http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/03/music.country.reut/index.html <B><font size=4>Dixie Chicks ruffle more feathers</font> Radio programmers aren't happy </B><I>NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Billboard) -- Just as the controversy appeared to be dying down after the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines mildly ridiculed President Bush before the start of the Iraq war, country radio programmers are disappointed in the group once again. This time, they take issue with the fact that Maines apparently chose to take a shot at fellow country musician Toby Keith during her May 21 performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Maines wore a sleeveless shirt with the letters F.U.T.K. on the front. Most viewers, including awards show presenter Vince Gill, interpreted the letters as an expletive aimed at Keith. After opening the envelope that revealed Keith had won the night's biggest award -- entertainer of the year -- Gill quipped, "I think his name was on someone's shirt tonight." For WXTU Philadelphia assistant program director/music director Cadillac Jack, Maines' shirt was the show's only disappointment. "With all the patriotism in the air that night, it was a downer and completely unnecessary," he says. "I was disappointed with them yet again." "Just when you think it's safe to add the Chicks back into rotation," KZKX Lincoln, Nebraska, PD Brian Jennings says. "Oh, Natalie, why do you make it so hard to love you?" KSCS Dallas assistant PD/music director Chris Huff calls the awards show "a perfect opportunity for the Chicks to showcase their music, and unfortunately it's now all overshadowed by four letters. No one's talking about the song they performed. They're talking about the four letters Natalie chose to wear on her shirt. How anyone could believe such an act would be a prudent move is totally beyond me." KTEX Brownsville, Texas, PD Jo-Jo Cerda says, "I was hoping that sometime soon we would be able to put this Dixie Chicks thing behind us. Unfortunately, the can of worms has just been reopened. I know a lot of KTEX listeners were ready to move on, but now there has been a national display against one of the more popular performers in our format. Maines might as well have taken another jab at Bush." Dr. Bruce Nelson Stratton, PD of KFTX Corpus Christi, Texas, calls Maines "toast." KNIX Phoenix music director Gwen Foster is "disgusted with certain artists who just cannot see that the world doesn't revolve around them and their pettiness all the time." "I think it was most distasteful for a national TV audience," WTQR Greensboro, North Carolina, PD Bill Dotson says. "This is giving country music a black eye. For God's sake, let it go." The spat between Maines and Keith goes back to his single "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," which Maines criticized in the media last year. Keith responded with public comments that Maines wasn't in his league as a songwriter. In his concerts, Keith has been showing on big screens behind the stage the doctored photo of Maines and Saddam Hussein that began circulating on the Internet a few months ago after Maines criticized Bush. "This format is no stranger to squabbles among its children," Huff says. "But we move on. Nothing is to be gained by turning it into a game of public one-upmanship on one of the few nights of the year where our format enjoys such broad national exposure." </I>So, let me get this straight. It's OK for one country musician to put up a fake picture of a fellow musician with one of the world's worst people, but it's not OK for her to respond to that without getting more backlash?
The problem is that the Dixie Chicks had JUST caused such a controversy, and the flames were dying down. They have now become the Susan Sarandon of country music...except that in the country music world, they are the equivalent of one set of hands clapping all alone. They have ostracized themselves and have nobody to blame but themselves when they stop selling records.
The article that you posted stated that Maines started the spat by criticizing a song by Keith. Then it escalated from there. The question that <b>you</b> asked doesn't read the same way......why the change? As far as backlash, it was a night for Country Music to show its <b>best</b> to a national audience and she could have taken a truce for the good of Country Music. She didn't do that.
The Dixie Chick's apparently think they can do and say as they please. And they can. Unfortunately, Maines hasn't realized they're not really a crossover band yet, and they're shunning the core audience that brought them to fame in the first place. Look, I went to college in Lubbock, and I've sung professionally since college (back to a hobby, now. ) But I performed around the Dixie Chicks for a while. (Back then, Maines wasn't the lead, and the trio wore very country outfits.) A friend of mine went to high school with Maines, so that when their career took off, I was truly proud of them. It was like, hey! One of us just blew up! Now Maines she has to pull this crap to the fans. Great! Say what you want! But it'll be a cold day in hell when I don't change the station when a song of theirs comes on. Freedom of speech can be both a blessing and a b****. And RM95: No, Keith and Maines can say whatever they want.... Period. (I seriously doubt hearing Toby's news made you stop buying his albums, right?)
I wish the shirt would have just gone ahead and had the words written out. Toby Keith is a loser, and a horrible country artist. The guy's a joke. The Dixie Chicks certainly aren't my favorites as far as country acts go, but they are miles ahead of Toby Keith.
I wish the shirt would have just gone ahead and had the words written out. Toby Keith is a loser, and a horrible country artist. The guy's a joke. The Dixie Chicks certainly aren't my favorites as far as country acts go, but they are miles ahead of Toby Keith.
O.K., you think their music is miles ahead...A majority of people in the past would think so also as evidenced from prior sales...However, you mention "country acts", and I would think part of the "acts", they have recently exhibited has been in a range of showing poor taste to downright repulsive...
Ok I see where there was confusion. As far as their acts, I think the initial remark was mildly in poor taste, because they did it in another country. I honestly don't think it's that big of a thing, and has been blown way out of porportion. Instead of being ashamed when people think all Texans are like Bush, they should be content to know those people are ignorant, and misguided. I do understand them not wanting people's image of Texans to be limited to Pres. Bush. As far as wearing a T-shirt slamming Toby Keith, that's funny, and I say let's get a Dixie Chick/Toby Keith Rivalry going to match Rock's Blur/Oasis rivalry.
Honestly, I've never heard the Keith song in question, nor have I ever heard Maines' criticism of the song. However, I doubt that it was anything close to putting someone's image next to a picture of one of the most hated men in the world, giving the impression that they were friends. It'd be like johnheath not liking one of my posts, then me posting a picture of johnheath and Hitler that made it look like they were "buddy-buddy". The two aren't even comparable. Maines' wearing a shirt that says F.U.T.K. and the picture is. However, you only hear of one side getting any backlash.
If Keith had done the picture thing at a major event like the awards show, then he probably would have gotten some backlash. They (Country Music) had a low cost (no cost?) way to attract more eyes and ears to that type of music and she picked a bad time to fire a return volley at Keith.
Natalie's right. Toby Keith is an a-hole. But, then again, all pop-country music singers can go to hell, and that includes the Dixie Sh*ts.
Damn uppity women folk thinking they have opinions. They should know their place, and let their husbands speak for them. And having the nerve to criticize Toby Keith? That's just unAmurcan.
You know, I don't listen much to country music, but I do like the Dixie Chicks. While I agree with them, and have a very low regard for the President and his administration, I wouldn't keep stirring the silt. They are country-music artists, in general. Not exactly a liberal hotbed. Now they've just given the FOX Propoganda Network another four months' free material.
This is so stupid. First they make these comments, and then go on national television to "apologize" and cry about it. They are outraged at the response to their own comments at THEIR concert in front of THEIR fans. She attacked another singer's song?? Who is she, Kool Moe Dee? Is this a rap rivalry? This is so petty and immature, it's unbelievable. And then writes F.U. Toby Keith on her shirt??? That would have been really cool...in junior high! This reinforces the idea that entertainers all live in their own little bubble. Why the hell do I want to get involved in her personal battles? Why does she wish to include the public? Why does she think we care??? And then she'll get upset when there's reaction...when people stop buying her albums. Unbelievable.
