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Why The Conservative Songs Were Bad Choices



I know it is silly to label songs or artists as “liberal” or “conservative” but since John Miller of the National Review Online started this debate I’ll take the bait.

A variety of other people have also responded to the list from Pete Blackwell here at Blogcritics to Pete Townshend of the Who – who had the #1 song but was not crazy about the selection – to the Proclaimers, who were amused by having one of their songs picked.

At first I thought this was a joke. Maybe it’s a desperate attempt for one or more conservatives to appear hip and cool. Seriously, how can anyone in their right mind consider ANY songs by the Sex Pistols, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger or The Clash as conservative?

But when I saw the story about the list in the New York Times I knew this piece by Miller, National Review Online’s national political reporter, was serious. John Miller responded to the reaction by adding a few thoughts and then listing 50 more conservative songs. Blackwell responded to that list too.

Miller laughingly complained about rock critic Dave Marsh calling the list “a desperate effort by the right to co-opt popular culture.” Miller responds: “In other words: The 62 million Americans who voted for President Bush’s re-election don’t actually participate in the creation and consumption of pop culture, but we steal it and twist it in dastardly ways.”

To which I say, “What? I don’t remember there being anything on the ballot about the Who, the Sex Pistols or music at all? What does George Bush have to do with rock music?”

The whole polarizing piece by Miller reminds me of the time President Reagan referenced Bruce Springsteen during one of his speeches. He seemed to have no idea about the true meaning of the songs on Born In the USA, which was not exactly an endorsement of the conservatives' position on Vietnam.

My thoughts on some of the selections:

1. “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” by The Who
The only way this song is conservative is that conservatives repeatedly voted for Bush (senior and junior) and then were dismayed by his decisions. Yes, they got fooled again. Incidentally Pete Townsend says that this song is neither a conservative song nor a liberal song. And he should know since he helped write it.

2. “Taxman,” by The Beatles
Miller uses this song as an attempt to get on a soapbox and suggest only conservatives oppose taxes. That’s simply not true. That’s like suggesting only conservatives oppose crime and support law enforcement.

3. “Sympathy for the Devil,” by The Rolling Stones
Well, I agree with this one. How else can you explain Dick Cheney and Karl Rove still being part of the White House administration?

4. “Sweet Home Alabama,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sure, if the conservatives want to claim this song, a favorite tune of those who are sad the south lost the Civil War, then they can go right ahead and have it.

5. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” by The Beach Boys
Miller says this song is about marriage and being pro-abstinence. This song reminds me of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in that both are what-if scenarios. But I don’t suppose the National Review wants to be associated with any song with the word peace in it.

6. “Gloria,” by U2
Saying U2 intentionally wrote a conservative song is about as silly as suggesting the same about the Sex Pistols (“Bodies,” #8), Metallica (“Don’t Tread on Me,” #9) or Bob Dylan (“Neighborhood Bully,” #12.) The Dylan song is chosen, Miller said, because it is pro-Israel. Again, why is that a solely conservative stance? Are there no liberals who support Israel?

7. “Revolution,” by The Beatles
Miller writes:


"You say you want a revolution / Well you know / We all want to change the world . . . Don’t you know you can count me out?” What’s more, Communism isn’t even cool: “If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao / You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow. (Someone tell the Che Guevara crowd.)

The Beatles would be saying, “Count me out” on the Iraq war. (Someone should tell the pro Iraq war crowd.)

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/06/05/173145.php
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Sweet Home Alabama isn't about the South winning. Its a celebration of home and place. For sentiment about the South winning see Bocephus.

For a timely conservative song check out Natasha Beddingfield's "Unwritten." Its such a celebration of taking responsibility for one self and the sheer joy of existence. Loved playing it on my Ipod on the 19 hour flight to Kuwait.
quote:
Originally posted by interventor:
Sweet Home Alabama isn't about the South winning. Its a celebration of home and place. For sentiment about the South winning see Bocephus.

For a timely conservative song check out Natasha Beddingfield's "Unwritten." Its such a celebration of taking responsibility for one self and the sheer joy of existence. Loved playing it on my Ipod on the 19 hour flight to Kuwait.



Sweet Home Alabama was a comeback to Neil Young's song called southern man.and we know which southern men Neil was talking about don't we? Neil was referring to the KKK.
The top 10 liberal songs.


10. "Save a tree, kill a baby"

9. The "Barney" song

8. Soundtrack from "Kill Bush volume 2"

7. "Weak minded people - Ode to the Christians"

6. "Obama's Momma"

5. "Hillary on my mind"

4. "Born in the S.S.A"

3. "My son is a closet conservative"

2. "Memories of France"

1. "Freedom don't cost a thang"
Last edited by USA1
quote:
Originally posted by interventor:
Sweet Home Alabama isn't about the South winning. Its a celebration of home and place. For sentiment about the South winning see Bocephus.

For a timely conservative song check out Natasha Beddingfield's "Unwritten." Its such a celebration of taking responsibility for one self and the sheer joy of existence. Loved playing it on my Ipod on the 19 hour flight to Kuwait.


I have to agree with you here, ... I never thought "Sweet Home Alabama" was in retaliation to the KKK... it always made ME proud!! Even when we were stationed in another counry they played that song!!! My heart was swollen with PRIDE....
quote:
Originally posted by NashBama:
quote:
Sweet Home Alabama was a comeback to Neil Young's song called southern man.and we know which southern men Neil was talking about don't we? Neil was referring to the KKK.


