The American Mind

““abuse” they brought upon themselves”? Wow – they brought it upon themselves? NO, unpatriotic facists threatened their livelihood and made death threats. You one of those?

I agree, Dixie Chicks have taken themselves way too serious and who cares what they think about Bush…. They will need to make nice to win me back to their fan base.
I like them more when they where singing less serious songs like ” Earl”.
These Chicks are not getting my vote.

Little Chick could have been little humble. Guess she don’t know yet that the public didn’t do this voting. Have never even heard the song on the radio, that tells me something.

I agree, I would like to buy them for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth.. I could pay the national debt! What gets me they complain about freedom of speech.. THEIR freedom of speech is ONLY if you agree with how THEY see things.

Thank you for the bit of humor, Jim Dixon, who wouldn’t know what a fascist was one set up the fourth reich in Jim’s kitchen.

“They assume we’ll continue to buy whatever they try to sell to us no matter how much it offends our sensibilities. Then when consumers get fed up they’ll complain about being censored. Such a disconnect explains why record sales have fallen.”

I think the disconnect is you from reality. Record sales have fallen because of online downloads.

You really don’t know what you’re talking about do you?

WOW… The Chicks Protested against our Military, who fight for their FREEDOM of speech and all they can say is NAH NAH…. WHAT A HORRIBLE WASTE OF A SOLDIERS LIFE!!! I am beyond shocked at their childish behavior.

You can tell the “people” did not vote for the Dixie Chicks. To tell you the truth, I “muted” the tv when they were on. They are a bunch of uppipty loud mouthed conceited whiners.

Al Gore? PUH-LEEZE!

Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts – great performances by the way.

My husband puts on a uniform everyday and defends, to the death if necessary, their right to Freedom of Speech. We do not buy their music, or support them in any way, because we do not agree with those same views.
I just wish they would stop calling themselves country artist. We, as a genre, did not buy are listen to their album.

Best Country album, best song. BS
No one in Country cares for them, nor do WE buy their records/cd’s….
The “Pixie Chics” have had to Cancell concerts due to lack of ticket sales! (that’s a fact!)
Most true country stations and night clubs still Ban their music (another fact!). They have to sell they music on other venues. They should colaberate with the likes of Michael “the pedifile” Jackson.
They won those Grammy’s Strickly for political BS!
They are still shunned by True country fans, reguardless of Our political views!
You DO NOT insult OUR country on Foriegn soil.
Natalie sits right next to Jane “Hanoi” Fonda.
They are both traitors in my book! and
they both should ROT!

“By Virtue and Valor”

being anti bush is ok ..HOWEVER TALKING DOWN ABOUT AMERICA WHILE IN A FOREIGB COUNTRY IS UN AMERICAN AND NOT EASILY FORGOTTEN..IE HANOI JANE

So it is OK to whine about how your blabber mouth adversely effected your record sales, but you have no problem stealing an award away from deserving artists when you get it as a political statement. I hope fatty pig fatty and her mindless stooges have an empty pit in their stomaches every time they look at their ill-gotten award. Of course that would assume at least a modicium of humility and insight, so it is not likely.

The Dixie Chicks won a grammy for an album nobody bought, a record that doesn’t get played on the radio, a tour that got cncelled for lack of ticket sales, and a movie that was dumped in the first week because no one went to see it.

Who decides who gets the grammy? Not the music fans, that’s for sure.

Never to be watched again. Thought maybe the grammys were for music quality not political BS. Those has beens have little support except with the Demo/Socio party who wouldn’t be listening to them anyway.

Unfortunately the Dixie Chicks get awards that are quited undeserved. IF the Dixie Chicks were that good, why did they not win a single award at the 2006 Country Music Awards? Not one. Imagine that. Just goes to show how far the Hollyweird elites are from their base.

Okay, the Dixie Pigs won an award. Maybe now they will go to a country they admire and appreciate – like Iran or Syria or Germany or France.

Frankly, I’m ashamed they’re from Texas.

Man, I see sexism and conservatism still go hand in hand, Tom.

Look. You guys need to deal with the fact that your president is a fuck-up, almost everybody in America knows it now, and a lot of people are feeling bad about people who turned out to have been right all along. Like the Dixie Chicks.

But moreover – they’re talented artists. Disagreeing with their political stance doesn’t give you an honest basis to criticize their artistic merit.

The best art is political. That’s always been true. And artists have almost always produced their best work on the opposite side of power. Any asshole can write a song about supporting his country no matter what it does. It doesn’t make it a good song just because you’re dumb enough to agree with it.

Hey Chicks – the people haven’t spoken, a committee spoke. I also think it is a bit ironic that they were nominated in the country category, since their music isn’t played on the majority of those staions. I think the real people did speak when you had to cancel many of your concert dates for lack of sales.

Ohhh, sexism! You get a cookie!!!

Yup, despite the conservative censorship, the Dixie Chicks sold more albums than they ever have last year.

It just goes to show you that they embelish the true American value of free speech. Go Chicks!

