John Smith Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 One of the most outrageous interpretations of Beatles music I have ever heard... John, Paul, Ringo and George W.? Music to a conservative's earBy David Benkof Periodically, when people find out that a conservative Republican like me loves the Beatles, they're confused. After all, the Beatles have come to symbolize the liberal, even libertine, 1960s. Haven't I listened to the lyrics of songs such as Revolution? Yes, I have. Have you? (Photo - With the Beatles: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison in the Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 They even wrote a song (Taxman) complaining that taxes were too high. That's a little more George W. Bush than Barack Obama, isn't it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Thats the great thing about art, if you connect with it, you can find ways for it define your world view. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Twisted Acres Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Thats the great thing about art, if you connect with it, you can find ways for it define your world view. Very well put. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 there is nothing about the lyrics or music in Happiness is a Warm Gun that cannot be interpreted as a defense of Second Amendment rights.Nothing?? Nothing that cannot be interpreted as a defense of Second Amendment rights??How about the entire 1st 1/2 of the song? She's not a girl who misses muchDo do do do do do- oh yeahShe's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet handLike a lizard on a window paneThe man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrorsOn his hobnail bootsLying with his eyes while his hands are busyWorking overtimeA soap impression of his wife which he ateAnd donated to the National Trust I need a fix 'cause I'm going downDown to the bits that I left uptownI need a fix cause I'm going down Yes, well you see, the "velvet hand like a lizard on a window pane" CLEARLY refers to the limits of infringing on the right to bear arms. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Even if the Beatles meant to be ironic, there is nothing about the lyrics or music in Happiness is a Warm Gun that cannot be interpreted as a defense of Second Amendment rights. Yeah, John loved firearms more than life itself. This guy's a genius. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slaorenz Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Barack Obama and G.W both snorted coke....Drugs transcend politics because almost everyone like/uses them. Oh, and the Beatles were not conservative in any way.I was glad people had already responded to the 2nd amendment rights line by the time I read this..absolutely ridiculous. who pays this guy to write? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I was gonna say bravo to everyone for not taking this seriously... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Littlebear Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 The Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band albums are works of such staggering musical genius that they rival the best of Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig Van Beethoven for the greatest musical output of the past millennium. David Benkof is a doctoral student in American Jewish history at New York University. He can be reached at DavidBenkof@aol.com. Obviously, he's not a doctoral student in music history. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Smith Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 This guy is all over the web. Googling him turns up a bunch of stuff. If true his Wiki entry points to a person who has gone through twists and turns to get where he is today. And hints that this sort of interpretation might not be far fetched for him.David BenkofFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, searchDavid Benkof (born David Bianco in 1970) is an American journalist-entrepreneur. He was raised St. Louis, Missouri and then went to college at Stanford University, where he came out as gay his freshmen year. He served as the international president of United Synagogue Youth.[1]In 1995, he founded Q Syndicate, gay-press syndication service that provides columns, cartoons, crossword puzzles and horoscopes to about 100 gay and lesbian newspapers. In 2001, he sold a majority interest in Q Syndicate to Rivendell Marketing, and served as vice president for two years before selling the rest of the company.[2] Benkof published Modern Jewish history for everyone in 1997 and Gay Essentials: Facts for Your Queer Brain in 1999. In 2002 and 2003 he wrote the column Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Oh, and the Beatles were not conservative in any way.While I agree that trying to label the Beatles' as "conservative" is pretty ridiculous, I think this statement is equally ridiculous. Was Taxman a joke? The Beatles were being taxed by the British government like crazy then. Why? Because they were rich. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I was gonna say bravo to everyone for not taking this seriously..."was" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I was gonna say bravo to everyone for not taking this seriously... yeah, 'cause if there's one thing USA Today is known for, it's comedy pieces. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 yeah, 'cause if there's one thing USA Today is known for, it's comedy pieces. You're right! How dare someone give his personal interpretation of music he loves! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 You're right! How dare someone give his personal interpretation of music he loves! I think you missed my point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 While I agree that trying to label the Beatles' as "conservative" is pretty ridiculous, I think this statement is equally ridiculous. Was Taxman a joke? The Beatles were being taxed by the British government like crazy then. Why? Because they were rich.So, liberals never complain about taxes? Hmmm. The Beatles were being taxed at a rate of about 95%. I don't care what your politics are, that's something you're going to complain about, no matter how much you make. Benkof's quoting selected lyrics that he can twist into supporting his worldview, not unlike what many people do with the Bible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 If he were quoting lyrics to fit a liberal view would he also be twisting them? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 If he were quoting lyrics to fit a liberal view would he also be twisting them?Depends on the lyrics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Good Old Neon Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 The writer can interpret the song Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 They are cultural icons whose influence is so far reaching they represent everything and everyone. Nobody owns the beatles' ideology. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 No one owns their ideology? Not the members themselves? I mean, I could see saying no one owns their myth or meaning or something like that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
W(TF) Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 The Beatles were anti-establishment (especially Lennon), but, like Dylan, they really never allied themselves to any political ideology. What a crock of shit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 This piece - entertaining as it is - represents the level that journalism has sunk to, as it was created specifically to start fights on the internet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Good Old Neon Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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