Dixie Chicks
 

Ok, so last night I saw clips of the story of the Dixie chicks on the biography chanel. I missed the whole part about the Bush comment and the t-shirt incident with Toby Keith
What was that all about?

Never mind. I found this on Wikipedia.

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On March 10, 2003, during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq (which would take place on March 20), Natalie Maines stated during a concert in London that the band was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." (Maines is a native of Lubbock, Texas.) This remark sparked intense criticism from many Americans, on three different grounds: that Maines shouldn't be criticizing the nation's head of state while on foreign territory; that Maines shouldn't be criticizing the nation's commander-in-chief while the country was on the verge of war; and that Maines shouldn't be making political statements that would offend the Dixie Chicks' culturally conservative audience base.

Following the uproar and the start of a boycott of their music, the singer attempted to clarify matters on March 12 with the statement "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world."

This statement failed to quiet her critics, and on March 14 she issued an apology stating "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American."

Some fans remained angry and pressed on with a boycott of Dixie Chick music, stations that played their music, and their sponsor Lipton Tea, while other fans were disappointed that she apologized. In one display of anti-Dixie-Chick publicity, former Dixie Chick fans were encouraged to bring their Dixie Chicks CDs so that they could be crushed by a bulldozer. The extent of the backlash resulted in the artists being concerned about their personal safety and that of their families. Bruce Springsteen and Madonna were among those who came out in support of the right of the women to express their opinion. Not one to back down from controversy, even Madonna herself was pressured to cancel the release of her anti-war video "American Life" which featured a Bush parody.

On April 24, the Dixie Chicks launched a publicity campaign to explain their position. During a prime-time interview with TV personality Diane Sawyer, Maines said she remained proud of her original statement. The band also appeared naked (with private parts strategically covered) on the May 2, 2003 cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine with slogans such as "Traitors," "Saddam's Angels," "Dixie Sluts," "Proud Americans," "Hero," "Free Speech," and "Brave" printed on their bodies. Many critics called the moves publicity stunts, since they were launched on the eve of a U.S. concert tour.

The original controversy was launched when a Guardian review of the group's London concert was picked up by U.S. media. (For the Guardian's summary of the controversy, see [1].)

President Bush responded to the controversy surrounding the Dixie Chicks in an interview with Tom Brokaw on April 24:

"[T]he Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind. They can say what they want to say...[T]hey shouldn't have their feelings hurt just because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out...[F]reedom is a two-way street...I...don't really care what the Dixie Chicks said. I want to do what I think is right for the American people, and if some singers or Hollywood stars feel like speaking out, that's fine. That's the great thing about America. It stands in stark contrast to Iraq..." [2]
At the first concert of their nation-wide tour the Dixie Chicks received a very positive reception. The concert was held in Greenville, South Carolina on May 1 and was attended by a sell-out crowd of 15,000. The women had come prepared to face up to opposition and Natalie Maines invited those who had come to boo to do so but the crowd erupted in cheers.

Nevertheless, the band remained controversial. On May 6, a Colorado radio station suspended two of its disc jockeys for playing music by the Dixie Chicks in violation of a ban on their music. On May 22 at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards ceremony in Las Vegas there were boos when the group's nomination for entertainer of the year awards was announced. However, the broadcast's host, Vince Gill, reminded the audience that everyone is entitled to freedom of speech. The Academy made the award to Toby Keith, an outspoken critic of the group.

In the fall of 2003 the Dixie Chicks starred in a broadcast TV commercial for Lipton Ice Tea which made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the corporate blacklisting and the grassroots backlash: in the tea spot, the Chicks are about to give a stadium concert when the electricity suddenly goes out - but they manage to electrify the stadium all by themselves, belting out a rousing a capella version of "Cowboy Take Me Away" to the raving cheers of the fans.

In a September 2003 interview, Maguire told Der Spiegel magazine: "We don't feel a part of the country scene any longer, it can't be our home any more." She noted a lack of support from country stars, and being shunned at the 2003 ACM awards. "Instead, we won three Grammys against much stronger competition. So we now consider ourselves part of the big rock 'n' roll family." However, in an open letter to fans on the Chicks' website, Maines said that Maguire had been misquoted.

In October 2004, the Dixie Chicks joined the "Vote for Change" tour, playing a series of concerts in American swing states. These concerts were organized by MoveOn.org with the general goal of mobilizing people to vote for John Kerry and against George W. Bush in that year's Presidential campaign. The Dixie Chicks' appearances were joint performances with James Taylor. This effort was unsuccessful in getting Kerry elected, and during the concerts Maines' stage remarks revealed a certain amount of nervousness over what the Dixie Chicks' future career path would be.

As of late 2005, CMT and country music radio still seem to shy away from playing Dixie Chicks songs, but the group has not had any significant promotion or new material out since the controversy, so it is difficult to assess the lasting impact of these events.

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Conspiracy theories
From the beginning of the controversy, conspiracy theorists have discussed who exactly was responsible for launching the boycott of Dixie Chicks' music, and the extent to which their fans supported the boycott.

