This sounds a bit like Britney Spears' "Lucky" - only not as good
The Dixie Chicks have a new album coming out in May, Taking the Long Way. It is their first album since the pre-war unpleasantness. They have released the first single, which addresses that controversy. It's called "Not Ready to Make Nice."…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Al Barger
Snooze, you seem to be responding to politics rather than the actual record. For starters, it's absolutely bland, generic crap for a TUNE.
Also, this does NOT stick it back in the faces of Bush supporters, in that this song is not at all about Bush. There's not even a passing reference to the president, or any bit of any political issue. It's all, 100% about how badly the poor Dixie Chicks have been mistreated.
Also, I never said that death threats should be ignored, just that it's cheap and dishonest to be milking them for sympathy years later- and far worse to be trying to tar all their critics with that brush. Report that crap to the FBI. Beef up your security for the tour if you feel the need. Just don't be exploiting it for cheap sympathy.
Also, I'm not criticizing them for not being country. I'm criticizing them for not being ANYTHING. They're not country, nor rock, nor anything in particular. "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
27 - Figgins
First I will adress her coments in London that were(sigh)over three years ago.
Natalie said they were swept up in the anti-american sentiment that they were experienceing while traveling in Europe and thats why she made the comment.
These are HER words:
"the anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding."
"it was a joke and it wasn't planned. And it was really funny at the time. It got lots of cheers, and that's what it was meant for."
She later went on to explain that she didnt even think it would get back to the United States.
" We were going into this hotel…and he [the Dixie Chicks' manager] got a call … he's pacing back and forth. "Oh, no!" You know, we're automatically going "What? What happened?" And then he says, you know, he gets off the phone and I was like, "What? What happened?" "Well, the AP picked up what was said the other night... But don't worry, it's going to blow over in three days." And I looked at him and I go, "No, it's not." He goes "Yes, it is, yes. Don't worry about it." You know, giving the old manager spiel. And I said, "Oh, I don't think so."
She wanted to win favor with them , so they would inturn financially support her and lavish her with adoration. She pandered to them and took aim at the President.
I beleive had she felt the crowd that night was anti-tooth fairy, like she clamis they were anti-american, she would have announced her shame of teeth and faries.
Everything that happened in the wake of her comments was just spin, including the scab picking she is now doing 3 years later.
She is the Varuca Salt of our time and if you do not agree with her, or financially support her, she throws tantrums. At least we can be thankfull she kept her clothes on this go around.
As for the effects it had on their career:
They have yet to sell a million of anything since the comments. 'Home' which was the album on the charts when it happened, was certified at 6 million a week following the incident. It has yet to be certified for another million and its a double cd so each sale gets counted as two. Top Of The World was a live greatest hits package they released in 11/03. It has yet to sell a million copies. In comparison Garth Brooks Live greatest hits concert album has sold 20 million. Concerts that were organized after the incident, they could not sell out. Not even Vote for Change which had only 3000 seat venues.
As for Boycotting:
I dont understand why so many people think boycotting the chicks is wrong, when the chicks themselves are in favor of targeting and boycotting companies for exercising their rights. On 10/18/04 the chicks posted a message on their website asking anyone who would listen to BOYCOTT Sinclair media for running a documentary against Kerry. (I can post the text if you do not believe me) The chicks obviously live by a double standard. They have every right to speak out. But to bemoan about people no longer wanting to financially support them as they use the stage afforded to them by their fand to preach to their fans, is hypocrtical to me.
They hold others to standard that they themselves refuse to live by. While in concert, Natalie encouraged people that couldnt get a refund on their tickets to Boo her. They did. She yelled back at them, {"Yeah well I still got you $65". I am willing to bet it will be the last time she gets their $65.
As for the death threats:
The chicks have yet to report the death threats to the proper authorities. When asked about it, the Sherriff (San Antonio) said NO death threats were ever reported. He did however say one of the girls had their front gate toilet papered. He did not speculate as to whether or not the toilet paper was "life threatening". LOL! Its just more spin by the chicks to paint themsleves as martyrs.
