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.
onhwy61

Showing 3 responses by boa2

The most conservative pop/rock song I can think of is Graham Parker's "You Can't Be Too Strong".

Or how about XTC's "Respectable Street"?

A Google search produced a number of these lists. Most of these songs, when evaluated as a whole, do not reflect conservative thinking, IMO.
For the record, I'm somewhat fiscally conservative, social moderate, and almost as sexually active as I was 30 years ago
Yes, but are you a middle-aged, white male, with a pot belly and a Cracker Barrel club card? Because if not, you ain't no true audiophile.
41? Child-free? 15lbs shy of the 200 threshold? What, are we twins? Now I suppose you're gonna tell me you like tailgating to Stryper, and long walks on the beach with your Mexican Hairless?