The dixie chicks won those grammies as a political statement. Whomever chose them to win did so because they agreed with the poopie chicks political views, not because of their music. If it were up to the fans, they would’ve gone home empty handed (ha,hah!). The whole Simpson’s quote just made her officially the most hated country singer in America.

I hope you read this DIXIE CHICKS. I WILL NEVER BUY OR EVEN LISTEN TO YOUR CRAPPY MUSIC NOR WILL ANYONE IN MY FAMILY! As quoted from the Simpson’s HAHAH!

Chet, you uber-douche,

This has nothing to to do with their genitalia. This has to do with the fact the the Dixie Chicks “swept” the Grammies. including a Best Country Album (when they won ZERO awards at the Country Music Awards.) IT has to do with the fact that they are no longer in that realm, yet still seem to win awards. Their roots had been in Country Music. THen they chose to voice their opinions, including insulting their fan base (don’t want anybody that listens to Reba McIntire or Toby Keith listening to DC music, those stoopid rednecks.). Yet they swept the Grammies. If they want to fall under some sort of Pop/Folk label to win best Pop/Folk album, that would be more appropriate.

As far as your last incredibly insightful statement, let me rebut: Any asshole can write a song about hating their country no matter what it does. It doesn’t make it a good song just because you’re dumb enough to agree with it.

Whether or not people agree w/their political beliefs, the Chicks have produced a great CD. Musically the thing just WORKS. There is a common thread throughout; lyrics present a story that the artists lived; the quality of the composition is evident; the musicianship is impeccable; the SOUND is great.
When I listen to music I’m listening for the whole sound. That is what makes the CD really interesting. This is truly EAR CANDY!

And as far as art being political and the Grammys making a political statement, I thought the show was an awards show, not a political rally…

I am upset with the Dixie Chicks getting top awards for being disrespectful to President Bush. I don’t care what party is in office, you should have more respect. I think Natalie is a spoil brat with a big mouth. I am also fed up with Hollywood who doesn’t have any good roll models being disrespectful to Bush and calling him all kinds of names.

The Dixie who? Weren’t they on the radio a few years ago? Hollywood shows us again that they know whats best for all of us. It’s a shame that there are serious musicians out there that don’t get an award because they are cool with being entertainers. I hope I never need hollywood to tell me how to think about issues. Side with them and no matter what you win awards.

[...] Your detective The Hollywood Dick has discover Hollywood has dicked America again. The previously dicked chicks who rightfully can’t be played anywhere in Right America won all the awards last night. What my sources tell me would make your head spin, probably to the right: . . . . the voters needed a way to strike out at the Bush administration and conservative America. This is hardly a case of Grammy voters [who] love underdogs and comeback stories. Thank the Right God we will always have Reba so people can buy her records. How much lower can it go? [...]

Chet,
Any asshole can write a song against his/her country no matter what it does and still remain considered an asshole. What the f… is wrong with being a conservative? And don’t you ever call me a sexist just because the assholes happened to be bitches.

Dixie Chicks win five Grammy awards, Hollyweird quote hilariousness ensues…

The mediots couldn’t be happier that the no-longer-country-musicians Dixie Chicks won all five awards they were nominated for last night at the 49th annual Grammy Awards.
The theme of the day in the MSM is “vindication for the Chicks&#822…

Why is it that the people on the left, most of whom wouldn’t have been caught dead buying country music, are now talking about how talented the Dixie Chicks are? Personally, I don’t like country music, and I always especially disliked the Dixie Chicks, long before their “controversial” remarks. Most leftists would be on the same page with me about the so-called talent of the Dixie Chicks if they didn’t agree with their comments.

It doesn’t make it a good song just because you’re dumb enough to agree with it.

Amen, brother.

This is funny.

PEOPLE–THE GRAMMYS ARE IRRELEVENT, POINTLESS, AND HOPELESSLY OUT OF TOUCH. And it’s not because they gave the Dixie Chicks 5 awards, either. It’s because the world’s best music is being made on independent labels, under the radar of the majors, corporate radio, and the rest of the insular BS “music industry.” I wouldn’t get bent out of shape because some horrible band like the Red Hot Chili Peppers were denied Album of the Year. Last year’s best albums were by TV On the Radio and The Melvins, anyway.

Plus, to echo what Chet said…the best art is politically charged and anti-establishment, always. I suppose if Credence Clearwater Revival wrote “Fortunate Son” in today’s political climate, they’d be persecuted for their beliefs by y’all as well, right? Banned from rock radio? Y’all know that “Born in the USA” by Springsteen is sarcastic, right?

To all of the pea brained, closed minded, red neck, trailer trash loosers who love to ride the dixie chicks bash wagon: These three artists have simply said what the MAJORITY of this country thinks, only they said it three years before the rest of the country woke up to bush’s stupidity. Wake up rednecks !

I have lost complete respect for The Grammy Awards. The ONLY reason Dixie Chicks won all awards was to make political statements by the liberal democratic music industry!
I thought this show was about music talent and ability. The biggest joke of all was the country cd of the year? I have no problem with musicians having their views, but to use an awards show to express them is just not right. I love music and I love all genres, but I dont want to be preached at while we should be awarding musical talent..not political views.

