This year, two arena-filling artists returned to the older civic function of song. Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis” and U2’s elegiac “American Obituary,” written in response to immigration ...

Under the glow of a far-out sun, a merry band of colourful characters sing a collection of toe tapping tunes all about feeling those positive vibes. Darren wants you to be the best thing you can be.

Why, in an era when music's biggest stars are more outspoken than ever, does it feel like we're still waiting for the contemporary political anthem?