As for the First Amendement:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Free Speech does not guarantee the right to be heard nor is it a guarantee of airplay nor does it mean one is free from consequence. Their rights were NEVER in jepaordy.
In The end:
The chicks were used as pawns by the fringe left of society who they now want to remind those who used them as such that they are somehow obligated to financially support them. So they have decided to pick their scabs over 3 years later and try to perpetrate as martyrs when in fact all they ever were to begin with were pawns.
28 - NatGotLipoButStillLooksFat
"I would say to her, as to the Dixie Chicks, don't be talking a bunch of nonsense, and then bitching when someone calls bullshit on you."
B R A V O !!!!!
29 - Snooze Alarm
With Bush at 30 percent in the polls, it's obvious that many - probably most - Americans are embarrassed by him. No point in the Chicks piling on. You're not doing our troops or our country a favor by supporting incompetent leadership.
This song isn't aimed at Bush anyway. It's aimed at the Bush Dead Enders who can't handle free speech. It's pretty bizarre that some clowns would aim death threats at somebody as insignificant as the Dixie Chicks. Toby Keith is a schmuck but I wouldn't send him death threats or boycotting him. You can't blame Natalie Maines for responding to the haters.
Bottom line the song is better than ninety five percent of what's on the radio - better than Britney and Faith Hill IMO. The video is particularly strong. I agree that Beethoven it ain't.
30 - Shane
Anyone that posted anyhting negative about the Dixie Chicks forth coming album needs to give it a rest. You are all immature persons to spend your time posting rude and ignorant(as in unknowing or unintelligent) blogs/comments about some extremely talented musicians. Get a life, learn what REAL music is, and your blind apathy is sickening to me and those alike. If anyone is the perpetual image of "Un-americanism" or "Un-patriotism" or "Idiosyncricy" it's you all. We can't cease to end wars with those abroad until we end them within oursleves and our own country. You people are the very reason that foreigners think Americans are arrogant and self-absorbed. GEt a lfie and stop meddling in other's. Dixie Chicks are the most talented musicians to grace the industry to date and you all could learn a thing or two about waht good music is.
P.S. If you ask what do I know about music...well, I'll tell you that I graduated from Berklee School of Music and am currently studying my Masters at the University of Pittsburgh, so my comments are valid, as yours are not.
31 - Al Barger
Shane, let's assume for the sake of argument that you indeed have a prestigious music degree as you claim. This would constitute rather an argument against the value of mere degrees and titles.
To put it another way, if your idea of great music is this bludgeoningly stupid corporate country food product manufactured by the Dixie Chicks, then a music education was simply wasted on you.
32 - stuck in a red state, unfortunately
I'm no country fan, but I LOVE this song. I think it's great that they used a song to explain their feelings about what happened a few years ago. Bush lovers will take offense to it I guess, as this reviewer did. God forbid anybody voice an opinion about anything, especially if it's against the master of the universe, George Bush.
33 - Al Barger
Stuck, sorry about your "stuck" status, but good for you if you enjoy this song. But again, you're stuck on taking this as something about Bush or Bush fans, when it's absolutely nothing to do with that in this song. I'm all in favor of Bush-bashing, but this isn't even trying to be that.
I too am happy to see artists express their feelings in song, but I find it hard to believe that this song represents someone's innermost feelings. Everything about this song, the arrangement, and recording sound like it was crafted by a committee in the bowels of BFD Records from the cheesy Sgt Pepper movie.
It sounds like it was composed by some guys sitting around a corporate boardroom amidst big printed pie charts and graphs detailing the various radio market formats that they're trying to hit, and psychological profiles of typical audience members and what keywords they respond to, like the marketing staff for Vitajex in A Face in the Crowd.
Stuck, have you ever actually owned, say, any Carter family records?
34 - Steve
How come you didn't get the session call Al?
35 - Willy
Chicks didn't need an air guitar player or errand runner for the sessions.
36 - Barb
Like a bad meal endlessly repeating, the gaseous belch of the Chicks critics keeps offering up odiferous reminders of the sorry state of our politics.