Hey#13,Democrat?

Granted these chicks may have singing ability. But it is so obvious that they are vindictive, vengeful, little snots that it is better they don’t even speak because of what comes out of their mouths. Singing, yes, a brain to communicate to the nation, no. They need to eat humble pie. Will they? No way.
Whoever put them ahead of the chili peppers needs to have their hearing and heads examined. It was nothing but a way to make a statement about the liberals point of view being the right point of view. It’s all about who is the better artists. And the peppers kick thier butts!

the best art is politically charged and anti-establishment, always

I don’t think this is true, at least not the “always” part. Sure, some great art has been political, but very little of what we view as great art today has overt political overtones. For example, I’m not sure what political message is to be found in Monet’s paintings of Lily Pads or Haystacks. Yet, Monet is considered one of the greats. Certainly, Picasso had some political works, and some of Beethoven’s works were written with politics in mind, but I’d be hard-pressed to know what the hell the messages were just by listening to them.

At any rate, regardless of whether that statement is true, let’s not pretend the Dixie Chicks are on par with Beethoven, Monet, or Picasso.

Regardless of how you feel about our President. Some some respect for yourself and your country by not running your leader and country down. I would not want the job of President and believe that most people wouldn’t want it either. It is a job where you cannot win the approval of all people. You may not agree with what is said or done in the politcal world but show some class and have respect for a terribly difficult position to be in.

Personally I think it is discusting to think how america has such a short memory to the fact as to what the Dixie Chicks did after Sept 11. And I will never listen or buy a song sung by them. And they were right I did turn the tv to another station as soon as they were announced as winners each and every time.
Let us hope and pray that they are never in an area where a terriost attack happens and then listen to them cry about how the government re-acts.

Jason–

I wouldn’t presume to put the Dixie Chicks on the level of Beethoven. I’m not a fan of the Dixie Chicks’ music at all. When it comes to country, give me Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and Willie Nelson. The classics. What passes for “country music” today according to Nashville is garbage.

And sure, i’ll take back the “always,” but politically-charged protest music is part of American history, and it always will be.

And to Jason, who said this:

Why is it that the people on the left, most of whom wouldn’t have been caught dead buying country music, are now talking about how talented the Dixie Chicks are?

Interesting generalization and blanket statement, my friend. Read my first paragraph to see how off-base you are. Well, maybe not completely off-base; i wouldn’t be caught dead buying the “country music” being put out today (which is basically adult contemporary rock music with a lap-steel and some fiddles).

Heh, that was probably the same Jason both times. Face = red.

Good for the Chicks. The Album is fantastic and I’m happy to see them finally get the Last Laugh. Plus, it will give them great PR for this weeks video sales.

And screw Country Stations, if they care more about the Chix politics than the music, screw em’ in the ear.

It’s been a long haul and the crap they had to put up with from the Bush Apologists, makes this even sweeter.

Dixie Chicks are more popular than the Failed President. That is funny.

Congrats to DC! Keep the music flowing!

I didn’t mean it as a blanket generalization, it’s just that it is quite common for those on the left to insult country-music fans (not all on the left do this, obviously, but it is common), and now we have members of the left telling country music fans what they should be listening to and who has talent. I think most country music is utterly forgettable (except Johnny Cash), including the Dixie Chicks.

My point is simply that some of the same people who likely used to criticize the Dixie Chicks’ fans are now telling the fans how talented they are.

Personally, I don’t care about their politics. I buy albums with political messages I don’t always agree with. The problem with the anti-Bush stuff is that it all seems so cheap (see Disturbed’s newest album). As “anti-establishment” as it’s supposed to be, it comes across to me as taking the easy way out. Hell, if I were in a band and I wanted to get attention, I’d put similar lyrics in my songs. I may not agree with it, but it would make me some money.

Anyway, I have no problem with politically-charged music, but some of it doesn’t come off as brave to me, but cheap and easy.

But my hatred for all things Dixie Chicks transcends politics. That awful “Earl” song that I was forced to hear constantly did it for me.

The CD that the chicks won for is by far thier best selling CD, so how on Gods green earth did it win? Um,I’m guessing that politics had NOTHING to do with it.I did not nor would I ever vote for any crap they try to push of as country music. Low selling numbers,no radio play,anti-american,yeah that’s it NO POLITICS!!!!!!!!!!

Heh. I wouldn’t limit the cheapness of Disturbed to just their lyrics.

All in all, today’s music, whether in the mainstream or indies, is lacking in real, substantial political content. I can’t help but agree that the majority of political protest messages in today’s music are little more than a cynical ploy to sell records and get attention from people so lacking in nuance that “Bush sucks!” is good enough for them. My band personally doesn’t write many political songs because we just realize we’re bad at writing those kinds of lyrics. But then, we also don’t write vapid pointless love songs, either, or self-flagellating “i’m so tortured” lyrics, which seems to be the template for most rock musicians these days.

Ya wanna hear some quality, substantial anti-establishment music being made today? Check out the debut release from The Evens, on Dischord Records. if you’re familiar with Fugazi, it’s Ian MacKaye’s new project. Solid, substantial lyrical content miles beyond dreck like Disturbed.

