The Who, Offspring, Blink-182, Clash, Sex Pistols in “Top 50 Conservative Rock Songs”

by Politics

Conservative magazine National Review has assembled what they describe as the "top 50 conservative rock songs of all time." The magazine based their selection on a broad criiteria: the songs had to be well-liked and express classically conservative ideas "such as skepticism of government or support for traditional values."

Taking the top spot was the Who classic, "Won't Get Fooled Again" while the Sex Pistols "Bodies" came in 8th. The latter is described as a "anti-abortion anthem." "I Fought the Law," covered by the Clash, Dead Kennedys and recently, Green Day comes in 15th. Blink-182's "Stay Together for the Kids" is 17th, and the Clash's "Rock the Casbah" takes the 20th spot. The Offspring's "Why Don't You Get a Job?" is the 48th "conservative rock song" of all time.

Interestingly, many of the cited artists - like the Clash's Joe Strummer - were notable left-wing advocates and many of the bands actually appear on the list of punk voter supporters including the Offspring and Blink-182. Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten recent discussed "Bodies" saying:

Every woman should have the choice when they face it. […] And if you construe that as being anti-abortion, then you're a silly cu… sausage.

  1. "Won't Get Fooled Again," by The Who
  2. "Taxman," by The Beatles
  3. "Sympathy for the Devil," by The Rolling Stones
  4. "Sweet Home Alabama," by Lynyrd Skynyrd
  5. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," by The Beach Boys
  6. "Gloria," by U2
  7. "Revolution," by The Beatles
  8. "Bodies," by The Sex Pistols
  9. "Don't Tread on Me," by Metallica
  10. "20th Century Man," by The Kinks
  11. "The Trees," by Rush
  12. "Neighborhood Bully," by Bob Dylan
  13. "My City Was Gone," by The Pretenders
  14. "Right Here, Right Now," by Jesus Jones
  15. "I Fought the Law," by The Crickets
  16. "Get Over It," by The Eagles
  17. "Stay Together for the Kids," by Blink 182
  18. "Cult of Personality," by Living Colour
  19. "Kicks," by Paul Revere and the Raiders
  20. "Rock the Casbah," by The Clash
  21. "Heroes," by David Bowie
  22. "Red Barchetta," by Rush
  23. "Brick," by Ben Folds Five
  24. "Der Kommissar," by After the Fire
  25. "The Battle of Evermore," by Led Zeppelin
  26. "Capitalism," by Oingo Boingo
  27. "Obvious Song," by Joe Jackson
  28. "Janie's Got a Gun," by Aerosmith
  29. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," by Iron Maiden
  30. "You Can't Be Too Strong," by Graham Parker
  31. "Small Town," by John Mellencamp
  32. "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," by The Georgia Satellites
  33. "You Can't Always Get What You Want," by The Rolling Stones
  34. "Godzilla," by Blue Oyster Cult
  35. "Who'll Stop the Rain," by Creedence Clearwater Revival
  36. "Government Cheese," by The Rainmakers
  37. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," by The Band
  38. "I Can't Drive 55," by Sammy Hagar
  39. "Property Line," by The Marshall Tucker Band
  40. "Wake Up Little Susie," by The Everly Brothers
  41. "The Icicle Melts," by The Cranberries
  42. "Everybody's a Victim," by The Proclaimers
  43. "Wonderful," by Everclear
  44. "Two Sisters," by The Kinks
  45. "Taxman, Mr. Thief," by Cheap Trick
  46. "Wind of Change," by The Scorpions
  47. "One," by Creed
  48. "Why Don't You Get a Job," by The Offspring
  49. "Abortion," by Kid Rock
  50. "Stand By Your Man," by Tammy Wynette