Why do we care so much about what the Dixie Chicks have been saying?

Question

I know why they made so many people upset, but come now, what's the point of giving them more publicity? Sure they spit in the face of patriotism, that is their right of course, since they come from a country that allows free speech, no matter what it is. I say move on!!!!

Answer 1

Rock 'n rollers say anti-government stuff all the time, and their audiences don't care. That's because the audience that listens to rock and roll is either in rebellion against the establishment or isn't into politics.

But the audiences that listen to country music tend to be more mainstream and patriotic, so country singers have to watch what they say. The Dixie Chicks misspoke about Bush, and they've compounded the error since then by slamming patriotism.

The Dixie Chicks should have known that their particular audience wouldn't like that kind of talk. But they keep shooting their mouth off and putting down patriotism, so the inevitable happens--they lose their audience. So now I guess the Dixie Chicks are trying to cross over to a more rock and roll audience by giving their songs a pop sound and dressing more punk.

But it's the Dixie Chicks' own fault. There's a fundamental rule in the entertainment business: Know your audience. An entertainer has to court the audience. The Dixie Chicks spent years building an audience in the country music circuit, and then they lost that audience by doing things that would predictably piss off that particular audience.

The audience pays the entertainer's wages, so it's up to the entertainer to know their audience and keep that audience happy. Same principle as anywhere else in the business world. Keep your paying customers happy.

Meanwhile, the Dixie Chicks keep giving more interviews about their politics. (They just gave another one just the other day, putting down patriotic country singers.) And people read the interviews just to watch a multi-million-dollar country act shoot itself in the foot yet again. It's like watching a train wreck.

Answer 2

I personally could care less. The Dixie Chicks are traitors to America. Where is the loyalty to our troops and the office of the President of The United States. The Dixie Chicks should just shut up and disappear into musical oblivion

Answer 3

It is good that radio stations wont play their music. They are traitors and verbal-terrorists. Just because they have a microphone does not mean people want to hear them open their fat mouth about politics. They should not get publicity from this, but it is good that people hear how bad they are and are aware of their negative statements. If they want to talk bad about the country or the president, then they need to get out of the country. They go to other countries and preform and bash our country and our government and make americans look like hippocrates. They are terrible representatives of this country. I wish they would travel and when they come back through customs, they would not get back into the country they despise so much.

Answer 4

They have their right to free speech, even when they are bashing our president. They have the right to say what they wish, and because they are (IN)famous they have (had) a MUCH larger audience than you or me that they could speak to. That same larger audience is very angry with them and showed their anger the only way they can, and that's by not buying their CD's going to their concerts etc.

Well, do you know what the name of their new single and tour is?
I'll tell you and you can find info about it below. It's called "Not Ready to Make Nice". They are further angering and alienating their fan base. In doing so they have only hurt themselves because they have had to cancel a number of tour dates due to dismal sales. They are musicians, not politicians.

Here is a comment from one of the "chicks"...and she's surprised...

Growing up, Maguire found herself defending country music to friends who saw it as a close-minded, conservative genre that had little variety or tolerance for differing opinions.

"I just feel stupid. I was trying to convince people that that stereotype wasn't real ... but it does exist. I thought it was the old school," she says. "Now I wouldn't blame anyone if they didn't want to listen to it."

It's OK for THEM to have free speech and be "ashamed" of someome, but somehow it's not ok for the "country folk" to be upset with them...

They need to grow up and shut up..

And while "Not Ready to Make Nice" is an obvious, angry response to their rejection by Nashville, and the song "Lubbock or Leave It" criticizes Maines' hometown as small-minded and judgmental, the album is not just the Chicks' musical response to the fallout. The subject matter is varied, from a song touching on Robison's and Maguire's difficulty conceiving their children to the dementia of an aging loved one.

Answer 5

The Dixie Chicks, or rather, their lead singer, have expressed an opion opposing our Fearless Leader. This is in itself not so offensive. However they have earned their success in a genre well-known for it's "Patriotic" stance. It is popular in country music to blindly support our president and our troops and anything said against him and his policies is considered treason in the eyes of the general country music fan populace.

I agree. The country should allow them their own opinion, as they themselves would not want their voice silenced.

Answer 6

I disagree that they are "spitting in the face of patriotism." Do you actually know what they said? If not, it was nothing treasonous or disrespectful at all. Dissent is a good thing. I don't necessarily care what any celebrity thinks about political issues, but they have the right to express themselves. Extreme right-wingers have just blown the situation out of proportion.

Answer 7

We don't care.

People seem to forget that the First Amendment never stops. The Dixie Chicks have the right to say what they feel, and country music fans have the right to say what they feel by not buying their albums and not going to their concerts. Criticism of someone exercizing their First Amendment rights is also protected by the First Amendment.

Besides, exercizing your right to freely speak doesn't mean anyone has to listen.

Answer 8

So they don't like the president, so what, neither do I, and I'm not getting any publicity. Same stuff the average person says all the time, but because they are famous, they get the publicity. Yes, move on people and quit acting like you ain't never voiced a bad comment about a political figure. GIVE ME A F**KING BREAK,ALREADY!!!!!!!

Answer 9

It's because people over-reacted, and took their disrespect towards the president, as disrespect towards all of America and the troops. It's not true.

They are just like many other Americans who don't support the president, but DO support the troops. You can honor the troops, without having to honor the war and our leader behind it.

Answer 10

I don't care for them personally, but they are free to voice their opinion whatever it may be. I did see that they had to cancel shows in the US because of lack of ticket sales, and yet they sold out in Canada in 8 minutes. Evidently they are very popular in Europe as well. Maybe that's a hint to relocate somewhere!