Mon
Feb 26 2007
02:17 pm
Taking the long way
By: R. Neal

We made a rare stop by Blockbuster over the weekend, and I noticed they had the Dixie Chicks documentary "Shut Up and Sing", which I had not seen yet. It was labeled a "Blockbuster Exclusive", but it has since been released for sale (on Feb. 20th).

If you haven't seen it yet, do so at your earliest convenience. It covers a lot of ground, including free speech, the current political climate, the creative process, the music business, and the lives of three lovely, talented and strong women.

At the end of the documentary they are kicking off their 2006 concert tour to promote their new album "Taking the Long Way". There's a scene where they turn down a $26 million guaranteed sponsorship for their tour because they wanted to control their message (which is mainly the music) and be flexible to make adjustments as necessary. Natalie Maines says in another scene "we have to figure out what kind of artists we are." One of the final scenes shows them telling the band it might be rough and they will have to cut some corners. (Ed. note: The Wall Street Journal predicted financial disaster.)

Since then, their 2006 tour ranked as the 25th overall moneymaker, grossing over $23 million. They were #6 on the Top 10 Country Tours and they aren't even a country act any more. As it turns out, they didn't have to leave much on the table to stick by their principles and do it their way.

And of course, everyone knows about their five 2007 Grammy awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Country Album, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group.

"Taking the Long Way" is currently #2 on Amazon and #8 on the Billboard Top 200 (after debuting at #1 and staying on the charts for 39 weeks reaching triple-platinum status.) It was #3 on SoundScan's Top 10 Country Albums of 2006.

Topics:
UnderDuress's picture

When will they learn

Submitted by UnderDuress on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 3:54pm.

When will they learn ...

Freedom of speech != freedom from criticism

Me thinks these ladies' mouths wrote checks their butts can't cash. Too bad, deal with it, girls.

-----
Disingenuous much?

R. Neal's picture

You should watch the

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 4:00pm.

You should watch the documentary, or at least read the whole post. They are cashing their checks quite happily, and they've dealt with it quite admirably.

And death threats != criticism. Or at least that used to be the case. Not sure what's going on now that the rabid right wingnuts have whipped their 30% dead-ender followers into such a foaming-at-the-mouth frenzy.

(Is that how you are supposed to say that kind of stuff? I haven't watch O'Reilly or listened to Limbaugh in a while, so I could be a little rusty.)

UnderDuress's picture

Dunno about Oreilly or

Submitted by UnderDuress on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 4:07pm.

Dunno about Oreilly or Limbaugh ... I don't listen to either of them either. But if the DCs are saying (still) that no one can reproach them over their obnoxious comments, then they can kiss off. Their celebrity gives their opinions no greater relevance than anyone else's, nor does it protect them from responding criticism. As far as I am concerned, that goes for all celebs, no matter what they are saying.

-----
Disingenuous much?

R. Neal's picture

They're not saying that at

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 4:13pm.

They're not saying that at all. They're just trying to understand how to go forward with a new audience now that they've been blacklisted by country music radio. That and deal with the death threats. It's a great documentary. Very inspirational. You're obviously not their target demographic, but I'm guessing you'd like it anyway.

(Without googling, do you even recall exactly what their obnoxious comment was?)

UnderDuress's picture

Yes, unfortunately I do.

Submitted by UnderDuress on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 4:26pm.

Yes, unfortunately I do. Because I really do like their music ... quite a bit. I did cringe when they said, (I have to paraphrase here, I hope the gist will work for ya) while in concert in Germany, that they were embarrassed to be from Texas, like (or because of) George Bush.

I have not seen the documentary, but I did look at the companion web site they put up ... they have not been censored, their right to free speech has not been breached, abrogated, bent, broken, folded, spindled, mutilated, scattered, smothered, covered, kicked, stomped or thrown up against the wall. Fans that disagreed with their comments let their opinions be known by refusing to buy their products. By saying that the fans cannot react to their comments, aren't they trying to stifle their speech?

As for death threats ... many people that make controversial statements receive death threats. Sometimes threats against even their children - like Jeff Goldstein. All such instances should be condemned and, if possible, prosecuted.

