Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dixie Chicks at a Crossroads (more detail on the F.U.T.K. t-shirt)
Washington Dispatch ^ | May 28, 2003 | CK Rairden

Posted on 05/28/2003 8:25:09 AM PDT by fightinJAG

Dixie Chicks at a Crossroads

Exclusive commentary by CK Rairden

May 28, 2003

The Dixie Chicks were doing so well. Lead singer Natalie Maines had finally shut up, and the country artists had been cheered on their American concert tour for their music. Then came the prestigious American Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The very mention of their name drew a chorus of boos from the crowd.

“Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas, lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience in March. The Chicks took heat for that remark for weeks, so much so that they went on a ‘victim tour’ to attempt to garner sympathy from their fans. They cried on the ABC magazine show “Prime Time.” They sat for an interview that ran in the magazine Entertainment Weekly, and posed for an apparently heavily airbrushed nude cover shot with slogans transcribed all over their bods.

They claimed they were being harassed and threatened and released information that they would hire off duty police officers to protect them. The victim card was played then the Chicks then held their breath and opened their tour in Greenville, South Carolina.

It went well as those who paid to see the Chicks greeted the band with cheers and not jeers.

It continued that way for all of their tour dates. Folks who paid to see them generally cheered, the Chicks kept their mouths shut except to sing and their fans supported them.

Then came the prestigious Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. It started out poorly for the Chicks as hostess Reba McEntire joked about them in her open monologue twice to a howling response from their peers.

This crowd in Las Vegas seemed less forgiving as none of them paid to see the Chicks perform. At the mention of the Chicks name, boos scattered down from the crowd.

But it still wasn’t all that bad.

The big problem for the country music trio came when they were asked at the last moment to perform via satellite from Austin, Texas. Silence greeted the band in the Vegas auditorium as they were introduced. They played a tune that was broadcast on screen and as the camera zoomed in on lead singer and political commentator Natalie Maines you could see the letters F.U.T.K on her homemade t-shirt.

Most believe the T.K stands for Toby Keith, a country music superstar in his own right and singer of the very patriotic song “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” (The Angry American.) It doesn’t take much to figure out what the F.U. stood for.

The patriotic country music fans in Vegas didn’t like the vulgar statement.

Toby Keith wrote that song after 9/11 in honor of his late father and it became an anthem for music fans that believed America had to defend itself after the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers.

It was also a song that former POW Pfc. Patrick Miller sang to his captors while being held in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Toby Keith even met Miller at his homecoming parade in Valley Center, Kansas and struck up a duet of the tune with the private. He then gave Miller his guitar from that day. It was a nice gesture by Keith, and fans appreciated it across America.

So once again, with her petty message to Keith, Natalie Maines gave the appearance of being ungrateful and unpatriotic.

The Vegas crowd would soon let her know about it.

Their name was then mentioned for entertainer of the year and the boos were thunderous. Presenter Vince Gill tried to quiet the crowd, but to no avail. This entire ceremony was a celebration of music and patriotism, and the Chicks were still perceived to be the exact opposite of that.

The show saluted the armed forces several times, including a standing ovation for three freed POWs of the Iraq war who were invited on stage. Pfc. Miller was there along with Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Young Jr. from Fort Hood, Texas and Spc. Shoshana Johnson, from Fort Bliss, Texas.

Johnson was shown misty-eyed as Darryl Worley sang his patriotic anthem for the soldiers “Have You Forgotten?”

The crowd had no patience for the Dixie Chicks and their anti-war stance.

The Dixie Chicks lost the entertainer of the year award to none other than Toby Keith, which pleased the Vegas fans. In fact they failed to win any awards.

Launch YAHOO! caught up with host Reba McEntire and asked her if she thought the Chicks' helped themselves to win back any support of the fans or fellow performers who were not happy with Maines' unpatriotic comment. McEntire made her opinion clear, “(It) didn't sound like it. I announced it, and it was a pretty big negative response. It was very, very bad. I don't think it's over.”

Reba is right.

The Chicks have lost respect from many country fans, many country artists, and many people who had never heard of them. Maines’ vulgar t-shirt showed clearly that she learned very little from her statements, or doesn’t mind the loss of respect.

It will be amazing if Maines doesn’t once again slip up, make another foolish statement and cause her band grief from country music fans and her peers. These three women are very talented musicians, but they are losing quite a few would be fans with perceived anti-American antics. The Chicks are at a crossroads. They can make a stand and attempt to become a political and social force with their music, words and t-shirts to a select anti-American crowd. Or they can continue to be country superstars. If they choose the latter--time can heal this, if that’s what the Chicks want.

All they have to do is shut up and sing.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 361-369 next last
Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

To: jalisco555
After the (AMC awards) event, Keith appeared on the ABC late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The country singer explained why there is no love lost between Maines and him.

“She attacked me about nine months ago over the 'Angry American' song [“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”]. I took the high road for a little bit and then she didn't think that she got the fight, I think, that she wanted. So then she attacked our president on foreign soil and got the fight she wanted, I guess,” Keith said.

He suspects we’ll be hearing more hackneyed phrases from Maines. He predicted that “she's still not done. If y'all think she's done, you're crazy. Stuff comes out of her blowhole daily.”

