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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.
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swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
These are also the folks that called the Beatles and others "long haired communist hippie drug anarchists" or something like that.

Actually, it was "long-haired commie pinko fags". I speak from experience being an ex-lhcpf.

And I agree, the National Review just does not "get it".
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Boa, it's funny you mention "You Can't Be Too Strong". It was the first thought I had, too.

Also, Billy Joel's "Angry Young Man".
jimburger
104 posts
 
I agree that the National Review just "doesn't get it." "Won't Get Fooled Again" is the anthem of the most anarchistic rock and roll group that ever lived! It is NOT a conservative anthem. Pete punctuated many a performance by his auto destruction routine and attitude. WGFA may be cynical about the "revolution" but you can bet there is no love for the current establishment. WGFA is not about a celebration of conservatism or the establishment. It is an angry and frustrated statement about the despair you suffer if you try to overthrow it. Pete expressed it much better in "My Generation". "Why don't you all fade away!" and of course "Hope I die before I get old" which you could probably substitute a less poetic "Hope I die before I get conservative." The Who and the vast majority of their work is all about "sticking it to the man."
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nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
Bob Dylan is conservative? It was republicans who pushed/forced desegregation, and the black vote in the south, which was one of his issues, but BD conservative??? As much as I love Bobby, I've never seen it, unless someone is gonna combine Christianity and Conservatism, which is short sighted, and inaccurate.

U2, conservative, I've got almost everything they've done, and I don't see/hear conservatism. They are strong in the 'peace' at any cost movement which is hardly conservative. They were vocal advocates for Desmond Tutu, and the bomb maker Nelson Mandela. Neither of them are conservative!!!

BTW my favotrite Rock and Roll hall of Fame memeber is Mahalia Jackson. Oh the irony!
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