Monday, February 12, 2007

DIXIE CHICKS Rock and Rule!

The Dixie Chicks are the biggest-selling female group in history; they now have 12 Grammy Awards . Last night the Dixie Chicks swept the top three Grammy awards and won in every category they were eligible. They received five grammy's last night for:

--Album of the Year: "Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks.
--Record of the Year: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks.
--Song of the Year: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks).
--Country Album: "Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks.
--Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks.

At a March 2003 London concert, Natalie Maines told the audience, " Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

“Against the ongoing blanding out of America, a massive country star actually had the guts, for a moment, to say exactly what she thinks. … Maines' comment stands as the boldest thing anyone in the entertainment industry has said since the war flap began….. For a moment she was the bravest American entertainer.” --Salon, March 2003, Stephanie Zacharek

A right wing backlash was quickly orchestrated with Clear Channel radio stations leading the way. A campaign of hatred was directed at three of the most talented women in the history of music. Clear Channel led the way and banned the Dixie Chicks from all airplay and sponsored "CD" crushing events and "pro-war" rallies. Chick Emily Robison's home was vandalized and death threats were made against them.

“The Dixie Chicks are one of the hottest acts going, but one of their lasting contributions to the music industry may well be contained in a record of a different sort: the Congressional Record. At Senate hearings July 8, Cumulus Media--which owns some 270 radio stations--was the latest to be caught up in the backlash over the power that large radio conglomerates hold to curb free speech and to punish those with whom it disagrees politically. In a riveting exchange, Senate Commerce Committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., compelled Cumulus chairman/chief executive Lewis W. Dickey to acknowledge that the chain by corporate fiat had ordered the Dixie Chicks off the air at all 50 of its country stations. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said the decision by Cumulus and Cox Radio to ban the Dixie Chicks was similar to the blacklisting of Hollywood artists during the McCarthy era in the 1950s and the burning of books in 1930s-era Germany. By her outspokenness, Maines focused public scrutiny on a dirty little business. For that she should be commended.” --Billboard, July 2003

“The Dixie Chicks have been able to exercise free speech happily all the way to the bank. They've posed nude for the cover of ‘Entertainment Weekly’ with ‘Saddam's Angels’ emblazoned on their flesh. Their album ‘Home’ rebounded from its brief dip, returning to No. 1 on the country chart for weeks. Their tour has sold out from its first stop, that left-wing stronghold Greenville, S.C. The Dixie Chicks may be bigger than ever.”—New York Times, July 2003, Frank Rich

The 2006 documentary--Shut Up and Sing--covers the controversy that erupted over Natalie Maines.

Country Music stations continue to "boycott" the Chicks. Show your support of free speech. Contact these Virginia radio stations and requesting that they play the Dixie Chicks.

WWDE Norfolk/Va Beach 757-420-1013

WGH Norfolk/Va Beach 757-490-9797

WTVR Richmond billcahill@clearchannel.com 804-474-0000

WSLQ Roanoke 800-410-9936 WSLC Roanoke 540-767-7827



6 comments:

Rob Rockerr said...

The awards given to the Dixie Chicks were one thing....sending a message.

As you know, these awards were not given by the people. This was not the People's Music Awards, rather less than 11,000 members of professionals in the music industry. One writer brought up the idea that the vote for the various catagories was so split, that the largest chunk of votes left were the politically active members who had the opportunity to "make a statement" with what amounts to a lackluster album and a really boring song.

First of all, there's no way a song like that would take song of the year at the Grammys unless it had help, through collusion or other means, or jury nullification, just like the O.J. trial. And for them to win 5 awards if just not only improbable, but impossible! It looks like the Grammys jumped the shark last night, allowing politics to influence the outcome of not one but 5 awards and I personally could never look at them in any kind of positive light again, though that's been coming for a long time now.

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!

Plutonian Mac said...

I want to marry all three of the Dixie Chicks, if my wife will let me. Their music rocks, they rock, they have all the courage the good ole boys always strut about. The Grammy awards are always about musical talent and personality, not one or the other, and they are tops with both.

Star Womanspirit said...

Rockerr---

I don't know what music community you are hanging with (maybe Pat Robertson church choir?) but my associates in the music industry are thrilled with the Dixie Chicks doing a grammy sweep....(This isn't un-precedented by the way....I don't recall anyone wanting to recall the awards when Carlos Santana had a grammy sweep.) The Dixie Chicks have always been recognized as "greats" in the music business by their peers.

Many folks are "extremely pleased" that they showed they were ARTISTS and not simply entertainers when they took a strong stand and made the Bush statement. That is, after all what a real artist does.

The "grace-LESS-ness" of right wing extremists is as irritating as an unruly four year old having a major tantrum. Heaven forbid if they don't get their way, all the way and all the time....they seem to "love" raining on other people's parades.....even if it involves lying and making up scenarios that aren't true.

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Mosquito said...

Natasha--Thanks for the links....Hopefully FSTV or LIKK TV (DISH Satellite network stations) will be showing these two films soon...

buzz...buzz...