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Dixie Chicks on LKL

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 08:54:55 AM EST
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The Dixie Chicks were on Larry King Live last night. Crooks and Liars has the video.

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    • Dixie Chicks on LKL | 49 comments (49 topical)
    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 09:27:44 AM EST
    Otherwise known as Three Really Cool Broads.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#2)
    by Slado on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 09:44:39 AM EST
    I'll go ahead and chime in as the troll on this one. I lived in Nashville for 13 years so I know the demographic these chics used to run in and the music industry etc... I'm a big bush supporter and an owner of DC records and I could have cared less when Natalie said what she said. I try to live by the philosophy that its the art not the artist but I don't begrudge anyone who can't separate the two and the right to free speach works both ways. When you offend the majority of your fans what do you expect? Expecially when it is these same fans that made you famous and rich in the first place. Natalie and the chics did not get rich playing to the audience they are apealing to now. They got rich playing Bluegrass and Country Musicl festivals in red states. Being a musician is not only about the music but the image you potray. If you want to portray yourslef as a left leaning war opponent then fine. But don't expect GW voters and military officers to buy your records. I give her props for not backing down but I get tired of the "oh I'm being persecuted" routine when it is entirely self inflicted.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#3)
    by roger on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 09:56:14 AM EST
    WOW! I agree with Slado! Pander to that crowd and that's what you get.........

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 10:36:15 AM EST
    I saw LKL - didn't think they were feeling sorry for themselves. Released this week and #1 on the charts today speaks for itself.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 10:53:44 AM EST
    Slado-
    When you offend the majority of your fans what do you expect? Especially when it is these same fans that made you famous and rich in the first place.
    Ha ha ha Guess that they have lots more new fans to replace the ones that they lost. I did not see any regrets or whiney behavior that you attribute to them. One thing that we can be sure of is that things change. For the Dixie Chicks things have certainly changed for the better.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#6)
    by Sailor on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 11:20:12 AM EST
    Oh yes, the poor Dixie Chicks.
    The Dixie Chicks wrapped up the summer on top of the touring season with $61 million in gross North American ticket sales, despite a spring controversy over an insult lead singer Natalie Maines made at President Bush.
    The trio was the top-grossing country tour of the year, with 57 sold-out dates, and was third in overall concert sales, behind the Rolling Stones and Elton John/Billy Joel, according to Pollstar.
    2005 Awards Grammy Award: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
    Taking the Long Way[...]The album, took two number one spots on May 31, 2006. It was number one on the country albums chart and the Billboard 200 overall chart, as based on sales rather than radio airplay, with 526,000 units sold in a week.
    With the #1 debut of Taking The Long Way, the Dixie Chicks have also become the first female group in chart history to have three studio albums occupy the #1 slot on the Top 200.
    Taking The Long Way has achieved one of the year's Top 5 first week's sales tallies and has the best first week's sales for any female act on the Top 200 in 2006.
    Yes, poor, poor Dixie Chicks.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#7)
    by Slado on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 01:35:45 PM EST
    Hey don't shoot the messenger. I'm only saying that they played the "whoah is me card" back in 2003 and took 3years off. Now they are playing the we're back and mad as hell card and its working for them. Good for them. The more I read I think this is a media made up and solved story. Looks like the old fans never left because even though they're red staters like me they get their political advice from politicians and their musical advice from musicians.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#8)
    by David on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 01:45:50 PM EST
    Sailor, please note that the tickets (non-refundable of course) for the Chicks 03 tour went on sale and were sold out BEFORE they made their Bush statements. During the weekend of March 1, 2003 alone, the Chicks sold $49 million worth of tickets for their summer tour (Billboard, March 15, 2003, p. 76). This was big news then since national on-sales for country tours were very rare. See this BBC article from that time. The Chicks' comments didn't make news until a couple of weeks following the tour sale date. Given that their latest CD is significantly underperforming compared to their last release in 2002, it will be interesting to see how their new tour's sales are.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#9)
    by David on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 01:46:48 PM EST
    Not sure why the URL of the BBC article didn't come through. Here it is again. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2828895.stm

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 01:49:35 PM EST
    Tell me again why anyone should care what the Dixie Chicks have to say about politics?