Some critics of the boycott, such as Michael Moore, claimed that the boycott was not a product of large numbers of fans angry at their comments but an organized plot by Bush-supporting radio chain executives and the Republican Party leadership. Under this theory, the ban on playing their music by country music stations owned by Clear Channel Communications was not simply initiated by local station managers or DJs on their own or in response to some angry listeners, but was instead coordinated by top executives who wanted to curry favor among the Bush administration and Republicans in Congress for policies such as relaxation of media ownership rules.

They also claimed that people working for the Republican party engaged in a deceptive phone campaign to convince country radio stations to remove the Dixie Chicks music from their playlist. Ultimately, they say, this led to the false perception that many Dixie Chicks fans were strongly opposed to Natalie Maines' anti-Bush remarks. They pointed to the fact that the bands album sales at the time were up, and their concerts were largely selling out to support their claims. The boycott's critics suggest that there was a deliberate attempt to create the false impression that many fans had turned against the Dixie Chicks in order to try and send a message to other celebrities that anti-Bush administration remarks could hurt your career.

Clear Channel Communications and the Republican National Committee (RNC) have denied these accusations, and no direct evidence emerged to support these claims. Similar theories regarding Clear Channel management's control (or lack thereof) of their individual stations also arose after the September 11, 2001 attacks; see the List of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks for additional details.

I cant remember the last time I heard a Dixie Chicks song and I don't mind if it stays that way. Such a shame, I sure did like that "Goodbye Earl" song.

This is yet another reason why I love the Dixie Chicks :) Supposedly they'll be back in the studio soon after taking a long hiatus to spend time with their new families.

Why, if you don't mind me asking?

To keep it short and simple, without causing a fight, as a veteran, their comments offended me greatly. If that wasn't bad enough, I'm a die hard Toby Keith fan, and natalies little stunt with her FUTK tshirt after they started squabbling with one another was lame.

I probably cant give you the kind of answer that you want, but it basically boils down to the fact of if you are really against something, then boycott it. I've boycotted it, the radio stations around here dont play it, my friends dont listen to it. Its not a matter of peer pressure into NOT listening to it - it just seems to be "the right thing." The people who are boycotting them were so offended with them, that who wants to listen to their music, and help them make money?

I think I heard it best once when someone said "Keep the dirty laundry in the family." It would have been one thing if they were in, say, Seattle, putting on a concert, and they said it - but for f*ck's sake - she was in England, talking trash. That's just 100% not cool.

With that being said, do you think at some point the country industry/community will at some point forgive her or at least start buying their records again? I'm not a country fan per sey but what caught my attention was their cover of Fleetwood Mac's Landslide. Those girls can harmonize really well and they have a really nice sound. I 'd hate to see that talent go to waste.

Hmm...I dont know. Yeah, landslide was good, I think it was released before the whole ordeal happened. I think they sound great also, but I dont plan on buying a record again anytime soon. I dont know about the industry though. They are probably a "has been" if they think they are part of the rock n roll family now. Haha! Dixie Chicks as Rock. That's funny.

Rednecks hold grudges forever. Note: I am not calling anyone on this particular board a redneck, so hold your horses--let me explain. In my hometown, nobody likes the Dixie Chicks anymore because "they ain't patriotic and don't show no respect fur air cuntry." Some people may forgive and forget and start listening to the Dixie Chicks again, but I'm not holding out much hope for a lot of the people I know. They have this mentality that anyone or anything that criticizes the government must be Bad, and once you mess up, they never forget it. I doubt they'll be buying any Dixie Chicks records anytime soon.

Personally, I think they just said what was on the mind of a lot of Americans, and I don't care if it was said in front of British people. As a matter of fact, I'm starting to hope it's not too late for the Brits to take us back... :p

THANK YOU.

I have all Dixie Chicks CDs to date, and what they said in London is what I've been thinking all along. To hell with Dubya. We're still fucked.

Go ahead and flame away...nothing anyone can say will change my opinion of the douche. That is all.

VIVE LES DIXIE CHICKS!

I don't care to hear what a celeb's opinion is (ex. Tom Cruise & PPD, Dixie Chicks and the war, Kanye and Dub, etc.). I mean, really....who shapes their thoughts on important ideas/topics based on what "Celebrity Such-n-Such" thinks?

Shut up and entertain me! :p

What she said! Reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw today:

The only Bush I like is my own :p

I Love the Dixie Chicks! (ok take away my soul card) :p
I love them--have all their CDs and when the next one comes out, I will buy that one too

Yes, this is coming from a girl who is a PROUD Navy Brat--and I think Natalie was saying stuff that was on a lot of folx's minds...no one had the cajones to say it though.

On the same token--I do like Toby Keith

Their opinion is their opinion if I or anyone agree with it...... i like their music and wish they would already make their comeback

Cover of this weeks TIME mag.

http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine...060529_400.jpg

Where's the barf icon?