Here we go again. If you disagree with the right you are either unpatriotic or irrelevant. They will use the UN to quote when attacking someone then turnaround and call them irrelevant if they disagree with their stance on an issue. Now the Dixie Chicks who had to fight off the right for three years. Hell Sean Hannity was throwing concerts on the same day, same area trying to counter them. The country music establishment tried to ban them (wonder where their political contributions went, and yet they persevered. They stopped doing interviews with political views and let their music do the talking. Bravo, they have more balls than all you cowboys.

Heh. I wouldn’t limit the cheapness of Disturbed to just their lyrics.

Fair enough, but sometimes I just like to listen to mindless hard rock/heavy metal without being bombarded with messages (like when I’m working out). I simply used Disturbed’s album as an example of where the lyrical content seemed to be a cheap and easy ploy, rather than doing anything substantive and brave.

Not only that this talentless group won all those undesrved grammys, but what about the OTHER nominees? They were just stiffed by an industry that was supposed to be rewarding great music and great artists! What a waste and how disrespectful to all music lovers!
Get this chicks out of here for good!

So, Maines is now quoting “The Simpsons”… At least we now know where she gets her intellect. It’s also of interest that three Grammys were given to deceased performers. Include the two given to the “Chicks” and the total is five Grammys given to obsolete performers.

Once the political enthusiam for these traitors dies, watch them to fall back into “no genre” obscurity.

I think the Chicks are just exercising their first amendment rights, JUST LIKE YOU. It’s called FREEDOM OF SPEECH. They are still being crucified for it, imagine if someone where to write death threats to you for voicing this opinion, and take away your opportunity to make a living. I think you would be a little upset.
Those men and women who serve in the military are fighting for this freedom as well as many others that we take for granted.
So keep up the good work . You and the Dixie Chicks are using your rights to the fullest…anyone can make an a– of themselves if they so wish.

Hey Chet,

Bill Clinton was the biggest sexist I ever remember holding office, and he is far from conservative.

You seem a little angry. Could you try to construct a sentence without dropping an F bomb???

You are from the same mold as the Chicks. You also spew obscenities when someone doesn’t agree with you.

This has nothing to to do with their genitalia.

Really? Just look at the epithets:

“fatty pig fatty”

“dicked Chicks”

“bitches”

and it goes on and on. Conservatives flip their wigs when women are smarter than them, is all. It looks like there’s about 30 mouth-breathers here who won’t be happy until the Dixie Chicks are back to being dixie housewives.

You seem a little angry. Could you try to construct a sentence without dropping an F bomb???

Wha…? Angry?

50 posts about how Hollywood, the Media, and the Dixie Chicks are all idiots for stating the obvious, and I’m the angry one?

The myth of the “Angry Liberal” lives on, I guess. How you can pick out my comments as “angry” in the middle of this storm of conservative fury is beyond me, but I guess it’s just the sort of selective vision conservatives are famous for.

Hey Nat, Your x-fans..those you choose to look down upon, didn’t turn off their TV, because they weren’t watching.. Grammys went the way of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Acadamy Awards a long time ago—left…left…left.This award was a pure “pity award” from the “hate America” crowd. Big deal.

Bill Clinton was the biggest sexist I ever remember holding office, and he is far from conservative.

If you think “moderate” is “far from conservative,” sure. JFK might be a better example for that, pal.

So, Maines is now quoting “The Simpsons”… At least we now know where she gets her intellect.

Um, The Simpsons has been one of the smartest show on television for over a decade. If you’re trying to insult her, you’re not doing a very good job.

“Um, The Simpsons has been one of the smartest show on television for over a decade. If you’re trying to insult her, you’re not doing a very good job.”

Okay… It now looks like all liberals get their intellect from cartoons.

Okay… It now looks like all liberals get their intellect from cartoons.

“All liberals?” Your blanket statements are showing. Not to mention your ignorant dismissal of cartoons as something “for kids” or whatever. Do you think through these cheap shots before lobbing them?

Uh, some corrections are in order:

1) None of the Dixie Chicks EVER said anything negative about the troops, or the US. In fact, Maines said the opposite. She said her concern when she dissed Bush prior to the war starting was that she didn’t want to see troops die and innocents die because of Bush’s mistaken push to start the war.

She dissed him before a British audience, our staunchest ally, not in some ‘enemy’ territory. Why do some people think criticizing an elected official is criticism of our country?

2) The Chicks did not diss Bush. One Chick did. But all three received death threats. Equally revealing: none of the guys in the band received death threats.

Real tough guys do that: threaten three women. Because of one.

3) I’m a liberal. Many of my friends are liberals. Most of us liked the Dixie Chicks for their music long before we had any clue what Natalie thought about Bush.

I also liked Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, still like Willie, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Garth Brooks, and numerous songs from numerous other country artists. I also like rock, blues, jazz, folk, bluegrass, and classical.

4) Death threats are not free speech. They are criminal acts.

