Conservative Top 50 [top 50 conservative songs]

New York Times publishes list from National Review ^ | May 25, 2006

[grundle]

Following is National Review's list of its top 50 conservative rock songs, with the magazine's explanations of its choices.

1. "Won't Get Fooled Again," by The Who.

The conservative movement is full of disillusioned revolutionaries; this could be their theme song, an oath that swears off naive idealism once and for all. "There's nothing in the streets / Looks any different to me / And the slogans are replaced, by—the—bye. . . . Meet the new boss / Same as the old boss." The instantly recognizable synthesizer intro, Pete Townshend's ringing guitar, Keith Moon's pounding drums, and Roger Daltrey's wailing vocals make this one of the most explosive rock anthems ever recorded — the best number by a big band, and a classic for conservatives.

2. "Taxman," by The Beatles.

A George Harrison masterpiece with a famous guitar riff (which was actually played by Paul McCartney): "If you drive a car, I'll tax the street / If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat / If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat / If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet." The song closes with a humorous jab at death taxes: "Now my advice for those who die / Declare the pennies on your eyes."

[Mr. Bird]

Agreed; remember the SP revival was called the "Filthy Lucre" tour. Mr. Rotten was never against making a buck; and it's difficult for those of us who grew up in the grand USA to understand the motivation behind the Brit punk movement. Joni Mitchell was a gazillion times more anti-American values than the Sex Pistols ever were.

[ConservativeStatement]

Agreed and let's not forget Pete Townshend prohibited the usage of the song for "Fahrenheit 911" because he had issues with Michael Moore.

[speedy]

Joni Mitchell was a gazillion times more anti-American values than the Sex Pistols ever were.

Yep. Same with pretty much all of the "sensitive singer-songwriter" types, don't you think? An evening with Jello Biafra would be easier to take than an evening with Dan Fogelberg.

[stillonaroll]

#1 “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

Always thought this was a leftist song: “the parting on the left is now parting on the right.”

#2 “Taxman”

Mentions both Mr. Wilson, Labour Prime Minister when the song was written, and Mr. Heath, Conservative leader at that time and later PM. The top British tax rate was 95% in the Beatles’ time, part of the reason they tax-sheltered their song catalog, allowing its later purchase by Michael Jackson—against the wishes of the surviving Beatles.

#3 Sympathy for the Devil

Hmmmm. “If you see me, have some courtesy, and some sympathy, and some taste.” Conservative? I don’t see it.

They didn’t mention “The Ballad of the Green Berets,” but I suppose that wasn’t really rock.

[Strategerist]

There's a pretty clear line between Southern Rock and Country to me....people do seem to be trying to include Country songs on this list too much. I see NRO got "Stand by Your Man" in through the Motorhead cover of it.

[Echo Talon]

18. "Cult of Personality," by Living Colour.

I love the guitar in that song Vernon Reid rocks! :P

[Wormwood]

I truly wonder why "Bodies" hs not been co-opted as the anthem of the modern anti-abortion movement.

No banal hymn or protest song can match "She was a girl from Birmingham / She just had an abortion".

(although "Brick" by Ben Folds is my perosnal favorite of an admittedly dreary genre)

[taxcontrol]

My vote - "Ballad of the Green Beret"

[Strategerist]

You're thinking a bit too literally regarding the lyrics.

[magslinger]

conservative rock songs

Lee and Merle aren't best known for their rock chart achievements.

[stillonaroll]

"Won't Get Fooled Again" is the greatest rock song of all time, regardless of politics. It is sublime.

My vote would go the “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals. Arguably a conservative song, with a dark, anti-drug message.

[Antoninus]

"Won't get fooled again?" -- Is that supposed to be ironic? We've gotten fooled quite a bit over the past few years. Plus, the song was written by a butt-pirate who does "research" at kiddie porn sites. No thanks.

The #1 conservative rock song of all time is: "Sweet Home Alabama". No contest.

[Antoninus]

I would have made "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood number 1.

Agreed.

[do the dhue]

I like 'The Fightin Side of Me' by Merle:

E B7
I hear people talking bad
E B7
About the way they have to live here in this country
B7
Harping on the wars we fight
E
Griping about the way things ought to be
E B7
I don't mind them switching sides
E B7
And standing up for things they believe in
B7
When they're running down our country man
E
They're walking on the fighting side of me


E B7
They're walking on the fightin' side of me
B7
Running down a way of life
E
Our fighting men have fought and died to keep
E
If you don't love it, leave it
E7 A
Let this song that I'm singing be a warning
B7
When you're running down our country hoss
E
You're walking on the fightin' side of me


E B7
I read about some squirrely guy
E B7
Who claims that he just don't believe in fighting
B7
And I wonder just how long
E
The rest of us can count on being free
E B7
They love our milk and honey
E B7
But they preach about some other way of living
B7
And when they're running down our country man
E
They're walking on the fightin' side of me


E B7
They're walking on the fightin' side of me
B7
Running down a way of life
E
Our fighting men have fought and died to keep
E
If you don't love it, leave it
E7 A
Let this song that I'm singing be a warning
B7
When you're running down our country man
E C
You're walking on the fightin' side of me


F C
They're walking on the fightin' side of me
C
Running down a way of life
F
Our fighting men have fought and died to keep
F
If you don't love it, leave it
F7 Bb
Let this song that I'm singing be a warning
C
When you're running down our country hoss
F
You're walking on the fightin' side of me

[Antoninus]

I love the guitar in that song Vernon Reid rocks! :P

Though also a total and complete leftist loser.

[stillonaroll]

5. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," by The Beach Boys. Sweet but brain-dead... disqualified.

Awwww, come on! It’s a cute, innocent song from a time when folks tended to keep their pants on prior to marriage.

[Wormwood]

My problem is that modern conservatism is far too willing to bow to authority, thereby alienating most good rock music

That being the case, I would humbly nominate Devo's "Beautiful World" as the only appropriate conservative 'anthem'.

[Echo Talon]

hes still a great guitarist... my guitar teacher was also a liberal loon but he was a good teacher and a good guitar player.. :\

[stillonaroll]

You're thinking a bit too literally regarding the lyrics.

For which song?

[Antoninus]

Actually, "Faithfully" by Journey should probably be on there. About a girl and a guy falling in love and being in love forever even through tough times.

Could such a traditional, sappy, good song even get written today?