PopSyndicate.com

I talked about this last week on Tiki Central Live, but I feel that this topic needs to be expanded upon. And yes, I am going to piss some of you off. I realize that. Does that mean I will change my mind or stop expressing my opinion? Nope. Because that essentially is what America is all about right?




So someone tell me why the Dixie Chicks got so much crap after Maines told a London audience on the eve of the war in Iraq that the group was “ashamed” the president was from their home state of Texas. She expressed her opinion did she not? I for one thought it was ballsy… even though she later said she regretted the phrasing of her remark, but remained passionately against the war.



Later she issued an apology: "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American."


The public outcry was not silenced however. Their music was boycotted and the Chicks said they received death threats, leading them to install metal detectors at their shows.


It was so much that Maines ended up telling Entertainment Weekly magazine that she was disappointed with country music and that she was “pretty much done” with the genre.



Fast forward to now. And the new album “Taking the Long Way,” which has been out since late May. The first single, “I’m not ready to make nice”’ is a direct reply to the controversy and I think, a very bold statement by the trio.


Maines sings “I’m not ready to make nice. I’m not ready to back down. I’m still mad as hell and I don’t have time to go round and round and round.”


She also sings, “How in the world can the words that I said send somebody so over the edge,” and “I made my bed and I sleep like a baby.”


Now the thing that astounds me is all of the people who are almost downright hostile to them and the radio stations refusing to play the music because of something she said about Bush. Don’t you people ever pay attention? All you are doing is insuring that this group becomes bigger and badder than ever. Remember when MTV refused to play Madonna’s Justify My Love video? Do you have any idea the money that woman made off selling it directly to the consumers instead?


Get this ladies and gentlemen… the more you fight something and make a big deal out of not wanting it around the MORE the rest of society will seek it out!


Besides, why the hell are you looking to a celebrity for your political correctness? They had a hit with a song about killing an abusive husband! I am sick and tired of people putting so much stock in what some famous person says. I could give a crap about what so and so thinks about the government. And yes, in this instance I do agree. I am sorry I do.


Gonna stop reading my stuff now?


Sure you could do that. And if enough people follow suit then you have made a dent.


Publicly bash me and scream at the top of your lungs that you hate me? Others will come. Oh yes.


So, what is my point?


Hell I don’t even know for sure. I know that I hate country music. But I find myself very into this single. Do I like it for the strong lyrics? The rock influences? Or the fact that they are so hated right now?


Who knows? Either way, they are taking it to the bank.