The Dixie Chicks have faced death threats and boycotts for speaking out against George Bush. Tonight was a much better evening for them as they won five Grammys, including song of the year for Not Ready to Make Nice. I wonder if they discussed their feelings about George Bush with one of the presenters at this year’s awards–Al Gore. The Washington Post reports:
The Dixie Chicks completed a defiant comeback on Sunday night, winning five Grammy awards after being shunned by the country music establishment over the group’s anti-Bush comments leading up to the Iraq invasion.
The Texas trio won record and song of the year for the no-regrets anthem “Not Ready to Make Nice.” They also won best country album, which was especially ironic considering the group says they don’t consider themselves country artists anymore…
The Dixie Chicks won all five awards they were nominated for, sweet vindication after the superstars’ lives were threatened and sales plummeted when Maines criticized President Bush on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003. Almost overnight, one of the most successful groups of any genre was boycotted by Nashville and disappeared from country radio.
Rock on Chicks! Just saw an independent film documentary called, “Protesting the Dixie Chicks” which was revolutionary!
http://www.protestingthedixiechicks.com
http://www.myspace.com/protestingthedixiechicks
The awards given to the Dixie Chicks were simply one thing….sending a message.
As you know, these awards were not given by the people. This was not the People’s Music Awards, rather less than 11,000 members of professionals in the music industry. One writer brought up the idea that the vote for the various catagories was so split, that the largest chunk of votes left were the politically active members who had the opportunity to “make a statement” with what amounts to a lackluster album and a really boring song.
First of all, there’s no way a song like that would take song of the year at the Grammys unless it had help, through collusion or other means, or jury nullification, just like the O.J. trial. And for them to win 5 awards if just not only improbable, but impossible! It looks like the Grammys jumped the shark last night, allowing politics to influence the outcome of not one but 5 awards and I personally could never look at them in any kind of positive light again, though that’s been coming for a long time now.
I’ve been a professional musician for over 35 years, a session player on albums and a touring sideman. I’m hearing nothing, and I repeat nothing, but disbelief at what happened last night. Some are asking for an investigation to see if there was indeed any wrong doing in the “winning” of these awards. And all along, Natalie and the world still actually think that they really won those awards.
Sad. Hope they never realize what really happened. They were used!
Sure it was probably sendiing a message. However it was a very important message to send for which those who decide the awards should be commended. Natalie and the Dixie Chicks were not being used. They did win the awards, and they were for an accomplishment even greater than the music they produced.
What Ron said.
The fact that they won several awards that artistically they did not particularly deserve with no regard for the wishes of the public does indeed send a message. One of arrogant elitism.
Thank you one again, liberals, for showing your true colors.
But they did deserve the awards. The attacks on the Dixie Chicks made their work more significant than other works this year. They did the right thing in using these awards partially to respond to those who oppose freedom of expression.
The lesson isn’t one of arrogant elistism but of defending liberty against the authoritarian right.
“The fact that they won several awards that artistically they did not particularly deserve with no regard for the wishes of the public does indeed send a message. One of arrogant elitism.”
Please check the Billboard charts, and get back to me. This was a well-deserved win. Like it or not, the Dixie Chicks have fans who buy their music.
By the way, maybe you should check public opinion polls on Bush and the Iraq war – the Chicks fit in nicely.