The Dixie Chix' "Taking the Long Way" is the number one album this week after a long exile stemming from lead singer Natalie Maines' statement in London that "just so you know, we're ashamed that the President is from Texas." Later, she sloughed it off as an unplanned joke and apologized. Country fans were outraged, boycotted their music, and even trampled their CDS; and country radio stations no longer gave them air play. Consequently, the Dixie Chix tried to reposition themselves muscially. Natalie stated on 60 Minutes, "I've never pretended to be country to the core." In the AP, Natalie is quoted as saying, "I don't even know what's played on country radio. . .." Now that Bush's poll numbers are in the cellar, the Dixie Chix are taking back their apology and singing "Not Ready to Make Nice." Silly Chix, Trix are for kids: unless you're in the red light district.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I don't care for the Dixie Chicks' music because it sounds (contrary to their own assertions) just all the other tripe straight out of the canned music faucet on the current Billboard "Country" CMT charts. Their political views, while noxious, don't offend me in regards to their music at all. I enjoy the music of artists (i.e. R.E.M., Aimee Mann, U2 (some conservative, some self-righteously liberal, and many others) who are stupidly liberal. I just separate the music from the man.
If you buy Sean Hannity's book, "Let Freedom Ring" you get a free CD in the back sleeve, with Hannity's faves: "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood, "Ford Trucks" by that big guy with the hat, "Hopes and Dreams" by McGraw-Hill, and "I'm Gonna Stand Tall " by Buddy Jolly.
Liberals have poor ideas, but make better music and brew better coffee.
Geo., I agree with your distinction between the artist and his/her product. However, I think that the Dixie Chicks are somewhat different in that they established themselves in the heart of country music (a conservative bastion) and bashed their core supporter's choice of President in a foreign land. You can be a Tory but not a Benedict!
It appears that they have grown too big for Texas or for their country fans. See DC bandmember Martie McGuire's comments (AP):
"I'd rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith," Maguire said. "We don't want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do."
http://www.theeagle.com/stories/052306/entertainment_20060523030.php
Reba responded to Martie's slam at a awards show that she hosted recently. She said that she could emcee the event if the Dixie Chicks could sing with a foot in their mouths. A gentle jab but effective.
They are cowards, nothing more. I'm ashamed that they are from Texas; a reproach to the good people there.
To make matters sorer for TX, OK has Toby and Reba to claim as their own.
Post a Comment