5) I still know conservatives in red states who enjoy the music of the Dixie Chicks. I don’t diss all conservatives for the threats of a few, nor the hatefulness of a loud minority.

Still mad, these conservatives drive me crazy. If they aren’t calling the UN irrelevant, then it’s everyone who disagrees must e unpatriotic and of course the Dixie Chicks have no talent. Yea OKAY, that’s why against the backdrop of all your radio banning, concert trashing and all round negativity, they still managed to sell almost 2 million records. You download “not ready to make nice” and tell me this is a bad song. It’s a song with courage, with dignity and with pride. Forget all your namecalling. Lets see how many conservatives have this kind of creative talent. Or should I say “balls”

The funny thing is that the comments coming from those that continue to malign (you might need to look that word up) the Dixie Chicks display, with amazing consistency, that rednecks who hate the Dixie Chicks for speaking their minds are ignorant fools.

From CBSnews.com on June 3, 2006:
Taking the Long Way has shot to Number 1 on Billboard’s country music chart and the overall Billboard 200 chart. In its first full week of availability, the latest release from the Dixie Chicks sold 526,000 units.

So, what this means is that, despite traditional country music fans’ attempts to freeze the Dixie Chicks out by refusing to buy their CDs, they are more successful than before. The poor little folks making ignorant comments in this thread can’t spell and can’t think for themselves. Pull your heads out of your asses, for crying out loud. Oh, right, you can’t hear me right now because of how far up your ass your head is. Silly me. If all you smell is sh*t your whole lives, it really does start to smell like roses.

The CD that the chicks won for is by far thier best selling CD

Mark, that is not even close to the same ballpark as reality.

It sold them slightly less than 2M copies.

Wide Open Spaces sold 12M copies.

Fly sold about 10M

Home sold about 3M before Maines insulted Bush and then insulted their audience and sold less than 1M afterwards.

By any definition, this was, BY FAR, their lowest selling release. And they cancelled numerous shows due to horrendous ticket sales. Their documentary was a bomb by documentary standards.

And, yet, this release had far more publicity than any of their other ones.
-=Mike

note that the Grammys diss their audience just like the East German Govt used to diss their own people—the metaphor is nearly exact.

Berthold Brecht famously observed after the Berlin riots in 1953 caused the Commie GDR to state that perhaps the Germans did not deserve their governance: “then perhaps the GDR should select a new people.”

So a bunch of non-country druggies vote for these silly paranoids. Carrie Underwood really wins, at the cash register!

How long will it take before performers..Most of whom are very talented, just learn to shut the hell up about their political views? I can’t speak for anyone else, but…I really liked the Dixie Chicks and enjoyed their music until they opened their mouths and insulted my President and my Country, now I wouldn’t listen to one of their songs if you paid me.
All they need to do is sing!!! How hard is that? I’m all for freedom of speech, but I listen to them and people like them because they are performers, not because I give a shit what their political views are. If I want to know about peoples political views, I’ll watch my favorite TV channel–Go FOX News!

Yes the Dixie Chicks won something but look where they had to go to win, where it doesn,t matter who you are or what you have done in life or what you may have said about something or somebody. A place that will that will honor it’s own kind and give them a pass even if they don’t deserve it. If you have been cast out, come to us we will make you feel like you are somebody even if you aren’t, and that will make all of us feel good to.

A couple of points…

I’m always amazed at people who pull politics into their business. It was extra foolish for the Dixie Chicks, who’s customer base is (was) mostly conservative. It would be like Ford’s pickup truck division saying something negative about “ignorant rednecks”. This happens in both parties. I recently saw a sign outside a Kentucky Fried Chicken that read:

Hillary Special!
2 extra fat thighs
small breast
and a left wing

… and the KFC was in New York! As a Republican, I of course thought it was funny as hell, but I could only think of how foolish the owner was to be pissing of half his customers (probably more than half in N.Y.).

Celebrities, in particular, think they somehow have some special wisdom that makes their opinion of greater importance than us poor working folk. When in fact, they live in the bubble of Hollywood or New York surrounded by a bunch of “yes men” who hang on their every word. Rosie O’Donnell was a classic example when she said that “anyone who uses a gun or hunts should be in jail.” apparently without realizing at the time she was receiving pay checks from the single largest gun seller in the country, Walmart. It also obviously never occurred to her that, in the poorer parts of this country, some men hunt just to keep meat on the tables for their families.

Also, when you hear the Dixie Chicks talk about how hard this whole thing has been for them, I’m sure it was a lot harder on the families of the hundreds of people they employ when they go on tour. I used to work as a pilot for the Grateful Dead, and I know how much those low wage road crews depend on their pay checks.

I’m certain the millions of dollars the Chicks lost did not affect their lifestyles nearly as much as the few thousand dollars each member of their tour “family” lost affected theirs. All so Maines could “speak her mind”.

…and this from the liberals who are always so concerned about the working class.

They have created a new type of catagory “Traitor Trash”

Kirk,

Your comments regarding musicians and their “customer base” show that you don’t quite get it. While the lines do tend to blur when we’re talking about art produced by corporations for a corporate audience, the bottom line is that it is still art, no matter how watered-down for mass public consumption it is. Comparing music to KFC is like comparing apples to oranges (although, to be fair, the Dixie Chicks are producing art in a corporate environment where target markets and the like are considered).

