Tracks by METALLICA, RUSH, SCORPIONS, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN and AEROSMITH have made National Review's Top 50 list of "greatest conservative rock songs."
According to National Review political reporter John J. Miller, the following ingredients are required to make a great conservative rock song: "The lyrics must convey a conservative idea or sentiment, such as skepticism of government or support for traditional values. And, to be sure, it must be a great rock song."
With regards to the song selection process, Miller says, "We're biased in favor of songs that are already popular, but have tossed in a few little-known gems. In several cases, the musicians are outspoken liberals. Others are notorious libertines. For the purposes of this list, however, we don't hold any of this against them. Finally, it would have been easy to include half a dozen songs by both the KINKS and RUSH, but we've made an effort to cast a wide net. Who ever said diversity isn't a conservative principle?"
01. "Won't Get Fooled Again", by THE WHO 02. "Taxman", by THE BEATLES 03. "Sympathy for the Devil", by THE ROLLING STONES 04. "Sweet Home Alabama", by LYNYRD SKYNYRD 05. "Wouldn't It Be Nice", by THE BEACH BOYS 06. "Gloria", by U2 07. "Revolution", by THE BEATLES 08. "Bodies", by THE SEX PISTOLS 09. "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 ÖYSTER 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 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
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