Posted on 04/08/2003 5:34:05 AM PDT by Gothmog
Sometimes forgiveness is hard to come by, as the Dixie Chicks learned Monday night during CMT's annual Flameworthy Video Music Awards.
The trio, currently experiencing a heated backlash for criticizing President Bush during a London concert, didn't attend the event, which is like country's MTV Awards. But at least one presenter tried to put in a good word for them.
"We're in the South, a place of sin and redemption and hopefully forgiveness," said comedian Brett Butler. "So maybe in a couple of weeks, we'll just all try to forgive the Dixie Chicks."
Her words were met with a wall of boos.
Not only that, but the Chicks, one of country's all-time top-selling acts, failed to win any of the four awards for which they were nominated. This is especially significant since the Flameworthies are voted on by fans on CMT's Web site. (Voting closed April 5.) The group/duo category served as an especially biting example of anti-Chicks sentiment.
Though the Chicks' latest album, "Home," has sold more than 3 million copies, the group was beaten by country boy band Rascal Flatts, which has moved less than 500,000 units of its current set, "Melt."
The debate over the Chicks' comments is just one example of how country has emerged as the genre most immediately impacted by the war in Iraq. The current No.1 country song is Darryl Worley's pro-war ballad, "Have You Forgotten," which he performed to a standing ovation during the show. The tune plays like a Bush administration policy paper in linking 9/11 with the situation in Iraq. "And you say we shouldn't worry about bin Laden/Have you forgotten," Worley sang to the cheering crowd.
Others seemed to deliberately avoid commenting on the war. Sheryl Crow, who has worn anti-war clothing and accessories at other award shows this year, simply donned a black Johnny Cash T-shirt when performing "Picture," her hit duet with Kid Rock.
Predictably, the most outspoken artist on the war was firebrand Toby Keith, who co-hosted the program with the seemingly inflatable Pamela Anderson. Early in the evening, he struck a subdued, conciliatory note: "Whether you're for it or against it, let's support the guys and girls who are over there."
But by the end of the night he was performing a medley of Merle Haggard's "Fightin' Side of Me" with his own chest-thumping 9/11 anthem, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," amid blazing pyrotechnic blasts and showers of confetti.
When "Courtesy" won best video, Keith said, "I'd like to dedicate this great award to Mr. Rumsfeld [Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld] and [General] Tommy Franks and all the people putting it down for us over there. . . . God bless the USA, baby."
Actually, she DID promise to send Bill O'Reilly flowers, IIRC, if WMD were found.
What she said was that she'd show up at the White House with flowers for President Bush if she was proven wrong.
That's ftd.com, Janeane.
Surely you realize that Led Zeppelin "stole" blues rifs from early black jazz artists. It is not just the rap artists rhyming and stealing.
Surely you realize that Led Zeppelin "stole" blues rifs from early black jazz artists. It is not just the rap artists rhyming and stealing.
"Surely you realize that Led Zeppelin "stole" blues rifs from early black jazz artists. It is not just the rap artists rhyming and stealing."
True, but they were blues, not jazz, artists. At least Page and Plant gave Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, et al, credit for their riffs, etc. Look on any of their album notes, and you'll see credit is given to the people they "stole" from.
OTOH, I don't know of any (c)rappers who do anything other than steal (sample) from real musicians, loop it through a computer, and put their own label on what comes out the other side. The same goes for these techo re-mixer morons. Of course, I also don't listen to that BS, so I could be wrong.
If you don't have any talent or creativity (and there's not a whole lot of talent and creativity to be found in any genre of music these days), you steal/sample from those who do. That's been (c)rap's M.O. pretty much since the late 80s. I thought long ago that (c)rap was on the way out, but then again, I guess Mencken was right.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
I also like the "pre-opening their stupid political mouths" Beasties, specifically "License to Ill," "Paul's Boutique" & "Ill Communication."
Having said that, do a Google search on "Led Zeppelin sued stealing riffs." Led Zeppelin stole riffs. They have been successfully sued for stealing riffs. The Stones have done it, Dylan did it, Oasis does it, and rappers do it. It is NOT exclusive to rappers.
http://www.geocities.com/jackfeeny/ledzeppelin.htm
http://www.furious.com/perfect/jimmypage.html
Zeppelin may very well have been sued for "stealing" riffs...though I've never heard about it until today, and I've been a fan of theirs since 1977 (age 12). Still, I have no reason to doubt you. Stones? Dylan? I'm not surprised. Clapton? Hendrix? They probably did, too. Oasis? Who are they? Oh yeah...that Beatles cover band.
I guess I'm more willing to give the likes of Zeppelin and the Stones a break because, unlike (c)rap acts, they're real musicians, who play their (real) instruments (not computers, drum machines, and samplers), don't lip synch, and still manage to write 99% of their own material. Zep, the Stones, Dylan, and even Oasis (even though I can't stand them) have more talent and creativity in one burnt-out brain cell than every (c)rap/hip-hop/techno/house/ad nauseum act ever put together combined.
Music is an art form comprised of rhythm, melody and harmony. (c)Rap has no melody, therefore has no harmony, and contains only rhythm. Therefore, it is only one-third music. I've never been able to stomach it, and the fact that it has been as successful as it has, again, goes to show Mencken was right. "Three chord, no waiting" bands like the Ramones can at the least play three chords, but (c)rap has absolutely no...zip, zero, nada...redeeming qualities, despite it's popularity. Of course, neither do professional wrestling, MTV, American Idol, all "reality" shows, Kid Suck, Tom Green, etc. I'm glad you like Zeppelin, because unlike the Beastie Bitchboys, they were a real band. 100 years from now, people will still play Zep tunes, but will likely have long since forgotten about (c)rap. I hope.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Are you looking at CD's or the original LP's? I bet the original LP's do not give credit, hence, the lawsuit. The CD most likely gives credit to Dixon, et. al. b/c of the lawsuit.
I don't think Travelin'Riverside Blues was released before Bonzo died, but came out with the Box Set.
Regarding rap, much of it is crap, but I do like the Beasties first "rap" album (their first album was punk) some Run D.M.C., early N.W.A., select songs from Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog.
But before you pigeonhole me, my favorite group is Pink Floyd followed by Zeppelin and the bloody Who. I also like country music. And I can't stand Oasis.
So my taste in music is eclectic. What can I say?
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