Yes, I am totally biting off of Cam Edwards rhymes here, but he had a great idea for a column, especially when you love music and like to point out conservatism in places you wouldn’t expect to people who don’t normally see it.
Videos By Rare
It’s frustrating to begin with because music, from the first time you pick up a guitar to your first world tour employing hundreds of people, is all about conservatism, or at the very least libertarianism. Think about it: you form a band. You start playing shows, making whatever money you can to buy recording studio time (or the software to D.I.Y.) to record songs. You put those songs up on your website to build a fan base, to come to your shows and spend money. You then take that money, invested it in merchandise, to make more money and to have your fans help you promote your band, which drives more people to your shows and helps you make more money.
Now you have enough to go on your first tour. You budget, invest in a van, then hit the road selling your music and selling your merchandise, so that even more people discover your band (or your “product”), telling more people who check out your website, buy more of your music, more of your merch, go to more shows…little by little, until one day you’re doing stadium shows and go from being a rock band to being a corporation that employees thousands of people and also has its hands in fashion, a restaurant or two, and even an energy drink. Entrepreneurship. That’s conservatism 101.
Now that I got that out of my system, here are the songs I’ve selected for the second installment (rock songs that are actually conservative anthems:
1. Avett Brothers – Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjLTybMPgow&w=560&h=315]
The lyric sample speaks for itself. This world doesn’t owe you anything. If you aren’t dependent on the government (i.e. there’s less of it), you aren’t dependent on who’s in charge. Go find your American dream and live it.
Lyrics: When nothing is owed or deserved or expected/And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected/If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected/Decide what to be and go be it
2. Fall Out Boy – Save Rock n Roll
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5aVkVdFfLs&w=560&h=315]
Nevermind the fact that “F*** you, you can go cry me an ocean and leave me be” is my person conservative mantra, Patrick Stump was apparently channeling his inner William F. Buckley when they wrote this song. Buckley famously said it was the job of conservatives to stand atop the world and yell “Stop.” Conservatives are also at our best when we’re happy warriors. Keeping thise two things in mind…
Lyrics: I will defend the faith, going down swinging/I will save the songs that we can’t stop singing/In a world full of the world “yes,” I’m here to scream NO!
3. MxPX – Role Remodeling
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amWb9dxuIbY&w=420&h=315]
This is less a conservative anthem as much as it is an #AltCon anthem, which is short for what we at Misfit Politics call “alternative conservative.” Basically there are a whole lot of us who support liberty, yet don’t fit into the cookie cutter Brooks Brother model of what people think it means to be conservative. We’re also frustrated with the parties inability to connect with younger voters, and if we’re being honest lately, most of America.
Lyrics: It’s time to make a choice on what was never easy/We’re Here to change the world, and finally this is our time/So lets roll, with this role remodeling
4. Levi Lowrey – Hold On Tight
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkAsOAS8T-Q&w=560&h=315]
The “bro-choice” movement that has sprung up is one of the most insulting an embarrassing ideas the left has had, which perfectly illustrates their worldview where you should have no personal responsibility for your actions whatsoever. This song is the polar opposite of that.
Side note: This is also an amazing, amazing song writer that you should all look out for.
Lyrics: She was standing out on her front porch/Her hands were shakin’ when I met her by the door/She said if you left now I would understand/I opened up the door and took her by the hand/Said Hold on tight, It’s gonna be alright
5. 50 Cent – In Da Club
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss&w=560&h=315]
Liberalism only works when you’re able to manipulate people into hating others who have more than them. If it’s unfair that someone has more than you and you’re so full of hate and jealousy, then the person who says they’re going to take it and give it to you is the person you’ll vote for. Liberals want you to feel bad because you make money.
50 Cent response to that perfectly…
Lyrics: Let em’ hate and let the money pile up.