January 30, 2006
It would have been three years ago, this coming March that Dixie Chick Natalie Maines made her statement against President Bush, saying 'Just so you know, we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.' That statement sparked an outcry against the Dixie Chicks. Radio stations pulled their music, and in some places, they even went so far as to have a gathering of people who tossed their Dixie Chicks cds in a pile and had a bulldozer run them over.
At the time, I thought... wow, people sure are getting mad over this, but felt that it would boil over in a few months. Not so.. as I pointed out above, it's been three years, and you hardly ever hear the Dixie Chicks played on the radio anymore.
So... is it time to let them back? Well, when I wrote my Grammy Predictions a few weeks ago, I said that I was looking forward to it. I even went so far as to plan to attend one of their upcoming concerts they have planned this year. That all changed after reading about Natalie Maines giving an interview to Entertainment Weekly, saying she is "done with country music."
Huh? Done? Yep, in the article she tells Entertainment Weekly, "So I'm pretty much done. They've shown their true colors. I like lots of country music, but as far as the industry and everything that happened... I couldn't want to be farther away from that." She claims although she likes Martie and Emily's playing, she does not grow up loving country music. She goes on to say that the Chicks next album, due out in April, will be more of an old-fashioned rock album, similar to the Eagles music.
Well, if you wanted to burn your bridges, I think this article is a good way to do it. Of course, I must say, I haven't seen the entire interview. Only what is printed on the Internet site of Entertainment Weekly, but if the Chicks don't want to be a country act, then I guess I can spend my dollars on someone that does.
I personally loved the Dixie Chicks music. I am not planning on breaking my old cds, or selling them, or marching in protest at their concerts, or anything as radical as that. I can tell you this, I do not plan on buying any further music from them, and if they want to move on to rock music, all I gotta say is "don't let the door hit ya on the way out."
You can read a portion of the interview at Entertainment Weekly
What do you think? Vote in our poll on the subject.
How do you feel about the Dixie Chicks after Natalie Maines' current comments in Entertainment Weekly?
- I still support the Dixie Chicks & will buy their music, no matter what
- I am saddened by Natalies comments, but I'll give their new music a listen.
- I can't believe she's acting this way towards the fans that bought all the Chicks music.
- This is the last straw, she lost me totally as a fan. I'll turn the station if the Chicks come on.
- Not really sure, either way.