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What Are the Conservative Protest Anthems?
Ace of Spades HQ ^ | 12/02/2004 | Ace of Spades HQ

Posted on 12/03/2004 8:38:25 AM PST by Warhead W-88

That Ukranian protest song got me thinking.

We all make fun of the painfully-earnest and stridently-liberal balladeers who fill us with so much excess stomache acid, but, hey, I'll be the one to admit it: I'm jealous.

Where's my protest anthem? Where's my catchy sing-a-long rock rebellion?

Sure, such songs don't really advance a philosophical position. They're the near-religious chants of the already-converted. But damnit, it gets kinda tedious just quoting Larry Kudlow and Deborah Orin all day. Why can't we occasionally just be able to sing our politics and maybe even groove to it? ...

The only real conservative protest anthems are only such if considered metaphorically, or loosely. There aren't too many songs with lyrics which explicitly champion conservatism.

The best you can find, really -- and this is either sad or pretty cool, depending on your taste -- is the sort of dunderheaded heavy metal screw-your-parents-and-teachers rock of the eighties. The actual specifics of the lyrics are usually pretty irrelevant to politics -- unless your politics is in fact fighting for your right to party -- but often just the attitude and a phrase in a chorus is close enough to an expression of the conservative discontent as to qualify as a bona fide political anthem.

And the song that I think is best example of this is Twisted Sister's We're Not Gonna Take It. Yeah, it's kinda silly, but that guitar and drum really kick, and the lyrics, actually, are pretty easily read as a conservative manifesto:

We've got the right to choose it There ain't no way we'll lose it This is our life, this is our song

We'll fight the powers that be, just don't pick our destiny, 'cause you don't know us, you don't belong

We're not gonna take it, no ain't gonna take it We're not gonna take it anymore

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

We're RIGHT (Yeah!) We're FREE (Yeah!) We'll FIGHT (Yeah!) You'll see! (Yeahhhhh!)

If anyone can top that -- by a rock performer, not by Darryl Whorley, Tobey Keith, or Charlie Daniels -- I'd like to know about it.

More at Ace of Spades HQ.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: music; republicanism; rock; twistedsister
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To: wizardoz

That new Skynyrd song "Red, White and Blue" would qualify, as well.


21 posted on 12/03/2004 8:51:02 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: RockinRight

It's not "crinch pin." It's "Pledge pin." Those words are provided by Niedermeyer from Animal House, reprising his lines from that movie.


22 posted on 12/03/2004 8:51:28 AM PST by Warhead W-88
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To: tjwmason

Metal and hard rock is often conservative or libertarian in nature. Such as:

Iced Earth
Metallica (Hetfield, anyway)
Sammy Hagar
Alice Cooper
Ted Nugent
C.C. DeVille of Poison (I think Bret Michaels might be a Conservative too)


23 posted on 12/03/2004 8:52:52 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: Warhead W-88

You're right! I cut and pasted it and didn't proofread well.


24 posted on 12/03/2004 8:53:25 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: Warhead W-88

For your consideration, THE greatest kick-a$$ song ever written, to be taken in the context of 2004 rather than 1971:

Won't Get Fooled Again

We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?

There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss


25 posted on 12/03/2004 8:59:58 AM PST by Luddite Patent Counsel ("If you accumulate enough layers of superficiality, that's pretty much the same as having depth")
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To: Mr. Buzzcut; MetalHeadConservative35; Yardstick; itsamelman

Thought you might be interested in this thread.


26 posted on 12/03/2004 8:59:58 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: Warhead W-88

Heard one on Hannity's show set to the tune of "Who Let The Dogs Out?"

"Who's in the White House?
BUSH! BUSH-BUSH-BUSH!
Who's in the White House?"

Chant that and see the liberals start to boil.


27 posted on 12/03/2004 9:00:24 AM PST by raccoonradio (Good news, liberals! Only 1,509 days left in the Bush administration.)
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To: Luddite Patent Counsel

In the 60s, there was a "liberal revolution" against the establishment. It has come full circle.


28 posted on 12/03/2004 9:00:58 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: RockinRight

Re: We're Not Gonna Take It

Er, while this may sound like a good tune be aware it's also the theme song for liberal talker Stephanie Miller :)
But she's not too well known (yet)


29 posted on 12/03/2004 9:02:00 AM PST by raccoonradio (Good news, liberals! Only 1,509 days left in the Bush administration.)
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To: raccoonradio

We had it first!


30 posted on 12/03/2004 9:02:46 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: Warhead W-88

Hilarious


31 posted on 12/03/2004 9:03:13 AM PST by RepCath (Take it like a mandate)
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To: Warhead W-88

America F Yeah! - Team America...


32 posted on 12/03/2004 9:03:41 AM PST by null and void (Trebuchet ride, little girl???)
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: RockinRight
Iced Earth is an awesome band. I got their 1st CD as a promo from my friend who worked in a music store. I was listening to them and people would stop and ask who they were. I have been listening ever since.
34 posted on 12/03/2004 9:04:26 AM PST by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (Never play leapfrog with a unicorn!)
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To: Warhead W-88

Liberals: folk music
"If It were up to me/ I'd take away the guns"
--Cheryl Wheeler

Conservatives: country music
"'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way/ And Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list/
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist/
And the eagle will fly and there's gonna be hell/
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her ball/
And it will feel like the whole wide world is coming down on you/ Aw, brought to you courtesy, Of the Red White
and Blue"--Toby Keith


35 posted on 12/03/2004 9:04:33 AM PST by raccoonradio (Good news, liberals! Only 1,509 days left in the Bush administration.)
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To: raccoonradio

That'll work!


36 posted on 12/03/2004 9:05:31 AM PST by RockinRight (Liberals are OK with racism and sexism, as long as it is aimed at a Republican.)
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To: RockinRight

Absolutely what I was thinking. Another one that immediately sprang to mind from Sylvester Stewart:

Stand!

Stand
In the end you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do
Stand
There's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're going anywhere
Stand
For the things you know are right
It's the truth that the truth makes them so uptight
Stand
All the things you want are real
You have you to complete and there is no deal
Stand. stand, stand
Stand. stand, stand
Stand
You've been sitting much too long
There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong
Stand
There's a midget standing tall
And the giant beside him about to fall
Stand. stand, stand
Stand. stand, stand
Stand
They will try to make you crawl
And they know what you're saying makes sense and all
Stand Don't you know that you are free
Well at least in your mind if you want to be
Everybody
Stand, stand, stand


37 posted on 12/03/2004 9:05:37 AM PST by Luddite Patent Counsel ("If you accumulate enough layers of superficiality, that's pretty much the same as having depth")
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To: Warhead W-88
STAND
WARNING! The previous is a link to a music file.
Turn your speakers up or down to an appropriate level for your surroundings.

38 posted on 12/03/2004 9:06:51 AM PST by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: Warhead W-88; Conspiracy Guy; Laura Earl
"Take This Job and Shove It"

Sung right before one becomes unemployed...

39 posted on 12/03/2004 9:06:55 AM PST by Argh
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To: null and void; Warhead W-88
Just about anything from Team America works. ;-).

Then there's my favorite - Get Over it by the Eagles.

Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

40 posted on 12/03/2004 9:07:03 AM PST by Spyder
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