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#11)
    by Sailor on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 02:47:41 PM EST
    david, that explains the tickets, but not the fact that even more folks showed up for the concerts.
    After Maines' March remarks in London, the radio industry staged a backlash that included pulling the Chicks' music off the air and encouraging fans to smash CDs and boycott concerts. But 1 million people turned out for the 63-date ''Top of the World''
    Slado, they didn't take 3 years off, notice the Grammy in 2005. Also, women tend to take a few months off to have babies, I don't think their 'unpopularity' had much to do with that.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#12)
    by TomStewart on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 03:05:34 PM EST
    I think it was more the Right Wing Scream Machine than their actual fans who were taking offense. The RWSM, as uaual, took what was really an inconsequntial remark and blew it up to gigantic proportions.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#13)
    by Dadler on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 03:48:30 PM EST
    Heard a good interview with them the other day. They had to hire body guards in response to death threats, one had to move outta town entirely. The raw HATRED they received is what they were disturbed by. They are not dumb gals, they realize record stations can play whatever they want, it was the venom and violently charged responses that were the issue for them. Parents telling their children to burn their records and teaching them chant hatefull slogans. In response to a remark that not all people from Texas are proud Dubya is from there. Also, the larger point, is that their views are NOW shared by the vast majority of people, who were so easily led by fear and have no come to have their eyes opened a little.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#14)
    by Aaron on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 07:07:55 PM EST
    I'm not much of one for country music, but I support the Dixie chicks, those girls have balls.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#15)
    by Sailor on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 07:14:14 PM EST
    And their music is pretty good too, tho if I had to choose only one, I'd go for Nickel Creek.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#16)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 07:41:43 PM EST
    Sailor- Nice music, Nickel Creek, but isn't that a different genre. I am no aficionado but it sounds more like folk rock to me than country western.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 08:57:08 PM EST
    Reading back through this thread, I guess it all makes perfect sense -- if you live in a red state, that is: Dadler:
    They had to hire body guards in response to death threats, one had to move outta town entirely. The raw HATRED they received is what they were disturbed by. They are not dumb gals, they realize record stations can play whatever they want, it was the venom and violently charged responses that were the issue for them. Parents telling their children to burn their records and teaching them (to) chant hateful slogans.
    Rogan:
    Tell me again why anyone should care what the Dixie Chicks have to say about politics?
    slado:
    When you offend the majority of your fans what do you expect? ... They got rich playing ... in red states... I get tired of the "oh I'm being persecuted" routine when it is entirely self inflicted.
    So, I guess freedom of speech isn't very important in the red states, especially if the speaker offends you. Then you get what you deserve. In fact, the hatred is actually "entirely self inflicted".

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#18)
    by Kitt on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 10:32:01 PM EST
    I give her props for not backing down but I get tired of the "oh I'm being persecuted" routine when it is entirely self inflicted.
    First off, I don't think the Dixie Chicks ever gave out the 'oh, i'm being persecuted' routine. Good try, though. And as for the "whoa is me" line - it's 'woe is me'.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#19)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 10:49:08 PM EST
    Being a musician is not only about the music but the image you potray.
    And being a politician is all about the image you portray. How else could a frat boy drunkard from Connecticut get the votes of tight-assed Christians from Texas?

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 06:23:21 AM EST
    The Dixie Chicks are free to speak but why should their celebrity give them a free political soapbox? It isn't as if they are Ph.D's or anything. Sort of like taking Jane Fonda seriously as a guide to one's personal politics.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#21)
    by Kitt on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 06:49:10 AM EST
    ckquote>The Dixie Chicks are free to speak but why should their celebrity give them a free political soapbox? Well, then - staying within the genre: Toby Keith, Lee Greenwood, any other number of country 'stars' who wrap themselves in the pseudopatriotic b.s. in order to sell their 'music.' That said - why should we continue to give you "a free political soapbox?"

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#22)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 06:54:37 AM EST
    Cyrmo writes:
    So, I guess freedom of speech isn't very important in the red states, especially if the speaker offends you. Then you get what you deserve. In fact, the hatred is actually "entirely self inflicted".
    Good morning. As an aside, I note that a member of the Left can't make a point without first insulting someone. Oh well. It appears to me that these entertainers have been accorded a huge pulpit by the Left and the MSM to make their claims even though their qualifications consist only of been able to entertain. Something, btw, that is not in short supply, and requires only talent, not knowledge and wisdom. Simpler. If they left tomorow, in three days no one would notice or care. This being America they were challenged by others using their free speech. And, since the only effective tool they have to use against the pulpit given to these entertainers, they say don't buy, don't play. To me, a confirmed "red stater," it appears that both are in their rights. It is only the Chicks and the MSM who are crying, but then highly paid entertainers are well known to whine when the world doesn't fawn over them. There ability to make money by getting a small amount from millions convinces them that they are "special" in all things. I wonder at what point declining careers, and all do at some point, they will re-discover the real world and wonder if their insults didn't cost them a few more years of fame and fortune.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#23)
    by roger on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 07:03:23 AM EST
    Jim, It sounds like their qualifications in politics are at least equal to ours. Entertainers are bright, and dumb. Informed and ignorant. Just like the rest of us.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#24)
    by Sailor on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 07:13:05 AM EST
    And as for the "whoa is me" line - it's 'woe is me'.
    kitt, I think he may have got it right the first time;-)

