Kim Gordon, the iconic musician known for her role in Sonic Youth, unleashed a revamped version of her 2024 single “Bye Bye” on Friday, June 13. This new rendition, now titled “Bye Bye 25!,” takes aim at the turbulent landscape of right-wing culture wars incited by former President Donald Trump.
In this protest anthem, Gordon delves into a running list of cultural terms that have irked the Trump administration, some of which have been expunged from official government documents since Trump’s return to power in January. Among the terms she vocalizes are “Mental health, electric vehicle, Gulf of Mexico, Energy conversion, gay, bird flu, advocate, pregnant person,” set against a backdrop of skittering, apocalyptic production. As the track progresses, she weaves in additional words like “immigrants,” “diversity,” “victims,” “transgender,” “Hispanic,” “fluoride,” and “female” into the charged lyrics.
Reflecting on her creative process, Gordon shared, “When I was brainstorming lyric ideas, it struck me to incorporate words that Trump has essentially banned. Any proposal or grant containing these words would be instantly dismissed or ‘cancelled.’ It dawned on me that Trump himself perpetuates cancel culture by attempting to eradicate certain aspects of our culture.” Her poignant statement sheds light on the power of music as a tool for social commentary and resistance.
In conjunction with the song’s release, Gordon has crafted a limited-edition T-shirt, with profits from both the merchandise and the track itself earmarked for the noble cause of supporting Noise for Now, a nonprofit organization in New Mexico dedicated to advocating for abortion access and reproductive rights justice.
Initially featured as the lead single from her second solo album, “The Collective,” “Bye Bye” made an impactful debut, charting at No. 40 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and securing a spot in the top 20 of the Indie Store Album Sales rankings upon its initial release in March 2024.
Fans can dive into the stark world of “Bye Bye 25!” by watching Kim Gordon’s music video below, which encapsulates the raw energy and thought-provoking message of the track.
[Embedded YouTube video of Kim Gordon’s “BYE BYE 25!”]
(Editor’s Note: The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources from Billboard.com and is intended for informational purposes only.)
This article was originally published by Billboard.