37 - Anne
OK, they're "Not Ready To Make Nice". Roger. Got it. Their feelings are hurt and apparently they are still licking their wounds. I mean Dear Lord! They have every right to say what they want. The constitution totally has that covered. What seems to not jump dear Natalie's synapses is that people have the right to not listen or buy their music if they disagree. We are all guaranteed the right to say what we want...however no one is guaranteed a national platform with which to say it or that people will all agree. They keep saying one insulting thing about their fans after another. Country music fans are wife beaters, they're ignorant, they're hillbillies who know nothing. It goes on and on. They keep poking and then act all bemused that people aren't totally thrilled with them. Um, duh? Yes there are many who admire their chutzpah. Good for them but the people bagging on others who don't like them apparently believe that criticism only applies to those in agreement with them.
The thing is, I saw the Chicks at a country bar ages ago. It was back before the sisters (Emily and Martie) unceremoniously dumped their founder for the sweet tempered and dulcet toned Natalie...basically because Natalie's dad was a big baller in the music scene and would help them break through. They were gimmicky and cute and the sisters have true instrumental skills. Once they dumped their original member, Laura Lynch for someone who didn't even like (as she has publically stated) country music, their souls were sold and that was that.
Now the people that sent the Chicks death threats? Stoo-pid. Just really really stupid. I have no words for that sort of ignorance. Do people think that death threats really work? Do they really plan on carrying through with their threat? Do they really think that it scores points for their "side" by threatening people in that manner? That said, I answered phones for a BANK...I wasn't trying to collect money. I was trying to fix peoples problems and I was threated a couple times a week because God Forbid someone not qualify for a credit line increase or they didn't pay their bill and the card was shut down. What I'm saying is that the Chicks are cashing in on these few morons and are painting every single person who disagreed with what they were saying as evil vilians attempting to take them out with a sniper round. I never once felt like I needed a metal detector or body guards when i was threatened. I know that I wasn't highly visable or a valuable target. I also know that they were trying to bully me into giving them what they wanted. They didn't succeed and the idiots that threatened the floozies didn't either. They were gas on the fire...and if the Chicks hit it big with this smarmy, self gratifying, ranting and musically meh song, I personally blame those idiots with their "I'm going get you" mentality......
38 - Patsy Cline
Ha Ha Ha Al. Don't you understand we're all in it for the money....or the votes! I personally quit listening to "Top 40" Radio years ago, didn't you? The "your either with us or....." is over, time to take up a new clause. Try Santa. I actually LUV the Chicks, of course, they can sing...play and write(wait, what's that?) their own songs. Guess they are just too smart....! Face it Guys, women will rule the world, just keep wearing those stupid hats and sticking those red, white and blue bandanas up your butt. Only women with a third grade education love it. GUESS WHAT? I'm buying the CD...guess I'm just a floozie with money and votes. Bye ya'll....
39 - Patsy Cline
Ha Ha Ha Al. Don't you understand we're all in it for the money....or the votes! I personally quit listening to "Top 40" Radio years ago, didn't you? The "your either with us or....." is over, time to take up a new clause. Try Santa. I actually LUV the Chicks, of course, they can sing...play and write(wait, what's that?) their own songs. Guess they are just too smart....! Face it Guys, women will rule the world, just keep wearing those stupid hats and sticking those red, white and blue bandanas up your butt. Only women with a third grade education love it. GUESS WHAT? I'm buying the CD...guess I'm just a floozie with money and votes. Bye ya'll....
40 - tom riely
I find it amusing when people try to defend a persons right to free speech by condemning those who oppose that opinion. While no one should be subjected to threats or physical intimidation EVERYONE and that includes those who feel what the dixie chicks said as well as how they said it and where they said it was wrong have a right to voice their opinion. As soon as a public figure (politician, actor or signer) uses their forum to express political views it is fair for people to publicly express their support or disagreement. As far as commercial concerns dropping them from their inventory or play list as a business owner you have to make your decisions on a financial basis. If you feel a particular product may negatively impact your sales or popularity you need to make the decision as to continue to carry that product or not. We cannot expect business owners to buck public opinion at their financial peril. They should not be required to step up and take the brunt of remarks or actions taken by others over which they have no control. I really do not think that the Republican party has that much influence over country western radio stations as most country western fans are democrats per the latest polls and demographics. But as that maybe once you make your statement you need to accept people's support as well as the possibility of their disapproval of that stance and accept the consequences. Thats the reason that standing up for what you believe in takes courage. Especially if it's against public opinion. For that I would have to say I admire her but not the forum which she chose or that she picked to make it in another country. I lost that admiration when she apologized for it in an effort to gain back some of their lost popularity. For the record - I think she was wrong when she criticized the president.
