Pop Go the Dixie Chicks

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 Sep 2003 11:46 am

OK, but how about JERRY GARCIA!!!

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 25 Sep 2003 12:44 pm

one thing pôsitive about this thread
it's the first DC thread to last so long

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 26 Sep 2003 11:12 am

Hey, I get one in before this thread locks!
What difference does it make what the Dixie Chicks "call" themselves? They could stop making records tomorrow, and have more money than most of us could count. The lines between pop and country are blurred as it is(remember when a crossover hit was a GOOD thing?), that a title really doesn't matter anymore. I'm sure we've all got some variation in our record libraries. I hope so, anyway.
And as for the Chicks' politics, who cares? To compare Natalie's statement to Jane Fonda's actions is absurd. And to condemn her for her statement is just as ridiculous.
We hear a lot of politicians talk about "term limits." Term limits already exists, at the voting booth! It's up to us, as the electorate, to determine which self-serving leeches we're gonna keep, and which ones we're gonna get rid of. And in the same vein, if you feel THAT strongly about Natalie's statement, don't buy the record. Simple, huh? But you'll be missing some great music.
Alan Jackson's tune hit home for most of us, Toby Keith spoke from the anger we ALL felt, and Darryl Worley wanted to remind us all.
Alan walks away with award after award, Toby Keith turns into Bruce Willis, and Darryl Worley packages some old previously recorded stuff with "Have You Forgotten," just to have enough material for a CD that can be released quickly enough to sell before the furor dies down.
Makes me wish Merle would re-write "Fightin' Side of Me."

Lyle Bradford · Post by **Lyle Bradford** » 26 Sep 2003 2:44 pm

JBA is right on the mark with his comments! Go get em JB!!

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 26 Sep 2003 5:19 pm

By the way, since the "Dixie Chicks" are named after a rock song anyway, I think it's particularly apropos that they consider themselves to be rock 'n rollers.

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 27 Sep 2003 4:21 pm

As long as Lloyd Maines is recording with them, I'll listen t othem.

Robbie

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 28 Sep 2003 4:21 pm

It's hard for me to imagine a rock band with a b@nĵǿ player. Blueground Undergrass, maybe? That's the only one I can think of, and they broke up.

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JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 28 Sep 2003 11:06 pm

Well, there's Bela Fleck, whatever you would call that. And Tony Trischka works with a lot of the jam bands.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 29 Sep 2003 5:09 am

Bela can play anything, anywhere, with anyone.
And is a very nice gentleman to boot.
Vat's not ta like.

If we all ignored artists body's of work just because of their politics, our worlds would be so much smaller for it.
Life's to short.
Jerry Garcia brought many people into country music, and I imagine the DC's are doing that too, what ever lable they go under.

And she sure shouldn't be called "Hanoi Maines"
by any stretch of the imgaination.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 29 Sep 2003 9:06 am

I know you guys will love this one. http://dixiechicks.launch.yahoo.com/news.asp?id=57
Letter from Natalie
9/24/2003

Dear Reader:

I am taking the time out of my very busy rock and roll life to write you this letter. As I am sure you can understand, being me is a full time job. I can't just drop everything every three days because someone needs a quote or statement about a quote or statement we may or may not have said. It's just draining me of time and effort I need to put toward other things. For one, I as a taxpayer have to get busy earning money to help pay off the latest $87 billion dollar addition to the national debt! Also, I have a huge list of phone calls to return.

I'll list a few just so you get the idea.

Message 1:
Saddam Hussein called and wants to know where his weapons of mass destruction are. Listen Saddam, I already told you, I don't know. You’re going to have to call the White House on that one.

Message 2:
Country radio called and wants to know if it's true that you're leaving country music? This one must be a prank call. I mean, how can you leave a party now when the hosts had shown you to the door six months ago.

Message 3:
Sheryl Crow and Lenny Kravitz called to see if you could come to their party Friday night. Oh that one’s easy. I can't, I'm already going to Ashton and Demi's party.

Message 4:
G. Gordon Liddy, Rush Limbaugh, and Don Imus all called again to ask about the plane crash. Listen guys this is really getting old. I'm sorry, but no we did not die in a plane crash. But look on the bright side…we fly all the time.

Message 5:
Arnold Schwarzenegger called to see if we wanted to “verk out” with him at “zee gym” next week. Hmmm that's both weird and scary. He must not have heard what Emily "said" about him or know that we're married!

See, can you understand now why I don't have time to constantly defend my partners and myself? Oh speaking of partners, Martie did want me to clear up two things that she absolutely did not say in any shape, form or fashion. She wants it to be known that she never complained about not winning any ACM awards. I told her nobody who has ever seen what an ACM award looks like is going to believe she said any such thing. But nevertheless she wanted to clear that up. The second thing was that she never said we were a part of the "rock and roll family" now. I once again told her I didn't think it was necessary to clear that up. I mean, as of yet, I wasn't aware we had made a rock album. As a matter of fact, I think I recall our last album being bluegrass. So there you have it. Do with it what you will.

