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."…
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— go to most recent comments376 - Justin
This forum, and half the posts in it provide a shining example of the perils of free speech.
God bless the internet for allowing stupid uninformed people to have their say.
Love from Australia
377 - Phil
Started reading this old entry and the comments then I realized the error I have made, this is a hick's blog! Gotta run!
378 - Al Barger
Yes, Phil- you're right. I should have put a notice right on the top informing you that I am just an ignorant cracker so that you would could have saved yourself from having to read an opinion you did not agree with. No sense in getting other points of view. Might mess up your perfect, correct understanding of the world. My apologies.
379 - WomaninUK
OMG what a waste of time all this discussion! Oh and well said Julian from Australia. Great song, great video. Allow them to sing, whine, catterwaul, whatever they like. They are musicians and people buy their records. So what, who cares. They want some kind of revenge, they feel hurt, they are human. Be angry, I'm lovin you being angry gals.
380 - erika
well i guess the dixie chicks have stirred up all of the bullshit political and existential hogwash they intended to. Its a fucking song...and at the end of the day I really dont think the dixie chicks, sitting in their multi-million dollar homes give a flying fuck about the critisms of their middle grade, "so so", yet very translucent song.what the fuck are they complaining about?!? God Bless America!
381 - Ellie
Al, I’m going to take it way back to when you said,
“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”.
I find this hard to believe when some of the lyrics are:
It's a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
Those lyrics to me sound very personal and would not have happened to some guys around a corporate boardroom. But did happen to Natalie Maines.
382 - Love From Canada
This forum, and half the posts in it provide a shining example of the perils of free speech.
God bless the internet for allowing stupid uninformed people to have their say.
Love from Australia
Yes otherwise people like you Justin would have no say : )God BLess!
383 - State of Illinois
The Dixie Chicks can rot in hell for all I care.
384 - Justin
I am ashamed the dixie chicks are from Texas
385 - JoeCool
I googled Dixie Chicks Haters Fan Club so I could join, but all I found was a Hate Ann Coulter Club instead. Ann is my absolute favorite writer, a women with a scintillating wit, a sharp, inciteful mind, and she looks great too, unlike Natalie "Tokyo Rose" Maine.
Ann,
As one of your loyal fans from the Elite Right,
just wanted to thank you for all your wonderful work. Please keep up the GREAT fight Ann, you're the BEST!!!
Lubya,
JoeCool
386 - Al Barger
Joe Cool- I too dig Ann Coulter, though I'm perhaps a bit ambivalent about her. She, uh, gets a little carried away sometimes.
Still though, the Dixie Chicks are pretty cute. Not the brightest bulbs in the pack, but they're purty.
Plus, though I am certainly prone to favor the wicked Ms Coulter, my Dixie Chicks fan pages is definitely bringing me in more traffic at this point than my Ann Coulter photo pages.
What I'd like to see is Ann Coulter and Natalie Maines going at it.
387 - JoeCool
Justin,
I'm ashamed the DC call themselves Americans, but this is a free country, no thanks to them, of course.
I live just south of Senator Chappy Quiddick's state, where his drug-totin'nephew Patrick avoids ever having to work a day in his life thanks to the multi-generationally entrenched demos running our little state into the ground.
I love how the Grammy's have become nothing more than a political tool of the left, as evidenced by the DC's being nominated for that trash they are trying to pass off as music. It turns my stomach!
Speaking of which: Hey DC's, may a flock of e-coli-infected pigeons let loose all over your "Holiday Tree".
happy holidays!!!
(just kidding, of course!)
388 - JoeCool
Al,
Ann and Natalie in a jello pit. That would be one for the ages! One thing is certain: Ann would never be ready to "Make Nice" with NM!
Might make for a worldwide internet spectacular, though!
389 - Al Barger
Ann and Natalie in a jello pit - now that's a pay per view that I'd actually spend money on.
390 - casey
I love this song i lways sing the choris becouse of m ex.He wants to "make nice"
391 - erin
hey all ilove this song so ne of u who dont like pls keep ur mouth shut
392 - Saving P
I WOULDN'T WASTE MY PISS ON THOSE THREE IF THEY WERE ON FIRE!
