ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS/DIXIE CHICKS SUCK
Okay, Okay, maybe I am a little late about the whole Dixie Chicks saga. For the record, I have two of their previous albums, but I am seriously thinking about destroying the copies that I own.In case you have been in a hole or just don't pay attention to politics and such, the Chick made some what I consider to be, inappropriate comments, while in London performing.
"Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." (quoted from Natalie Maines, lead singer, CNN.com)
Well, many Texans, regardless of party affiliation, were ticked off at the comments. One stated, correctly, that she is not an elected official who represents Texans as a whole.
My first posistion is the respect issue. Regardless of what you think of the President, he is the elected head of our great Union and deserves at least some modem of respect, especially, when you are representing our United States, in another country.
My second posistion is that she is angry because of the war, which is okay that she expressed herself as she did as it is protected by the first amendment, because we live in a society in which we are allowed to express our views, in public, without recrimination of jail time. Maybe recrimination from the public, but not from our governing body. However, she is opposing our freeing of the Iraqi people to allow them the same freedoms, which she takes for granted. The fact that girls are allowed to attend school, is just one step in the road to democracy. Where would Natalie be if she had been born in Iraq??? She would be an uneducated, married against her will, silent, covered woman and not a singer, with the popularity that she once had, who has made millions.
Then, there was the slamming of country music fans.
Maquire says she is not trying to say the country music audience is mostly rednecks. "But over the years, and especially, since country music's turned into this redneck theme, it's become kind of a negative," she says. "I think for a while, a lot of artists were doing a lot of great things. It was that were broadening the audience. So that country was cool. Because I always thought it was cool. So it makes me sad that it's kind of reverted back to a place that I'm not that proud of. And this is coming from a true country fan. I can't listen to the radio right now."
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/11/60minutes/main1611424_page3.shtml)
Whatever it was *meant* to be, it is still a slam to some (me) of their fans. I am ashamed to say that I used to love there music.
Reba MacIntyre, the current *queen* of country music, said it best last night at the awards show, when speaking about being asked to host the awards show this year and said, "I suppose if the Dixie Chicks can sing with their feet in their mouths, I can host the ACM awards show." to which she received a standing ovation and rounds of cheering and whistling.
Not a huge fan of Reba, I applauded her comments and have decided I may just buy one of her albums . . . .
posted by Unknown @ 5/24/2006 08:24:00 AM
4 Comments:
I don't know about that dixie chick. I do agree with her position though on the war. The case for war was built on lies, whether the prez knew or was misled isn't important because the buck stops with him and he should have taken the time to get the facts straight.
I think that's what she was ticked off about. I'm ticked off too because my husband was sent there and barely allowed to leave and could be called to go back if the war continues much longer.
I believe that now since we are there, we needto remain there, but don't think for a moment that real democracy is going to spread like a virus through the region, because that will never happen. At least not in our lifetimes. Also, for our country to impose our values on other nations is ridiculous. The prez can't preach diversity (like with the illegal immigration), and at the same time apply it to only those that worship the same god and behave the same way as we do.
Hmmmm. My take on this is different and I'm just going to comment on the second part about "slamming" of country music fans.
Personally, I feel there has been a shift in country music. For a while country music was in a crossover phase, with groups and singles like Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, and Faith Hill all having several crossover albums and singles. I think now, there has been a shift to the limited venue of country music; Shania Twain was heavily criticized for abandoning her country roots (what roots exactly, the girl is Canadian) and going “pop.” I think a lot blamed her husband Mutt Lange (he produced Def Leppard’s most successful albums and AC/DC’s Highway to Hell and Back In Black albums (off the top of my head).
