Difference between revisions of "Talk:Essay:Greatest Conservative Songs"

Revision as of 00:10, July 21, 2011

See this. Stryker 10:04, 17 July 2007 (EDT)

The neoconservative National Review list is 95% garbage, not conservative at all. I only found one tune on the list that should be added ours ("Stand by your man"), and National Review had it at #50.

The contrast here with National Review illustrates the need for Conservapedia. But thanks for your link.--Aschlafly 11:31, 17 July 2007 (EDT)

Oops... it seems that I added a bunch of songs from that list. Several of mine (Brick, Red Barchetta, I Can't Drive 55, Sweet Home Alabama, and Revolution 1) were on there. That's interesting, though... the NR person and I thought alike on this one. DanH 17:16, 17 July 2007 (EDT)

Sweet Home Alabama? I love that song (and I'm a liberal)! Revolution's great, too.--Autofire 18:29, 17 July 2007 (EDT)

Sorry? Why was my entry for The Fall's Pseud Mag Ed removed? They have always been the great deflators of liberal complacency. What is going on?

Post a link to the lyrics of the song here and we'll see. Also, please sign your entries by using the signature button in the row above the edit box. Thanks.--Aschlafly 11:16, 18 July 2007 (EDT)

Can a song possibly be just a song, rather than a political statement? - BornAgainBrit

Uh, sure, there are songs that lack any meaning at all. "I wanna hold your hand," for example, is a pleasant jingle from your homeland. I trust we'd agree that it is not the most meaningful song in the world. That tune is fun for reminiscing.

But surely you don't deny that many songs do have political meaning. Liberal attempts to deny political bias are familiar to us and no one here is fooled. Godspeed.--Aschlafly 13:37, 18 July 2007 (EDT)

The deletion of Bob Dylan's song was not properly explained. Observing that people serve either the devil or the Lord is a conservative observation, and of course Bob Dylan was a born-again Christian who expressed his faith in song (but don't expect liberals to tell you that).--Aschlafly 00:03, 21 July 2007 (EDT)

I didn't mean to step on any toes, but apathy towards devil worship doesn't seem to me like a very conservative trait. Unfortunately, the verses of the songs don't give us any meaning whatsoever, so the only meaning we can glean from the song are the four lines of the chorus, three of which are essentially the same :/ Jazzman831 14:06, 21 July 2007 (EDT)

Paradise by the Dashboard light? I know its a song about having pre-marital sex, but the end is about how it screwed up his life.--Elamdri 04:45, 23 July 2007 (EDT)

After reading this list, I've gotta ask, just how do you define a 'conservative' song?--Offeep 15:27, 26 July 2007 (EDT)

Conservative is a term that is well-understood. A "conservative song" reflects some of those values without diluting them with a liberal message.--Aschlafly 15:42, 26 July 2007 (EDT)

I can't believe Okie from Muskogie isn't on here. Maestro 23:23, 27 July 2007 (EDT)

I know this is being nitpicky, but I don't like the message of Last Kiss because it seems to suggest a works salvation, that one gets to heaven by doing good rather than accepting Jesus. DanH 23:30, 27 July 2007 (EDT)

... and on that note, let's open up a can of Mountain Dew and get ready to Debate:Are we saved by faith or works? --Ed Poor ^Talk 17:16, 3 August 2007 (EDT)

Last Kiss

Somebody just put up "Last Kiss;" actually I recall when it was a hit circa 1964 many adults, parents, teachers and ministers where horrified that a song about death was considered appropriate for young people. My my, how things had changed by 1967.... RobS 18:08, 28 July 2007 (EDT)

Just like 'Teen Angel,' 'Leader of the Pack,' 'Dead Man's Curve,' and 'Tell Laura I Love Her.' Maestro 00:35, 29 July 2007 (EDT)

Possible Addition

Ok, I have a suggestion, but I want some feedback before putting it on the page. I was listening to the radio today, and Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd came on. I was thinking that the song talks about the way that public schools brainwash children and turn them into "bricks" in the wall that is liberal society. In a way, the song is pro-homeschooling, because it's teachers that need to leave the kids alone so that parents can instruct their children correctly. Maybe I'm reaching a bit here, but I wanted to see what you all thought. SSchultz 00:23, 2 August 2007 (EDT)