The fact that we have allowed them to continue their meaningless careers is way beyond me. They should have lost all privileges to spew such mindless rhetoric to the American people. And we should definitely ban that baboon faced idiot up front from any public speaking, as it's a complete embarrassment to the other two. All three of these humongous dicks should have their citizenship revoked for totally disgracing the United States and our troops. Well, only one of them is actually a Dick, the other two are just gaping vaginas! I will never understand why the country continues to support these politically brainless individuals; Bush, Cheney, and Rice!
393 - A Dixie Chicks Fan
I love the Dixie Chicks, they are amazing. Not Ready to Make Nice is a wonderfully written and powerful statement about the hatred and ignorance that followed the Incident.
The rest of the album is incredible. A touching and sentimental recollection of the lives and tribulations of these three women following the Incident.
Everyone should take the time to understand and appreciate the sheer brilliance of this band and their music.
394 - A Dixie Chicks Fan
And be sure to watch the Chicks perform on the Grammy awards show in Feburary.
Also look for the release of the DVD of Shut up and Sing in Feburary too.
WOO HOO!!!
GO CHICKS!!!
And.......
FREE NATALIE!!!!!
395 - Al Barger
Dixie Chicks Fan- I'm glad the DC album brings you joy, and I'm sure you'll find their Shut Up DVD rewarding. Good for you.
However, I must take exception to your concluding "Free Natalie." See, that represents just exactly the kind of cheap, utterly unearned sense of martyrdom that these girls and their misguided fans like to proclaim. Natalie has not been thrown in jail, nor otherwise oppressed. The only things that hold her down are her own carefully cultivated chains of ignorant self-righteous self-satisfaction.
396 - A Dixie Chicks Fan
SUAS brought me joy the weekend it was released. That was more of a shameless promotion for the movie than anything.
Not oppressed?? So having thousands of fans turn against you over a political opinion, reading on Internet forums the vile and hateful things that were said about them, or someone threatening to kill you isn't oppressive?
Having so many people trying to ruin your career, radio boycotting your music and tour promotions or television boycotting your movie promotions isn't oppressive?
Hmm, maybe I better go look up the definition of oppressive then....
And as misguided as you think my perceived martyrdom of this group is, to me it is wholly justified. I think these women have experienced a hatred and ignorance that I've certainly never witnessed before.
Why? Simply because Natalie Maines voiced an unpopular political opinion.
397 - Al Barger
Dixie Chicks Fan - You should appreciate what a candyass nice life we have in America for you to be able to say this "these women have experienced a hatred and ignorance that I've certainly never witnessed before." Not that the Dixie Chicks haven't begged for people to take just that perspective on their behalf.
Ruvy in Jerusalem could probably point you out some hatred even worse than having ex-fans quit listening to your records because they didn't like your mouth.
There might also be a few black folk among others what could conjure up images of oppression even worse than having people write mean letters to the editor about you.
It's a hard world for little things, as Rachel Cooper would say.
398 - A Dixie Chicks Fan
I never said anything about ex-fans not buying CD's. If they want to express themselves that way, fine. That is their choice, but I don't understand why they chose to do so simply because they didn't agree with the Chicks' politics.
And though you seem to be making it out as such, I am in no way demeaning the plight of anyone else who faced what the Chicks have faced.
But it goes beyond "mean letters" and ex-fans not listening to your records. It is the personal hatred and attacks some have expressed about this group, the lengths and tactics that were undertaken to try and silence them because Natalie voiced a political opinion.
It is certainly tragic that this country lost the compassion and ability to agree to disagree without resorting to hateful and vile comments. That we are so driven to engage in war that we silence and oppress anyone who disagrees with that.
That we lose the ability to question our President and the decisions he makes because of the fear of retribution.
That is one of the worst tragedies a free country can witness.
And I didn't need the Chicks to beg me in any way to take that perspective.
I saw that in the reactions to Natalie Maines' comment.
399 - Sam Althaus
Im not an american... But i feel the need to say something here... I feel the Dixie Chicks are great artists, Natalie has a right to say whatever the hell she wants and so do we... In saying that, why are you arguing?? U all know u have different opinions on this topic and u all know ur never goin 2 agree so why keep going around in circles?! Give up. Whether or not the Dixie Chicks are good or not doesnt matter, they got publicity, good and bad but u know what, it still made them more famous, they got their song played and they're rockin the charts so to speak over here in Aus, and there 2 so really no matter what those of you who hate them say about them... They're still damn popular. STOP ARGUING!! Thank you.
