MOTHER JONES BY E-MAIL

«--Previous Post | Blog Index | Next Post--»

The Chicks Were Brave, Give Them Grammys!

So yeah, the Dixie Chicks wiped up at the Grammy's, but they were careful to let their lyrics do the talking, for the most part. Each of their five wins came with the refrain of "Not Ready to Make Nice," their song about singer Natalie Maines' we're-ashamed-Bush-is-from-Texas comment in 2003. Maines treaded lightly during their acceptance speeches, but did manage this: "In the words of the great Simpsons, 'ha ha.'" That, and her "I think people are using their freedom of speech here tonight and we get the message" comment were all the political juice we got. Oh, and Joan Baez asking everyone to "listen carefully to the lyrics" when she introduced their performance.

It sort of seemed like the Chicks were feted for their prescience. I mean, they said what few were willing to back when this war started, so tonight was kind of like a you-told-us-so-and-got-slammed-for-it nod from the mainstream music world.As for their core country roots, the band had lots of trouble packing stadiums on their latest tour and didn't even score a single nomination at November's Country Music Awards. Their base, perhaps, remains unforgiving.

Comments

I will never watch the "Sham-my's" again.

Posted by: MG on 02/12/07 at 1:16 PM Respond

I'm not crazy about the dixie chicks' music, but I am completely embarrassed about how the country reacted to the singer's statements. There's a great film documentary about the whole mess, called "Protesting the Dixie Chicks":
http://www.protestingthedixiechicks.com
http://www.myspace.com/protestingthedixiechicks

Posted by: jason on 02/12/07 at 2:16 PM Respond

The awards given to the Dixie Chicks were simply one thing....sending a message.

As you know, these awards were not given by the people. This was not the People's Music Awards, rather less than 11,000 members of professionals in the music industry. One writer brought up the idea that the vote for the various catagories was so split, that the largest chunk of votes left were the politically active members who had the opportunity to "make a statement" with what amounts to a lackluster album and a really boring song.

First of all, there's no way a song like that would take song of the year at the Grammys unless it had help, through collusion or other means, or jury nullification, just like the O.J. trial. And for them to win 5 awards if just not only improbable, but impossible! It looks like the Grammys jumped the shark last night, allowing politics to influence the outcome of not one but 5 awards and I personally could never look at them in any kind of positive light again, though that's been coming for a long time now.

I've been a professional musician for over 35 years, a session player on albums and a touring sideman. I'm hearing nothing, and I repeat nothing, but disbelief at what happened last night. Some are asking for an investigation to see if there was indeed any wrong doing in the "winning" of these awards. And all along, Natalie and the world still actually think that they really won those awards.

The Chicks Were Brave, Give Them Grammys!

Comments

ARCHIVE

RECENT COMMENTS

THE CURRENT ISSUE

SEARCH MOTHER JONES

PHOTO ESSAYS

TODAY ON...

SPECIAL REPORTS

INTERVIEWS

LETTERS

BLOG LINKS

MOJO BLOGGERS

IN PRINT

DONATE TODAY