Dixie Chicks Sweep Grammys With Bush Controversy Song

[Richard Tafoya]

CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/11/grammy.awards/index.html?eref=rss_showbiz

The Dixie Chicks sang "Not Ready to Make Nice," but the Grammy Awards were certainly ready to make them winners, honoring the trio with five awards Sunday night.

The Chicks, who ignited controversy four years ago when lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush on the eve of the Iraq war, won all five of the awards for which they were nominated, including the big three: album of the year (for "Taking the Long Way"), song of the year and record of the year (both for "Not Ready to Make Nice").

"I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message," said Maines, paying tribute to other nominees with an oblique acknowledgement that the group was being honored as much for its stand as its music. "I'm very humbled."

The Chicks had a difficult time in the years before recording "Taking the Long Way." Once the biggest-selling group in country music -- the Chicks' first two albums, "Wide Open Spaces" and "Fly" -- were two of the most popular country albums ever -- they found themselves abandoned by country radio stations and pilloried by many fans for their political stand. Indeed, with "Taking the Long Way" the group members have said they don't consider themselves country artists anymore.

"We wouldn't have made this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets," said band member Emily Robison.

Ironically, the Chicks' other awards included best country performance by a duo or group with vocal and best country album for "Taking the Long Way."

[JoviFan]

long overdue.

[James Dean]

I don't listen to country, but good for them.

[Annoyedlistner]

I listen to country because its hard for me to find new music that i actually like.

however...the new country music that is comming out now...its really starting to sound very Popish...and its bad.

I'm a liberal...everyone knows that....and most country fans are conservatives...its rather funny to hear their closed minded views.

I really think for what the Dixie Chicks said (they said nothing more than a lot of us have said on this board) got a raw deal.

It'll be years before some country music fans will take them back...if ever.

[JoviFan]

From what i have been reading most of the country music industry has been quoted and has said that they think the Chicks were ok for saying what they said and that there is still freedom of speech. I recently started listening to country but i don't like all of it. I do like the Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney to name a few. But i still listen to r&b too.

[Sunflowergirl]

"I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message," said Maines, paying tribute to other nominees with an oblique acknowledgement that the group was being honored as much for its stand as its music. "I'm very humbled."


I wasn't aware that the public got to vote on the Grammy Awards? Another brilliant comment, Ms. Maines. That just about proves that those awards are no longer about the music.

[James Dean]

People seem to forget that at the time the statement was made, the Iraq war wasn't in the same state as it is now.

[Richard Tafoya]

I wasn't aware that the public got to vote on the Grammy Awards? Another brilliant comment, Ms. Maines. That just about proves that those awards are no longer about the music.
I didn't get the impression that she was talking about the public. She was addressing the voting members of the NARAS while accepting the award at their ceremony, just like winners of Golden Globe awards speak to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association when they accept.

[Sunflowergirl]

I didn't get the impression that she was talking about the public. She was addressing the voting members of the NARAS while accepting the award at their ceremony, just like winners of Golden Globe awards speak to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association when they accept.

Thanks for explaining that. I guess I wasn't clear on whom she was addressing. The word "people," rather than "you" made it seem to me like the larger population.

But I still think that the focus should have stayed on the music, rather than being diverted to politics.

[ConnieB]

The awards the Dixie Chicks walked away with were all about making a political statement. They didn't earn them or deserve them. There is no way they had a better performance over Rascal Flatts or a better song over Carrie Underwood.

Carrie spent more weeks at number one then any other artist in 2006, Kenny Chesney was second and Rascal flatts was third.

Both Kenny and Rascal flatts performed to over 1 million american fans last year while Dixie Chicks tour failed in the USA. That to me speaks loudly.

[LesterX]

There is no way they had a better performance over Rascal Flatts or a better song over Carrie Underwood.

In your very subjective view.

Carrie spent more weeks at number one then any other artist in 2006, Kenny Chesney was second and Rascal flatts was third.

So? Since when is the quality of music gauged by its popularity?

Both Kenny and Rascal flatts performed to over 1 million american fans last year while Dixie Chicks tour failed in the USA. That to me speaks loudly.

That to me says nothing. Britney Spears is incredibly popular. Doesn't make her incredibly talented.

[tiger_rascal]

Im a Dixie Chicks fan. But, Im not crazy about country music. I cant stand current popular acts like Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney. Honestly, I think, who gave these guys a record contract, its painful to hear one of their songs!!! But I do like Carrie Underwood, best American Idol so far.

The Grammys are silly. Im not sure if the Chicks deserved that award based on music. The album was not nearly as good as their last albums.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Eh.. I put little stock in award shows delineating or defining artistic talent. I find them self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing and, little more than very glitzy promotion for whatever industry they represent.

I do like it when someone gets drunk and climbs the set scenes, though. :D

[LesterX]

^ I completely agree. My only point to ConnieB was that someone shouldn't win an award because they are more "popular" as defined by ticket or album sales.

[pinky]

For me, the Grammys lost all credibility when A Taste of Honey won best new artist (for Boogie Oogie Oogie) the same year that Elvis Costello was nominated in the same category. :rolleyes:

Hell, even Andy Gibb would have been a far superior choice!

[Richard Tafoya]

^ I completely agree. My only point to ConnieB was that someone shouldn't win an award because they are more "popular" as defined by ticket or album sales.
And besides, there are separate awards for those things. The Billboard awards specifically award the top-selling product of the past year. And Pollstar hands out awards for top-grossing tours.

The Academy Awards and Emmys and Grammys have never claimed to be a tally of sales volume, but a gauge of what peer groups of professionals think are the most noteworthy artistic achievements of the past year.

[Richard Tafoya]

For me, the Grammys lost all credibility when A Taste of Honey won best new artist (for Boogie Oogie Oogie) the same year that Elvis Costello was nominated in the same category. :rolleyes:

Hell, even Andy Gibb would have been a far superior choice!
The Cars were also nominated that year. That award has attracted silliness, like Milli Vanilli winning in 1990.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Didn't Tiny Tim win a Grammy? lol That's just hilarious.

And Leslie, you're completely right. Britney is the perfect example.

[pinky]

Thanks, Richard. I knew there was another artist or group nominated that year that was more deserving, but I couldn't remember who.

[*Katy*]

I like the dixie chicks, and i dont think their album was political, if you didnt know the situation surrounding the dixie chicks and didnt watch their interviews you wouldnt know its a political song. It sounds like a love song at first. I love the whole album, and they were my choice to win for a couple of the catagories they were nominated in. I think if anything this just shows that the hate so many people showed against them and all the negativity and boycotting they endured doesnt really matter in the end b/c they have a grammy and all the people that boycotted their music are missing out on great music.

As for the fact that rascall flats didnt win even though they are more popular in the country world right now, thats not the point of the grammys. Its not a popularity contest, thats the peoples choice awards or billboards. They had a few good songs but their record was not all that great as a whole.

[Richard Tafoya]

The big single was pretty much the only song that focused on the aftermath of the Bush fiasco. Some of the more noteworthy songs on the album deal with caring for a parent with Alzheimer's and a couple that wants to have kids dealing with infertility.

Not a political album. Not their biggest collection of hit singles, but some pretty strong material.