But no matter how corporate and commodified the music is, it’s still music, and thus, it must be treated as an artistic form rather than a straight commodity like fried chicken. If you want your artists to operate by always keeping their target audience in mind, and by always working to please that target audience, all for the callous goal of merely pushing units, then be prepared to have the blandest, most vanilla record collection ever.

Personally, i like my musicians to have strong opinions about everything–politics, culture, love, life…all of it. And here’s a twist–i don’t mind if i disagree with those artists from time to time. Artists don’t tell me what to think, but i hope they at least make me think. I understand that most of mainstream America doesn’t want to think when they get home from work–they just want to be entertained. But that’s too bad, because sometimes they’re going to stumble across someone who challenges their comfort zone. If they go running back to Michael Bolton and America’s Funniest Home Videos, that’s their loss.

All that said, i’m not a fan of the Dixie Chicks’ music. So whatever.

Leslie:

How long will it take before performers..Most of whom are very talented, just learn to shut the hell up about their political views?

Are you a fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival? Of Tom Petty? Bruce Springsteen? Neil Young? How about John Mellencamp? All these musicians have written anti-establishment songs. Springsteen and Mellencamp, in particular, refused to let Ronald Reagan use their songs “Born in the USA” and “Pink Houses” as campaign songs because they didn’t want the meanings to those songs bastardized by supporting a candidate they didn’t like. Better burn their CDs if you have any.

from “down with tyranny”
“I’ve been a professional musician for over 35 years, a session player on albums and a touring sideman. I’m hearing nothing, and I repeat nothing, but disbelief at what happened last night. Some are asking for an investigation to see if there was indeed any wrong doing in the “winning” of these awards. And all along, Natalie and the world still actually think that they really won those awards.
Sad. Hope they never realize what really happened. They were used!”
Absolutely…….

Barbara,

To your point, i’ll repeat what i said in my first post here–the Grammys are meaningless and irrelevent. The Academy isn’t out of touch because of their political views, they’re out of touch because they operate in an insular corporate self-important bubble. The best music produced in the world year after year will never be recognized by the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. So yeah, if they were “used,” it’s not that shocking.

Anyone who has anything nice to say about the “Dixie Chix” should have their heads examined (chet, tim, jason, arthur)!!! To think that they won over such great talent is unbelievable. The Chix may have issues with President Bush but they should have respect for the President of the United States and our country. In my eyes they should be called “The Dixie Traitors”—–In plain english they suck! I have never heard their song on the radio or heard anyone talk about them. It’s so typical of Hollywood and all the protesting from the so called entertainers. I always enjoyed the Grammys but my days of watching them are over!!! They should get some class from Reba.

We are so ashamed that Natalie Maines is from this part of Texas, or any part of Texas for that matter. She and the other Chicks may turn their back on country music, like they turned their back on their country when overseas, but it will be so exhilirating when they spiral downward once and for all, for their Chickie Poo Comeuppance awaits eternally.
Lubbock/Midland/Odessa, Tx

DJ,

You’re right… I’m a businessman… and while I agree that an artist has the right to make statements in his or her work, when you make a hard left turn like the Chicks did, it will be financially disasterous in the sale of “units”. Believe me.. although they’re artist, I guarantee the Chicks check their sales of “units” very regularly. Both CD “units” and concert seat “units”. The Chicks were making a great statement in their early work when they started out. Positive, uplifting songs. Songs we could relate to…. even “Travelling Soldier” which I really liked, and it even carried an anti-war message. It’s all in the delivery. I’d buy a concert ticket to hear “Travelling Soldier”, but not to hear Maines say our President sucks.

You’re also correct that I like my music to relax and entertain me. I haven’t heard the rest of the album, but I found the song “Not ready to make nice”, or whatever it’s called, a rather boring and not very enjoyable tune.

It’s not about politics to me. I was a Grateful Dead fan (Deadhead) long before I went to work for them, and still love their music… and The Dead (what’s left of them) played at Nancy Pelosi’s celebration party as a show of support!

I do want to see talent, and the Dixie Chicks have lots of it. In an age where Britney Spears can sell out a stadium without playing an instrument while lipsynching a song that someone else wrote, it’s a pleasure to watch real talent.

But… as the old saying goes: “Shut up and sing!”

(Hey… I couldn’t write a whole comment without pissing you off at least once

Kirk

Kirk,

You’re most assuredly right when you say they regularly check their sales figures–i’m sure of it. It’s the environment in which they operate. But i’m fairly certain that it’s not the only measuring stick they use to gauge their success, as they seem very genuine when it comes to their beliefs. Sometimes sticking to your guns is more important than sales.

That said, while i own plenty of mu
sic by major label artists, i prefer musicians that don’t care about the bottom line. Fugazi, for example, has made plenty of excellent artistic and political statements without giving a damn how many records they sell. And if your response to that example is, “Foo WHO-zi?” that’s fine, because shockingly enough, not every musician is concerned with becoming a household name. I tend to prefer the ones who aren’t.

