Well, I'm glad I never gave a good goddamn about the Dixie Chicks. Looks like their momma didn't teach them proper manners, such as how you conduct yourself in front of strangers in order to reflect well on the people who brought you up:
"Just so you know," says singer Natalie Maines, "we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." It gets the audience cheering - at a time when country stars are rushing to release pro-war anthems, this is practically punk rock.
If I were their kin I'd be taking their photos out of the family album and throwing them in the fire right now. And you know, I would think that such feminist ladies would remember that it's not honorable to diss your old, steady friend (in this case, your American audience) in order to court the new, cool friend (their British fans). But hey, maybe they were part of the in-clique back in high school and therefore are just acting true to form.
(Via the Country Store.)
Update: via J. Fielek, this brief article on the group's "explanation" of their remarks:
That statement prompted all kinds of reactions from the American public, causing the group to further explain their stance on their official website. "We've been overseas for several weeks and have been reading and following the news accounts of our government's position," the group explains. "The anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding. While we support our troops, there is nothing more frightening than the notion of going to war with Iraq [...] and the prospect of all the innocent lives that will be lost."
Nothing more frightening than going to war with Iraq? How about facing off the nukes-out-their-ears Soviet Union for about fifty years? How about the idea of that wacko in North Korea lobbing a missile at Seattle? How about the idea of Saddam Hussein announcing that he has nuclear weapons assembled and the wherewithal to deliver them, thereby enabling him to conquer the entire Middle East? How about him dying then and leaving one or both of his sons -- who are widely reputed to be even more evil than he is -- in charge of it? Stupid ignorant females.
Maines also says, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in frustration and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to voice your own point of view."
Oh, that makes it all better.
Posted by Andrea Harris at March 12, 2003 11:39 PMDamn it! Well, I guess I'm not bummed now that I didn't get those concert tickets for my birthday this year.
Posted by: Ith at March 12, 2003 at 11:43 PMI'm sorely tempted to delete my directory of pilfered Dixie Chicks MP3 files.
Nah.
Posted by: Darth Cirrocu at March 13, 2003 at 12:56 AMPretty soon I will only be able to listen to music, watch movies, and read books which were created by people who died before I was born. Fuckin' A. I had a little crush on her, too.
Posted by: Kevin Parrott at March 13, 2003 at 01:03 AMMy daughter is going to see the Dixie Chicks soon. She said if they try any of this nonsense at that show, she will throw things at the stage and then walk out.
She talks a good game, at least.
Posted by: michele at March 13, 2003 at 07:09 AMFirst Sheryl Crow, then Janeane Garafalo, then Tori Amos, now the Dixie Chicks. Artists I like are revealing themselves as morons.
Well, I learned to repress the urge to use my Fist of Death on Scientology when I listen to Beck or see a photo of the exceptionally lovely Catherine Bell, so maybe I can apply that and once more enjoy the anti-war women.
Posted by: albo at March 13, 2003 at 09:18 AMUm, I dare them to try and say that shit when they come down here to Texas. DAMNIT. Why do celebrities feel the need to shout their opinions so damned lourd? It makes it really difficult to ignore them.
Posted by: amy at March 13, 2003 at 10:03 AMFor all the foofaraw about their "roots" music, THEY SUCK! They sold out years ago for fame and fortune, and this is how that kind of thing inevitably ends. Not surprised one little bit by these two-faced hacks.
I bet Natalie's daddy has a couple of words with her when she gets back home.
Posted by: Scott at March 13, 2003 at 10:13 AMO.M.G.
So.Angry.
I just bought way overpriced tickets to go see them in May. They're my favorite - one of the few groups or musicians I would pay money to see.
But I'd sooner visit France than (PAY! to)listen to anyone talk shit about the US.
I may have to make alternate plans.
Posted by: Demosthenes at March 13, 2003 at 10:40 AMSell those tickets at a 10,000% markup to some idiotarians.
Posted by: Kevin McGehee at March 13, 2003 at 02:16 PMThe real question - were they trying to insult Texas (as being poorly represented by the President), or the President (as poorly representing Texas), or both (President bad, because Texas bad)?
I suspect the latter, since ferriners aren't likely to care about Texas one way or another, except as a caricature of Them Crazy Cowboy Americans.
Posted by: Sigivald at March 13, 2003 at 03:14 PMNah, they were insulting George W.
They're from Texas (I think) and live there now, and - from everything I've read - have nothing bad to say about the state.
Definitely a shot at the Pres.
Posted by: Demosthenes at March 13, 2003 at 03:46 PMPeople are surprised by this? The Dixie Chicks have certainly showed their politics before, and those always ran in the fashionably liberal direction. This is exactly what I would expect them to do, given their previous statements.
Posted by: John Thacker at March 13, 2003 at 05:11 PMTheir Texas citizenship is being revoked, as we speak. They can always claim this as their birthplace, but -- saying you're ashamed to be from Texas is over the line and basically inexcusable. Gov. Willie Nelson will have to issue a pardon.
Considering they've been kissing Nashville ass for about five years now, we're about four years late. Sorry about that, everybody. Who wants 'em? I think Tenessee is it, by default.
Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 13, 2003 at 06:59 PMA great thing about being American is you are free to voice your point of view.
My point of view is that the Dixie Chicks are shallow, mean-spirited, and selfish idiots.
Posted by: Dean Esmay at March 14, 2003 at 08:15 AMThey talked about this on WRKO here in Boston this morning. They are asking their listeners to send in their CD's and they will break them up at a upcoming concert here in Boston.
America should be ashamed of making these talentless hacks millionaires several times over.
I think Maines is correct in pointing out that she has a right to voice her point of view. But with that right comes the responsibility to accept the consequences for what she has said. When people stop coming to their shows, or even worse, some Texan beats her to a pulp, maybe she'll understand that.
Posted by: Emily at March 14, 2003 at 07:06 PMPerhaps they could save themselves from total oblivion by tossing Natalie overboard? I've seen no comments from the other two.
Posted by: David Jaroslav at March 14, 2003 at 07:32 PMYes, I think there is a very good chance the sisters are going to toss Natalie. This may really do a number on the career.
Posted by: Andrew at March 14, 2003 at 11:33 PMScott, Natalie's father, Lloyd Maines, is probably in London with them since he plays on their albums and was in the band for the LA shows they did last year. As I said to Natalie on my blog, "Maybe instead of ol' Earl slappin' Wanda around he should have been slappin' some sense into your empty head before he ate them blackeyed peas and was dumped in the lake."
Posted by: Denny Wilson at March 15, 2003 at 12:05 AM