Whatever opinion one might have about President Bush, or whatever one’s taste in music, I would hope that most reasonable people agree that noones lives should be threatened, not their music banned from their airwaves, because of their politics.
Congrats to the Emmy Awards
UPDATE: I couldn’t resist posting my favorite Chicks song:
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
I’m anti-Bush, and it increases by the minute… but, it’s still the right of every radio station, TV station, whatever, in America to play what they want to. On top of that, the Dixie Chicks have to be the most obnoxious, hard to look at, harder to listen to, group of people in recorded history. You posted that danged “Earl” song as your favorite of theirs, I think, Billy. I’m not certain, cause I can’t stand to play the video to find out. That is the worst song EVER written and recorded. The only thing worse is that danged video. It figures that the politically correct Grammy folks would throw down the awards on the Dixie Sh*ts. They are God-awful. Horrible “music.” Bleeeeeeeeeeech.
Album of the Year.
Song of the Year.
Record of the Year.
Well deserved honors for one of the best groups performing today.
CHICKS RULE!
The grammy was purely political. At least they had the class not to….well you know.
Grammys is so 1950s. With mp3s and net labels, we don’t need the record industry anymore.
Last night’s awards for the Dixie Chicks were not based on the quality of their music, but the politics of their music. If they hadn’t essentially gotten their behinds handed to them by the country music fans, their music never would have even been in the running for nomination.
Oh, and to the copy writers at the Grammys, nice try with the comparison between the Dixie Chicks and Woody Guthrie. Every viewer in the nation simultaneously rolled their eyes when they heard that line.
And what’s with all these caucasian pop singers trying to pose as negro R&B singers?
negro?
The Dixie Chicks were compared to Woodie Guthrie?
I’m glad I wasn’t watching. I would’ve probably thrown something at the TV!
I agree. The Chicks actually can sing.
I use the correct names for the races, not PC euphemisms. It is not a derogatory term.
Prego,
The part I agree with is that a radio station does have the right to play or not play what it wants, however what happened in the case of the Dixie Chicks is a huge radio conglomerate fed this boycott and then intimidated other stations it owned to do the same thing and just because they were owned by those favorable to GWB. I would have to do a search for the company, but that’s quite a bit different than not playing a song deemed offensive.
Vonster, from where do you get the “correct names for the races”?
Also, have you read this statement from the American Anthropological Association?
If you’re claiming there’s a scientific definition of “race,” you’re way behind on your science. If you’re using it to differentiate a DNA grouping, you’re way behind on your terminology.
But back when race was given scientific credence? The three races were Negroid, Mongoloid, and Caucasoid. So even if we’re living in 1870 here (Huxley’s “On the Geographical Distribution of the Chief Modifications of Mankind,” the exposition of the 3 races theory), your terminology is incorrect. By 1962, when craniofacial analysis was still being used for racial differentiation, Negroid was discarded in favor of Congoid and Capoid (and Australoid added).
If you’re using it socioculturally, then you’re being deliberately offensive. But then that was pretty clear.
Aww geez Laura. I thought you hadn’t been bitten by that ugly PC bug.
And you go thru all that recitation and still don’t tell which warm and fuzzy term I SHOULD be using.
LOL!
I just knew all those nattering nabobs of negativism would jump all over the Chicks. Thanks for not disappointing.
I bet my last dollar that not a one of you nabobs here has ever even listened to this CD at all. But then a lot of your other posts have shown that you don’t have to actually know anything about an issue to post an opinion.
I am also willing to bet that those “rolling their eyes” about a Woody Guthrie comparison cannot even name two Guthrie songs. Quick, before you Google him and post, ask yourself…can you even name two??
I thought not.
This Land Is Your Land and The Union Maid. But I confess my iPod has more Arlo than Woody.
But then, I *like* the Chicks. And “Taking the Long Way” is their best yet. Not a lot of singers in the US today singing lullaby lovesongs to their children or songs about infertility and miscarriage or songs about loss of a parent to dementia. I have yet to meet even the most rabid Chicks hater who doesn’t melt at Lullaby.
(And yes, haters, I liked the Chicks back before they were political commentators. iBrows has a surprisingly large collection of country.)
Knowing THAT would require that I be PC, rather than just concerned with accuracy.
I’ve heard enough. They’re pretty good at what they do but it ain’t my cup o tea.
And they butchered “Landslide”.
So you can read my mind and tell me I’m deliberately trying to be offensive but can’t tell me what term I should be using?
You’re a Democrat, right?
Yeah, I’m eh on Landslide. I just like the Stevie Nicks version a lot better. (But this is the beauty of the iPod. Stevie’s Landslide is in, the Chicks’ Landslide is out.)
The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan did a version that’s better than the DCs although his voice grates on some people. Even so, it’s a very honest sounding version.
For the record, I’m an original Buckingham/Nicks album owner.
“This Machine Kills Fascists”
Off the top of my head- Grand Coulee Dam, Dough-Re-Me, Pretty Boy Floyd- numerous Dust Bowl Ballads, and dozens of songs starting with the names “Talkin’”; and of course “and on the other side; was sign that said no trespassin;”.
But let’s be honest, his recordings were primitive, mostly recorded by Alan Lomax who was documenting and recording for the library of congress. They’re not something that most people own or listen to often other than for historical context. Most people who know Woody Guthrie know him from other artists interpreting his songs. I own several albums and cd’s, but I’m a little odd that way.
His autobiography is called “Bound For Glory” if you are looking for some good reading.
If you’d like me to go into his influence on modern songwriters and musicians, I could do that.
As for the Dixie Chicks. I own two albums. I do not own this one.
The Dixie Chicks s*ck. Their “music” has Hank Williams, Sr. spinning like a goosed top in his grave. It’s horrible. They’re aggravating. They simply are no good. Bleeeeeeeeech.
Other than that, they’re fine.
Vonster:
Word to the wise: If you find yourself in a neighborhood like the one in which I was reared in (Westside of Chicago), before you dispense with PC euphemisms, and decide to use the “so called” corrects name (negro) to describe gentlemen like Big Willie, Junebug, and Skeet (former friends now serving life for killing white men), make sure that you have your medicaid card, a cell phone, and a BIG ASS GUN.
You will probably be needing all of them.
SERIOUSLY, I tell you this as a blog-buddy.
If you haven’t already, you should check out B. J. Aberle’s take on this.
Actually, I thought the term “country music” was an oxymoron.
SERIOUSLY – you are being a thug, Doc. You have to resort to threats to move your point. I have to do it your way else some big negro will beat me up.
You should be ashamed.
Meaningless to this discussion.
Vonster: Truer words were never spoken. This entire thread has NO relation to the post.
My post had something to do with the Grammys. Sadly, none of the following posts did.