400 - Beansox
"it still made them more famous" Sam Althaus.
But not more popular. They traded in their popularity for notoriety. Dont confuse the two as they are not the same. They were certified double platinum in Austrailia, that equates to about 200K.
In the end, the trade off for notoriety equated to a 70+% loss for them.
Keep on speaking girls, you are your own worst enemy!
401 - Sam Althaus
Ok you need to stop! We all have our own opinions... As i said in my first comment... No one in here is ever going to fully agree with anyone else so why dont you give up??
And by the way... They are more famous over here for their music than their statement, we dont give a shit, we just wanna listen to the music.
Get over it. No one cares anymore. Old topic, move on.
402 - DC/TK Fan
OH, MY MY!
FIVE NOMINATIONS.....FIVE GRAMMY AWARDS!
I guess they did 'SHUT UP AND SING'....
Hmmm......Somebody somewhere is trying to 'Make Nice'.....
Al...it's your turn!
Your friend....you know who!
403 - A Dixie Chicks Fan
WOO HOO!!!!!!
GOOOO CHICKS!!!!
And three awards for the song that was so wonderfully and impartially reviewed here!
404 - Al Barger
DC/TK! Doggone you, you Dixie Chicks lovin' thing!
Yes, you're right. I repent. This is a GREAT song. The Grammy voters said so. Of course, Grammy voters picked A Taste of Honey as 1978 Best New Artist over Elvis Costello.
Also, I finally accept the doctrine of man-made global warming. I must concede that it has been proven true: Al Gore got an Oscar. What more proof could you ask for?
405 - George Fremont
Thank you Al for affirming there are still persons in the media who actually think! I jammed with the original Dixie Chicks (Natalie was not originally in the band) when Marty and Emily were both Erwins' in their teens at Winfield. As a musician I felt very supportive toward their work even after their replacing Robin Macy (original lead singer) and later Laura Lynch. Most all bands all go through a journey aimed at further success.
When Natalie made her very immature statement in London, I was VERY DISAPPOINTED. It was clear that this young person had not yet learned the responsibility that morally and ethically goes with the stardom she had already received. If she had simply said that she thought the war was wrong, and she disagreed with what our country was doing, that would have been OK. But to make the statement in such a trashy personal way was out of line imo. Even that comment could have been easily mitigated from a PR standpoint by an open honest response from her saying that she disagreed with the war (however intensely) but that her specific comment should not have been so personalized, and that she is sorry for presenting her view in that way. Instead, she got on a nationally televised interview and clearly showed the arrogance of a spoiled bratt who did not deserve the millions of dollars that her fame had handed her. She said she was sorry that this had happened (the public backlash), but completely stood up for every word she said.
Flash forward to their concert one month later that I had already purchased three $45 tickets for. I attended because the ticket service would not refund my money! At the concert Natalie (again showing she is a spoiled bratt who has no respect for anyone, and no sense of responsibility for her words) openly laughed and talked about the comment (while wearing a F*** you Toby Keith tee shirt) and said she knew all of her fans at this concert agreed with her, and she was proud to stand up for what she said.
To date I have read countless articles saying she 'apologized' for her remarks (a BIG PR LIE), and now countless articles saying they have been 'vindicated' by the 5 awards they just received.
I wish and pray for the public to get a clue about celebrities and main stream 'news' media that sensationalize and twist everything to make more money and manipulate political climate. Yes celebrities have freedom of speech, but they have a responsibility to choose their words much more carefully than the 'Joe' on the street. Their celebrity makes their comments visible and audible to millions of people, which translates into power.
In my opinion, someone who doesn't understand and exercise the responsibility that goes with that power hasn't earned the celebrity status.
406 - DC/TK Fan
C'mon Al.........let's not jump on board w/ Al Gore just yet! hehehehe
love ya, mean it, bye! ;)~
and George...
You are absolutely right. Natalie is a spoiled brat and admitted or not, has learned a bit about opening her mouth before she speaks!
Bottom line....music and politics DON'T mix!
Glad they just decided to shut up and sing!
407 - Al Barger
DC/TK, Love ya too, but of course I'ma have to go ahead and disagree with you some more: Miss Natalie et al do NOT appear to have learned a damned thing about running their mouths foolishly.
