Thursday, November 16, 2006
Shut Up and Sing
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt (May 7, 1918)
I am a big fan of the Dixie Chicks. My wife is an even bigger fan. A couple of days ago we saw the new documentary about them, Shut Up and Sing. It follows their Top of the World Tour in 2003 and the songwriting and recording progress of their new album two years later. Since filming began before the tour started, it seems fortunate for the filmmakers that one of the biggest controversies in the country kicked off with an innocuous statement made by lead singer Natalie Maines at their first show in London about being ashamed the President was from Texas.
What soon followed was a hailstorm of media and fan backlash not really seen since the Beatles were disparaged after John Lennon's misunderstood "bigger than Jesus" remark. I never understood the amount of hatred created by Maines' comment, and I still don't today.
The film is very well done as it alternates between the 2003 tour and its aftermath and the way the Dixie Chicks deal with and address the ordeal on their next album. It shows the comment and the ensuing frenzy from country DJs and fans, it shows the protests and the talkshow pundits' grandstanding, and it shows the band's resolve and response to the growing criticism.
But all those things were to be expected from the movie. The biggest and most welcome surprise is seeing these three women as ordinary women balancing marriages, children, and careers in light of their world crashing down around them. The friendship and sisterhood of Maines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire is an incredibly strong bond that pulls them through the rough times. The audience is treated to Emily's pregnancy with twins and the realization that getting pregnant was a tough hurdle for both sisters leading to the song "So Hard" on the new album.
In other words, this isn't a film just about the differences between red and blue. Part of the strength of Shut Up and Sing is the fact that it makes no value judgments on the remark or the controversy. The film gradually builds up to just how serious everything got for the Chicks with a death threat in Dallas. These scenes are where the film excels, posing the steps they have to take to ensure safety along with their most powerful song on the new album "Not Ready to Make Nice." I've heard people say they should have avoided confronting the issue three years later in order to get fans back. But the level of contempt from people shown in this film ensure that that was never going to be an option for the band. We don't expect battered wives to go back to their husbands, why should this situation be any different?
As someone who grew up with country music, the film is a serious indictment on the culture within the industry and a large percentage of its fan base. As their manager says at 0ne point, it's okay for a country star to beat his wife but its not okay for the Chicks to speak out against the war and the president. It's an interesting parallel and one that you could argue speaks to the inherent sexism in the industry as well. Would the biggest male star at the time receive this kind of treatment? Is it really better to know who your "fan base" is and to placate them with statements you don't believe or by remaining silent?
It's impossible to come away from this film not liking and not respecting these three women. I've always been a big fan of the Dixie Chicks, but that's mainly because they make great music. Seeing them fully exposed in this documentary only strengthens my feelings about them.
I am a big fan of the Dixie Chicks. My wife is an even bigger fan. A couple of days ago we saw the new documentary about them, Shut Up and Sing. It follows their Top of the World Tour in 2003 and the songwriting and recording progress of their new album two years later. Since filming began before the tour started, it seems fortunate for the filmmakers that one of the biggest controversies in the country kicked off with an innocuous statement made by lead singer Natalie Maines at their first show in London about being ashamed the President was from Texas.
What soon followed was a hailstorm of media and fan backlash not really seen since the Beatles were disparaged after John Lennon's misunderstood "bigger than Jesus" remark. I never understood the amount of hatred created by Maines' comment, and I still don't today.
The film is very well done as it alternates between the 2003 tour and its aftermath and the way the Dixie Chicks deal with and address the ordeal on their next album. It shows the comment and the ensuing frenzy from country DJs and fans, it shows the protests and the talkshow pundits' grandstanding, and it shows the band's resolve and response to the growing criticism.
But all those things were to be expected from the movie. The biggest and most welcome surprise is seeing these three women as ordinary women balancing marriages, children, and careers in light of their world crashing down around them. The friendship and sisterhood of Maines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire is an incredibly strong bond that pulls them through the rough times. The audience is treated to Emily's pregnancy with twins and the realization that getting pregnant was a tough hurdle for both sisters leading to the song "So Hard" on the new album.
In other words, this isn't a film just about the differences between red and blue. Part of the strength of Shut Up and Sing is the fact that it makes no value judgments on the remark or the controversy. The film gradually builds up to just how serious everything got for the Chicks with a death threat in Dallas. These scenes are where the film excels, posing the steps they have to take to ensure safety along with their most powerful song on the new album "Not Ready to Make Nice." I've heard people say they should have avoided confronting the issue three years later in order to get fans back. But the level of contempt from people shown in this film ensure that that was never going to be an option for the band. We don't expect battered wives to go back to their husbands, why should this situation be any different?
As someone who grew up with country music, the film is a serious indictment on the culture within the industry and a large percentage of its fan base. As their manager says at 0ne point, it's okay for a country star to beat his wife but its not okay for the Chicks to speak out against the war and the president. It's an interesting parallel and one that you could argue speaks to the inherent sexism in the industry as well. Would the biggest male star at the time receive this kind of treatment? Is it really better to know who your "fan base" is and to placate them with statements you don't believe or by remaining silent?
It's impossible to come away from this film not liking and not respecting these three women. I've always been a big fan of the Dixie Chicks, but that's mainly because they make great music. Seeing them fully exposed in this documentary only strengthens my feelings about them.
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When this happened, I told my friend that the only reason it became such a big deal was because of the fan base. I was just at a Pearl Jam concert where Eddie Vedder said that the Forum reminded him of Dick Chaney because it looked like "the world's biggest asshole." His fan base loved it. It's sad that there are people out there like that, but there are lots of them. And they vote. And they use religion to excuse what they do.
I think the Dixie Chicks did the right thing, though. Freedom of speech is one of the many things that makes this country so great. They can pick up more fans like you and Mercedes when they lose fans like Billy Bob and Jed. :)
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I think the Dixie Chicks did the right thing, though. Freedom of speech is one of the many things that makes this country so great. They can pick up more fans like you and Mercedes when they lose fans like Billy Bob and Jed. :)
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