At some point in the last few days, I spent way too much time trying to write something about National Review’s 50 Greatest Conservative Rock Songs, finally giving up when the only thing I could think to say was, “This is the stupidest thing ever written, and will be so until the writer writes something else.” And even that line I stole from The Poor Man.
I admitted defeat, and it sounds as though Charles Pierce was tempted, too: Oh, Lord, sometimes, you make the fish so big and the barrel so small. Thankfully, though, he forged ahead:
The original list notes several “anti-government” songs by British punk bands, without noting that the government to which they were anti- was run by the beloved Maggie Thatcher. The freaking Sex Pistols as an anti-abortion band? The Clash as spokesfolk for adventurism in the Middle East? If anything can bring Joe Strummer back from the dead, this is it.
It goes on, and gets better.
brian stouder said on June 5, 2006 at 10:19 am
Reminds me of George Carlin’s old riff about religion, wherein he compared a person’s religion to constant little lift in life, like wearing elevator shoes; an essentially good thing for each particular faithful person….which then gets horribly fouled up when groups of people take it upon themselves to go out and force elevator shoes onto the feet of all the heathens!
Pop/rock music is what it is; Eddie Vedder says – in answer to questions about what this or that song ‘really means’ – that once a song is out there, it no longer belongs to him; it “really” means (more or less) whatever a particular listener ascribes to it.
By way of saying, we might as well discuss the political effects of astrology, as rock music
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Danny said on June 5, 2006 at 11:17 am
Though I love them I will say that Yes has made it delightfully easy on all of us. Their lyrics mean absolutely nothing.
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alex said on June 5, 2006 at 11:35 am
That goes for America, too, Danny. Alligator lizards in the air and all. But they’re the greatest conservative band ever because they’re America. AMERICA. Not commie Denmark, druggie Holland, chi-chi-foo-foo France. Nosiree, AMERICA.
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Kevin Knuth said on June 5, 2006 at 12:39 pm
I find it funny that he names “Won’t get fooled again’ the number one conservative rock song.
Here are the opening lyrics:
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
‘scuse me? “the morals that they worship will be gone?” Sounds liberal to me!
you can read all the lyrics here: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Won't-Get-Fooled-Again-lyrics-The-Who/761EF79AAB42FA9C48256977002E72F9
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mary said on June 5, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Reminds me of George Bush the first using the “Born in the USA” as his campaign song. You had to wonder if he listened beyond the first four words of the song.
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Danny said on June 5, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Yep, Alex, and another thing about that stupid list. What, no Nugent?!? I mean, we got a “Great American” in the Nuge (per Hannity) singing great american songs like “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” and all of those other conservative, yankee-doodle favorites.
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brian stouder said on June 6, 2006 at 9:17 am
Pssssssst –
Peek in at Ft Wayne Observed; there is an opening at a local newspaper for an online editor.
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recommending and implementing new editorial content, supervising and training staff, and promoting Web offerings — all with the aim of growing traffic. Three hours from Chicago, we are a 30,000-circulation afternoon newspaper with Web ambitions much greater than our print-audience size might suggest. We offer top-notch editors, a commitment to training and a passion for community service. Please send resume with examples of past online work and references
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nancy said on June 6, 2006 at 9:22 am
There’s a job for a true optimist.
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brian stouder said on June 6, 2006 at 10:10 am
we are a 30,000-circulation afternoon newspaper with Web ambitions much greater than our print-audience size might suggest
It is striking that a massive new press building is being constructed, and they allude to “much greater” ambitions in non-print media
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