This was not the only song performed by Macklemore but was by far the most controversial and had the greatest impact. The hip-hop star did just that, sending all of his profit from Australian record sales to the Yes campaign. Prior to the performance, Macklemore spoke to Channel Nine saying, “I want to donate my portion of the proceeds from Same Love that I get off that record here in Australia to voting yes”. In 2017, Macklemore and featuring artist Mary Lambert performed ‘Same Love’ at the NRL grand final in Sydney. With the beginning of major change in American equality, this sends a powerful message. When it reaches the end of the song, Macklemore preaches about love and acceptance and you see the character fall in love and happily marry a man which is wonderful but as Macklemore puts it, “a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all, but it’s a damn good place to start”. As the story unfolds, you view him facing the various struggles that affect homosexual people in America. The music video tells a story of a young boy growing up in America coming to the realisation that he is gay.

– Macklemore’s thoughts on the cultural impact of the song (2013) We as a society and a culture have proven throughout time that we evolve, that we become slowly more compassionate and tolerant and accepting.”

“I don’t think a song like ’Same Love’ would have been received the same way even five years ago. As in the United States, 2013 was the year in which the federal government began lessening bans on same-sex marriage. Releasing ‘Same Love’ with it’s exceptionally powerful music video in 2013 was imperative.

Even though both Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are in heterosexual relationships, they definitely feel very strongly about gender and sexual equality. Released in 2013, this song was influential in the same sex marriage debate. ‘Same Love’ by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is an example of music that has advocated social transformation. In a world that is immensely focused on what society deems acceptable, popular culture, particularly music can be used as a tool for advocating social transformation and giving a voice to minorities without. Advocating social transformation, ISABEL MACRAE looks at how US hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis created one of the most influential protest songs of the 21st century.

Macklemore songs same love