Last night, the country group Dixie Chicks won five Grammy awards, sweeping the major categories of the evening.
Based on the votes of the recording industry, the Dixie Chicks won every major category. What was so impressive their music or their politics? It seems clear that politics ruled the evening.
Back on March 10, 2003, lead singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London that “we’re ashamed the President is from Texas.” On the eve of the war in Iraq, the comments sparked a nationwide controversy. Many country music stations stopped playing the Dixie Chicks. Former fans started boycotts of the Dixie Chicks music and concerts and the whole incident led to a significant drop in their album sales.
In the view of many Americans, it was not the time or place to be making comments critical of President Bush. Americans get upset when entertainers go on foreign soil and enter the realm of politics. The group responded with a PR campaign and indignation, but the damage was done. Today, the group is no longer a country act, but part of “the big rock ‘n’ roll family.”
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks won three Grammy awards, but it was nothing compared to their triumphant victory last night. Their song “Not Ready to Make Nice” and their album “Taking the Long Way” were big winners. Of course the whole theme of the song was that the group was still mad about the reaction to their controversial comments of 2003 and of course they were “not ready to make nice.”
They should be ready to make nice now after being showered with awards last night. However, some lingering questions remain. Was the group awarded because of the quality of their music or was it their politics? If they had made comments in support of President Bush would the group have won any Grammy awards?
Of course the awards were a liberal political statement by the recording industry, very similar to what is done each year by the Academy Awards. It was an “in your face” statement to the fans of country music who shunned the Dixie Chicks and those who continue to support President Bush.
The split between the group and country music is now complete. The Dixie Chicks will continue to find a home in other musical genres. Soon, their anger will subside, as will the novelty of their political message. At this point, the music industry will move on to the next politically correct act to support.
It is a shame that politics plays such an important part in these award shows. I do not believe that the group was better than the competition in each category; they just had a better political message.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
"Instead of ranting about how the Grammy's were voted on by "liberal performing artists" and claiming that "Americans voted by avoiding the Dixie Chicks' shows" I think you had better take note of the fact that as of January 2007, Taking the Long Way is certified 2x platinum by the RIAA in the U.S.!!! It spent weeks and weeks at the #1 position on iTunes and Billboard. So, yep, the American people are voting - with their wallets - and the Dixie Chicks are doing just fine without the right wing Country Radio fascists, who decry everything they perceive as "anti-American" while embracing censorship and decrying the First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech! How telling is it that Mr. Bush's supporters are nearly as illiterate, uninformed and dogmatic as he is? The Chicks were right to be embarrassed, and should be incredibly proud of speaking the truth."
Written by Denise
on 2/14/2007
The Dixie Chicks album was considered a critical success when it was released last year. Why is it shocking that it took home several awards?
Written by Adam
on 2/12/2007
You are an idiot. Have you listened to the album? It is great musically and after being shunned by their own at the country awards, I am so thrilled that the MUSIC was rewarded at the Grammys. Rock on Chicks, and to coin an old phrase:
"Don't let the bastards get you down."
Written by Debbie Christian
on 2/12/2007
Has this writer ever LISTENED to the quality of the music? I think his comments are more political than the awarding of the awards. The grammys are about THE MUSIC. That's why there's a grammophone, not a presidential seal.
Written by p. ingersoll
on 2/12/2007
Thank you for expressing my thoughts so eloquently and succintly. I have no doubt the Chicks won so many Grammys (undeservedly) because of their anti-Bush stance. Their fellow nominees are much more talented.
Written by Chris K.
on 2/12/2007
In your indictment of the Grammy Awards and, particularly, ackowledgement of the Dixie Chicks' musical defiance, you write as though the music industry and Grammy voters live on an island on a backwards-spinning moon of Jupiter. To the contrary, the Grammy Awards reflect popular culture, which reflects the sentiment of the nation at large which, at this point, is clearly "not willing to make nice" at the realization of having been willfully dragged into a bloody, unnecessary, unimaginably expensive war by a president and administration of dubious ethics. You were duped. It's not unpatriotic to admit it. You ask rhetorically, whether a song singing the praises of President Bush would have won five awards. The answer is no. The Grammy Awards are a popularity contest, and it's not likely that a pro-Bush song would have sold more than four or five copies during the past year. We can't all be wrong, can we?
Written by RD
on 2/12/2007
Apparently you have not listened to TTLW by the Dixie Chicks. It is way beyond political. Most songs are about family and family issues like alzheimers, fertility issues, and loving your children and family. There are songs that blast their former friends and the Country industry. But they are mild compared to most who bash Bush. Country turned their backs on these gals for their political views because their own political leanings to the right made it easy to do so. I wonder had they been men would the backlash been so great. When men in Country Music can be adored and promoted when they are batterers, drug users, adulterers, killers of innocent caged animals: it makes one wonder what exactly the country music bunch value. The Chicks are Patriots for standing up to an unjust war. They make us look bad for not questioning this war closer before we have lost over 3000 fine Troops;spent over 300 billion of taxpayers money; and spent more time there than in WW11. It just happens that the CD is magnificent and allowed many to vote for them easily. And one last thing. The Hypocrisy of the Country Music Industry is so evident: they did not play the Chicks;they did not promote the Chicks; and they did not reward the Chicks with any awards. But they eagerly and selfishly counted each of the 2 million Cds that were sold of Taking the Long Way to make their country coffers look good for the year. Politics is a 2 way street. Take a listen to great country/pop music by listening to TTLW.