Then you have the flag waving likes of Toby Keith, singing to the masses (as he sees them). Why shouldn’t the Dixie Chicks sing to their masses? Personally, I find his brand of patriotism offensive but it doesn’t stop him from expressing his limited view. I didn’t see what was said as a slam to country music fans, I think it was just expressing a change in the music as a whole back to the same old, same old. If people want to burn their albums just because they disagree with their politics I guess that’s their choice, but if they like the songs, why do that? I can’t stand Jane Fonda’s politics either but that wouldn’t stop me from seeing her act, nor would Barbara Streisand politics keep me from seeing her in concert. Though some erroniously think that if don't buy tickets these people will keep their mouths shut. History has shown us that if you are famous, everyone cares about your opinion regardless of how absolutely stupid it is. If I liked the Dixie Chicks music enough to actually buy one of their albums their politics would not make me want to burn them.
A final note on the issue of their original comment, while I found it distasteful of them at the time (mostly because I knew then it was career suicide), I found nothing in the comment that garnered that kind of response.
Regardless of what is said in our press the British believe everything that was in Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 is the gospel truth and they hate Bush (they are much more vocal than even this country). I think the Chicks were just going on that vibe in my opinion, whether they realized it consciously or not.
Gosh girls, why don't ya'll gang up on me at once!?! LOL
First to Bionic
Young George, believed the facts to be the truth. This whole ordeal started during the Clinton admin. after the Gulf War. They wanted revenge.
To tell you the truth, I was scared shitless in the days that followed 9/11 and when Sadaam started dodging the weapons inspection team, what the hell was that for??? "Um, ok, you can come look." Then when they arrive, "no, you can't look there, you have to look at this one." Nah, forget it, your are kicked back out of my country. Something was just up with that. Whether he was in the process of transporting shit to Syria or burying in the freaking desert, you cannot deny the fact that he is evil. He murdered THOUSANDS of his own citizens. I am sorry, but after Reagan was shot, you didn't see our military go and ambush John Hinckley Jr., under orders of our leader.
I hate that we are losing soldiers in Iraq. I am sorry that your husband had to go too. But, I do feel that if you enlist, that is your duty. I do think that more support should be provided at home for the families and that the soldiers should have extended time home, before rushing back.
My friend Mike just returned from Iraq two weeks ago, he was employed as a contractor; he was a retired Marine w/20 years of service. I can't wait to talk to him and get his opinions on what I don't see and don't know. He was over there for two years, returning once for 3 weeks and once for 11 days. BUT he made good money, I don't think our military are paid enough.
And I feel that we are not imposing our values on them. They are deciding what kind of government that they want and how it will work and it is going to take time. Your are right, not our generation, but maybe our kids'
AND NOW FOR YOU ranter!!!! HEHE
I have never considered Faith or Shania country. The chicks were "rednecks!" Hell, they even had a song about "Good Bye Earl". It was funny and I loved it. But they were fakes. Natalies Maines never liked country music, but as with Shania and Faith, when they could not "make it" in Pop. (see lyrics at end of this post)
Myself, I have always been a George Strait fan and like that kind of music. I do love Toby Keith to, but because of ALL of his songs, not just a select few. I am particularly found of "I ain't as good as I once was". HEHE I also like Trace Adkins, because he sings those "Songs about Me" and I don't see the shift in country music like you do. I still consider it crying in your beer, riding in a truck mudding, swimming in a crick, talking to your grandpa on the front porch and getting drunk. LOL
Oh we didn't really gang up on you we both just commented, and you know I love your blog (I'm much nicer than Ranter).
I would never suggest that Saddam didn't need to be taken out, but during the first gulf war, the Iraqi people really expected the US/Briton to take him out and we didn't. So, yes there has always been a measure of finishing what was started. But also don't forget, the world turned a blind eye while Milosovich did much the same in his country, and lets not forget all the crap in the Sudan that has been going on now too long.
We don't become directly involved in every dicator that crosses our path no matter how many millions of people he murders. We only become involved with those that have something to offer us. Like Oil.
Countries like Brazil are completely oil independant...Instead of worrying about building more refineries and digging for oil in Alaska, we should really be looking for an alternative to oil. We've had decades now. More should be done.
My husband was a lifer in the military, or so he believed. He loves this country more than just about anything but even he had issues with drum beat to war. He understood our invasion, and particpated, in Afganistan and but he also worried more about North Korea than he ever was concerned about Iraq.
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