Blogbits
Country Music – The CMA’s refused to nominate the Dixie Chicks for any awards, even though their latest album swept the Grammys in February. Country radio still refuses to play them ever since they spoke out against the Iraq war and the president in 2003. I guess the country music establishment doesn’t believe in good ole American values, like freedom of speech.
Scooter Libby – Guilty on four counts. Is the house of cards crumbling, or will it stop here?
The Lost Tomb Of Jesus – We recorded James Cameron’s documentary to our DVR Sunday night and finally got around to watching it last night. Controversial, yet compelling. It raises some important questions, but the most critical statement from the program was made by an archaeologist who said, “We never know anything for certain.”
I find it interesting the Christians are so threatened by the possibility that Jesus’ remains are still on earth. The documentary’s website even gives an explanation of how this would not disprove his resurrection. Most Christians believe that the soul leaves the body upon death, so perhaps Jesus’ resurrection was also spiritual instead of physical.
Jewish tradition dictated that the body would be temporarily entombed before being moved to a permanent grave. That could explain the absence of Jesus’ body when Mary went to the tomb after his death.
Some people that I’ve discussed this with have told me that if the bones were proven to be from Jesus that they would abandon all of their religious beliefs. I think that would be a mistake, as there are ways to reconcile this possible discovery with the Biblical accounts of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
Was the archaeologist certain about that?!
8-)
Not 100%. ;-)
“For me to be in country music to begin with was not who I was. I liked Martie and Emily’s playing, but I did not grow up liking country music. And I guess I was ignorant to the fact that the stereotypes behind country music were true — and it was disappointing. And so at this stage, I can never… I would be cheating myself and not setting a good example for my children to go back to something that I don’t wholeheartedly believe in. So I’m pretty much done. They’ve shown their true colors. I like lots of country music, but as far as the industry and everything that happened… I couldn’t want to be farther away from that. And it’s easier when you’re financially set, because you can be a little more ballsy, and just do what you want to do. I don’t want people to think that me not wanting to be a part of country music is any sort of revenge. It is not. It is totally me being who I am, and not wanting to compromise myself and hate my life.
” Natalie Maines January 2006
Dont fault the genre for holding nat to her word just because she cant hold herself to it.
Natalie said those things in response to the way she was treated by country music. They were the ones that started the feud. She simply stated an opinion that was considered un-American to most country music listeners.
As far as I know, Natalie or the Chicks haven’t complained about the recent oversight in CMA nominations. We all know that the CMA’s, Nashville, and country radio are still punishing them for what she said, and it has nothing to do with the statement that she made three years AFTER the boycott.
Brian, her is a link to an article that Radio and Records published that explains why the chicks are not played on “country” radio.
http://pdf.rronline.com/Cou/COU-20060619-3150.pdf?userid
It pretty much debunks your theory. Consider yourself ienlightened.
Thanks for the link. I feel enlightened already! :D
I still don’t believe that the Chicks would feel this way about country radio if there hadn’t been such a vocal backlash against them in 2003.
Turning down interviews with friendly country radio stations doesn’t make sense, though. Not sure what that’s about. Is KYSR a country station, too?
KYSR is a pop/rock station here in LA. The chicks intentionally marketed themselves to that audience and found they couldnt compete, so they went back to beating the “we are victims” drum. Then proceeded to prostite their art out to a politcal party for album sales.
The chicks have campainged against the country genre under the ruse that it was the STATIONS that they were mad at. When in reality they were/are mad at former fans for exercising their own rights.
Here is a link to a report published by Princeton that debunks the chicks claim they are victims of some great conservative radio conspiracy.
http://www.princeton.edu/culturalpolicy/workpap26.html
“Several studies have shown the influence of ownership on media content in routine contexts but none has quantitatively tested it in the theoretically important context of a crisis. Recently the country musicians the Dixie Chicks were blacklisted from the radio for criticizing the president in wartime. I use this event to test the role of media ownership in a crisis. Through analyzing airplay from a national sample of radio stations, this paper finds that contrary to prominent allegations grounded in the political economy tradition of media sociology, this backlash did not come from owners of large chains. Rather, I find that opposition to the Dixie Chicks represents grassroots conservative sentiment, which may be exacerbated by the ideological connotations of country music or tempered by tolerance for dissent.”
Again..they are frauds and liars.