41 - Guppusmaximus
I really have to commend Al for his thoughts on this thread..."It it walks like a Duck...",These type of releases from supposed musicians makes me wonder if people actually turn off VH1 or MTV and do some research to find "Good" music or if they constantly talk out their perverbial a$$es because they believe in the brainwashing tatics from these corporate, greed-monging record companies. These two channels have supported so much garbage in the last 10 years that now they even have shows to make fun of the music that they help make popular!! The Dixie Chicks Suck and I could probably write better music with Acid Pro using samples of their new album!!
42 - Katie
Who are you to be judging? your argument has no validity, and becasue you have a difference in opinion than someone else does not give you the right to bash them. Please grow up and if your going to make a statement please make it an intelligent one...cause this review is not only typical and hipocritical, but it's completely worthless.
43 - Tod
Al, I read your comments--and those of the others--rather diligently. where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
44 - Victor Plenty
I've liked some of the work the Dixie Chicks have done in the past. I've been ashamed to see so many of my fellow Americans foam at the mouth with rabid hatred over a mild political comment. I mention these facts so you'll know I'm not in the habit of bashing the Dixie Chicks for political reasons. I'd love to see them produce something that is not only a courageous response to the political attack poodles, but also artistically worthy in its own right.
Unfortunately, they don't seem to have done that just yet. I'm looking at the sample lyrics Mr. Barger quotes, and I'm not seeing anything very impressive. All the words are too vague. How can you convey real emotion when the lyrics don't paint a picture and don't tell any compelling story? There's a story behind this song, of course, but you won't learn anything about it from the words of the song.
Now look up the lyrics to "Traveling Soldier." That's a much better Dixie Chicks song, because you can see the storyline unfold in your mind just by reading the words. That song paints vivid pictures and tells a moving story. "Not Ready to Make Nice" merely adds a few emotional outbursts to a story it doesn't bother to explain, assuming everybody already knows the story.
Granted, Al didn't exactly choose the best of the lyrics to quote, but even the best few lines in this song don't work nearly as well as anything in "Traveling Soldier."
Maybe it'll take a few more years before we see the really impressive work I was hoping the Dixie Chicks would prove themselves capable of producing in response to America's present dark days.
45 - Jaime
I think that I'm Not Ready To Make Nice is AWESOME!! Why should she back down, BUSH had it coming!! Go Dixie Chicks, its about time someone had enough balls to say it!
46 - Al Barger
Jaime, I'm a bit of beating a dead horse here, but your comments are irrelevant. I don't mean that disrespectfully, but they are not relevant to the question at hand of weather this "Make Nice" is a good song.
One, this song has nothing whatsoever to do with Bush. His name isn't in the song, nor any reference to any political issue at all. Even if you're wanting to stick it to W, this doesn't.
More importantly, even that doesn't matter. Even if it said "W sucks donkey weenies" and your think he does, that doesn't make this a good SONG. This is a weak, generic excuse for a melody and production. It's just not anything that could even be reasonably mistaken for good music.
Tod- I'm from southeastern Indiana, the IN/OH/KY tri-state area.
47 - Martin
A comment from the UK - I have no political axe to grind , as many seem to have . Nor do I have an issue with whether it can be delineated as country or not ... surely its the music that counts ? On this count I confess that I love the song , and how anyone can describe it as bland beats me ! It would appear that the political background has indeed got Natalie / the chicks to up their game , so perhaps some good will come out of it all in the end ...
