Posted on 09/14/2006 8:25:48 PM PDT by kristinn
SNIP
Oscar-winning doc filmmaker Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County USA," "American Dream") teamed up with collaborator Cecilia Peck to co-direct a behind the scenes look at the best-selling female group of all time, "The Dixie Chicks." The film, "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" was initially envisioned as a much more modest project, according to the band's Natalie Maines who spoke at a press conference this week at the Toronto International Film Festival. "We originally thought of having a filmmaker [to capture footage] for ourselves or as a supplement to some concert DVD release," said Maines. But Maines' now famous off-handed comment during a March, 2003 concert in London not only caused a tidal change for the Dixie Chicks' relationship with many of their fans, it also motivated Kopple to and Peck to expand the scale of the project.
"After the comment, we were really excited to do something more with the Dixie Chicks because they were willing to put everything on the line to stand up for what they believed in," said Kopple in Toronto. Lubbock, TX-raised Maines' remark, which caused an avalanche of criticism by right-wingers in the U.S. on the heels of the Iraq invasion was: "We're embarrassed that the President is from Texas." Perhaps not since John Lennon uttered the infamous remark that the Beatles were more famous then Jesus over three decades earlier had the reaction been so swift and vile. Right-wing groups responded with radio boycotts and CD burnings, and even a death threat against Maines.
"If we had been someone like Merle Haggard, it might have been spun like some kind of [cool] rebellion," said fellow bandmate Emily Robison about the early days of the controversy. "But people just don't like mouthy women in country music."
While the fallout from Maines' London comment is a focus of the film, "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" also takes viewers into personal arenas of the band, including balancing careers with motherhood, and there's also segments on Maines and fellow Chick Martie Maguire's in-vitro pregnancies in addition to their journey in the studio creating their latest album "Taking the Long Way," which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts this summer.
But it was the controversy and its repercussions that received the biggest attention at Wednesday's press conference. "We were their wet dream," said Maines about the right wing as well as political website The Free Republic in particular for organizing a substantial portion of the backlash. "We've been playing to about half the audiences we used to, but they're great and it feels like they have a purpose for being there... for free speech," added Maguire about their latest tour. "I have sat among the audience and it's been electric," said Kopple. "People have been singing, and holding up signs saying, 'Thank You!'"
Now a few years on, the band is still surprised that a one-off remark could cause such an uproar, and repeatedly referenced that surprise during the conversation in Toronto. "I would've never thought that me saying that would've brought on the reaction it did - with people banning us from the radio and me getting death threats." Yet, when asked by a member of the press about their feelings about Bush, they are steadfast. "A major disappointment... A major disgrace [when seeing] footage of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. [Bush] has been a disaster, and seeing Spike Lee's documentary ("When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts") was awful."
At the world premiere of their film the night before in Toronto, co-director Cecilia Peck paid tribute to Canada on stage ahead of the screening, which the three band members recalled during the hour-long conversation with press the following day. Said Peck, "It's great to have the world premiere in a country where something like that which happened to the Dixie Chicks could never happen." "I think Americans should think about that," added one of the Chicks. [Brian Brooks]
Don't flatter yourself, chubby. :-)
Lubbock ping
They are just too stupid! I can't believe they don't get it. A simple apology would have gone a long way at the time, but it's too late now.
Um....I'll have to say: What statements garner an immediate no, Alex.
I know there is a song in here, but I might go to a great effort only to have it pulled. The song, that is.
Not a one-off remark. She has steadily and consistently tried to follow in the tracks of Jane Fonda. This article is only the latest example of her unfortunate hatred for her country.
Sex with the DixieSkanks seems more like a dry nightmare to me.
She couldn't give Bill Clinton a wet dream.
I've always been amazed to watch leftists whine on about the loss of their freedom of speech - in public.
Fat morons.
She did back down originally, then when she thought public opinion was on their side she attacked again. American celebrities are living proof that talent in entertainment has no relation to intellect.
"We've been playing to about half the audiences we used to, but they're great and it feels like they have a purpose for being there... for free speech," added Maguire about their latest tour."
Let me get this right. Your spouting off is free speech but our voicing our opinions about your dribble isn't? No hypocrisy there. I love liberals - they are so amusing.
F U L L B O D Y S H U D D E R
Who are the Dixie Chicks again? Is that the name of a fast food restaurant in the South?
It tends to be like that when you stew in your own juices.
Here's a link from way back when: Country Music Radio Station List: Contact Them About Dixie Chicks!(Stand Up For America Alert!)
The Dixie Chicks learned a lesson learned by Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Dan Rather and others: FREEPERS ROCK!
Hollywood is a small town footnote. Cecilia Peck, Gregory's daughter, dated Natalie's husband Adrian Pasdar in the early 1990's.
*** Perhaps not since John Lennon uttered the infamous remark that the Beatles were more famous then Jesus over three decades earlier had the reaction been so swift and vile. ***
"We are more POPULAR than Jesus!"
I love the smell of burning Beatles Vinyl in the morning.
It smells like....victory.
Due to this article, at least a couple of things are self evident.
1. They are playing to half the audience they used to. And it's probably pissing them off big time.
2. One or all three obviously read FR.
As for the wet dream thing...well, all I can say is, being a rabid liberal must lead to dementia..or something..
They flatter themselves as The Dixie Milfs.
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