Written by Phyllis Hager
on 2/12/2007
And that's your opinion, for whatever that's worth.
But let's all admit that your opinion of their album is based on your obvious bias in support of an administration that favors cherry picking evidence, becoming a theocracy, and hates personal freedom. Obviously, you have little credibility when it comes to making any kind of judgement.
Written by Polta
on 2/12/2007
"Not ready to make nice" was about the far right- and how they never forget a grudge. Also - those same NASCAR fans that shunned the "Chicks" are now the same people - those in the majority that are against this ill conceived war. I wonder if the Chicks will play at the impeachment of Bush ( and esp. Cheney).
Written by Richard Vallon Jr.
on 2/12/2007
As of last night's grammy fiasco, especially the awards won by the Jane Fonda-like dixie chicks, I have watched my last Grammy Awards Show.
Written by Bill Llewellyn
on 2/12/2007
The Dixie Chicks were dead right when so many were dead wrong.
They won 3 grammys three years ago, why shouldn't they win 5.
Jeff, start seeing life and politics...through the eyes of the eighty per cent of society that you over look.!
If you don't, you will lose your listening audiences, too.
They really rolled you over.... You really ranted like a "Right Wing Radical Repubican't"
But we are all covered by the First Amendment!
Written by Audrey George
on 2/12/2007
That's a typical perspective. I think if you actually read the lyrics to each song that was nominated for song of the year, you could probably see why the Dixie Chicks were so successful last night. There was thoughts in their music that makes you think about your life and your place. Not Ready To Make Nice was an expression of what they were going through, I believe they had numerous death threats over the past three years and the song talks about that. Wouldn't you be a little upset to say the least if your life was threatened for what you believed in, and you had to be surrounded by security everywhere you went on a daily basis. What they have gone through over the past three years is something that no living being should have to go though, especially if they are living in what is supposed to be a free country where you can voice your beliefs. Through everything that has happened, the death threats, the bans, and the horrible lashing out from radio stations, news reporters, and "Journalists" like yourself, they have stayed true to what they believe which is very brave on their part. It can be very frustrating not to hear their music on the radio anymore, because their songs are songs you turn the radio on for. Now people like me just have to have a CD in all the time.
Written by Kelli
on 2/12/2007
Written by
on 2/12/2007
Come on. Did you notice Ludacris in his acceptance speech giving a shout out to Bill O'Reilly? Yes he did, but you wouldn't have noticed, because you were stuck in your little "they're all out to get me me" rightwing paranoid mode. There darn well was a message, but it was music industry to radio: don't censor our music based on politics. That could work as well for both sides of the aisle, so celebrate the girls' win and dig that Natalie as a brunette!
Written by Don't Sometimes
on 2/12/2007
Why don't you just let go and face reality?
Written by Gimmeabreak
on 2/12/2007
Poor Jeffy, go back to shoving your tongue up your murdering leader's tail.
Written by Ralph Spoilsport
on 2/12/2007
The country music establishment says you can sing about cheatin' on your wife, but don't exercise your right to free speech Dixie Chicks! However, rock fans and radio can take Bruce Springsteen's opinion on the war as his right as an American. Country music only talks of the American way, they don't live it!
Written by Mark Wayne
on 2/12/2007
A few weeks ago I was amazed at your declaration: Elizabeth Taylor "became famous because of her 8 marriages and substance abuse..."
Fact: Elizabeth Taylor became famous because of her role as a teenager in "National Velvet", and for being a strikingly beautiful woman. The 8 marriages and substance abuse came much later in her life.
This week you're trying to blast the Dixie Chicks, music and film industries by saying: "Of course the awards were a liberal political statement by the recording industry, very similar to what is done each year by the Academy Awards."
Jeff, Your conservatism is threatening your sense of reason.
Written by OBA
on 2/12/2007
Politics has grabbed hold of many portions of today's society. Im not a big fan of country music but the Dixie Chicks, like many country stars, have good voices and are talented musicians. Furthermore, unlike many stars who use their fame only to increase their own lives, the Dixie Chicks are using their fame to try and promote changes in this country that they feel are needed. I am sure that if the songs that they wrote where good enough to be nominated, regardless of the message... and perhaps the message that is being sent just adds to the music. Are the grammy's liberal? Probably. Why? Because they are artists who embrace the free speech that our country was founded on and the Republican party has tried its best to stop speech.
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Last night, the country group Dixie Chicks won five Grammy awards, sweeping the major categories of the evening. 
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