I'm open to comments and suggestions about this, but I've never viewed the famous song "another brick in the wall" as conservative. You may be right that the song properly complains about the effect of schooling, but the song doesn't offer any conservative solution that I can see.--Aschlafly 01:10, 2 August 2007 (EDT)

"Another Brick In The Wall" is more of a neutral song. Its part of a concept album in which the main character slowly seperates himself from society. Most Pink Floyd songs are about madness, due to their original lead singer going insane. TobyKeet 05:32, 24 November 2010 (EST)

Love Me, I'm a Liberal

I'm glad the commies were thrown out

Of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board

Hardly sounds like a Communist critique. Have you read all the lyrics of the song? [1] It's twitting liberals for their supposed concern for others, which is actually sorely lacking. --Ed Poor ^Talk 17:14, 3 August 2007 (EDT)

That song is pure sarcasm and Ochs assumes the role of a 1960s-era (Cold War era) "liberal" to attack them from the extreme left in a sarcastic way. Read the lyrics again, he is attacking the AFL-CIO for throwing out the commies. He is saying liberals aren't far left enough. It's not a conservative song, it's an extreme leftist one. Parrothead 17:22, 3 August 2007 (EDT)

So there's a song on this list about breaking the law 'I can't Drive 55,' and one about obeying the law 'I fought the law.' Which is the conservative value? And the Bobby Fuller Four's version of the latter was the superior version, BTW. Maestro 10:40, 10 September 2007 (EDT)

Are these truly conservative?

While I understand completely some of these songs being on here, I don't really understand the why Bob Dylan, The Beatles, or Ben Folds (Five) would be on this list. These individual songs may be able to be warped into our mindset, but if one truly looks at these, they become overwhelmingly liberal.

For example: The Beatles - Revolution While this song does indeed talk about how "Carrying pictures of Chairman Mao" will do no good, it also talks about how war and money can't solve problems. In addition, if a child is to read tis and decide to find out more about The Beatles, they will undoubtedly find some intensely liberal themes. The same idea goes for Bob Dylan. Look at any of his other songs. At the same time, Ben Folds does exactly the same thing.

I cannot argue with the songs and parts on this list, but I wonder if this is a slippery slope?

It's possible that many of these songs were adopted by conservatives, such as Mike Huckabee playing John Cougar Mellencamp's hits. Karajou 14:48, 18 February 2008 (EST)

Many of the songs here have a powerful conservative message, and demonstrate that the music industry does not have to be liberal.--Aschlafly 15:00, 18 February 2008 (EST)

P.S. Liberals do say conservative things from time to time. We're listing songs here, not artists.--Aschlafly 15:01, 18 February 2008 (EST)

I would just like add that Revolution 1 was written as a reaction against the protesters against the Vietnam War who were getting violent. All Revolution is saying is for the protesters to protest, but not violently, which is still liberal, but a message than other liberal songs. However, for other Beatles songs, they range from being liberal (Why Don't We Do It in the Road?) to be being kind of conservative (Let It Be). Most however, are pretty much neutral. You usually kind Paul McCartney as being more concervative, and Lennon as liberal. TobyKeet 05:28, 24 November 2010 (EST)

One problem with the above analysis: Why Don't We Do It In the Road was McCartney's; Lennon was rather famously not involved at all. Personally I've always thought of it as a kind of parody of the free love movement, though apparently that wasn't McCartney's intention. Ptorquemada 17:25, 4 April 2011 (EDT)

In Your Eyes

Okay, the song can be considered to be about God, but that alone does not make it conservative. I think Peter Gabriel himself would object to the song's inclusion in this list. --MakeTomorrow 15:23, 18 February 2008 (EST)

Peter Gabriel can object all he likes. "In Your Eyes" appeals to conservative values, as in "a thousand churches." Do you think we should object when a liberal says something conservative???--Aschlafly 15:27, 18 February 2008 (EST)

Religion is not conservative. Fundamentalism is, but not religion. The presence of religion in a song does not make it conservative, even as adherence to religion does not make a person conservative. Look at me, I'm a Christian, but I'm also a communist. Obviously the two are not mutually exclusive. One's personal merely interpersonally-social morals under religion might be more "conservative", in the loosest sense of the term — not conservative, simply somewhat more so — than they would be otherwise; however, that does not automatically make one politically conservative.--MakeTomorrow 15:50, 18 February 2008 (EST)