So, since everyone’s saying “shut up and sing!,” i would like everyone who abandoned the Dixie Chicks based on a few harsh words towards our failure of a President to supply them with a list of pre-approved lyrical subjects that will pass muster for you, their fickle fan base. I mean, it worked for Ed Sullivan, right? “Let’s Spend the Night Together?” That’s just inappropriate!

The sum total of these 3 IQs barely reaches the intelligence level of the chair I’m sitting in.

No wonder the Hollywood crowd considers them foreign policy experts.

It takes real balls to practice Bush-basing “freedom of speech” in front of that crowd.

Hi DJ,

Okay… This is easy! All great songs must include the words; “Oops, I did it again!” or “I’m living in a material world…”. Also… they must never use more than cords G, C, and D (okay… F, if they’re REALLY serious musicians). Also… if it’s Rap, it must include the N-word no less than 17 times per song and women must only be referred to as bitches and ho’s (I find it ironic that “50 cent” can win Grammys for songs with the N-word, and yet even on a blog, I’m compelled to not use the actual word).

I grew up on Dylan. I like good lyrics, political or otherwise. I just don’t want speeches from musicians or actors. Barbra Steisand (a GREAT singer) has taken to hiring a Bush look-alike to play the target of her witty anti-Bush dialog at her concerts. Even the liberals in attendance are saying they’d rather hear her perform (that’s liberal for “shut up and sing”).

Yes… I’m guilty of “Foo WHO-zi”. I’ve actually heard of them, but wouldn’t know one of their songs. So here’s your challenge… give me your favorite Fugazi song. I’ll download it and tell you what this conservative (with a VERY liberal background…. according to the feds) thinks.

I’m enjoying the banter… but we’re probably boring the rest of the group. If you’d like to, send your Fugazy favorite to:

KirkR@aol.com

Kirk

Um…hate to disappoint all of you you believe that “Taking the Long Way Home” wasn’t a successful album – but it went platinum a month after it went on sale. As for having to cancel concerts – they sold out in HOURS for all of the shows that they did…ONE was cancelled because of an illness. Please check your facts. And the Dixie Chicks NEVER disrespected our troops in ANY way – in fact, they showed only support for the men and women who risk their lives every day. The ONLY thing they said was they were ashamed that Bush was a Texan – which is their right to say. The POINT is that they got a letter from a right wing wacko telling them that they should “shut up and sing” or he would kill them…they took that letter and wrote a song about it. That song was brilliant – and it WAS played on radio stations – just not country ones. I still hear that song at least once a day – and it was the TOP download on Napster for several months. The truth is that these women are very talented, and it is only after they made negative statements about Bush that SOME people said that they weren’t…the country music community, after buying their records and loving them for years – the country music producers, who they made money for – and some of the other country artists, who themselves have had troubles…that group of people decided that they had no right to voice an opinion about something that bothers them deeply. To all of you I would say – SHUT UP AND LISTEN…this isn’t about the US, it isn’t about the military men and women…it is about the bad choices of a man who sent our husbands, wives, sons and daughters to be killed in a country that NEVER DID ANYTHING TO US. Also…check your facts – they have come back…and they don’t need country music fans to do it.

i prefer musicians that don’t care about the bottom line. Fugazi, for example, has made plenty of excellent artistic and political statements without giving a damn how many records they sell. And if your response to that example is, “Foo WHO-zi?” that’s fine, because shockingly enough, not every musician is concerned with becoming a household name. I tend to prefer the ones who aren’t.

Such creatures do not exist. Every artist’s goal is to sell out, whether they will ever admit it to themselves or not.

“Purity” is a myth.
-=Mike

Ok so the chicks deserved a grammy….I am impressed….no album sales……concert attenadance dismal………..Bush hating absolutely outstanding….makes sense to me…
I did not realize Joan Baez was a music icon….Thanks chicks…..I am looking forward to John Kerry’s campaign and the benefits of Chairman Murtha’s cause……..They won Congress and the Senates hearts but not the peoples… Just like the chicks won a grammy

#78–you did not realize that Joan Baez was a music icon?

Have you had your head buried in the sand or what?

Such creatures do not exist. Every artist’s goal is to sell out, whether they will ever admit it to themselves or not.

Mike,

Fugazi were sniffed out by the major labels back in 1993 as “the next Nirvana.” In fact, music magazines left and right were certain that Fugazi would leave behind their home-grown label, Dischord Records (which they own and run), and sell out to the big boys. This was when their 1993 album In On the Killtaker was released, which is considered by many to be their best album.

Fugazi said “fuck off” and stayed on Dischord, and remained there until they went into inactivity in 2002.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

Kirk,

Just emailed you. Cheers.