The Left Coast Report keeps hoping that someone will find a way to cork it.

42 posted on 05/28/2003 8:57:29 AM PDT by evets (Whitney Houston dissed Ariel Sharon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG
Little Tommie Dazhole on Bush Diplomacy:

"I'm deeply saddened, saddened I tell you, that Geroge W. Bush failed to teach the pigs to sing like the Beach Boys in the song "In my Room". I know that Bill or Al could have got those pigs in key with rich harmony. Heck after Bush was through the pigs sounded like the Dixie Chicks. This is a miserable failure and we should hang our heads in shame," quipped Little Tommy Dazhole.
43 posted on 05/28/2003 8:57:45 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (When you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: jalisco555
It does go beyond just the song. He has specifically addressed the Dixie Chicks, and they have addressed him.

This is a long running fued, but Toby just won.
45 posted on 05/28/2003 8:59:51 AM PDT by sharktrager (There are 2 kids of people in this world: people with loaded guns and people who dig.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Flurry
I'm deeply saddened, saddened I tell you, that Geroge W. Bush failed to teach the pigs to sing like the Beach Boys in the song "In my Room".

OUCH! Please don't mention the Beach Boys in the same sentence as the Daschle Chimps!

46 posted on 05/28/2003 8:59:57 AM PDT by tame (Don't blame my High School. It's the Aspartame!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG
Judging by the looks of this thread, I don't think Freepers care much about the Dixie Chicks. It just raises the temp:-)
47 posted on 05/28/2003 9:02:07 AM PDT by tame (Don't blame my High School. It's the Aspartame!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: tame
Heck I'm a huge Beach Boys fan. You can't beat their harmony. I wish they had done fewer surfing/car songs. But I still play their music frequently. In order to express extremes we must use hot and cold. They are not in the same league but may be mentioned in the same paragraph as mutually exclusive terms.
48 posted on 05/28/2003 9:04:20 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (When you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Joe Whitey
Fascination with mere celebrity and celebrities is the least admirable characteristic of modern American life. That large numbers of people apparently give a rat's *ss about the uninformed opinions of an entertainer is a depressing thought.

From it flow so many unintended consequences - the devaluation of actual accomplishment being the first.

IMO.
49 posted on 05/28/2003 9:07:35 AM PDT by headsonpikes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG
It will be amazing if Maines doesn’t once again slip up, make another foolish statement and cause her band grief from country music fans and her peers

I am not an apologist for Natalie Maines Pasdar but you have to understand where she is coming from. Her husband is Iranian (as is the ex of another DC) and one of her "best friends" is Sean Penn SO she lives and breathes this bs. All of her inner circle are libs/anti American/blame America Firsters and she thinks that this is the way everybody thinks. sad

50 posted on 05/28/2003 9:11:13 AM PDT by zip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe Whitey
I certainly did not say Toby was above criticism. I said that Natalie's actions in dissing a song that meant a lot to soldiers, when those soldiers were being honored at the event at which she was singing, was in extremely poor taste.

Also what an artist does at one of his concerts cannot compare to what one does on national television, imho.
51 posted on 05/28/2003 9:13:49 AM PDT by fightinJAG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: Joe Whitey
P.S. Not that it matters, but Natalie started the fight by going on major media and calling "The Angry American" song "extreme" and ranting about it.

Still doesn't justify the F.U.T.K. t-shirt on national tv, if you ask me. She wore that specifically for tv, specifically because T.K. would be at the awards show.
53 posted on 05/28/2003 9:16:19 AM PDT by fightinJAG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Joe Whitey
I didn't know that...and that does change everything.
54 posted on 05/28/2003 9:17:11 AM PDT by Hildy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Flurry

55 posted on 05/28/2003 9:17:28 AM PDT by tame (When it comes to the Beach Boys I'm allllllll ears!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

Comment #56 Removed by Moderator

To: Joe Whitey
The rant is complete with fake pictures of the DC with Saddam Hussein on the big screens. That is childish and tastless. What's wrong with her doing something similar in public, at a concert?

You may have missed the beginning....Natalie went out of her way to call Toby Keith a disgrace and embarassment to country music after he released courtesy of the Red, White and Blue. Why?
She claims the song is ignorant and makes country music sound ignorant. At first Keith said nothing in response...but her goading continued. So now he feels free to dis her during his concerts.....it's about time.
Toby Keith happens to be the first country music artist I've ever listened to, his song Courtesy touched a nerve. I feel personally slighted when the Vichy Chicks call his music ignorant.

57 posted on 05/28/2003 9:18:45 AM PDT by Katya
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: zip
"...she thinks this is the way that everyone thinks." Don't think so. She's just on the side of the liberals and loves all the attention she's getting. Core country music fans have pretty much dismissed them into irrelevancy but then Natalie doesn't care. She's on her way to a pop crossover whether the two sisters like it or not.
58 posted on 05/28/2003 9:20:29 AM PDT by sarasota
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: sarasota
Do you think she'll make it in pop?
60 posted on 05/28/2003 9:21:52 AM PDT by fightinJAG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 361-369 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson