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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
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
why aren't the friggin hollies in the hall of fame?????????
sns
3,462 posts
 
Cynicism is a long held component of most progressive thinking, generally it goes along with a strong dose of idealism. While most of these songs definitely contain a strong dose of cynicsm, where is the idealism here. I always thought rock n' roll was supposed to be fun, no fun here!
kenyonbm
141 posts
 
You are right, onhwy61, conservatives and rock makes as little sense as white kids from the suburbs playing folk music. or an British guy singing the blues.
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chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
Have to be careful here.As someone who ca't afford 1/10 of what most systems folks have I once complained about the high cost of LP collecting on Ebay just in past two years (since so many newbies joined and LP's have gone up from two or three times and some times multiples thereof)I got attacked for being against the captitalist system,Adam Smith and the whole American way of life.Golly!!!What a surprise there would be so many conservatives in a hobby where we discuss if a meter of cable is worth $2K or not.I am sure tere some "limosine Lberals" but again this "hobby" is so stupidly overpriced (I sold hi-end for 6 years) I should be suprised.So those people who are out there and think my freiund who lives on $12K due to disablity is a "loafer" and to think every one who now sucks cigars was't sucking joints ( or like the Prez. glugging th Chivas that helped wash down the blow he was snorting) were all not listening to Pat Boone but to the WHO and Jefferson Airplane so WHO could be suprised?If this country had only supported jazz musicians better in the 60's so many wouldn't have left for Europe and amybe we'd have had more recordings.But top think that now the "kids" listening to Charlie Parker would now be in thier 70's if not 80's is scarry as maybe this post id given it reminds one of how time flies by/Quuestion is will RAPPERS be given the mention poets like Dylan in 40 years.Can't imagine given the messsage (or lack thereof other than to make money) of contained what that will mean and how fucked will will really be then.40% of "kids" up to 25 can't find Iraq on a world map.But I doubt it's the klds who parenmts own $300,000 systems but who knows maybe they'll all be dmb and even the technocrats that get sent to college will end up like Devo "DE-evolving".
Chazzbo
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