I think # 65 is very clever. That sums up the situation in TWO WORDS

Those who voted for the Dixie Chicks are a bunch of hypocrites since these same folks who have anti-war sentiments and extol the virtues of so-called ‘freedom/protest’ speech also voted for artists that denigrate women, glamorize sex, violence etc.–supposedly these are ‘avant garde’ ideals too! In reality, the vote is a true reflection of the industry’s values. In the end, what really matters is the bottom line ($$$). And the bottom line is that country music fans won’t buy Dixie Chicks no more! Good luck and goodbye Ditzie Chicks

I’m interested to see what this adds to the dialog. Curious stuff in this independent film! :

http://www.protestingthedixiechicks.com
http://myspace.com/protestingthedixiechicks

I thought last years Grammy song of the year
“It’s hard out here for a pimp”, was the final
nail in the musical coffin for this organization.
They have outdone themselves with this years
award “It’s hard out here for the chicks”
I didn’t watch and I’m glad I missed the
Ditzie Chicks

I hate to rain on the parade of the Dixie Chicks, but…

Merle Hasn’t Lost His Fightin’ Side
Dr BLT (c)2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/MerleVeryLast.mp3

and they’re

Not Ready to Make Rice
Dr BLT (c) 2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/MakeRice.mp3

Frankly, this whole thing has really made the Dixie Chicks ever present in everyone’s minds, weather you like country or not, the Dixie Chicks are more of a household name than they ever would have been any other way. I never liked country music because most country artists are right-winged rednecks…. The Dixie Chicks break that stereotype. So I guess what gets me so much still is that Natalie is NOT the only artist to speak out about political issues, it only caused such a stir because thier previous fan base consisted of people who are raised a certain way and disaprove of freethinkers and new ideas. WHO WANTS FANS LIKE THAT ANYWAY?

How can you sit there and call them un-american for what they said, when america is based on the freedom of speach. If we all thought like a bunch of red-neck right wingers, america wouldn’t be such a great place to live because no one wouild have the freedom that we ALL enjoy in our daily lives…. Will someone in here please define an American? Can anyone? No. That’s what makes us American is that we’re undefined, original, unique, and we all think for ourselves. Anyone who dislike the Dixie Chicks, are free not to, but don’t call them un-american, because by doiing so you’re sending a message that we as Americans don’t have the freedoms that our troops go out to defend.

The Dixie chicks never said anything bad about the troops. They support the troops. As do I. But They don’t supoort Bush. Nor do I. They definately did not say anything bad about America in London, just about our (poor excuse of a) president.

Nevertheless, you should speak on the facts, not on what the media tell you.

Where do most of you live??? The Dixie Chicks play constantly on all the radio stations around here. How scary that parts of the country censor the radio. You guys should be worried about that . . .

um. actually they’re album is currently number one on the country charts and has gone double platinum.

see here:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Albums&f=Top+Country+Albums

and they’re single not ready to make nice is # 19 on the top 100:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Singles

so um, get ur facts straight!

oh and #17 on the pop 100

I agree with number 76.
I’m from Canada and we love the Dixie Chicks. We whole heartily agree with them about the Bush Issue. Its no reason to ban them because of what they said. They just said that they didn’t like Bush Hell I’m in Canada and we don’t even like him. They said nothing about your actual country or your men and women at war. The more you piss people off the more enemies you make. You haven’t banned Green Day have you? Hell their song American idiot is a popular song still. One line from the song is “ONE NATION CONTROLLED BY THE MEDIA” which you are. If your media said to ban reading you would do it. But I must thank all of the Americans that can’t spell, dislike, and threaten the Dixie Chicks, because of that we get to enjoy their music better then you will ever. It’s painful for people to go back where they came from when the were stabbed in the back for something that they were right about.

“It’s painful for people to go back where they came from when the were stabbed in the back for something that they were right about.”

Thats the beauty of America, they are FREE to stay gone. No love loss.

The Nazis supported their country too.

Personally, I enjoyed their latest releases. I bought the album because I heard “Not Ready to Make Nice” on – of all places – the radio and fell in love with it’s soulful voicing and orchestration. The rest of the album did not disappoint; not a single track was below par. Even my least favorite song was, I feel, better done than most of the music played on country radio these days.

As an avid country listener, I can’t go without my daily dose of Reba, Toby, Allan, and the like, despite any political inclinations with which I may or may not agree.(I find it somewhat hard to believe that “putting a boot in your ass” is really the American way) I also remain an avid Darryl Worley fan, despite his recent release.

There are decent people on either side of the argument. Sadly, this post has brought out the more vindictive from both persuasions.

You People need lives all they did was basically say that bush sucks and you know what i agree he is a waste of human life. The Dixie Chicks are right bush sucks and i still love their music and if you don’t who gives a sh** you people are nobodys. It’s obvious that someone likes they if they won all these grammys and also for you idiots who don’t know why you don’t hear their music on the radio is because it’s people like you that got it banned

94 – you said it right – great music when you forget everything else that took place – and when you look at their statement on Bush – many if not most people today believe they were right which puts them years ahead of their time – and while sales may have fallen – because of events or downloads – every artist is suffering now so hard to say it was their statements – what is so sad is that it tore apart our nation and gave both sides ammo to hurl at each other while distracting us from much bigger problems – until we forgive each other and heal a nation and culture will continue to be robbed. The debate is a distraction compared to what is really going on.