You know, a good thing that has come out of all this is having a good support system from the music industry to call on for advice. Most recently I called up Ozzy to ask him what I should do about all of this, and do you know what he told me? Oh hang on just a second, you won't believe this…P. Didddy and Eminem just instant messaged me at the exact same time. I didn't even know that was possible. Let me just IM them back that I will have to talk to them later. O.K. sorry about that. Now where was I? Oh right Ozzy. Do you know what he told me to do? Well, I don't really know either. I couldn't really understand him. But he did say something at the end that was very profound. He said "f*** it." I like that advice. I think I'll do just that. So from here on out when you call for a statement, explanation, apology, etc., we are just going to have to refer you to this letter. Oh, and by the way, since you’re here on our website you might as well go buy a T-shirt. We are having a plane crash sale. Everything is double.

Oh, I have to go. Keith and Mick are in the limo waiting for me. The five of us have started getting together every Tuesday night. I must tell you, Keith is really getting into his fiddle lessons with Martie. He can already play “Faded Love”. And Mick, well he gets faster at “Dueling Banjos” with Emily every week. I think they are really going to blow everyone away at the rock and roll family reunion next week. But, it's not just about them learning from us. Nope, they help me every week think up new controversial "rock and roll" things to say. Thanks guys…you’re the greatest!

Love, Natalie

PS. I will also be posting this in German so if you don't like what I really said you can just translate it into what suits your agenda.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 29 Sep 2003 9:13 am

Jerry Garcia brought many people into country music.

It's true, strange as it sounds. The Grateful Dead covered "Mama Tried", and I discovered Merle Haggard. Jerry's "Teach Your Children" solo inspired me to seek out more music with steel guitar. His work with the New Riders (on steel) and Old & In The Way (on b@nĵǿ

) also pointed many fans towards country music.

I remember a magazine interview with Garcia where he said praised Dolly Parton as his favorite singer. I wonder how many fans like me went out and picked up a Dolly Parton LP just to see what he was talking about. (I was not disappointed!)

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 29 September 2003 at 10:14 AM.]

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 29 Sep 2003 10:05 am

Exactly. That's how I discovered country as well. I wonder how many folks know that Garcia, before he got his eyes opened to other possibilities, was a bluegrass purist who won several prestigeous competitions on banjo and was considered by many to be one of the finest young players in the country? Or that he was SUCH a hard head that he was one of the folks who WALKED OUT on Dylan when he brought The Band onstage with electric instruments?

I know many here don't like the newer devotees of country or their contributions to same. But we need them to keep the new blood in here and keep the patient alive.

Those who don't like the Dead's, or Garcia's politics, should understand something-they didn't have any. Preaching from the stage was never their gig, and as far as current events were concerned, they weren't paying attention. They were too busy playing music. they let the Airplane do the politics.

And if that post is really taken from Natalie's site-you go Girl! well said!

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 30 Sep 2003 9:30 am

From a recent interview (which can be seen on the Chicks' web page):

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Can you understand the violent reactions that people in the USA had?

MAGUIRE: Unfortunately it made it very clear to me how our genre operates. Country music is still very, very conservative in the USA. Therefore it impacted us more than maybe it would have any other artists who were against the war. With rock musicians or actors, the public apparently expects that they are more liberal than others. People couldn’t believe that we voiced our opinion. But why wouldn’t we have an opinion on such an important subject? It is all rather frustrating and discouraging.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What was the worst thing you encountered?

MAGUIRE: The worst were the death threats, that was completely crazy! On our US tour, we had to put extreme security measures into place. I also feel it’s very un-American that some radio stations banned our music from their programming. The USA is a country where freedom of speech is highly regarded, we thought, but the atmosphere was so heated that radio stations didn’t care.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: You have been told that your remarks were “Anti-American”

MAGUIRE: How can they do that, to tell us we are un-patriotic just because we don’t want to send our soldiers into the bloodbath of a war? I love Texas, I love the USA. But the best thing you can do for your country is not to blindly follow your leaders. Besides, when our soldiers were in Iraq, we supported them. We are a hundred percent behind them. But that is something else. Nevertheless I can be of the opinion that the government did not look at all options for a peaceful solution.

I feel bad for the Chicks. They expressed their opinions (which are shared by many) and got roasted for it.....last I recall, freedom of speech was a constitutional right. Martie's one line above said it best: "But the best thing you can do for your country is not to blindly follow your leaders." That doesn't mean to automatically NOT support them.....just know WHY you're supporting their actions, rather than say "its the patriotic thing to do". If they based their opinion on facts, then why is what they said so wrong? At the time, half the country agreed with them!

Michael Moore said things ten times worse on stage (at the Oscars), and got nowhere NEAR the flak that the Chicks did. Why? Because they are "country" and their audience is predominantly "conservative"....if "conservative" means to follow the government in whatever it decides to do, regardless of logical reasoning, heaven help us.

