Thread: Remeber the "Dixie Chicks" ?

DIXIE CHICKS QUESTION YOUR PATRIOTISM
But don't question theirs ....


How the Chicks survived their scrap with Bush
Adam Sweeting assesses how the Dixie Chicks have weathered a political storm
15/06/2006


Will it be the salmon teriyaki with organic greens, or asparagus tempura and tuna sashimi? As the waiter hovers with pencil poised, the Dixie Chicks debate the menu with the practised air of professional restaurant critics. The Chicks have traditionally been branded a country band, but clearly it's some time since their diet consisted of ribs, tacos and pancakes.

( - British paper... )

Sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire project a polished Fifth Avenue elegance, and vocalist Natalie Maines is a vision of sculpted cheekbones and smoky eye-shadow.

With their origins as bouffant-haired ingénues playing bluegrass music long forgotten, the Chicks are in Miami to attend a Sony BMG conference, where their new album, Taking the Long Way, is high on the corporate agenda. It's their first release since the group weathered the storm of outrage triggered by Maines's expression of shame that President Bush was from her home state of Texas. Although they've sold 30 million albums, the company was concerned about their commercial future.

When Maines made her comment on March 10 2003, 10 days before Operation Iraqi Freedom unleashed "shock and awe" over Baghdad, the Dixie Chicks were probably the biggest act in country music. Yet within days, their music vanished from the charts and the airwaves, apoplectic rednecks crushed piles of their CDs with tractors, and the FBI was feverishly monitoring death threats against the trio. It was the most heinous pop-star outrage since Ozzy Osbourne urinated on the Alamo.

"The reaction was as if Natalie had said 'Death to the President' or something," says violinist and vocalist Maguire.

"It was the bullying and the scare factor," shudders banjo and guitar player Robison. "It was like the McCarthy days, and it was almost like the country was unrecognisable."

The level of debate can be gauged from the way Maines was compared to "Hanoi Jane" Fonda, who was photographed manning a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun at the height of the Vietnam war.

The Chicks can't hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do," says Robison.

"A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

There can be no rational explanation of how Maines's remark came to drive a red-hot poker into America's divided soul, but it's only now that some of the poison has begun to dissipate.

Early concerns about the premature demise of the Chicks' career subsided when the furiously unapologetic single Not Ready to Make Nice became the most downloaded track on iTunes, despite a lack of radio airplay. Then the album went to number one on the Billboard 200 after selling half a million copies in the week after its release in America last month. It looks set to be their first UK top 10 album this Sunday.

The recruitment of Rick Rubin as producer, the man who rejuvenated Johnny Cash, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Diamond and others, is guaranteed to extend the Chicks' appeal, though it would be disappointing if the album's thoughtful range of subject matter (from IVF to Alzheimer's) was overshadowed by the Bush episode.

"I think for longevity's sake, our music had to mature and we had to mature as people," says Maguire. "Not that this particular event had to happen, but it sped up the process for us and helped us make a record that's really meaningful to us, whether or not other people see that."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.../bmdixie15.xml

The Chicks can't hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do," says Robison. "A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," [Natalie] Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

I don't think they get their "market" at all....

:usa2:

As I recall - part of what got them in so much trouble was they made these statements in the UK - got caught in the backlash and tried to cover. Then went on to an interview in Australia and made more "statements", apoligised for those; went to another country and .....

I would be considered part of their "market" and while I don't agree w/ her, I really could care less that she said it. It's been 3 years ago now... there are far more important things that ppl should be upset about than this.

Originally Posted by justme23

I would be considered part of their "market" and while I don't agree w/ her, I really could care less that she said it. It's been 3 years ago now... there are far more important things that ppl should be upset about than this.

Well SAID!

Originally Posted by justme23

I would be considered part of their "market" and while I don't agree w/ her, I really could care less that she said it. It's been 3 years ago now... there are far more important things that ppl should be upset about than this.

Exactly..like what Natalie Maines says has anything to do with her talent.

I love the Dixie Chicks, & I think that everyone is entitled to thier own opinion, even them. People forget that they are just poeple like everyone else. Their is a lot of people that think just like they do, it just hasn't made the national headlines & stuff.

My freedom of choice/speech allows me to never buy anything the Chixie Dicks(sic) play, and to support our local radio station that still will not play them

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, even those that are against the Chixie Dicks(sic). That is what freedom of speech allows, for her to spout whatever nonsensical carp she wants, and for others to backlash on her. Each side is expressing themselves freely

Originally Posted by killbarney

My freedom of choice/speech allows me to never buy anything the Chixie Dicks(sic) play, and to support our local radio station that still will not play them

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, even those that are against the Chixie Dicks(sic). That is what freedom of speech allows, for her to spout whatever nonsensical carp she wants, and for others to backlash on her. Each side is expressing themselves freely

Absolutely! Thank God we live in America!

Originally Posted by hblueeyes

Thank goodness our forefathers did not think like them or we would still be a broken country under British,Spanish,Mexican rule. I find it convienent that they can stand on their soapboxes saying whatever they want regarding the prez and politics yet not understand what it is to be patriotic or have patriotism.

me

patriotism is love of and devotion to one's country. Key word here = country...not President. Even if they are not patriotic that is okay too. There is no law that you cannot live in American UNLESS you are patriotic. I could care less what a persons political views are as a singer or performer. If I like their music I will continue to like it. ALL have an opinion and some have the same like the DC but they were afraid to say it. Yes they have a right to say what they want, and yes you have a right not to listen to them, but no one should be ostracized because of their opinion. If so then there would be no one left after a while.