The single best predictor of how conservative someone votes is how often he attends a place of worship of God. Your argument suggesting that you are a counterexample to that correlation means nothing. See point #2 in liberal logic.--Aschlafly 16:04, 18 February 2008 (EST)

That wasn't irrelevant at all. Correlation != causation. --MakeTomorrow 16:08, 18 February 2008 (EST)

Sorry, my edit summary should have been "basic statistical interpretation". --MakeTomorrow 16:09, 18 February 2008 (EST)

Why did you cite your counterexample, if it wasn't an example of the logical fallacy #2 in liberal logic? Do you really think a counterexample disproves causation?

Land of Confusion

Does Genesis' Land of Confusion belong on the list? I remember the music video portraying Ronald Reagan (in puppet form) as inept, and it parodies several conservative leaders, including Margaret Thatcher, et. al. WesleyS^Hello! 13:58, 5 March 2009 (EST)

It's liberal lyric of "too many people" is enough reason to bounce it from the list. Thanks for catching this.--Andy Schlafly 18:53, 5 March 2009 (EST)

Should Fortunate Son really be on this list?

It's vehemently anti-war. Please correct if I'm wrong, but I don't think that's a very conservative belief. JRobbe

I just looked the lyrics. Pretty confused stuff. I'd agree it's not conservative. Would you like to toss it from the list? Please feel free to do so.--Andy Schlafly 20:26, 7 January 2010 (EST)

Done. JRobbe

Long Black Train by Josh Turner?

To me, this song seems like a good candidate for this list. --Dfrischknecht 07:14, 22 July 2010 (EDT)

The Decision by Ricky Van Shelton

I think this is another good candidate for this list. It's a song about a teenage girl who gives in to peer pressure and gets pregnant and the consequences of that action. --Dfrischknecht 09:02, 22 July 2010 (EDT)

New Agey

I removed the new agey phrase of "the cycle of life, death and rebirth," for the "Lightning Crashes," by Live, but feel free to discuss here.--Andy Schlafly 15:23, 22 September 2010 (EDT)

That wasn't meant to seem "new agey" in the least, but I do understand what you're saying. The song presents a view of life as being cyclical, as the baby is being born an old woman dies, and "The confusion that was hers belongs now to the baby down the hall." I think the lyrics really speak to the significance of life (not just at childbirth), but as a whole. I don't think the song is necessarily about the old woman being reincarnated as the newborn child, but it definitely seems to speak of the circle of life.JaneX 15:56, 22 September 2010 (EDT)

Perhaps a rewording would work then? How about replacing "the cycle of life, death and rebirth" with "the joy of childbirth in contrast with the end of life"?--Andy Schlafly 18:59, 22 September 2010 (EDT)

I agree that a rewording would work, thank you for working with me. Perhaps we could just say that the song celebrates the significance of life from birth until death, almost in an as one door closes another opens kind of way? JaneX 20:00, 22 September 2010 (EDT)

Song idea

"One Man, One Woman" sung by ABBA. Indirectly a tribute to traditional marriage and monogamy.--TedM 12:14, 12 January 2011 (EST)

Sounds good by the title, so how about adding it where you think it would be appropriate in the list? Thanks for your insight.--Andy Schlafly 12:17, 12 January 2011 (EST)

Takin' Care of Business

This song by BTO is on the list for supporting "Hard work ethic", but its not. The refrain is jokingly ironic. "I love to work at nothing all day; and I've been taking care of business"

The body of the song describes a more easy going life just making music rather than waking up early, catching trains for work, etc.