Yeah, they lost something like 3/4 of their audience, judging by album sales. But the girls were back with the cover of Time magazine when this album came out - talking more and worse foolishness on purpose than the accidental original dumb London remarks.
In short, they've got a smaller audience, but they've still sold a couple million records to Bush haters (despite the lack of actual substantive political comment on record or in interviews) - and they've become (extremely lame) First Amendment champions!!! They've found a smaller but still large audience eager to reward them for their foolishness - and the stupider they talk, the more BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) crowd (particularly in the media) love them. They're on the cover of Time, and they just won a buttload of Grammys. See, they were right all along!
And no, they absolutely have NOT decided to shut up and sing. They were using that as a movie title exactly to underscore the point that this is NOT what they are doing.
408 - DC/TK Fan
Oh Al, I didn't mean literally. I was just bustin' yer chops!
I don't really care one way or another....I buy and listen to what I personally enjoy!
Old news is what it is....
Still say though....politics & music don't mix!
Still your friend...
409 - Al Barger
DC/TK: Honey, if you didn't stop by to bust my chops now and again, I'd think you didn't love me no more. XOX
410 - Dixie Dumbies
the dixie chicks are terrorists... they bash our president for going into a country filled with diseased animals that are ruining our planet. if the dixie whores are so concerned about living in texas with the president, why dont they move their sell-out asses to the middle east where they belong.
DIXIE CHICKS ARE LOSERS. DIXIE CHICKS ARE TERRORISTS. DIXIE CHICKS ARE SELL-OUTS TO THEIR COUNTRY. DIXIE CHICKS ARE MUSLIMS. DIXIE CHUCKS SUCK MULE PUS. DIXIE CHICKS SHOULD BE HANGED ON NATIONAL TV FOR PUTTING DOWN THEIR PRESIDENT AND COUNTRY. DIXIE CHICKS SHOULD BE GANG RAPED BY THE MUSLIM TERRORISTS THEY SUPPORT. DIXIE CHICKS CANT EVEN SING. BOYCOTT THE DIXIE CHICKS!!!
411 - Al Barger
Dixie Dumbies- Thank you for your thoughtful and reasonable analysis. I'm sure it'll change a lot of minds.
412 - Calie
WoW I Had no idea what everyone was mad at the Dixie chick for. But sometime I think Americans Suck and So does the Goverment.
EVERYONE IS A TERRORISTS, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE WORLD PIECE! YOU ARE FOR BASHING THE CHICK. SO SHUT THE HELL UP AND DO SOMETHING GOOD.
OH AND DIXIE DOMBIES DO YOU FEEL BETTER I TAKE IT YOU LIFE SUCK MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE GANG RAPED HOW ABOUT JUST KILLED. No I TAKE THAT BACK, HELL WILL BE WAY TO FUN FOR YOU.
WELL GOTTA GO ! I WASN'T A FAN TILL NOW I HAVE A CD TO BUY DIXIE CHICKS ROCK AND SO DOES THERE NEW SONG!!!!
413 - Al Barger
Thanks for dropping by Calie. Frankly though, I have to say that Dixie Dumbies was a bit more erudite than you.
Both of you though with the all caps thing - knock it off. It's bad form. You can emphasize a word or two usefully like that, BUT IF EVERYTHING'S IN CAPS YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY EMPHASIZING ANYTHING, AND THEN IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE AN IDIOT.
Did I mention how bad I hate the Dixie Chicks? Damn them! Damn them to heck!
414 - tim
Wow I had no Idea Americans were so dumb...
415 - michael
dixie dumbies,
please keep shooting off your hate filled,stupid mouth. comments like that show how hatefull, intolerent and vicious the right wing " super patriots " are. comments like that do the democrats a great service. thank you.
416 - Blogger Critic
I happen to fundamentally agree with most of the negative post showing contempt for the actions of the Dixie Chicks, until I read comments like the post from 'Dixie Dumbies'. I may not agree with Natalie’s comments, but I understand we are only human; unlike that inbred imbecile. I realize this post may never see the light of day, due to the ‘no personal attack’ rule, but my God, how did that poster learn to use a keyboard?
Have you ever noticed how the majority of people who show such virulent anger toward the Dixie Chicks have resorted to ridiculous insults and name calling to effectively express themselves. It’s as though that the vast majority of DC hatred is seemingly generated from the shallow minds of severely delusional individuals, as the poster in question successfully demonstrates.