After reading that quote from Princeton, perhaps I should rephrase my original statement to:
“I guess the country music listeners don’t believe in good ole American values, like freedom of speech.”
The study even confirms that country music has “ideological connotations” and low tolerance for dissent.
I live in the South and you can almost always tell what kind of music someone likes just by hearing their views on social and political issues.
Peace.
“The study even confirms that country music has “ideological connotations” and low tolerance for dissent”
And by music, you mean the fans.
Which is their right to be. To say that celebrities are beyond reproach is fascist to me. If natalies doesnt want to answer to her fans, then she should find a job that doesnt require living off the backs of others.
“I live in the South and you can almost always tell what kind of music someone likes just by hearing their views on social and political issues.”
Well..thats your perogative. I try not to put such labels on people or box them in like that.
The quote in the paragraph you posted specifically refers to country music having ideological connotations, not fans, although I think that would fit as well.
I don’t have a problem with labels, as long as they are accurate. A conservative Republican doesn’t consider being called that an insult. I just posted an article about labels today, which you can read here.
Also, I never said that celebrities were beyond reproach. Natalie or any other artist doesn’t have to answer to their fans. However, they may sacrifice fans, money, and success by staying true to their beliefs and not being afraid to reveal them in public.
I would like to pose a few questions for you, if you don’t mind answering them.
1. Are you a country music fan?
2. Do you believe the Dixie Chicks had the right to exercise their freedom of speech?
3. Are your political views conservative and Republican-oriented?
Out of fairness, I will answer these questions about myself. No – Yes – No.
Peace.
Well, I know that you are a big music lover, maybe not country as much of the others however, I think that it is unfair to say that ‘Country Music Listeners’ don’t believe in good ole’ American values like freedom of speech. If you had listen to anyone other than Dolly Parton, let’s say Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., David Alan Cole, Charlie Daniels & etc..& other ‘outlaw’ country music, you would know just how much, us redneck country music fans believe in “freedom of speech’
I watched the Grammies, I actually like the Dixie Chicks song & the video,Forgive, (I use to own a copy of one of their first CD’s.) I think that they are very talented. However, I did receive their newest CD for Christmas and I returned it to the store, why? I wondered that myself and here is what I believe to be my motive. It was Natalie’s right to say whatever she wanted to about whatever she wants to. I think had she said it on United States soil it wouldn’t have been as big as a deal as it turned out. However, she made the statement @ a concert in London (I believe-I could be wrong). Talk about wanting to be ‘balsy’, well, that was. You don’t go on foreign soil and trash the President of the US whether they be Democrate or Republican. THAT IS UN-AMERICAN. Imagine if Dolly Parton went to London and said “I just want you to know that I am ashamed that Al Gore is from Tn. He made the biggest fool out of himself in the 2000 election”…..LOL…sorry bad example…that is just too funny!!!!I really tried to think of something on Clinton, but I don’t know of any country music singers from ARK. Oh, well, basically, it was UN-AMERICAN and that is why I returned the CD and NOT because I am a country music listener who doesn’t value freedom of speech &/or a Conservative Republican. I excercised my right to return it unopened to Wal-Mart were I exchanged it for the newest Rascal Flatts CD. NOW that is American. :)
Honey, exchanging a Dixie Chicks album for a Rascal Flatts album is about as un-American as you can get! LOL!
Personally, I don’t give a flip about the Dixie Chicks, I just think they had the right to say whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted, to whomever they wanted. Our government talks about spreading democracy all over the world, then people want to get pissed off when someone exercises one of their democratic rights in another country. And it wasn’t France, it was London, where the British were also paying the ultimate price because of Bush’s war.
I think there would have been just as big a backlash against them if they had said it on American soil. It wasn’t where she said it, it was what she said. Do you actually think the people who get so upset over gay marriage, abortion rights and anti-war protests would have said nothing?
Frankly, I don’t care who says what where. If Dolly Parton wants to slam Gore, then go for it. If she wants to do it in Yugoslavia, go for it. I believe in freedom of speech, even when I don’t like what I’m hearing. We shouldn’t get up in arms about someone’s opinion, because we all have one.
Amen!
Peace.
:)
I STILL love the chicks.
There was an article about them in Country Weekly sevral months back and the jest of it was that everyone should just get over it, because country radio was SO much better with them on it. It also stated that most of America now agrees with what she said.