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#25)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 07:51:36 AM EST
    Nicely said Roger.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#26)
    by Peaches on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 08:43:21 AM EST
    but then highly paid entertainers are well known to whine when the world doesn't fawn over them.
    Maybe not entirely true in a general sense, but true enough is most cases for me to remark that this is another case where I astonishingly agree with you, Jim.
    I wonder at what point declining careers, and all do at some point, they will re-discover the real world and wonder if their insults didn't cost them a few more years of fame and fortune.
    I think that point is right now. From a review I read the whole album is just the DXCs wollowing in self-pity. I don't hold any animosity toward the DXC, but I do wish they were a bit older and had a little more wisdom to go with their experience. I hold much greater animosity toward singers like Toby Kieth who feel the need to cashing in on the suffering our soldiers are going through in Iraq by trumping up their phony patriotism while lining their pockets and laughiung all the way to the bank. A wiser and older DXC might have been able to capture that self-serving hypocricy better instead of feeling sorry for themselves.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 10:43:52 AM EST
    pppj:
    This being America they were challenged by others using their free speech.
    So as a "confirmed red stater", you feel that the right of free speech encompasses sending death threats to anyone who expresses a lack of pride in your favorite politician? I didn't realise that lynch law was still acceptable in the red states. It's a good thing the people from Gallup conduct their research anonymously, or they might never find out what people in the red states really think.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#28)
    by Dadler on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 11:31:05 AM EST
    Peaches, I think you need to get their own actual words about what went on before making assumptions. I'll repeat, it was the VIOLENT NATURE OF THE REACTION to their words (again, that not all Texans are proud Dubya is from Texas) that really upset them. I was no fan of their before, not really one now, but I heard them talk about it, and especially since the public now seems to SHARE their views, it is obvious that they SET a trend early, when it wasn't popular for citizens to do much less RECORDING ACTS. Death threats, bodyguards, having to move. These are not self-pity. They are not the pitying words of a band upset at selling a few less records --especially when they already had zillions of dollars. Go out on a mild political limb yourself (and I mean MILD, when looked at with objectivity) and then see how you are affected when people threaten to kill you, want to harm you, teach their children to chant little hate slogans, etc. They met irrationality and got trampled a bit. Until the irrational woke up. Hence they're at the top of the charts now.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#29)
    by jondee on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 12:13:58 PM EST
    ppj - They were "accorded a huge pulpit" by the market, not by "the Left and the MSM". People become rich and famous - kinda like certain failed businessmen with brand name recognition and political ambitions - and the public suddenly finds their every utterence srangely compelling. Huge celebrity comes with its own ready made "huge pulpit." If you dont like the fact that you live in a country that reveres material success and lends those that achieve it extraordinary status - and special tax-breaks - I suggest you locate a red state utopia where liberalism is out-lawed (maybe in the wilds of Northern Idaho) and move there.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#30)
    by Peaches on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 12:27:24 PM EST
    Dadler, Well, I'm not a fan of the dixie chicks. I wasn't making assumptions either. I read a review by someone I know who is liberal leaning. I understand they felt threatened. I don't have much love for the ones who threatened them. I just wish they handled it with a little more elegance and a little less self-pity. Read the review I linked to. Then, you suffer through their lyrics and inform me the reviewer is wrong. Then, I will go out and buy the album and decide for myself. As far as the DXC being top of the charts have you seen how Toby Keith is doing lately. For that matter, have you checked out American Idol and how well that is doing. There are a lot of barometers for how America leans politically. How well the DXC, or any other pop star, is selling is the last indicator I would trust.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#31)
    by jondee on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 12:31:15 PM EST
    Like how 'em red staters stick to their guns (pun intended) and stand on their principals though. Those Dixie Chicks'll never have another record thats number one world-wide again; number one in the U.S maybe, but not world-wide. You dont criticize their president and get away with it.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#32)
    by jondee on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 12:37:00 PM EST
    Peaches - Its a musical genre not exactly known for being light on the maudlin and self pity to begin with. Thats the stuff that sells hand over fist.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#33)
    by Peaches on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 12:56:43 PM EST
    Jondee, Well, you got me there. However, Hank Williams was more than an artist who could wallow in self-pity. In fact, there is a lot of country Western Music that introspective, searching and intelligent. Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Guy Clarke, even Willie Nelson. What passess for Country Western Genre on the comercial stations is not in that category. When the DXC made their remark about the president, many of us were hoping they would have ended up demonstaring to us some talent for songwriting behind the commercial drivel that accounted for their success in the first place. Unfortuneately that has not turned out to be the case.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#34)
    by Kitt on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 03:22:01 PM EST
    I suggest you locate a red state utopia where liberalism is out-lawed (maybe in the wilds of Northern Idaho) and move there. Geez, do we know anything about Idaho? Because if you did, you would know the northern 'wilds' are much, much more liberal than southern Idaho although not as liberal as Boise - where I am.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#35)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 09:32:11 PM EST
    Cymro - If you want to condemn threats, go over to LGF and help out on real threats from someone apparently in Reuters in England. And no, just because I disagree with your self-believeing august and wonderful comments does not mean that I condone violence or threats. And yes, it was self serving and juvenile for you to brung it up.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#36)
    by jondee on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 09:58:55 PM EST
    In short, its only a "real" threat if its directed at a target Jim approves of. Nothing self-serving and juvenile about that.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 10:01:46 PM EST
    go over to LGF
    I figured that was one of the places you picked up your talking points from.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#38)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 12:41:11 AM EST
    And yes, it was self serving and juvenile for you to brung it up. And believe me, there's nobody here more qualified to talk about being self-serving and juvenile, just check out the archives........

