The Ditzy Chicks
People close to The Dixie Chicks are admitting that ticket sales for their latest tour have been disappointing. Is it any wonder why? Not only did Natalie Maines shoot off at the mouth when she said "we are ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas," but the Chicks finally come out with a new album where one can find a song called "Not Ready to Make Nice." Oh yes, what a great way to boost radio play and exposure in the heartland, which is where country music is king.Let me make an admission: I think The Chicks are perfectly entitled to whatever political or social opinions they want to have, even if I vehemently disagree with them. I even think that if Natalie Maines wants to run her mouth on stage about whatever liberal ideas she might have, it is her right. I like a lot of the Chicks' pre-London material, and I own a couple of their albums myself. However, when you are touring on foreign soil in wartime, you do not publicly trash the President, no matter how much you don't like him. When you do such a thing, you give ammunition to the enemies of America, whether that is your intent or not.
The Chicks will continue to be persona non grata on country radio precisely because they will not simply say "we are sorry for the damage we did to America."
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 8:06 AM
7 Comments:
Natalie showed her lack of class, when she wore the offending shirt with a derogatory slang telling Toby Keith to do something that is physically impossible.
You know the old saying, you are known by the company you keep. My view is you are also known by the enemies you keep.
Natalie can dislike Toby all she wants, I like Toby, he has talent that Natalie doesn't. He is a songwriter, singer.
When Natalie did that. The Ditzy Clicks were turned off, forever with me. They can go live in the U.K and sell their music there.
Maybe we could swap the three of them for some good immigrants.
Steve Mule probably thinks they Rock.
Hi Dave,
As a matter of fact, I do think the Dixie Chicks Rock. I've always liked them.
As for the "damage" they did - well, the only damage they did was point out what events have proven to be true. President Bush (regardless of your political ideology) is an embarassment. It's not his plan so mach as it is his delivery/execution. If you're a conservative he's an idiot trying to do good conservative things. If you're a liberal he's an idiot trying to do bad conservative things.
The "damage" they did in England exists only in the minds of the Bush/war cheerleaders. They had no tactical/strategic intell, no nothing except an unpopular (at the time) opinion of our goat roper president.
The Dixie Chicks did four things:
One, the Dixie Chicks said something at a time when no one wanted to even admit that it might be true. The second thing was not to back off of it. The third thing was to let events prove them correct. Finally, the fourth thing was show that they don't need County Music. The new album is selling like hotcakes and many of them are being sold to people who are new to the Dixie Chicks and these folks will learn what a great group they are and always have been. The concert sales are sluggish since these new folks will spend ~$15 for a CD but not $40 for a concert ticket. That will change when the next CD/concert rolls around.
SteveMule
Steve;
My issue wasn't with what Natalie Maines said, it was the manner and place in which she said it.
I guess you've figured out by now that I'm pretty old school. When you have a family disagreement, you don't take that disagreement out of the house and mouth off to others about how rotten other members of the family are-at least people who care about family don't do that.
Similarly, when Americans disagree with each other, you don't go overseas and trash your leaders. In our own country, fine...but politics stop at the water's edge. Family fights should not be held in public, and America's internal divisions do not need to be on parade before the world in wartime. Whether you were in favor of the war when it began or not (and I was not), we are there, we are in Iraq. Our forces do not need to hear that a promenent American singing act is touring overseas locations trashing the Commander-in-Chief.
The First Amendment rights of the Dixie Chicks will be protected. However, consequences to their statements are a different matter.
So the market says, "We don't like you and so we won't buy tickets to your shows?" Long live capitalism!
Dave,
Talking about the president overseas is verboten? It didn't stop anyone during the Clinton years. And it shouldn't have either. I believe that an American is an American no matter where they are and I feel that they can say whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want to say it.
SteveMule
Steve;
I cannot speak or act for others, but I personally believe that badmouthing the President of the United States while on foreign soil is in extremely poor taste, and reflects poorly on one's patriotism-no matter who is President. When outside of our borders, I believe we are all ambassadors for our country. Family fights should not be taken to the homes of others.
Digi;
That's right. The Chicks may talk-people in the country world are also free to react in the negative to what they have said.
Post a Comment
<< Home