No, Neil was slamming the South in general. That's why a Southern man don't need him around anyhow.



No, The song was not slamming the south like so many like you think. listen to the song and listen to the words and you will have learn something.
quote:
Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:
quote:
Originally posted by interventor:
Sweet Home Alabama isn't about the South winning. Its a celebration of home and place. For sentiment about the South winning see Bocephus.

For a timely conservative song check out Natasha Beddingfield's "Unwritten." Its such a celebration of taking responsibility for one self and the sheer joy of existence. Loved playing it on my Ipod on the 19 hour flight to Kuwait.


I have to agree with you here, ... I never thought "Sweet Home Alabama" was in retaliation to the KKK... it always made ME proud!! Even when we were stationed in another counry they played that song!!! My heart was swollen with PRIDE....




Let me make my self clear Sweet home Alabama was not talking about the kkk it was a getback song to Neil Young's song southern man.
we know which southern men Neil was talking about don't we? Neil was referring to the KKK.
quote:
Originally posted by pba:
Why The Conservative Songs Were Bad Choices
4. “Sweet Home Alabama,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sure, if the conservatives want to claim this song, a favorite tune of those who are sad the south lost the Civil War, then they can go right ahead and have it.


I still don't see the correlation to this song, or any song listed really, to being a "conservative" as opposed to "liberal" song.


"Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea Montgomery's got the answer"
Preach it as long and as loud as you want, Auntie PBA...you'll never get me to believe that Neil Young wasn't bad mouthing the South.

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

So you can listen to Neil if you want, but his crappy music and lousy voice won't be played at my place or in my vehicle.
I think you are all right. I believe Neil was badmouthing the kkk...AND the south in general. Yes the song mentions the burning crosses, but it also mentions the big mansions and little shacks and wants to know when the southern man will pay them back.

I don't doubt it was a politically motivated song about the unfairness and inequality that much of the nation saw in the south at the time. Right or wrong, I do agree with Skynyrd though: a southern man don't need him around, anyhow.
quote:
Originally posted by Sassy Kims:
Preach it as long and as loud as you want, Auntie PBA...you'll never get me to believe that Neil Young wasn't bad mouthing the South.

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

So you can listen to Neil if you want, but his crappy music and lousy voice won't be played at my place or in my vehicle.



Preach it as long and as loud as you want, Auntie PBA...you'll never get me to believe that Neil Young wasn't bad mouthing the South.

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow



Neil Young wasn't bad mouthing the South? He was bad mouthing the kkk and people like you from the south who support them and would do nothing to stop them.

So you can listen to Neil if you want, but his crappy music and lousy voice won't be played at my place or in my vehicle. Who cares what you listen to that is your right as american!! So enjoy it while you still have rights!
quote:
Originally posted by aubfire1:
I think you are all right. I believe Neil was badmouthing the kkk...AND the south in general. Yes the song mentions the burning crosses, but it also mentions the big mansions and little shacks and wants to know when the southern man will pay them back.

I don't doubt it was a politically motivated song about the unfairness and inequality that much of the nation saw in the south at the time. Right or wrong, I do agree with Skynyrd though: a southern man don't need him around, anyhow.



Yes the song mentions the burning crosses, but it also mentions the big mansions and little shacks and wants to know when the southern man will pay them back.

The song southern man goes back to civil war and the slaves and the KKK. The south has never got over the civil war.
If you want a song glorifying the War of Northen Agression from the South's side try Bocephus:
If The South Woulda Won - Hank Jr Lyrics


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


If the south woulda won we woulda had it made.
I'd probably run for president of the southern states.
The day Elvis passed away would be our national holiday.
If the south woulda won we woulda had it made.
I'd make my surpreme court down in Texas and we wouldn't have no killers getting off free.
If they were proven guilty then they would swing quickly,
instead of writin' books and smilin' on T.V.
We'd all learn cajan cookin' in Luiousiana
and I'd put that capital back in Alabama.
We'd put Florida on the right track, 'cause we'd take Miami back
and throw all them pushers in the slammer.


Oh if the south woulda won we woulda had it made.
I'd probably run for president of the southern states.
The day young Skynyrd died, we'd show our southern pride.
If the south woulda won we woulda had it made.
"Play alittle dixieland boys. Ah yes!"


I'd have all the whiskey made in Tennessee
and all the horses raised in those Kentucky hills.
The national treasury would be in Tupilo, Mississippi
and I'd put Hank Williams picture on one hundred dollar bill.
I'd have all the cars made in the Carolina's
and I'd ban all the ones made in China.
I'd have every girl child sent to Georgia to learn to smile
and talk with that southern accent that drives men wild.
I'd have all the fiddles made in Virginia, 'cause they sure can make 'em sound so fine.
I'm going up on Wolverton Mountain and see ole Cliften Clowers and have a sip of his good ole Arkansas wine.


Hey if the south woulda won we'd a had it made.
I'd probably run for president of the southern states.
When Patsy Cline passed away that would be our national holiday.
If the south woulda won we'd a had it made.
Olay he hee hee . I said if the south wouda won we would a had it made!


Might even be better off!

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