What do these rock groups have in common?
The Who. Beatles. Rolling Stones. Lynyrd Skynrd. Beach Boys. U2. Sex Pistols. Metallica. Kinks.
Between them, they've recorded the top ten conservative rock anthems of all time, according to the National Review. Now, I'm hoping they open the Republican National Convention with the delegates getting down to "Sympathy for the Devil" (No. 3) and close with a tableau featuring "I Fought the Law" (No. 15), Lewis Libby, Jack Abramoff and Ken Lay.
The magazine's preposterous top 50 list — which ignores the politics of many of the artists, not to mention the actual meaning of the songs — has already been skewered by The Rude Pundit and Left of the Dial.
But let me add my personal fave tone-deaf choices: Creedence Clearwater Revival's anti-war "Who'll Stop the Rain?" and The Pretenders' anti-development "My City Was Gone."
If you're only going skin deep, you could make a case that John Fogerty was a proto-Republican — viz. "Centerfield" and "Fortunate Son."
And Chrissie Hynde, a clear voice of moderation, if not the uber-chick of the conservatives:
- "Baby's Breath" and "I'm a Mother" — pro-life
- "Legalize Me" — speaking on behalf of Bush's immigration plan
- "Never Do That" — taking a courageous stand against raising taxes
- "Sense of Purpose" — the case for being in Iraq
- "Criminal" and "Back on the Chain Gang" — three strikes, and you're out, baby
- "You Know Who Your Friends Are" — bitter denunciation of leaks
- "Waste Not, Want Not" — the ownership society anthem
- "Money Talk" — an argument for money as free speech
Yeah, I think I'm starting to get it.
