2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the least. A worldwide pandemic, an historic human rights movement, and the death of legendary musicians has rocked the world unlike any year in recent memory. Live concerts, festivals and tours have come to a stop. Planned album release cycles have been put on hold. Several artists have released singles that help us connect and deal with the issues that 2020 has forced upon us. These are our Five Fave Rock Singles of 2020 So Far.
#5 – Shinedown – Atlas Falls
“We need music, and each other, now more than ever as we all are witnessing a global pandemic, unlike anything we’ve ever seen in many generations. Years ago during the writing and recording of the ‘Amaryllis’ album, there was a song that meant a great deal to us titled “Atlas Falls.” It has never been more clear to us than right now, that the time has come for the never before heard song, “Atlas Falls” to arrive. We’ve partnered with an incredible organization, Direct Relief, who are doing important work globally to help the medical community receive the protective equipment they need in order to save lives. As the world responds to this global pandemic, we want to offer a message of optimism and faith in humanity. We ask that you share this anthem of strength and show the world how you’re delivering optimism and awareness during this time.” – Shinedown
It won’t pull me down
The weight of impossible days
I’ll stand tall
I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
#4 – Black Veil Brides – American Skin (41 Shots)
“‘American Skin (41 Shots)’ is a song originally written and performed by Bruce Springsteen inspired by the police shooting and death of a young black man named Amadou Diallo in New York City in the late 90’s. Tragically the subject matter of this song is as relevant today as it’s ever been and so we wanted to share with you our own rendition of this song and urge you to donate to support the movement for justice and anti racist organizations. While obviously a song alone will not be an inflection point for societal change, we as artists wanted to share something in support of this incredibly important time in history and direct you to organizations who are at the forefront of effecting real change and fighting against the systemic oppression and racism that the black community and people of color face every single day.” – Black Veil Brides
If an officer stops you
Promise me you’ll always be polite
And that you’ll never ever run away
Promise Mama, you’ll keep your hands in sight
#3 – Machine Head (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) – Stop The Bleeding
“I wrote and sang the lyrics on Wednesday May 27th, 2020, the day that the four officers who murdered George Floyd were (originally) not charged with anything. This day was engulfed in protests and riots across America. I drove into Oakland, past large demonstrations already happening and, in a fury, wrote down everything I was feeling after watching the horrific footage. Within hours, what I wanted to say, what I needed to say, had been recorded in the song.” – Robb Flynn, Machine Head
I stare and look out at the world in disgust
These men are dying over nothing just
Good men stand up and show your bravery
For a lost democracy
Our democracy
#2 – FEVER 333 – Supremacy
“The advantages we predict we will see if crossing demographics musically to proliferate a message that MUST find its way over the barriers of genre. Music and art have served as the catalyst for socially inclined movements for as long as we can remember, but for some reason, at a time where we are now granted the ability to see how deeply flawed our system is, we have slowed the charge for change. FEVER 333 has dedicated its entire platform to that change from its inception with its music, activism, even its own charity fund that sees a percentage of proceeds funneled from all profits the project receives. This is not a marketing method this is a tool for change. Please consider widening this message for the people with FEVER 333 by joining us in this effort.” – FEVER 333
When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side
#1 – Nonpoint – Remember Me (A Frontlines Tribute)
“Essential by definition is something that is absolutely necessary; extremely important. A worker can be defined as person who does a specific kind of work. A person who achieves a specified thing as in, ‘They are working miracles.’ With this video our band is celebrating only one thing. We hope you will join us to honor, give thanks, cheer and revere those who are essential. Who work countless hours and months on end. Who put their lives at risk to keep you safe. Who leave their families just to help you feed yours. Who give their service to brave the frontlines of something mankind faces together. Who you may never meet, have the opportunity to say thank you to or whose name you may never know.” – Nonpoint
Will you remember me?
Can’t you remember why?