I'm not saying it makes the song liberal, and not sure why its even necessary to classify songs along political lines, but it sure as heck ain't about working hard. I'd suggest if someone wants to keep it here because its a good song, and if people can only enjoy it because it conforms to their political views, than change the reason to "Mike Huckabee performed the song" [comment by AndrewJackson]

You left out how the song praises the self-employed, which is a very conservative, hard-working group of people.--Andy Schlafly 22:55, 21 March 2011 (EDT)

Fair enough, but the praise you speak of is "If you ever get annoyed [with, based on earlier lyrics, either your traditional job or the unpleasant commute involved], look at me, I'm self-employed; I love to work at nothing all day." That could be taken as either "I made so much money as an entepreneur that I no longer need to work" or "My official job title is 'Bum'." Neither one of them really expresses admiration for "hard work" in its own right, though the former is certainly a more positive role model than the latter. I do like the song, but I'm not entirely sanguine about considering it "conservative." Ptorquemada 17:36, 4 April 2011 (EDT)

Adonai My Lord

I'm going to delete this song from the list, as it is from the atheistic industrial metal genre. The lyrics reflect a sort of militant Christianity that does not reflect well on the religion as a whole. For example, this group has a song called "Christf---"...obviously they are not conservative. DennyW66 01:14, 23 March 2011 (EDT)

No U2?

Surely -- despite the band's liberal leanings -- one of U2's unashamedly Christian songs should make it in. Gloria seems the obvious choice. The chorus, you may remember, goes: "Gloria, in te domine/ Gloria, exultate/ Gloria, Gloria/ Oh Lord, loosen my lips." --Jdixon 12:34, 28 March 2011 (EDT)

Agreed. Gloria is definitely a good choice. Perhaps "40"; its lyrics are directly lifted from Psalm 40. DennyW66 12:43, 28 March 2011 (EDT)

You're kidding right? Conservative indeed.. MaxFletcher 22:06, 28 March 2011 (EDT)

Bono has had a relationship with every President since Clinton; for instance, he worked with Bush on issues relating to Africa and AIDS awareness. The band is very Christian and in no way ashamed of their Christianity. And, rare for rock stars, three of the four members of the band are married family men. They are known for their charitableness and philanthropy, which are of course conservative traits. Without a doubt, U2 is a conservative, Christian band and they should have representation on this list. DennyW66 22:21, 28 March 2011 (EDT)

Gloria's a good choice, please add it if you agree. But U2 became increasingly liberal the more media attention it obtained.--Andy Schlafly 10:07, 29 March 2011 (EDT)

Maybe it's possible to be Christian and pro-family, and yet left-leaning politically. Anyway, I vote for "Beautiful Day" ... The heart is a bloom / Shoots up through the stony ground / But there's no room / No space to rent in this town

Reminds me of how inhospitable this fallen world can be to the spirits of believers trying to lead a godly life in the midst of a secular world which often seems to be ruled by the devil (John 12:31). Yet God's love is there, like sunshine! --Ed Poor ^Talk 14:53, 29 March 2011 (EDT)

Brothers in Arms - Dure Straits

I would like to suggest Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits. It's about war and having ones "brother's in arms" in support. MaxFletcher 17:32, 4 April 2011 (EDT)

If there is no argument to it's inclusion I'll add it soon. Let me know your thoughts though...MaxFletcher 17:42, 5 April 2011 (EDT)

YMCA?

I'd always heard that the Village People's YMCA was about homosexual men seducing other men? That doesn't sound very conservative to me. Is this just a rumor? --JustinD 12:45, 12 May 2011 (EDT)

This was obviously added as a joke, and no one else seems to have realized it! TriciaS 12:25, 18 June 2011 (EDT)

Nope - the song is a legitimate tribute to the Young Men's Christian Association.--Andy Schlafly 13:19, 18 June 2011 (EDT)

Right. And Antony came to bury Caesar, not to praise him. "It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A. / They have everything that you need to enjoy, / You can hang out with all the boys..." TriciaS 13:32, 18 June 2011 (EDT)

It was probably written about more savory activities at the Y but later became identified as a gay anthem. I don't think it's a "conservative song" if it's overwhelmingly associated with homosexuality. Nate 13:43, 18 June 2011 (EDT)

The song is a good faith tribute and attempts to redefine it are not factual.--Andy Schlafly 15:10, 18 June 2011 (EDT)

Does anyone have any solid sources one way or the other as to what this song means? I tried some brief googling, but didn't turn up anything at all trustworthy. --JustinD 22:35, 28 June 2011 (EDT)

The band leader said it was a legitimate tribute to the Young Men's Christian Association, and we respect original meaning at Conservapedia.--Andy Schlafly 22:40, 28 June 2011 (EDT)

Awesome. Do you have a source for that I can add?--JustinD 21:28, 29 June 2011 (EDT)

Really? Have You Looked Into These Songs?