48 - Victor Plenty
If you want to prove the song is not vague and bland, that should be easy. Just point out one strong, vivid, specific image from the song lyrics.
If you can do that, you might have something interesting to say.
49 - Unseen
Okay what has their music got to deal with their own opinions? That's what i want to know...they have the right to give their own opinion. I love the song because everything is true in it. They have the right to express themselves as artists let alone human beings.
50 - ed
you americans are really messed up.. its a song and it sounds good. plus those chicks are easy on the eyes.
ps al barger sounds like a nazi beware of him
51 - Snooze Alarm
Al, it's really lame of you to criticize the song as generic when it's clear from everything you've written that your REAL GRIPE is that Natalie Maines criticized your hero Bush. Generic is a ridiculous charge. What exactly do you expect from the Dixie Chicks? They are a top 40 group and top 40 is nearly always generic ... or it wouldn't be top 40. The song is catchy, well-produced pop with a bit of message behind it. They know their audience. Good stuff!
Maines doesn't even go after Bush here. She's after people like you who hate free speech. The Dixie Chicks didn't deserve to be boycotted, much less death threats from right wackos. It was a ridiculous over-reaction. Kudos to the Chicks for a nicely executed musical response. (Loved their EW cover too.)
PS - I hear Neil Young has an album coming out that you're really going to HATE! Can't wait to see your "critical" attack on that one!!
52 - LetEmBe
It's about time that country music singers have their own voice and quit tip-toeing around controversial subjects. I think that the Dixie Chicks just KICKED the door open for those that have something to say.
I am so SICK of country music stars being "cookie cutter". It's time for country music musicians...ESPECIALLY women country singers to quit hiding behind the mic and take a stand for something--ANYTHING!
Congrats to the Dixie Chicks for doing this 3 years ago and AGAIN now with this new single.
53 - Mike S
You've got to see the video to really understand what they're trying to say. A lot of bloggers are pointing out the symbolism of the oil representing blood, and while that may be true, there is actually a lot more there. The main point seems to be that the chicks are in an insane asylum (or some type of institution) set in the not so long ago days when people could be put into institutions for having a different opinion than the popular opinion. I think they make a strong statement to say that we obviously haven't come very far past those days (or not at all) if they are going to be persecuted with death threats and the like because they have a different opinion than the very conservative bible belters that make up a good bit of their fan base. Did you know that there were public bulldozings of their CDs in some places? Is that any different than book burnings? It's a wake up and smell the coffee message. It asks the question, "Is this what should happen to people that have a different opinion and voice it?"
I think you could also say that the oil on the white paper is like a giant Rorschach test, which again puts into question their sanity maybe? And maybe the whole idea of the need and greed for oil that our country has, and drives many of our decisions in the middle east is as messy as blood would be on the white paper and the white dresses. But then like a Rorschach test, the meaning is in the eye of the beholder. So it's really up to you to decide what they're saying.
You could also read something into the stark contrast of black on white. Are the issues that we face necessarily decisions of black and white and right and wrong? Is one opinion necessarily better than the other, and who is to decide? And then there's the white picket fence amongst the turmoil of the stormy black and white flowing background, which sort of states (at least to me) that the white picket fence world that many Americans think they're living in is just an illusion, so again wake up and smell the coffee about what's going on in the rest of the world and don't be so smug and righteous about your opinions...especially those many Americans (less than 5% of us have passports) that form these opinions without having ever stepped foot outside of the US borders.
This is by far the most provocative, interesting video I've seen in a really long time, and kudos to the creative people behind it -- including the Dixie Chicks.
54 - Guppusmaximus
If they are more concerned with the message in their music or the "supposed" message which I feel they didn't portray at all, then maybe they should write a book or make a movie. This release was an excellent example of how today's mainstream "musicians" have become complacent with their inability to compose decent music, nevermind brilliant music with a message that is timeless,because the masses fed off of the ideaology that the industry has succeeded in implanting. Which is, Looks & Materialism are more important than substance. Honestly, I think that rationale has dominated our culture for quite sometime!!
