NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Shut Up and Sing? (Free Republic Mentioned, Defended)

CMT.com ^ | 3/20/03 | Chet Flippo

[Argh]

I agree with the "Shut up" part.

[cricket]

"She could not have made a stupider mistake."

'Stupider'???

[lainie]

"A native of Forth Worth, Texas, Flippo holds a degree in journalism from Sam Houston State University and the University of Texas at Austin. After serving with the U.S. Navy as a French interpreter in Morocco, he worked for ROLLING STONE magazine for over a decade in both San Francisco and New York where he was editor, writer and New York bureau chief. In 1995, he was named Nashville bureau chief for BILLBOARD Magazine."

[smith288]

Since when is an organized online meeting place motivating Americans to stand up for whats right a bad thing?

Freedom of speech only applies from the govt to a person or group. Person to person limit of free speech, from my understanding, has nothing to do with constitutionality. An example is Sony probably is now putting in their contracts for artists to shut their mouths while on tour and wait until they are home, not touring on the labels dime.

Me telling my radio station to stop playing a band is America... A DoJ telling a radio station to stop playing them, there we have a problem.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The article suggests that Ms. Maines filed for divorce from the country music audience. She did more than that -- she committed adultery first.

To make matters even worse, her paramour was French.

[Datahead]

I think their country music careers are already dead, we're just waiting for the rot. They will/have become the symbol of what not to do as a country artist and this lesson will be looked back upon for years to come by current and especially future country artists. The chicks only hope is to focus entirely on the contemporary sector of their audience. And, hey, good luck with that girls (NOT).

[q_an_a]

When talking about "anti-war" stars they always mention people that have a big European audience not country and western; that is apples and oranges. The Chicks are toast, cause the teenage girls will move on to the next NSync or Britney when they no longer think the Chicks are cool.

[lainie]

It brings to my mind Johnny Cash's diatribe against "new country" back when Shania was gaining ground for the first time. I can't find it right now but I know there was a RS writeup with a picture of Johnny (or someone) flipping the bird.

He/they had a point, even though it was conveyed somewhat crudely. (But Johnny since has woken up and smelled the dollar signs.)

Some things become traditional -- others are flavor of the moment.

[lainie]

Do you mean her husband? afaik he's an American.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Nope. Just carrying out the whole "divorce, adultery" analogy one step further to include her sympathies. (Perhaps one step too far.)

[lainie]

Ah, ok. Nah -- I just haven't had enough coffee yet.

The Vichy Chicks !!

[Mudboy Slim]

I'll be back...My ol' man, The Cap'n, just sent me this...

"Last week, the Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation hosted a "Stand Up for America Rally." More than 1,200 people attended including featured speakers Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, State Adjutant General Mark Bowen and State Auditor Beth Chapman. Attached is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five standing ovations, tremendous applause and an encore. It's a short read and well worth it."

"Stand Up for America Rally Speech"

"I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me. If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy.

"Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere else. After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death at the hands of Soddom Husssein [or Osama Bil Clinton!!!]"

"I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion? They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of the unborn. The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go. No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the fact that this country has been forced into war--innocent people have lost their lives--and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother, my husband, or even worse my own son."

"On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

"On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen--underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in return."

"When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the ship--where were the human shields then? If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets. If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of honesty and integrity who epitomize courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those are the people who have earned and deserve shielding!!

"Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all - "What greater love hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.

"We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let their lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a human shield--They Were HumanShields!!

"I thank God tonight for freedom--those who bought and paid for it with their lives in the past--those who will protect it in the present and defend it in the future. America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long! We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may hold. After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven-year-old son said terrorism is a war against US and Them and if you're not one of US, then you're one of Them!!

"So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud, and let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the President, our troops and their families and our country. May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the face of this earth!"

Yep...MUD

[Xthe17th]

Beth Chapman speech thread

[MikeD]

Chet Flippo has written a few biographies of rock stars. Paul McCartney is the subject comes to mind, but I know he's written about others.

MD

[GOPJ]

We're everywhere...

I glanced around to see how the DCs were selling. For one thing, there were NONE missing. The rows were full. Another thing, someone had gone and turned them ALL upside down...

[Flashlight]

their original tour....fantastic..

The songs they did that I knew at the time were "I Can Love You Better", and covers of "Stand By Your Man" and "Loving Arms." Sure were good. I saw them as the warmup act to Pam Tillis at the (free) Detroit Hoedown.

Natalie herself has a great singing voice...

And underrated at that. Try to think of any singer who could replace her as the third Dixie Chick, say, singing "Travelin' Soldier."

I can't think of anyone. Sure, anyone could sing it. But could anyone else match Natlies simple-but-complex effortless heart-tugging sentimental vocals? I really don't think so.

And, really, all this talk about her appearance I think is ridiculous. I wonder if anyone would ever say anything about it if she didn't have to work with two tall, thin blondes.

which makes it so sad that I won't listen to them again...

I'd plan to "boycott" Chicks songs, but I have to admit I gave up. I was going through the stuff I've got in order to give it away, and I changed my mind. I figure, I still love the songs even tho Natalie is a bird-brain.

Of course, I can still listen to and love Cat Stevens' songs.

[Billthedrill]

That tells me that none of them -- Chicks, label, PR, management -- knows anything about the country music audience.

OK, so Maines was an idiot - that's not unusual. Not a large number of musicians know anything much in depth but music - the same is true of actors. What is much worse than that is that her management does not appear to understand their market, and that is simply unprofessional.

[Flashlight]

...) But "Your Cheatin' Heart" is kind of a bad example

Good point.

My guitar teacher, tho, does that dumb voice with *every* country song (which he only plays and sings along with because I ask). What's more, he can't change even if he tries. I keep stopping him and saying, "quit singing in that dumb voice" and he just can't help himself.

[faithincowboys]

Go Chet! I suspect these girls were not liked in Nashville even before this scandal. Maines is such a damn flake. and www.nataliemaines.com is pathetic in every way. She is using a human shield (her baby) to avoid the righteous wrath of country music fans. She doesn't even allow for a place to comment, she knows how that would go--badly.

This thing really has legs. She will wear the anti-american tag forever, like Fonda. The stain has even extended to Charlie Robison, Blixie Chick Emily's husband, he is a judge on Nashville Star (an american idol C&W version) and was booed by the live audience when they introduced him last Saturday night.

Maines hurt the whole band with her big dumb mouth--talk about clutching bargin bin out of the jaws of platinum records as far as the eye can see.