not a choice and it’s something one cannot change. Love is love no matter who is giving it and who is receiving it.

The track hit number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song that explicitly promotes same-sex marriage to hit the Top 40 in the US.

 

11. Matthew West – Do Something

The song starts out with West noticing the high amount of trouble the world is currently in and wondering how we will turn it around. He turns to God and asks why He isn’t doing something. The thoughts of people living in poverty and children sold into slavery disgust him.

West then continues to state that God has empowered us all to be able to make the change that we want to see. He calls for us to help those in need.

 

12. Beyonce – I Was Here

In this track, Beyonce sings about how she wants to be remembered long after she’s gone or done with her career. She wants to end things knowing that she changed lives and has been a postive influence on people.

 

13. Justin Bieber – Children

This is a collab with Skrillex whereby the main message is making a positive impact on the world. It is part of the album Purpose and was certified gold by the RIAA.