I'd just like to say that I think it's really jacked that you're going around and trying to SAY what these songs mean. For example, Metallica is NOT a conservative band. James Hetfield was a heavy drinker until he went to rehab, Kirk Hammett suffered from drug addiction during his teen years, and if you listen to any other song you hear that they are NOT a conservative band.

Furthermore, Journey is NOT a conservative band. Steve Perry openly voted for Obama in 2008. --Beanna 20:04, 24 May 2011 (EDT)

This isn't a list of conservative bands. It's a list of conservative songs. Even liberals are capable of occasionally singing a conservative song.--Andy Schlafly 21:19, 24 May 2011 (EDT)

An idea...

I was looking at this list and realised that most of the songs listed here are big hit numbers. I was thinking that it might be interesting to look at whether the more conservative a song is the better it does on the charts. Even though the artist might be liberal it seems there bigger hits are in fact conservative songs! Maybe by charting something like this we could prove that people respond better to the conservative message and perhaps change the minds of some liberal singers. Just an idea. MaxFletcher 20:31, 27 May 2011 (EDT)

We could add the respective chart ranking to this page and then collate the results by rank and date. Perhaps, like the conservative words, we might even see the same pattern repeated here! MaxFletcher 20:48, 27 May 2011 (EDT)

Great idea!--Andy Schlafly 22:01, 27 May 2011 (EDT)

It'll be a big project though so it'll be awhile for me to collate the results but I fear that we'll find that the majority of new hits are liberal in nature (particulalry coming from M&M and Usher etc) but I think that is because of the "hollywood" influence. Interestingly artists distanced from "fame" have better messages and still produce amazing hits. MaxFletcher 23:11, 27 May 2011 (EDT)

From a youngin'

Citizen/Soldier by 3 Doors Down. I don't know about the band themselves, but any song that supports the National Guard should be listed here, in my honest option. If no one minds, I'll add it.

Wish you were here

This is a good list of songs, but as far as I know, Wish you were here (the title track, along with the entire eponymous album) was not dedicated to a conservative president, but rather to ex-Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett. --Leo-from-UK 19:19, 16 June 2011 (EDT)

Two song suggestions

Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden

1) Like Welcome to the Family, it's about death row, but not anti-death penalty.

2) Multiple references to an afterlife. "Tears they flow but why am I crying?/After all I am not afraid of dying/Don't I believe that there never is an end?" and later in the song: Mark my words believe my soul lives on/Don't worry now that I have gone/I've gone beyond to seek the truth".

3) The very title of the song is derived from the Lord's Prayer, which is also implied to be the protagonist (in the song)'s final words.

Declaration Day - Iced Earth

The whole thing is about the American war for independence, so it's probably a good choice for the list.

I'll add them for the time being, but if most of you think they don't go, I'll take them down.

Thanks for suggesting them, but I don't see much that is conservative in your first suggestion other than acceptance of an afterlife (or judgment). That's an important message, but some of the religious references seem to be simply an attempt to give the song gravitas. Perhaps others have some insights about this.--Andy Schlafly 22:54, 15 July 2011 (EDT)

Perhaps it's time to branch out and create a category or essay on "Songs of interest to conservatives" or Songs that Conservatives like.

I like a lot of songs, even if I would be hard pressed to say why they are "conservative songs". Not every song or book or movie I like is Conservative, and I think it's important to be broad-minded enough not to condemn everything that isn't 100% in line with my beliefs and values.

In fact, I go even further and say that one of the main differences between liberals and conservatives is that liberals are supremely narrow-minded. All the talk about "tolerance" is a one way street with them. They want us to tolerate their radical notions, but they are ready at the drop of a hat to kick us out of their cushy little world any time we offer a different idea.

You would never hear of a Bible-belt Christian walking up to a famous liberal author and kicking his wine glass over at a picnic, saying, "We don't allow liberals here." (see Glen Beck in NYC). --Ed Poor ^Talk 23:35, 15 July 2011 (EDT)

I don't think Lola qualifies

IIRC, it ends with a complete lack of repentance -- "I'm glad I'm a man, and so is Lola". I don't think that this song qualifies as conservative if it celebrates that which we abhor.