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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Showing 4 responses by jaybo

its obvious the national revue don't 'get it'......they are obviously 'short people' who 'got no reason to live'.
quite recently john fogerty had 'fortunate son' pulled from an ad...even though it could have paid over 1m in royalties to him personally. john kay recently did the same with 'born to be wild' in a paris hilton tv show.......small victories, but victories just the same.
the best rock is always in defense of the everyman who gets put upon by everyone from cruel lovers to the government. it sickens me think that chrissie hynde hasn't pulled that tune(we can only hope she doesn't control the publishing). as for 'father christmas'....much like 'happy xmas-war is over', and lots of great christmas rock from the seventies, its cynical and hopeful all at the same time. the good stuff usually is.