Dixie Chicks To Shun Country Music?

[LynneSin]

From the IMDB news stories:

http://www.imdb.com/PeopleNews/#6

Dixie Chicks To Shun Country Music?

The Dixie Chicks have indicated they want to sever ties with country music, after the backlash they suffered earlier this year. During an interview with German magazine Spiegel, group member Martie Maguire expressed how she and bandmates Natalie Maines and Emily Robison feel detached from the whole scene. She says, "We don't feel part of the country scene any longer, it can't be our home any more." Their main grievance is based on the lack of support shown to the trio during the backlash of Maines' comments against American president George W. Bush earlier this year. Maguire adds, "A few weeks ago, Merle Haggard said a couple of nice words about us, but that was it. The support we got came from others, like Bruce Springsteen." Maguire also points to the fact that country radio is still not playing the trio's music, and that country award shows have seemingly shut the door on them. She notes, "Instead, we won three Grammys against much stronger competition. So we now consider ourselves part of the big rock'n' roll family.

All I can say is come on over to Rock & Roll. We'll be happy to buy your albums and support you (heck we've bought your country ones - which have always done well on the overall BillBoard charts). I think 3 Grammy's and no recognition from the Country Music Awards (CMA) is proof positive that you're damn talented and those hicks in Country Music can kick your Dixie Asses!!!

[German-Lefty]

1. Funny how all the really good country music isn't country music.

Johny Cash, Willy Nelson, and a few other good ones aren't repukes. Thier music had a soul. If they had come out today, they probably wouldn't even make the country charts.

Country has turned into some messed up kind of pop, specially made for inbread, red neck hicks.

[LynneSin]

2. I have never understood the appeal of today's country music

I think it has something to do that it's almost all made in the USA (a few Canadians and Mexicans). I mean, who's the last big Country Music star from the Great Britian or Germany??? Country Music appeals to people who will only buy American, vacation in American and slap american flags all over there SUV's.

:shrug:

[renie408]

5. Redneck wannabes

I think it appeals to a lot of redneck wannabes. Its weird to pull into the parking lot at the Starbuck's next to a Cadillac Escalade and hear Kenny Chesney blaring out of it.

Then again, my husband really likes country music, so I guess I should just shut up.

[peacefreak]

3. All I gotta say

is you go, girls! Keep producing your music with the craftsmanship you have up until now & keep speaking with the voice of integrity. Good music should never be buttonholed into one genre or another!

[Carmerian]

4. It's really a difference between two towns

Generally speaking, Establishment country is based around Nashville. In the early 70's, several country performers like Willie Nelson got tired of the staid, right-wing scene there and moved here to Austin, TX. They started the outlaw country movement, which I think was much closer to the spirit of earlier, "real" country (minus the yodelling, of course) than the slickness of Nashville.

There is still an alternative, liberal country scene here, called prosaically enough "alt-country". It's a pity the Dixie Chicks couldn't advertise that instead of implying they need to leave country music altogether.

[demnan]

6. The Dixie Chicks couldn't leave country if they wanted to

It's in their souls. It's in their instruments, writing and voices. However many supposed "country" artists don't have that authenticity. What they play is junk pop.

Country music of the best kind is actually folk music. It is the folk music of the people who lived particularly in the Southern Appalachians and in rural areas all over the country. Johnny Cash was a folk singer, so is Merle, and Willie. Their music told a story, it meant something. I think you could say that about the Chicks as well, they actually play an offshoot of country, they actually play contemporary bluegrass.

Most people who like "real" country music don't care much for "commerical" country music.