55 - marysie
why write a book, when words & Music can & do say it with feeling and depth,
Would anyone of asked john lennon to go and write a book when he expressed his feeling and views in *imagine, I think not,
I found the views expressed by the dixie chicks in *not ready to make nice, a timely reflection that narrow minded people who used to rule the world must face the facts that the little man who has is say, will not roll over anymore when they dare to disagree,with the greedy powers that be,
56 - Guppusmaximus
Yeah...OK... Comparing The Dixie Chicks to Lennon is like comparing American Idol to Queen. The Dixie Chicks do not reflect any kind of depth with their lyrics nevermind their so-called "music".
57 - Subzero
I like their song a lot and find it funny how people are ashamed of the Dixie Chicks for what they said, when people in this country are saying negative things about Bush all the time (hypocrites, anyone?). I loved their video too. 10+++/10
58 - Anne
OMG....so disagreeing with the Chick's opinions makes those who disagree with them Nazi's? But them painting everyone who disagreed with them as vigilantes out to kill them isn't even the slightest bit hysterical and totally awesome? I love how people are all for free speech until it's about someone disgreeing with them. Those who disagree are just big nazi meanies. Free speech is a two way street. They spoke, people disagreed and decided they didn't want to listen to them anymore. If the majority decides otherwise this time, then they'll be on the radio again.
But radio is a business and if people change the station as soon as Natalie bleets across the speakers then the radio station will stop playing them. If people change the station, they won't be around to listen to the commercials which pays for the music to be played in the first place. That doesn't make the radio people nazis, it makes them business people...it's not about the Chicks feelings, it's about making money and if people don't want to listen, radio will feel compelled to program something else.
Before any of this happened I wasn't a Chick's fan. I don't like Nat's voice. It's harsh and not my thing. That's a personal opinion. Nothing about their politics...which I also disagree with but had no idea of until this whole brouhaha occurred. I changed the station when they came on. I don't think I'm a Nazi, I'm just a consumer who has different preferance. It's called ECONOMICS....
59 - Vern Halen
"I'm gonna put my boot in the ass of the first fool what tries telling me that this is country music."
At the risk of receiving your boot in an uncomfortsble place, I hate to break the news: this is and has been country music for nearly 20 years. Artists like Buck Owens, Johnny Cash & Merle Haggard often are ignored by the so called country audience, but worshipped by those who favor the newly invented genres of alt country, old time music, or roots rock.
Remember that trade paper ad American Recordings took out after Cash won country album of the year, which pictured the Man in Black flipping the bird to the Nashville music establishment? Before he left the building to go find Elvis, Johnny said goodbye to country the way he once knew it - and so have many others.
60 - evasg
First time I have read your column and it will be the last! You are not a critic, but a dumb ass. You attacked a person personally-their political views, and then had the nerve to call it a professional review of a musician's work.
I personally did not agree with the Natalie's comments at the time, but time has shown us that war is not what they told us it was. The Chicks have apologized and said they support the troops,they are the pawns in all of this mess.
This reminds me of what a minister said once about another war "When they came for they came for the mentally retarded, I did not speak up. When they came for the gypsies, I did not speak up. When they came for the artists, the writers, singers,I did not speak up. When they came for me, there was no one to speak for me!" He was speaking about the Nazis.
We have to feel free to speak up no matter what the cost is. That's the American Way!
61 - Vern Halen
I heard this song for the first time two nights ago on a country music video channel. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics but the black & white visual motif & the emotive acting/crying/singing of the lead vocalist caught my eye. I said to myself "Well, this'll be a huge single for these ladies." I think it's perfect in its pop compostion, delivery, and marketing. Right up there with Madonna even. Really, they could've been singing the phone book.
Because of that fact in itself, I wouldn't bother getting too hung up on their message. Sure, we have to feel free to speak our mind, but we have to have the good sense to choose when to bite our tongues.
62 - James
What a moron!
This song is pure gold! Only true dixie chicks fan would understand the meaning of these songs.
Nice to see your opinion on this song, i personally love it and cant wait for the album to come out!
Pure gold i tell ya.. dixie chicks still have the power with them.
