"Dixie Chicks Try Everything--Even Nudity--to Restart their Careers"

www.ChronWatch.com ^ | April 26, 2003 | Tom Sparkman

[TCSparkman]

"Dixie Chicks Try Everything--Even Nudity--to Restart their Careers"

Posted by Tom Sparkman Saturday, April 26, 2003

It has been a busy week for The Dixie Chicks as they pull out all the stops to try and get their “landslide” careers jump-started after Natalie Maines’ reprehensible comments in London about being “ashamed the President was from Texas.”

First, they have posed nude on the May 2 cover of Entertainment Weekly. Nude. They are covered only in some of the words fans and foes have used to describe them; everything from “Saddam’s Angel’s” to “Proud Americans” to “Dixie Sluts” is tattooed on their generously exposed flesh. Band member Martie Maguire claims that “It's not about the nakedness.” They posed nude because “It's about clothes getting in the way of labels.” I say it is about the nakedness: a cheap attempt to use sex to boost their popularity.

Act II was an appearance on ABC’s Primetime with Dianne Sawyer asking “tough” questions of the trio. At the start of the ABC Special, Maines claims that she “supports the troops 100%.” This rings a little hollow when this support doesn’t include the Commander-in-Chief. Isn’t 100%, 100%? How can you tell a soldier about to enter Iraq, “I support you totally, but I think your boss is an insensitive dolt?” It just doesn’t’ work.

Later in the interview, Maines says, “There is not a correlation between not wanting a war and not supporting the troops who are doing their job.” This is what I hear Maines saying: “Your poor soldier. Too bad you don’t understand how wrong you are to fight. I do, of course. And I will speak on your behalf, even though you didn’t ask me. Oh, and I will do this from my isolated, privileged, cocoon. But, really, I support you 100%.” I think most Marines would rather speak for themselves.

Towards the end of the interview, Maines’s made it clear she had no remorse for what she said or where she said it. While it was abundantly clear she (and her sister-in-laws) wished she hadn’t made the statements for the sake of her career, outside of that she almost seemed proud of her remark. “I feel regret for, you know, the choice of words,” Maines’ said to Dianne Sawyer. “Am I sorry that I asked questions and that I don't just follow? No."

As the three of them sat in the living room of their Austin mansion surrounded by the trappings of wealth, overlooking a valley of old oak trees and (this time) dressed in clothes that would cost a month salary for the rest of us, I was left with the feeling that these are three spoiled little children, angry at their parents, in this case a punishing public, because they are being asked to take the consequences of their actions.

Finally, when Maines was asked whether the Dixie Chicks seek forgiveness, she said, “Accept us. Accept an apology that was made. Accept that ... what we're saying right now is heartfelt, full of compassion and honesty, but to forgive us ... don't forgive us for who we are.”

OK. I won’t forgive you. For it is who you are, or better, who you think you are that I have an issue with

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I can remember when country music stars were salt of the earth. They'd stay for hours after their shows signing autographs and having personal chats with their fans.

Even country music has become the whore of Babylon. These modern country celebrities are surrounded by a phalanx of fawning butt-kissers who do nothing but tell them all day long they can do no wrong - they are soo-oo wonderful , soo-oo beautiful, - the're so--ooo talented - they are soo-oooo intelligent. Then one day, the real world blind-sides them with a little reality. We create celebrity monsters and then we are surprised when they act like complete asses.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

We create celebrity monsters and then we are surprised when they act like complete asses.

No argument here.

[Dark Knight]

I've heard they seem to have crossover appeal and are on a fringe market of mainstream. I guess they are not only on Billboards Country list but on the main list as well.

From their statements, things about rednecks and other stuff, I think they really want to hang with Hollywood. They are really embarassed to be associated with Country Music and what that means. They like the Hollywood parties better, they fit with the Hollywood crowd better, and I would daresay they are as snobbish as the Hollywood crowd.

Of course once their star power fades, Hollywood will drop them too. I hope it is a pleasant fall.

DK

[prairiebreeze]

FOX had a guest on today that speculated the Chicks will change their music and re-invent themselves into a light-pop group. Then they would blend into Hollywood culture and draw a new liberal audience. He called their nude display "brilliant" in jump-starting this process.

Prairie

[stboz]

What liberalism is ... have your cake and eat it too !

No, you get to keep your cake and eat everyone else's.

As far as Blixie's Chicks and work goes, I hear the Waffle House is hiring here in Vicksburg.

[Bonaparte]

"They are really getting desperate."

Yes. But they are also trying to switch to a different fan base.

Check out some of the comments here.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

The thing I find most cnfusing about Mianes' statement is where exactly did she "question" authority? What anti-war statement got her in trouble for being brave enough to go against "the man". I thought she was suffering for saying she was embarassed of George Bush. How is that a brave anti-war statement?

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you. That makes sense. Hopefully, it won't get them too far in the other direction; but then again, I'm a dreamer.

[TCSparkman]

You know, you may be right. If they switch to the Hollywood liberal crowd, they would be welcomed with open arms. In fact, they might even be bigger.

