Still, there are some conservative songs out there, and there are some that I actually like. To some, this could be a surprise. After all, if a song is espousing a belief that you patently think is wrong, wouldn't you hate that song on principle? Eh, not me. I've found that if a song does an effective job of making its point, I don't have too much trouble looking past whatever concerns I might have with the message.
One song that fits the category perfectly is Merle Haggard's "The Fightin' Side Of Me." Released in the midst of the Vietnam war, the Hag makes it abundantly clear that he's not big on the peace movement, mentioning "some squirrely" guy bet against the war, making him wonder how long America would be free. He also makes it clear that anyone he deems excessively critical of the American government just may wind up getting their ass kicked.
So, I have some problems with this song. It's jingoistic, and takes the unfortunate viewpoint that disliking war inherently makes you a wuss. And yet, I like it. I like it quite a bit actually, and listen to it on Spotify around 3 times a week. Why? Well, it might partially because it's just a catchy song that i find myself humming a lot, but it goes a bit deeper than that. There's an honesty to the song that I can't help admiring. I don't doubt that Haggard was being genuine about his convictions, and even though they differ greatly from my own, I still appreciate that.
To be fair though, that song is somewhat vague with regards to specific issues, and it mostly related to attitudes during the Vietnam War. It's easy to ignore the message of a song that primarily discusses a part of American history that I wasn't even alive for. What about a song that takes on a more specific issue, one that I care a great deal about, and has a message flatly contrary to my own opinion on the subject? Enter Graham Parker's "You Can't Be Too Strong."
Appearing on Parker's most famous album, Squeezing Out Sparks, "You Cant Be Too Strong" is one of the most memorable anti-abortion songs around. Now, I say anti-abortion rather than pro-life, because I don't think Parker is arguing that abortion should be outlawed. Rather, he is simply making it very clear that he really, really doesn't like it.
So, I have some beefs with this song. For one thing, the title. Granted, I suppose it is nice that he admits that a woman who makes the decision to raise a child is in fact strong, but I'm bothered by the apparent implication that choosing to have an abortion would be the weak choice, or the easy way out. Isn't making the choice to have an abortion an equally hard choice, considering the stigma surrounding, and the shaming the woman may deal with from protesters outside of the clinic? It also gets on my nerves when Parker sings "it's just a mistake/It won't have to face/he' lucky in a way" seemingly painting the woman as wanting to avoid responsibility.
In spite of all this, I still like this song. As with Haggard, you get the feeling that Parker is speaking from his heart. The liberal in me wants to scream at him for judging woman for making a decision that he'll never have to make, but the music fan in me admires him for going so public with his convictions when it could have (and probably did) alienate some of his fan base. I also think that while some of the individual lyrics are bothersome, he does acknowledge that abortion is a complicated issue, and that is a tough decision for a lot of people. I disagree with the conclusion he comes to, but I can't fault him for not thinking it through.
The point is, I think there's something to be said for enjoying songs that take a stance on an issues you don't necessarily agree with. Just because a song has a message contrary to how you feel doesn't mean it's inherently worthless. If you can only support artists who think the same way you do, you'll likely miss out on some great tunes.
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