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:06:41 AM EST
    ppj:
    If you want to condemn threats, go over to LGF and help out on real threats from someone apparently in Reuters in England.
    Huh? What on earth are you talking about? Since you wrote this, I guess it must mean something to you. But to me it is total gobbledygook. "go over to LGF" -- what is that? where is it? "Someone apparently in Reuters?" Reuters is a news agency, how can anyone be in it? If you want to have a debate, please try writing in English. I may chose to ignore you anyway, but I certainly can't respond if your posts are incoherent.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#40)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:23:05 AM EST
    ppj:
    just because I disagree with your self-believeing august and wonderful comments does not mean that I condone violence or threats.
    So when you wrote "This being America they were challenged by others using their free speech" what exactly did you mean, given that the subject was the threats directed at the Dixie Chicks? Were those threats a legitmate exercise of free speech by "confirmed red staters" like yourself, in response to the Dixie Chicks' statement that they were not proud of Bush being from Texas, or were they an inexcusable overreaction that cannot be condoned? I'd like to get this straight, so that we can be clear one way or the other on what you really believe.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 05:59:03 AM EST
    The Dixie Chicks exercised their free speech rights and were met with criticism by others exercising their own free speech rights. The hype over the alleged violation of their free speech rights was ridiculous. They did back down a little back then, but now that Bush's popularity is so low they are "courageously" standing by their previous words-it is a joke.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#42)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 10:59:03 AM EST
    JRT:
    The Dixie Chicks exercised their free speech rights and were met with criticism by others exercising their own free speech rights.
    So were the death threats the justified exercise of free speech by those who disageed with the Dixie Chicks? Or will you condemn them as an inexcusable overreaction?

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#43)
    by jondee on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 11:30:23 AM EST
    #1 in the country. Suck it up wingers. Guess red staters arnt too worried 'bout anyone "emboldening the enemy". Must be all that liberal media propaganda finally got to 'em eh?

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#44)
    by jondee on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 11:45:58 AM EST
    Just another obvious sign that the 70% are disgruntled about "the war not being pursued with enough vigor".

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 07:04:21 PM EST
    JRT:
    Nope- death threats are not protected free speech- I hereby condemn the death threats-OK?
    That's good to hear, because our "confirmed red stater" PPJ has been pointedly silent on this question, choosing instead to natter incoherently about LGF and Reuters, the relevance of which to the threats against the Dixie Chicks is still a total mystery.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#46)
    by Slado on Fri Jun 09, 2006 at 10:52:08 AM EST
    Looks like ticket sales are suffering in Red States. ,a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/09/dixie.chicks.reut/index.html">CNN

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#47)
    by Slado on Fri Jun 09, 2006 at 10:52:47 AM EST
    CNN

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#48)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 09, 2006 at 11:41:50 AM EST
    According to Anne Coulter, even those directly affected by the 9/11 attack aren't allowed to criticize the pres...never mind a bunch of musicians. Couldn't resist.

    Re: Dixie Chicks on LKL (none / 0) (#49)
    by jondee on Fri Jun 09, 2006 at 11:47:22 AM EST
    Slado - Yeah and your point is what; support mah preznit or we wont play your new single or announce your concert dates? In other words, toe the partyline or you might git hurt. Explain to me how that has anything to do with what this country is supposed to stand for.

    Dixie Chicks on LKL | 49 comments (49 topical)