I don’t actually know how to respond to ‘Dixie Dumbies’ and his/her/its truly revolting example of the lowest form of life to survive on this planet. I will give him/her/it credit, as he/she/it definitely succeeded in bringing me down to his/her/its level. I can only hope to God that he/she/it was not an American citizen! God help us all!
His/her/its thought provoking expressions were highly inconsequential and totally irrelevant to the discussion in question. The deeply incoherent inferences that he/she/it feebly attempted to convey, pertaining to the plight of the Chicks, were remarkably unproductive. Does he/she/it actually think that his/her/its pubescent inspirations will effectively assist others who scrutinize this forum into better understanding a particular side of this controversial issue? If anything, he/she/it may have unwittingly assisted those who haven’t yet taken a firm stance against the Chick’s to achieve a fallacious understanding of the mindset of these individuals who are showing such hatred, and question an association with that kind of repulsive mentality!
He/she/it reminds me of a backwoods redneck driving down the road shooting holes into traffic signs with his shotgun; it make him feel so damn good, and he’s extremely proud of his efforts, but it doesn’t prove to be much of an aid to other drivers.
417 - Al Barger
Thank you Blogger Critic. Between the Dixie Chicks' dumb statements and their supporters' foolish braying, it's instructive and good sport to watch and explain exactly where they're all wet.
But now and again some dum-dum comes up in opposition spouting so empty and foolish and truly hateful as to give at least a smidgen of credibility to Natalie Maines demonization of their critics.
Almost makes you wonder if such folks are really secret agent DC fans trying to discredit us critics. If they weren't so bludgeoningly stupid, I'd be tempted to think so.
418 - michael
al,
the Chick fans do not need assistance to discredit the critics. over the last 4 years the critics have done a very good job of discrediting themselves.
419 - Al Barger
Ew, Michael, ya got me with that witty and incisive burn. I can feel the sting!
Seriously, is that supposed to be a Dixie Chicks fan's idea of witty repartee?
420 - JC Mosquito
I just took a look at the dates - greatgawda'mighty - how long do you have to stay and deal with this kinda stuff Mr. B? (Ooh - that's weird - somehow I suddenly got this vision of Charlton Heston in Omega Man....)...
421 - Al Barger
Howdy JC- Yup, I been having my way with the goats of Dixie Chicks fans now for years - being the first guy to cuss them out on the internet web, and all.
Looking at it again myself, I been fooling with just this one column off and on for a year now. About the time this current crowd gets discouraged from their foolishness, a new crop will show up with the same talking points.
It does sometimes seem a bit like Groundhog Day here.
422 - A Dixie Chicks Fan
I wasn't going to "cross post", but just had to peek my head in.
Do you all think that was the worst thing ever said about them or that kind of sentiment was uncommon?
And poor Al thinks he has it bad having to put up with the likes of us bludgeoningly stupid (thanks, much appreciated) Dixie Chicks fans for the last year now.
Hell, the Chicks have had to put up with the likes of Dixie Dumbies incoherent hateful ignorance for four years now.
~slips back out~
423 - Beansox
"Hell, the Chicks have had to put up with the likes of Dixie Dumbies incoherent hateful ignorance for four years now. " Dixie chicks Fan
Well they didnt have to, they could have given Nat and eliminted the incoherent hateful ignorance..instead they encouraged her. Now they have been reduced to prostituting thier art out to a politcal party.
Cant wait for the next album to drop (2010-2012 because they have to outsourse the talent/creative process) and they realise they are no longer the lefts cause de jour. If they thought this albums 70% decrease in sales was bad...just wait till next time!
DOH!
424 - Al Barger
Now Dixie Chicks Fan, don't be trying to put me in the same boat with those whining Dixie Chicks what can't take criticism without playing victim. I'm not put out by some less than erudite pop fans. Indeed, I regard this ongoing exchange as good sport. Otherwise, I wouldn't be bothered with you.
425 - michael
poor al,
things are not going well for you. bush's currant approval rating, the November election results, the currant stink in the Attorney Generals office, the disaster in Iraq. your right wing world is falling apart.
another point, dumb, stupid and foolish are some of the terms you use to describe the Chicks and their fans. what happened to your personal attacks rule?