63 - Jason
What!!!! OMG! You are so closed minded that it makes me sick! There have been some Dixie Chicks songs that I wasn't too crazy about, but there have been a lot that I have liked. "Not Ready To Make Nice" is awesome!! It's amazing, that if she said that commment right now at this very moment, she wouldn't get so much grief about it. No one on this earth is perfect, I know I'm not. Al, are you!?!? Hell NO! I haven't decided even to this day if I agree with what Natalie said, but I do know that I appreciate good music and I don't expect everyone to do everything by the book.
Al, if you said or did something that the majority of the people didn't like, how would like this kind of punishment?????? It would be different, wouldn't it, if the tables were turned........
64 - Corey
Your article is ridiculous! You shouldn't put your own personal opinions in a professional music review.
You say this isn't country!! Have you listened to the last 3 or 4 albums from Tim McGraw?? How about Rascal Flatts performing on the country music awards a couple of years back AND their CD's?? And Shania Twain's latest albums?? Need I continue!!!!! You need to listen to ALLLLLLLL of country music CD's before you criticize the Dixie Chicks for not sounding "COUNTRY".
I understand totally why everyone is lashing back at you. Because you're ignorant of a lot of things pertaining to country.
65 - dave
Corey, that's not fair. A review is sometimes difficult to remain completely objective.
66 - DC fan
Natalie was right: I'm ashamed that Bush is even American, let alone a Texan. He went to Iraq for one reason: money. He is nothing but a figurehead for large corporations. The Dixie Chicks were right on with their opinion of the war and it becomes clearer everyday that they were.
What's more, her song's lyrics are right on. Not only is it un-American to try to control what they do or don't say, it's downright un-human(and stupid) to make death threats over a harmless opinion.
I hope the Dixie Chicks get their comeback.
67 - Al Barger
Corey, now this is just silly what you're saying right here: "You shouldn't put your own personal opinions in a professional music review." I try to make things as professional as possible, ie I try to concentrate on the recording at hand rather than secondary political or personality stuff. But still, a review is someone's opinion.
Also, this is kind of cute, "I understand totally why everyone is lashing back at you. Because you're ignorant of a lot of things pertaining to country." That's precisely backwards. I am a connoisseur of American rural music traditions. It's people who think that the Dixie Chicks or Shania Twain are "country music" who are ignorant of the musical traditions involved.
Jason, I've said one or two things in life to arouse the ire of fairly many people, so I've been on the other end of this- though obviously on a much smaller scale. But 99.9% of Dixie Chicks critics have done nothing worse than simply to say that they're full of shit. There's nothing wrong with that, and I don't mind that when I'm on the other end.
My main objection to the Chicks song is that it's just a bad composition. If it was a good patriotic lyric about how important it is to support our troops, it would STILL be a crappy SONG. That's the main point of this review.
To recap about the lyric, my objection here is not political at all- the lyric isn't even about politics. My objection is that this lyric is maliciously dishonest and shitlickin'. By the latter, I mean that they are milking a few bad but isolated threats to wring as many points for their supposed victimhood as they can, full of self-pity for how wronged they are.
More importantly though, they have taken a couple of dumb threats and purposely, consciously used them to smear the other 99.9% of critics who did not and would never dream of making any kind of personal threats. That's malicious, and dishonest. That's a bad combination right there.
68 - Scott Butki
A review without an opinion would be just a summary of what is on the album, i.e. pointless.
69 - Robin
I absolutely love the song! I couldn't think of a better way for them to come back. Why should they back down? They did pay a price and still paying. She did make her bed and now she has to sleep in it. It is a shame that a mother should tell her daughter to hate a stranger. And her comments deserved threats on her life? I don't think so. Isn't this country about freedom? We can pray for the safety of our soldiers doing their jobs but we do not have to agree with the administration's decision to fight this or any war!!!
70 - Miss Mo
I love this song. These girls didn't apologize for what they said because they didn't feel they did anything wrong. There are very few people that have their own beliefs, stand up to poeple, and aren't fake. So regardless of whether or not you like the song, you should respect them for being real.
