How is expressing an opinion a gaff, though? The Dixie Chicks are far from the first country act to become involved with politics. Again, see Toby Keith, for one. I don't think the Chicks would have any problems if the public radio's censorship on political activism was content-neutral, but it's not. That's the problem.
When it hits you in the pocket book? The Chicks are welcome to any opinion they want to nestle up with, however they might want to learn when and where to express it: onstage in London soon after the war commenced is probably not the best choice. Isn't it a gaff when it has unintended consequences? Is this what they meant to have happen?
Dixie Chicks' latest album debuts at number one As Taking The Long Way debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 best-selling albums chart this week, with first week's sales of 525,829, the Dixie Chicks have become the first female group in chart history to have three albums debut at #1, breaking the record the Chicks established in 2002 when the group's last studio album, Home, debuted at #1 and made them the first female group ever to have two albums debut at #1. With the #1 debut of Taking The Long Way, the Dixie Chicks have also become the first female group in chart history to have three studio albums occupy the #1 slot on the Top 200. Taking The Long Way has achieved one of the year's Top 5 first week's sales tallies and has the best first week's sales for any female act on the Top 200 in 2006. In addition to its chart-topping success in America, Taking The Long Way has just debuted at #2 in Australia. Taking The Long Way arrives in the midst of an incredible media blitz surrounding the Dixie Chicks, who were honored with a profile on CBS's "60 Minutes" and appeared on the cover of Time magazine an unprecedented two times in May. The group was featured in a five-part series of interviews, culminating with an SRO live concert at New York's Bryant Park on Friday, May 26, on ABC's "Good Morning America." The Dixie Chicks will sit down for an in-depth interview on "Larry King Live" tonight, Wednesday, May 31. The popular success of Taking The Long Way is echoed in the praise the album is receiving from the press, which has been heralding the record in a flurry of four-star reviews. "Taking The Long Way embraces the depth and fury of classic rock while remaining true to the trio's Texas roots," raved Rolling Stone while USA Today called the album "Incredibly impressive." Entertainment Weekly gave the new Dixie Chicks album an "A" grade saying, "Fightin' words and the music doesn't back down either, on an album that finds the Dixie Chicks bolder than ever. With (Natalie) Maines projecting more passionately than ever, Taking The Long Way remains intimate and personal." "This is an album that has something for everyone," said The New York Times, "old fans who thought the Dixie Chicks were at their finest in their fancy-free early days as well as recent admirers who are eager to see the band push beyond the confines of country." Rolling Stone closed its review of the album with a nod to the new Dixie Chicks single, "If you've dismissed the Chicks or need a new reason to love them, the epic, howling longing of 'Voice Inside My Head' will blow away your expectations." The record-breaking chart-topping success of Taking The Long Way is the latest in a long line of achievements for the Dixie Chicks. With 39 RIAA gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications to their credit, the Dixie Chicks are the only female group to hold two RIAA Diamond Awards (each for sales of more than 10 million units). http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Dixie_Chicks_latest_album_debuts__0531.html
I listened to a few songs off the new Dixie Chicks CD during the holiday weekend, and I came away impressed, with the music, the lyrics, and the production. I was never that impressed with their stuff in their first two CDs. Production-wise, this CD sounds very Tom Petty-like to me. Very clean mix and nice swirling guitar tones.
Is there like a Tom Petty revival? Seems like I've been hearing more about him in the last 2 years than the prior 10, and now he's headling ACL. What gives?
Imus has been giving them some praise, but he likewise condemns their self-centeredness in not understanding the right of people to disapprove of their remarks-- particularly the time and place of them. I don't know if anybody watches MEDIUM but Chick music (new music I guess) was featured on the season finale last week. I've never bought Dixie Chicks music before or after the aforementioned remarks... but I like them okay.
what's the difference b/t the Dixie Chicks (or whomever) voicing their opinions out loud and the rest of you (general you)? Why should they "stfu" when you seem to be pretty open with how you feel? there goes my annual post in the D&D.
Here's what I find most interesting and it really has nothing to do with what they said or their choices now. What I find interesting is that there is this belief that they should not write what they feel. If they genuinely feel like this - and all indications are that they do and that they would NOT recieve a warm reception from fans for doing it (so it isn't about money) - why is it that they are alienating fans and should stop, but Bono does it and no biggie because his fans are used to it? When did making choices as an artist have anything to do with only pleasing your fans? Bob Dylan plugged in and was booed off the stage. Miles Davis was absolutely killed by critics and fans for releasing b****es Brew. By no means am I saying the Chicks are some monumentally artistic group on par with those I mentioned, but I do think it is interesting that they are required to stifle their artistic decisions for the betterment of everyone. Barry Gordy once told Marvin Gaye that he would have a major flop on his hands if he went ahead with producing a protest record and What's Going On happens to be one of the greatest and most successful R&B albums ever. It isn't like Motown was exactly protest friendly at the time.
The difference with the Dixie Chicks is that they are women who play country. Something not usually associated with opposition political views. I bet if the Dixie Chicks hadn't been known as country stars and whose music was more like Gwen Stefanie or Pink's this wouldn't have been nearly as big of a deal. Up until the Dixie Chicks women in country music were generally thought of as singing about standing by their man or trying to make their brown eyes blue for their man not killing him and then criticizing his president.
At this point I'm just sick of having them shoved down my throat by the media. Since their tour is being sponsored by Target, we have another reason to like Wal-Mart. And, in the killing two birds department, why don't we just take all the people who show up at Toyota Center in September and send them to Dallas - permanently.
The Dixies are now riding the backlash all the way to the bank. The normally effective right wing attack machine really self-pwned itself this time.
Conservatives have no real claim to Country, they have just manufactured that belief sort of like they did the idea that Christians are all conservative. From Hank to Cash to Willie, Country's had a solid liberal/populist/anti-authoritarian wing. I will let the Cons have NASCAR. What real American would think it's cool to drive around really fast without being able to crank up the tunes? The merging of speed and music is what makes driving fast fun... remove the speed and you can still have fun... remove the music and it's just silly. Not to mention NASCAR dudes just drive by themselves... Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac, I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back. They sportin' short dresses, wearin' spike-heel shoes, They smokin' Lucky Strikes, and wearing nylons too. 'Cause we bad, we nationwide. Yeah we bad, we nationwide.