Even though you didn’t ask me to
I risk my life for you
Full Lyrics:
Shinedown – Atlas Falls
The push is always part of us
And gravity’s never a friend
Deciding on who we can trust
And finding our way to crescendo, to the unknown
We’ll never make it outside
Lest we unlock the past and release
The future that we’ve left to die
For too long we’ve taken placebos
But the unknown, is awakening
Don’t give up now, there’s already so much at stake
If Atlas falls, I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
No, we can never look back
Return to the salt and the sea
The quiet is only a trap
And I will not take the placebos
‘Cause the unknown is awakening
But I will crescendo
Don’t give up now, there’s already so much at stake
If Atlas falls, I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
It won’t pull me down
The weight of impossible days
I’ll stand tall
I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
Keep moving forward now
Keep your head above the clouds
I’m right with you, I will lift you
Just hold on
Don’t give up now, there’s already so much at stake
If Atlas falls, I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
It won’t pull me down (moving forward now)
The weight of impossible days (keep your head above the clouds)
I’ll stand tall (I’m right with you, I will lift you, just hold on)
I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
I’ll carry us all the way
(Keep moving forward now)
Black Veil Brides – American Skin (41 Shots)
41 shots
And we’ll take that ride
Across this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
Cut through the night
You’re kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
No secret, my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Mary gets her son ready for school
She says, “On these streets, Alex
You’ve got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise me you’ll always be polite
And that you’ll never ever run away
Promise Mama, you’ll keep your hands in sight”
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
No secret, my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it in your heart? Is it in your eyes?
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
41 shots
And we’ll take that ride
Across this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
I got my boots caked in this mud
We’re baptized in these waters (we’re baptized in these waters)
And in each other’s blood (and in each other’s blood)
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
Machine Head (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) – Stop The Bleeding
The endless scroll of human tragedy
I swipe along as the days go by
Another brother murdered out in the streets
I connect to the shame, we don’t know what it’s like
Born lucky ’cause the color of skin
America, your heart is caving in
Somehow I thought this was the land of the free
Where is our humanity?
Our humanity
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me, please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding
And some will claim it’s a conspiracy
The fake news out to undermine
When riots fight off white supremacy
Never given a choice, so they’re drawing a line
I stare and look out at the world in disgust
These men are dying over nothing just
Good men stand up and show your bravery
For a lost democracy
Our democracy
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me, please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding
Our strife
Our struggle
Fight through these open wounds
Our strife
Our struggle
Fight through these open wounds
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me, please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding now
The bleeding now
The bleeding
Our strife (our strife)
Our struggle (our struggle)
Fight through these open wounds
FEVER 333 – Supremacy
Born into a world
Where we’re dying to be free
But we’re living underneath their supremacy
Yeah, yeah, yeah
See I was raised in the west
Where we stay stressed
Where they lie if they have to
To make an arrest
‘Cause we living in the shadow of the suburbs
While the price of this house is going upwards
I don’t understand how
The poor get robbed by the rich
And they calling it a handout
(Aw, hell nah)
And it’s evident
The neighborhood fucked up
Got us sending letters to the president
Tell me, can you hear us?
Through the sounds of the sirens
And you wonder why the streets getting violent
Another mother shed tears at the cemetery
Burying a first born child (damn)
I’ve been watching through the years
Got my nerves firing, waking up screaming
And we live in a cold sweat
Segregated, they consider us a known threat
So we hopeless, ayy
Born into a world
Where we’re dying to be free
(I just wanna be free, let’s go)
But we’re living underneath their supremacy
(Looking out from, we ain’t out from their supremacy)
One day you’ll see us
But until then we’ll all sit and wait
For the rapture
(Ain’t no more waiting)
They trying to relegate my DNA
Break it down into something easier to hate
They afraid of the outcome
‘Cause the race they call human
Keep evolving and they know they will get outrun
(That’s why, huh?)
Still behind on the times, yeah
Protest culture on strike like lightning (damn)
Losing hold and control, so we rising
Put the muzzle on, but we won’t stay silent
Born into a world
Where we’re dying to be free
(I just wanna be free, let’s go)
But we’re living underneath their supremacy
(Underneath, under their supremacy)
One day you’ll see us
But until then we’ll all sit and wait
For the rapture (What you waiting for?)
(Go and get it)
When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side
When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side
When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side
Nonpoint – Remember Me (A Frontlines Tribute)
Will you remember me?
Can’t you remember why?
Even though you didn’t ask me to
I risk my life for you
You may never know my name
You might not even care
But when the world is burnin’ down
You’re gonna want me there
Gonna want me there
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Knowin’ tomorrow, I may not be alive
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
Fightin’ for your…
When you need protection
Without an agenda
Without an intention
When you’ve given up
You’ve lost your direction
I’ll be your glimmer of hope
I’ll be your north star
I’ll be your north star
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Knowin’ tomorrow, I may not be alive
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Knowin’ tomorrow, I may not be alive
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
Fightin’ for your life
In This Moment at Rock USA 2019