71 - Vern Halen
Am I wrong, or are people here not getting the point? Many commenters can't seem to tell the difference between patriotism, freedom of speech, good/bad songwriting and a reviewer's perspective. You almost need to run variations of this article through 3 or 4 different threads.
The Chicks are a professional, popular & successful modern country act, with all the good and bad that's implied in that description. This is not the same as the Coon Creek Girls singing Pretty Polly back in 1938.
72 - Shawn B.
I do have to agree with Corey about the evolving of country music....If you listen to music over 5 yrs ago, it has a totally different angle....From rock to pop to rap to country....You shouldn't put down the Dixie Chicks because they don't have the same sound now that artists did 10 yrs ago....Country music is going to be different 10 yrs from now.....I love the music on the new Dixie Chicks song....Keep up the good work girls!
73 - Amanda
Your comments were very harsh, the Chick's lyric speak for a lot and they deserve the credit for putting together a great tune. Many people may interpret this song in different ways and it's awesome. You definitely need to be more professional,if this is your job.... wow I think you need to work on a few things. Your cannot solely view this song from a political stand point, because there are many people that don't understand what the real meaning behind this song is and it may help them get through their own personal turmoil. I'm glad to finally see an intense song full of heart. It truely was a great song, and it's invigorating for women. The fact that 3 women have the balls to stand up on a stage infront of millions of people and say what's on their mind, knowing that they will recieve backlash and not care.... wow it's impressive.
The Dixie Chicks are great artists and speak from their heart. If the believe the war in Iraq is immoral, it's their right to their own opinion. YOU have your own opinion about many things...... which is why you're writing this terrible criticism. And if they could only criticize you, watch out!
It's a stepping stone for country music. And you're terrible at your job here. Would you even know good music if it bit you in the ass?
74 - Al Barger
Amanda, are you merely ignorant, or are you just purely dishonest? "Your cannot solely view this song from a political stand point" I went to some effort to clearly delineate and talk about this as music. The comments at the end about the lyrics are about these lyrics, not anything about their general beliefs. I would be perfectly happy to hear the Dixie Chicks criticize me- though I don't think this idiot Maines would be well advised to engage ME in a battle of wits.
Again, since the lyrics are not actually political, my review does not involve their politics AT ALL. Is your reading comprehension so poor that you cannot understand this, or are you being willfully thick?
Shawn B, I'm certainly NOT criticizing the Dixie Chicks for not sounding just like old acts. I would be delighted to hear a whole new sound, but this ain't it. It's homogenized, watered down crapola that sounds like a whole lot of crappy corporate "country music" pop music cheese food product produced over the last dozen years or so. Again, Faith Hill comes to mind.
Basically, as music, this song utterly lacks personality. That's a far worse sin in my book than their dumb politics.
75 - Vern Halen
"... the real meaning behind the song"?
Who said there was ever only one real meaning behind any song or that the artist got to define it? Ai Ai Ai - it's like saying Shakepeare directed the definitive Hamlet just because he wrote it. Or Jimmy Webb sings his own songs better beause her wrote them (he went on an unsuccessful tour once to prove that point wrong). IT'S THE SONG - and if it appeals to you, it's yours. Even if it's crap. And how does it qualify as crap? By not meeting artistic standards - you know standardly acceptable in critical circles.
Look, if you like the Chicks and/or their politics, fine, but if their music is watered down corporate country music, then it's OK to say it is if you can prove it somehow with wome critical guidelines. And if you still like it anyway, fine - there's lots of crap I like that's a guilty pleasure, and I'm OK with it. But I'm not going to sit & tell people that the Archies are great artists.
If we only thought bands were great because of their political passions, then the MC5 is the greatest band of all time - well, of 1968 anyway.
I figure the Chicks are great entertainers, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're great artists. I have one of their albums, but Luciinda Williams' Car Wheels On a Gravel Road is the female country album of the last 25 years. Track that one down and paly them back to back & maybe you'll see what I'm talkin' about.
Better you than me, Mr. Barger. I couldn't field this stuff day after day if I was paid.