[lainie]

I think this is the kind of discussion a lot of people here would enjoy.

I agree with his premise that most of the conservative leaning music is more libertarian in actuality. I also agree with the commenter that said the Eagles' "Get Over It" is unmitigated crap, no matter what side of the political fence one's on. Also to be noted, "Bodies" by the Sex Pistols: Johnny Rotten has gone on record saying he's not pro-life, though he waffles on whether he's pro-choice at the same time. He revisited the theme with a 1987 song "The Body," by his then-band Public Image, Ltd.

#17 on the "liberal" country songs list is a head-scratcher. "Okie From Muskogee" certainly doesn't glorify liberal politics. It always said to me 'we're here, we're Okie, we think you're hippie crap, get used to it.' Was that not the intention? Lyle Lovett's "Church" doesn't strike me as liberal, either. And the author of the country list doesn't know that #43 was another artist's song (Vicki Lawrence, from 1972), and isn't so much pro-liberal as it was anti-south.

Anyway, discuss!

[lainie]

hi y'all, thought you might have comments.

[humblegunner]

And if Rush Limbaugh told his listeners about that band?

Why, then the worshippers of Limbaugh would DEMAND to hear that band.

No matter how much they sucked, or even if they were on lame-ass AM radio.

[DancingMyRainbow]

Hmm, interesting. I agree with most of the conservative rock, but I think there was a lot of stretching going on with liberal country. Conservatives work hard for a 40 hour paycheck too, and I think Eric ignored the conservative values expressed in a few of those songs in his effort to find a liberal stance.

The singer/songwriter’s intent can’t be factored in, in this case, because unless every listener has a chance to sit down and hear those views, most will get out of a song what they want. And that depends a whole lot of their own outlook on life. Which is why I love rock without getting pissed. :)

I would have included Twisted Sister’s “We’re not gonna take it”. No matter the band’s intent, which was almost certainly not mine, it fit perfectly with my mood when France was busy screwing us in the build-up to the Iraq war.

oh You’re So Condescending
your Gall Is Never Ending
we Don’t Want Nothin’, Not A Thing From You
your Life Is Trite And Jaded
boring And Confiscated
if That’s Your Best, Your Best Won’t Do

Kit

[Fiji Hill]

Here are a few suggestions for the conservative list:

1. Boslhevik--Waring's Pennsylvanians, 1926
2. WPA Blues--Bill Weldon, 1936
3. WPA--Skeets Tolbert & His Orchestra, 1940
4. Atomic Power--Fred Kirby, 1946
5. The Red We Want (is the red we've got in the old Red, White & Blue)--Hugo Winterhalter, 1950
6. The Fiery Bear--Tex Ritter, 1950
7. Advice to Joe--Roy Acuff, 1950
8. Old Soldiers Never Die--Gene Autry, 1951
9. They Locked God Outside the Iron Curtain--Wesley Tuttle, 1952
10. Stalin Kicked the Bucket--Ray Anderson, 1953

[Fiji Hill]

Why isn’t “Six Days on the Road” by Dave Dudley (1963) on the conservative list? Is it too libertarian?

[Fiji Hill]

Can you love a song which endorses a philosophy to which you are vehemently opposed?

Sure. "Rise Up!" by the New Singers (1936) is a stirring Communist Party anthem, and "Plow Under" by the Almanac Singers (1941) is a catchy anti-war tune.

[MSF BU]

Seals and Crofts were devout followers of their chosen faith and insisted that they be given time after each concert to speak to interested fans about Baha'i. Dash Crofts' wife's sister wrote a poem after viewing a documentary on abortion, which Jim Seals put to music. The result was an anti-abortion song called "Unborn Child", written from the view point of the fetus. Against the advice of Warner Brothers Records, the duo used the title for their 1974 album, which rose to number 14, but the single stalled at #66. The song also brought out many pro-choice and anti-abortion demonstrations to their concerts.

...gleaned from the internet. I knew I had read about it somewhere.

[MSF BU]

...and Glen Campbell’s songs can be taken either way. Listen to Galveston or Try a Little Kindness, although Glen himself was a Reagan man, among other things.

[Cheapskate]

Evenin Everybody!,I don't know if there would be enough cash involved to make a strictly"CONSERVATIVE" band viable.

Getting airtime in the "LEGIT"radio circles would be a big pain in the butt.

[Mr. Blonde]

I’m willing to bet any conservative rock band would be a special kind of awful. On the other hand liberal country works better. Hell Steve Earle has been doing it for a while and give me him over pretty much any other country artist any day of the week.

[Cheapskate]

For the conservative side, I'd add "Brothers In Arms"by dire Straits.

Oh yeah! ,and "Time To Get a Gun"by Fred Eaglesmith.

[Caramelgal]

11. “The Trees,” by Rush.
22. “Red Barchetta,” by Rush.

A lot of songs by Rush have a rather Libertarian POV and message, very individualistic and anti-authoritarian and very much influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand.

Rush - Anthem

Know your place in life is where you want to be,
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me.
Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round;
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down.


Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
The wonders of the world, wonders of the world,
Wonders of the world they wrought.


Live for yourself -- there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more


Well, I know they've always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yes it was for me, not you, I came to write this song


I like this one too:

Incubus - Drive

As for your question: “Can you love a song which endorses a philosophy to which you are vehemently opposed?”

I’ve liked some songs by artists who I know are personally very liberal. I like a lot of CSN & sometimes Y. I like some old Jackson Brown and James Taylor songs that aren’t too political. And as much as I hate to admit it, I like some of Sheryl Crow’s stuff.

I like this one for example. Not really conservative but I like some of the lyrics and when I listen to it, I’m not thinking politics one way or another, I just really liked the song. (And Sheryl is sure putting out a big carbon foot print in this video – LOL!)

Sheryl Crow - Steve McQueen

[Revolting cat!]

Lame, lainie. All it needs is good beat and easy to dance to! Like Bobby Rydell!~