Funny thing is, country music fans will forgive just about anything if you come back repentant. The Grande Ole Opry threw Hank Williams off because he frequently missed shows, and sometimes showed up too drunk to play, but they'd have taken him back in a minute if he'd showed up sober. He never did, of course. Williams had talent, though. The Chicks were successful because they're moderately good looking on stage and had good production. Their name also connotated a redneck anti-feminism. Thus, Maines alienated her core fans, and thinks others are ready to buy her work.
Most big time music today is based on image, rather than talent. Loretta Lynn probably couldn't get a contract if she started singing today, and the window is very small for our increasingly young-obsessed culture. I mean, how many movies has Alicia Silverstone made since she turned eighteen? Kirsten Dunst will probably find that Spider-man 2 is her last hurrah, and I'd be surprised if Cameron Diaz has many more hit movies. The Chicks made it off their looks, as their music was totally fabricated anonymous sounds okay in the background work. They won't recapture their star. Time for them to go hang out with Markie Post and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Indeed.
The Chicks had a tradition of getting a little chicken foot tattoo on their ankles every time a song of theirs reached number 1. I hope their tattoo artist has other clients.
Country music accepts almost anyone. I despise the new Bon Jovi song, but it is number one on the country music charts right now. There was some Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow song that got some airplay a few years back.
You couldn't be more wrong. They were great. Natalie Maines has one of the greatest voices in music today. Please, please don't minimize talent because of politics. But what's happened to them is 100% their own doing. They have no home now. And nobody really cares.
Synthetic, manufactured stars, like most of the Kenny Chesneys today in country. One step above Milli Vanilli, in that they are using their own voices (we think), while the instruments are picked on records by studio pros.
I was just reading an article the other day about some guy with a book out (can't remember who) that was so happy because, after being interviewed on TV somewhere, his book shot up to #1 on Amazon.
For an hour.
Then it disappeared back down into the 4-digit range.
I disagree with this completely. The two sisters are extremely talented musicians, and your assertion that they were fabricated is something that you can easily disavow in some of the earlier, more bluegrass based music, in the years before Natalie joined the band.
I'm especially surprised by the statement by Natalie (that she was never really "into" country) given her "pedigree." Her father is one of the all time steel guitar greats in country music, and she was raised around C/W music. And she's got an awesome voice.
Disaproving of their politics isn't a good reason to claim they're not any good. Of course, I won't support their careers by buying their CDs...
Mark