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Disingenuous much?

R. Neal's picture

There was pretty strong

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 4:45pm.

There was pretty strong evidence of a coordinated effort by corporate radio ownership to ban them from their subsidiary stations. There's a scene the movie where even Sen. John McCain is appalled by their actions and calls them out on it in a Senate subcommittee hearing.

That's pretty close to the definition of censorship, but yeah, just like Williams and the KNS, it's their radio stations and they can play whatever they want. I guess censorship only happens when the government tells a radio network what to play or a newspaper what to print.

Of course, there's never any wink-wink nudge-nudge pressure on any sort of media by any sort of government officials or politicians.

talidapali's picture

They said...

Submitted by talidapali on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 4:34pm.

"Just so you know, we're embarrassed that the President of the United States is from Texas." to an audience at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England on March 10, 2003. This was roughly two weeks BEFORE the war in Iraq started.

"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"

"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali

UnderDuress's picture

They're still singin' their

Submitted by UnderDuress on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 5:10pm.

They're still singin' their tune ... that does not equate to censorship. Disagreeing with what they said, or even calling them names, is not censorship.

This is censorship: HERE, and HERE

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Disingenuous much?

talidapali's picture

tit for tat...

Submitted by talidapali on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 5:17pm.

Here...and Here

_____________________
"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"

"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali

R. Neal's picture

This is sad. I was trying to

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 5:42pm.

This is sad. I was just trying to bring attention to an outstanding and inspiring documentary (with some pretty damn good music) that I thought most readers of this site would probably like. Silly me, one bad apple, etc. etc.

bizgrrl's picture

UnderDuress, it may be time

Submitted by bizgrrl on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 6:03pm.

UnderDuress, it may be time to go home and take a break.
Make a pie while you are there.

Rosy Crab Apple Pie
--------------------------
1 Pie
Pastry for 2 crust pie
1 c Sugar
1 tb Flour
1/4 c Salt
6 c Crab apples *1
1 ts Vanilla
1 1/2 tb Lemon juice
1/3 c Water
1 1/2 tb Butter

*1 finely chopped, unpeeled.

Combine sugar, flour and salt, toss together with apples.

Pour mixture into pastry lined 9 inch pie pan. Sprinkle with mixture
of vanilla, lemon juice and water. Dot with butter. Cover with top
pastry, flute edges and cut vents.

Bake at 400 F. 50 minutes or until filling is tender and crust is
browned.

NOTE:
Before mixing filling steam apple bits 1-2 minutes and cool quickly to
preserve color.

Leslie's picture

I appreciate the point being

Submitted by Leslie on Mon, 2007/02/26 - 6:39pm.

I appreciate the point being made. I don't pursue country music nearly as much as I once did as a radio choice. Regardless, I always liked whatever I heard of the Chicks' music, long before the event in England.

If the country commercial machine has rejected them, so be it. Whether or not their opinion is or should be considered more importment is not the point of what happened. It was their right to speak freely that others attempted to infringe upon, via the death threats and the attempts to remove them from the commercial air waves.

In the meantime, the surprise success of that tour says to me that a lot of people respect them for not backing down, and applaud their determination to follow through with their music.

It all works out. I'll have to look for that movie.

gttim's picture

They are still very popular

Submitted by gttim on Tue, 2007/02/27 - 12:09am.

They are still very popular and had one hell of a successful tour. They made more money on with this CD and tour than most of us will make in a lifetime. They are not hurting and are still speaking their mind. I am planning on buying their DVD.

I still remember Bill Hobbs saying, "See how we are hurting them!" as their CD climbed the charts. Then when they canceled a few shows, Bill Hobbs said "See how we are hurting them" and they went on to have a hugely successful tour.

The guy from 311 once said that he was not worried if their second CD was bad and they became one hit wonders. He said there were hundreds of thousands of bands who prayed they could become one hit wonders, and he would be thrilled with that. Most bands would give up everything to have one tenth of the career the Dixie Chicks have had.

Those ladies have more spunk than most wingnuts combined. And they are living life to the fullest! Good for them

BTW, I am embarrassed that George Bush is from our planet. What a disgrace to the human race. Now make me rich!

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