Posted on 11/20/2007 6:33:56 AM PST by Zakeet
Democrats angered at the image of country and western as Right-wing “redneck music” are planning a tour of Middle America during the 2008 election campaign by Nashville artists opposed to the Iraq war.
An alliance called the Music Row Democrats is poised to re-launch itself early next year in an attempt to seize back country music from the Republican camp and spread their message that President George W. Bush’s party does not care about ordinary people.
Slowly but surely, more country singers are performing songs critical of the Bush administration. Merle Haggard, who once sang the anti-hippie anthem “Okie from Muskogee” for President Richard Nixon at the White House has even penned a tribute to Hillary Clinton.
In his “Hillary", dedicated to the Democratic front runner, Haggard sings: “This country needs to be honest/ Changes need to be large/ Something like a big switch of gender/ Let's put a woman in charge."
Pro-war songs like Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" and “American Solider”, and Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten (About Bin Laden)?" still dominate country music stations.
But some country stars such as Tim McGraw – who has said he may run for Tennessee governor – have “come out” as Democrats.
“Republican Blues”, by the bluegrass artist Tim O’Brien, dealt with issues ranging from domestic spying by the US government to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
Music Row Democrats was first formed in 2004, after the Dixie Chicks were boycotted and banned from country radio stations when their lead singer Natalie Maines said just before the Iraq invasion that she was ashamed Mr Bush was from her native Texas.
It now boasts more than 1,300 members in Nashville, the home of country music.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
very true!
It's supposed to be a picture of a tree instead.
The “woman in charge” sentiment comes from Merle Haggard, who is apparently becoming hagard.
The only woman I want in charge of this country is already too old and isn’t even from this country:
Maggie Thatcher.
Merled Haggard must be driving a pick up truck with Astro Turf in the back these days.
The list of so-called country artists sound like internet wanna be’s to me.
Thanks for posting! That was great!
ONLY when they take this mandolin from my cold dead hands.
Bluegrass Gospel, forever.
I like some of Luke the Drifter Jr's songs too.
Thanks.
No prob—actually a much better song than the whiny one
it was spoofing.
Well Jesus walked on the water
And I know that its true
But some of these preacher on TV
Would like to do a little walking too
But I asking nobody for nothin’
If I cant get it on my own
If you dont like the way I’m living
Just leave this long haired country boy alone
CDB
“Personally, I don’t recognize anybody, but admitedly, I’m no Country Music fan.”
I like country. Never heard of any of them.
Some of the titles look like nothing more than “hate-songs”.
Thought you’d like this one.
How are you?
There’s nothing wrong with Classic Rock (except I pretty much grew up with it and I’m pretty much tired of it by now). I discovered that more interesting music existed by the way of Texas Hill Country music, Delta blues, country swing, barroom honky-tonk, and Cajun fiddle tunes, among others. The problem is, when I turn on the local “country” FM stations, all I hear is: Rascal Flatts, Lonestar, Faith Hill,
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. Even Toby Keith seems to have become too “country” for Country radio.
They ought to have some great songs coming out — “I’m gonna have an abortion/ cain’t nobody tell me not to” and maybe “Don’tcha love it when they raise taxes in Texas?” hahaha. The liberal morality SO does not fit in; I certainly won’t add the libs to my music list.
Dissapointing about McGraw. I’m going to burn my copy of Flika.
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.