[linn37]

doubt theres alot of pop fans wanting to hear fiddles,I think they screwed the pooch.

[schaketo]

The expectations associated with musicians who incorporate the word “Dixie” in their name, and perform traditional country and bluegrass music, are obviously going to be different from the expectations associated, for instance, with grunge rockers.

So how do the Dixie Chicks try and reconcile with fans who have been estranged as a result of unmet expectations? They get naked on the cover of a magazine. At least Michael Moore didn’t go this route – thank God for small favors.

Noticeably absent from the scene were any signs of contrition. What was evident in the patter, though, particularly on the part of Natalie Maines, was defiance. Her admissions were usually either qualified or countered by some further inappropriate pap.

Their statements seem to emanate from that time-honored liberal value of ducking responsibility. The message the public is getting from Maines is that, no matter what, she’s not going to change. She’s not seeking forgiveness. She doesn’t think she needs it. But she is calling for acceptance.

From a personal perspective, the whole thing just looks to me like a naked attempt to attract a more “chic” and less “Dixie” kind of audience.

Good riddance.

[Central_Floridian]

I support our troops and the war against Al-Quaeda and the war against Saddam Hussein but I do not think we should support everything the government or the President does simply because we are at war. I have heard people who opposed something President Bush did or suggested called traitors despite the fact that they had done nothing to aid the enemy or endanger US soldiers or reduce our chance of victory.
If Gore was the President and was using the war as a pretext to violate the constitution would you "support him 100%"?

[Central_Floridian]

I would also like to say that I thought you wrote a great article and made alot of good points.

[chicagolady]

A Dixie chicks counter concert is tentatively set for Chicago May 30th. We are hoping to follow in Mike Gallaghers foot steps and have The Marshall Tucker Band do a Benefit concert a Sky Line stage at Navy Pier Benifiting the USO Illinois. Save the date... Friday May 30th!!

In Fact we are asking Mike Gallagher to come to Chicago and help us freep the chicks!
Stay tuned!

[Bobby777]

I agree the cover shows how desperate the Dixie Chicks have become ... I think they'll come to regret it in the years to come ...

I agree with the President that it's OK to have dissenting voices in a free America ... that's what America is all about ... (I supported the removal of Saddam Hussein, BTW) ... trashing the U.S.A. on foreign soil, even Britian, was bad, bad, bad ... I can't imagine what message the Dixie Chicks think they're sending now ... unbelievable ...

[cricket]

Granted ticket sales for their kick-off in Greenville, SC were sold much earlier; but will be interested to see just how business is, in on their new road tour.

Personally, hope there are plenty of empty seats. . .

[Cato the Censor]

All three are trash. I am told one plays the violin-I suggest the three dears be stripped naked, told to bend over and a violin bow be used to take each of their temperatures rectally-Then we can really hear them sing!

[curmudgeonII]

When did baring female pudendums become a political statement?

I always thought the correct plural was pudenda.

[cubreporter]

Every American should question yes. But...she didn't question. She made the statement to an audience outside the United States and she made it unsolicited. She damned well meant what she said.

I had also heard awhile back somewhere that she said she just thought the President should have EVALUATED things more. EVALUATED things more? Like what Natalie? Tell us, like what? What should he have EVALUATED? Were you privey to what the President had or had not EVALUATED????? I didn't know Natalie was so important to this war effort that she knew what was and what wasn't being EVALUATED???

I think she took her chances and jumped on the bandwagon to the foreign audience thinking she was being cute and it backfired on her. No one questions HER right to ask and inquire. We all do that too. That is her right, our right and everyone else's right. That's NOT what she was doing and I resent the fact she thinks I am stupid. Because obviously she MUST think I and others are stupid to think we would buy into that silly line and silly nonsense.

As for her and the others posing naked well, just look at the photo. Look at the way they are sitting. It's disgusting. It's not about clothes getting in the way of labels. What the hell does that mean anyway?

Look .. they posed naked because they wanted to. I'm ashamed of THEM not only being from Texas but exposing themselves for all the world to see. I am ashamed for them and embarassed for them. They are Mothers and daughters and sisters with families and new babies and they lower themselves to the level of posing naked on a magazine especially when they are trying to win back the public?

I'm sick and tired of them and their ILK thinking they can say and do whatever they want thinking we peons will continue to buy their music or see their movies all the while listening to their venom against our President.

We don't have that public platform and I don't care WHO they THINK they are...I am an American citizen too and if they can say it, I can boycott or speak out any way I choose to. It is MY right. I EVALUATED what you said Ms. Maines and you know what? It stunk! Stunk to high heaven and you said it and you meant it!

This is the last comment I will make on those young women. I am sick to death of hearing about them and their whining and limp apologies and their hour platform with Diane Sawyer on national tv. They have to live with the consequences and the drop in their sales. That was Natalie's choice. This is my choice. I along with many others am saying and meaning what I say too.

You have the stage to spew your unsolicited hatred...I have Free Republic to rebut and express my God given right to speak out and for that I thank GOD and Jim Robinson.

[WaterDragon]

Both are acceptable.