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Conservative Politics & Rock Music

The National Review has published a list of the 50 all time top conservative rock 'n' roll songs. #1 is The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again". Other artist on the list include Beatles, Stones, U2, Rush, Aerosmith, Creed, Metallica, Beach Boys, Dylan and the Kinks.

Here's a link to the list.

I'm not familiar with every song on the list, but I do have a few observations. I find it incredible that only a single non-white artist made the list. A number of the songs have a very cynical bent ("Revolution", "Sympathy For the Devil", "Won't Get Fooled Again", etc.). Is cynicism a purely conservative trait? "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - I always thought it was a spoof of the Ossie & Harriet lifestyle. "I Fought the Law" - the fact that the law won doesn't make this song politically conservative. It's the verbal equivalent of a Born To Lose tattoo. It's giving the system the finger. Also, there are a number of songs that are about abortion, but only one is by a woman. Maybe the slogan should be changed to "Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll & Birth Control".

Rock music encompasses a vast number of musical styles and it only stands to reason that it would also include a wide spectrum of political beliefs. Rather than actually debating politics per se, I'm interested in responses to particularly songs being on the list and whether you see them a political or apolitical.
128x128onhwy61
maril555
619 posts
 
Tvad,
You stole that one from me. My sentiments exactly.
It seems very racist to me to even try applying racial criteria to music.
Onhwy61,
"Only single non-white artist"???
Is there "supposed to be" a certain propotion of artists with different skin colour?
I'm wondering, why is there not a single Mongolian or Peruvian artist on that list as well?
Same goes for The Hall of Fame, Oscars and everything else.
Nauseating (reverse racism that is).
islandear
208 posts
 
I'll wait for The Nation's all-time Top 50 listing of liberal country anthems...wonder if Toby Keith or Tom T. Hall will be included...
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
its obvious the national revue don't 'get it'......they are obviously 'short people' who 'got no reason to live'.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
James Brown might be in the R&R Hall of Fame, but his nickname is "The Godfather of Soul".

Talk about politics...... James Brown is one of the greatest music artists ever; but was the primary motivation to put him in the R&R Hall of Fame because he was great at rock music; or was it primarily for public relations and political purposes??

We can all name a white soul singer now ... Taylor Hicks.
He also sings R&R songs...

Not many non-latino latin singers either.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61 OP
5,151 posts
 
Now that I've been defined as a racist, thank you Maril555 (and please, stay nauseated), let me also try to qualify as a sexist for pointing out the paucity of women on the list. I'm writing an angry letter to the Affirmative Action Office at the National Review.
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