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Do the Oscars really need more old songs?

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When conservatives complain, as they often do, that pop culture is dominated by liberals, lefties and all sorts of eco-nuts, I always feel like responding by saying -- well, how do conservatives ever expect to make a dent if they always seem hostile to virtually every new artist trend or movement, clinging to only what was popular decades ago.

If there were ever a case in point: The Wall Street Journal has launched De Gustibus, a new weekly column today by Eric Felten, which will apparently offer a new take on arts and culture. Felten, who had been writing the ‘How’s Your Drink?’ column in the paper’s Weekend Journal, offers his take on the motion picture academy’s recent move to avoid giving out a best song Oscar unless enough nominees receive a certain minimum amount of votes.

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Instead of debating the move on its merits, Felten uses it to take a stroll down memory lane, reliving all the great years -- like 1936 -- when there were tons of great show tunes available for consideration. Even worse, he goes out of his way to disparage modern music, in particular hip-hop, which is compared unfavorably to the wondrous melodies of yesteryear. At one point, he lists a variety of classic songs like ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ‘All the Way,’ then saying: ‘Compare them to the deathless melody honored for best movie song of 2005: ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.’ All together now, let’s all hum a few bars ... anybody?’

He also takes a shot Eminem, suggesting that no one in years to come will remember ‘Lose Yourself,’ the hip-hop artist’s best original song winner in 2002, He seems entirely unimpressed by the medley of songs Beyonce sang at this year’s Oscars. Once again, it’s a lost opportunity for conservatives in their attempt to somehow be relevant in the always turbulent pop culture affairs of the moment. When the right was at its political height, it was because it offered provocative new thinkers with a fresh, unorthodox take on the issues of the day. If the right wants to have the same influence on pop culture, it has to be just as engaged. For a start, it has to get out of the nostalgia business.

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