Joe

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 30 Sep 2003 10:30 am

Joe, amen to that.
Are we sheep? When the lead sheep turns we all turn?

Are we un-patriotic because we do not agree with an elected official, no matter how high up?

Are we to be silenced and put out of work for speaking our minds in public?

Is not supporting a war, the same as not supporting the troops in harms way?

The responces of Ms. Maguire to Speigle online were well reasoned and rational responces to a situation she is in disagreement with.
Not the musings of a rable-rousing arch commie. She sounds pretty democraticly inclined. ( as opposed to being inclined "Democratic")

With all due respect to others opinions :
Blind conservatism is just as close minded as blind liberalism. The operative word is blind; not seeing, or unwilling to see anything besides what you want.

I subscribe to neither, but can, depending on the issue, draw from either side if it makes sense... often it doesn't.
But the far right and the far left often push harder to their side
than they really want to get to,
because they then hope to get closer to their real attainable goal.

A middle of the road approach will get more done in the long run, regardless of what you want to do. Thats why the USA is a democracy with free speach FOR ALL.

Is this morally equivocal; to some maybe, to most people no.

So again, lets get back to the music in whatever style it might be![This message was edited by David L. Donald on 30 September 2003 at 11:33 AM.]

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 30 Sep 2003 10:39 am

Thanks for posting that, Joe - she spoke rationally, and echoed my sentiments on this matter exactly!

RR

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 30 Sep 2003 11:31 am

I don't believe only a right-winger could possibly support the President and be offended at Natalie Maines' remarks.

Natalie has spoken and so have consumers – many of them from the middle of the road, I’m sure.

And now, since Michael Moore's name has entered the debate, I figure it's run its course or nearly so.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 30 September 2003 at 12:32 PM.]

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 30 Sep 2003 1:53 pm

Well there you have it. A letter from Natalie maintaining a sense of humor while the majority of country music fans get there panties in a twist!

I don't like musician/performer's making political statements either, unless of course the statement is in line with my own political views; then it's OK. Paul McCartney wore a political T-Shirt at the Red Square concert in front of Putin and the world deploring "Land Mines". How dare he. Of course some might say that it's OK to wear a statement on your shirt as long as you don't actually say anything in the mic you're safe. But then again, if you play his records backwards you can hear....

Folks , life is too short to be angry. Causes stress and all that. The Dixie Chicks can say and do what they want. It's OK. I love thier music and the fact that they took control of their art from the record execs and produced a successful bluegrass album the way they wanted to. That took guts. Now I expect them to do the same thing with regard to the so called "country music family". The Chicks will make music their way in spite of what the press and even thier fans say about them leaving country music. The Chicks are in control of their art as they should be. Those that like it will buy it, those that don't won't. It is that simple. As it should be. True artists (and I believe the Dixie Chicks are) don't do it for the money. If they were worried about the money they would have been more careful with the loose lips!

Go Chicks!

Terry

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Sep 2003 1:59 pm

So I take it you're in favor of land mines, then, Terry?

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 30 Sep 2003 2:03 pm

Good luck in the Pop field. They nasal sing everything. Go chicks!

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 30 Sep 2003 2:11 pm

Jim, I looked everywhere for one of those emoticons for being "facetious"!

Terry

By the way, I'm still hangin' on to that Fessy!

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 30 Sep 2003 4:43 pm

Yeah, GO CHICKS!

And take Tim McGraw with ya.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 30 September 2003 at 05:43 PM.]

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 1 Oct 2003 3:03 pm

Ron Page I very much agree.
I was one of their biggest fans, but since this incident happened, I have not been able to listen to them. This has not been a problem around the Atlanta area since all of the country stations quit playing them.
Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but we as Americans owe every man and women who serves all the support and respect we can give, period.
And if she had to say it, do it in front of a Texas audiance, missy. I am not a Texan, but I know what the outcome of that would have been.
Maybe one day I will be able to enjoy their music again. LLoyd Maines is a fine steel player, but I say respectfully, maybe he should have put down the bar, and picked up the paddle a little.
My soap box worth.
Lefty
Sho-Bud LDG (American made)
Dekley D-10 (American made)
Dobro resophonic (American made)

[This message was edited by Lefty on 01 October 2003 at 04:04 PM.]

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 1 Oct 2003 3:22 pm

I should probably explain my tongue-in-cheek comment just above.

The Cincinnati Reds have long used the promotional slogan, “GO REDS”. You see it on bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc. A few years ago, both the Reds and Bengals were extorting, err I mean exhorting the electorate in Cincinnati to support them with a new stadium for each franchise. A creative opponent of the measure came up with his own bumper sticker saying, “GO REDS… AND TAKE THE BENGALS WITH YOU”.

Needless to say, it got a lot of laughs even from Reds/Bengals supporters. Three years, two stadiums, hundreds of millions of tax dollars and more losing seasons later no one’s laughing.

Anyway, I use that one every chance I get.

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HagFan