Cancel Culture Comes for Dad Rock

 

President Trump was mocked for suggesting that after tearing down Confederate statues, they would move on to statues of Washington and Jefferson. History has proven he wasn’t wrong, he merely underestimated how far the left is willing to take the Culture Wars. (The Culture Wars polite Republicans and “principled conservatives” think we should have no part of.) They came for Robert E. Lee, they came for Stonewall Jackson, and conservatives-with-dad-bods did nothing. Now, they’re coming for Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.

The past several years have seen a reassessment of our country’s many mythologies — from the legends of the generals of the Confederacy to the historical glossing over of slaveholding founding fathers. But as we take another look at the sins of our historical figures, we’ve also had to take a hard look at our more immediate past and present, including the behavior of the creators of pop culture. That reassessment extends now to the people who wrote some of our best-loved songs. But what to do with the art left behind? Can I still love their music if I’m appalled by various events in the lives of Johnny Cash or Elvis or Jerry Lee Lewis? Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

What I really enjoy about the column is how she plays the great left-wing game of “I’m not suggesting we should cancel all of these songs and musicians, but I struggle with their appalling racism and unacceptable attitudes toward women.” Which actually means, “I’m not suggesting we cancel them… I’m just providing a bunch of reasons for *you* to cancel them.”

Oh, by the way, as it turns out, it’s still illegal to vandalize statues sometimes. Certain statues anyway.

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  1. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Pretty sure the Stones have already disavowed “Brown Sugar.“  It will be interesting to see the extent to which some of these guys knuckle under.

    And who knew Clapton was an appalling racist?  All I knew was that he devoted the early part of his career to bringing to light the songs of black blues musicians.

    • #1
  2. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

    How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way?  I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    • #2
  3. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

     How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way? I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    There is some irony in the fact that figurative descendants of these types condemned rock and roll as the work of the devil, sought to censor it, and were mocked by the Boomers.  Now the grandchildren of those Boomers have gotten a different type of religion to push the same old whine in a different bottle.

    • #3
  4. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    And you’re right. It’s cancelled because it’s “Dad Rock.” Men like it. Therefore bad.

    • #4
  5. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

    How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way? I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    There is some irony in the fact that figurative descendants of these types condemned rock and roll as the work of the devil, sought to censor it, and were mocked by the Boomers. Now the grandchildren of those Boomers have gotten a different type of religion to push the same old whine in a different bottle.

    But it’s still Democrats. Wasn’t it Tipper Gore who faced off with Dee Snider?

    • #5
  6. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Victor Tango Kilo: What I really enjoy about the column is how she plays the great left-wing game of “I’m not suggesting we should cancel all of these songs and musicians, but I struggle with their appalling racism and unacceptable attitudes toward women.” Which actually means, “I’m not suggesting we cancel them… I’m just providing a bunch of reasons for *you* to cancel them.” 

    This is insightful, and I might suggest it’s a common approach to all sorts of “cancelling.” Some academic non-entity or blue-check journo goes on a rant, denying that they’re actually trying to destroy anyone. Then it’s the little minions who follow them who enact the cancelling.

    • #6
  7. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

    How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way? I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    There is some irony in the fact that figurative descendants of these types condemned rock and roll as the work of the devil, sought to censor it, and were mocked by the Boomers. Now the grandchildren of those Boomers have gotten a different type of religion to push the same old whine in a different bottle.

    But it’s still Democrats. Wasn’t it Tipper Gore who faced off with Dee Snider?

    It was the work of the devil long before she came along.

    • #7
  8. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

    How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way? I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    There is some irony in the fact that figurative descendants of these types condemned rock and roll as the work of the devil, sought to censor it, and were mocked by the Boomers. Now the grandchildren of those Boomers have gotten a different type of religion to push the same old whine in a different bottle.

    But it’s still Democrats. Wasn’t it Tipper Gore who faced off with Dee Snider?

    It was the work of the devil long before she came along.

    Remember being told that “It’s rock ‘n roll.  It’s supposed to be rebellious and contrary.”  Well?

    • #8
  9. Ray Gunner Coolidge
    Ray Gunner
    @RayGunner

    Victor Tango Kilo: What I really enjoy about the column is how she plays the great left-wing game of “I’m not suggesting we should cancel all of these songs and musicians, but I struggle with their appalling racism and unacceptable attitudes toward women.” Which actually means, “I’m not suggesting we cancel them… I’m just providing a bunch of reasons for *you* to cancel them.”

    This is how Wokesters say “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?”

    • #9
  10. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    I am in 100% complete agreement with every note Eric Clapton ever played. (Fall down on my knees, raise up my right hand …)

    That he seems to agree with my politics is irrelevant.

    • #10
  11. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

    How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way? I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    There is some irony in the fact that figurative descendants of these types condemned rock and roll as the work of the devil, sought to censor it, and were mocked by the Boomers. Now the grandchildren of those Boomers have gotten a different type of religion to push the same old whine in a different bottle.

    But it’s still Democrats. Wasn’t it Tipper Gore who faced off with Dee Snider?

    Not sure if it was Tipper or Al. But Dee Snider is smarter than both of them combined, assuming one could combine intellect.

    • #11
  12. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo: Or by Eric Clapton’s racist rants and anti-vaccination activism?

    How about being appalled by the incredibly low bar to be described this way? I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I doubt I would agree with the description.

    You won’t be surprised to hear the “racist” part concerns an on-stage, drunken rant about immigration.  Forty-five years ago.

    • #12
  13. Casey Way Inactive
    Casey Way
    @CaseyWay

    I heard Clapton donated to a group of traveling musicians who protest mandates with concerts. At their shows they chant “Rock Show Riding”…

    • #13
  14. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    We have songs that speak directly to these neo-puritans:

    I’m sure I’m missing something. I feel like getting back into my revolutionary roots these days…

    • #14
  15. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    The Stones move pretty well for a bunch of old guys.

    • #15
  16. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    JoelB (View Comment):

    The Stones move pretty well for a bunch of old guys.

    They better keep moving.  Some of their stuff is most likely to be cancelled.

    Under My Thumb was a cancel forerunner.

    • #16
  17. Chris O Coolidge
    Chris O
    @ChrisO

    Couldn’t be better news. They’ll actually make us the rock-n-roll party!

    • #17
  18. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk

    And I’m sure that hip-hop has never included ANY offensive themes.

    Black good, white bad.

    • #18
  19. davenr321 Coolidge
    davenr321
    @davenr321

    Squaresville, daddy-O.
    Makes one long for the days of Jon Parales…

    • #19
  20. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    davenr321 (View Comment):

    Squaresville, daddy-O.
    Makes one long for the days of Jon Parales…

    Lester Bangs?

    • #20
  21. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Victor Tango Kilo: President Trump was mocked for suggesting

    His tweets and statements, always reacted to with horror, shock and claims of proof of multitudes of ‘isms, always turned out to be so prescient and accurate.  The rest of your article is nice, but the above quote is the real story.  

    • #21
  22. Unsk Member
    Unsk
    @Unsk

    I seem to remember somewhere that Eric Clapton’s were paralyzed for a while  after he got vax’d. Perhaps that’s why this Dad doesn’t think much of the Vax.  But he needs to be cancelled anyway, because you  know telling the truth ain’t allowed anymore.

    • #22
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