Posted on 09/14/2006 8:25:48 PM PDT by kristinn
SNIP
Oscar-winning doc filmmaker Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County USA," "American Dream") teamed up with collaborator Cecilia Peck to co-direct a behind the scenes look at the best-selling female group of all time, "The Dixie Chicks." The film, "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" was initially envisioned as a much more modest project, according to the band's Natalie Maines who spoke at a press conference this week at the Toronto International Film Festival. "We originally thought of having a filmmaker [to capture footage] for ourselves or as a supplement to some concert DVD release," said Maines. But Maines' now famous off-handed comment during a March, 2003 concert in London not only caused a tidal change for the Dixie Chicks' relationship with many of their fans, it also motivated Kopple to and Peck to expand the scale of the project.
"After the comment, we were really excited to do something more with the Dixie Chicks because they were willing to put everything on the line to stand up for what they believed in," said Kopple in Toronto. Lubbock, TX-raised Maines' remark, which caused an avalanche of criticism by right-wingers in the U.S. on the heels of the Iraq invasion was: "We're embarrassed that the President is from Texas." Perhaps not since John Lennon uttered the infamous remark that the Beatles were more famous then Jesus over three decades earlier had the reaction been so swift and vile. Right-wing groups responded with radio boycotts and CD burnings, and even a death threat against Maines.
"If we had been someone like Merle Haggard, it might have been spun like some kind of [cool] rebellion," said fellow bandmate Emily Robison about the early days of the controversy. "But people just don't like mouthy women in country music."
While the fallout from Maines' London comment is a focus of the film, "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" also takes viewers into personal arenas of the band, including balancing careers with motherhood, and there's also segments on Maines and fellow Chick Martie Maguire's in-vitro pregnancies in addition to their journey in the studio creating their latest album "Taking the Long Way," which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts this summer.
But it was the controversy and its repercussions that received the biggest attention at Wednesday's press conference. "We were their wet dream," said Maines about the right wing as well as political website The Free Republic in particular for organizing a substantial portion of the backlash. "We've been playing to about half the audiences we used to, but they're great and it feels like they have a purpose for being there... for free speech," added Maguire about their latest tour. "I have sat among the audience and it's been electric," said Kopple. "People have been singing, and holding up signs saying, 'Thank You!'"
Now a few years on, the band is still surprised that a one-off remark could cause such an uproar, and repeatedly referenced that surprise during the conversation in Toronto. "I would've never thought that me saying that would've brought on the reaction it did - with people banning us from the radio and me getting death threats." Yet, when asked by a member of the press about their feelings about Bush, they are steadfast. "A major disappointment... A major disgrace [when seeing] footage of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. [Bush] has been a disaster, and seeing Spike Lee's documentary ("When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts") was awful."
At the world premiere of their film the night before in Toronto, co-director Cecilia Peck paid tribute to Canada on stage ahead of the screening, which the three band members recalled during the hour-long conversation with press the following day. Said Peck, "It's great to have the world premiere in a country where something like that which happened to the Dixie Chicks could never happen." "I think Americans should think about that," added one of the Chicks. [Brian Brooks]
Typical liberal thought, they have a right to say whatever they want, and everyone else isn't allowed to mention it, or be offended by it, or stop buying records because of it, or record consumers being disgusted.
After all the first amendment says that the government shall not stop us from speaking freely, it says nothing about the obligations of country radio stations cutting them off.
If you want to see a Free speech issue up close and personal, take a look at the threats of retaliation that the Democratic Congresscritters, encouraged by the xxx-Prez Klintoon, made to ABC in an attempt to silence a TV show- the Path to 9-11. That is a FREE SPEECH issue.
Somehow... you fit the profile. :)
Tragic. The Chicks could have been immortal. Now they are just inconsequential.
I really liked them before they turned nasty.
This woman is truly an idiot...Everytime she opens her mouth, just one stupid statement after another. Her agent must hold his head in his hands and shake it violently everytime he reads one of these little quips. I will admit, it is fun watching her destroy her career....
Damn, lady, GIVE IT UP!
Yea, I always have wet dreams about chubby 20somethings who don't know when to keep their mouths shut... Oh wait.... that was Bubba.
Sorry Natalie.... but, crass, loud mouthed, immature bitches are not sexy.
Is that warm tapioca dribbling down her chin??? Oh wait, it's not tapioca, it's FR spermatazoans...............
It's an idiot thing. Natalie & company chose to martyr themselves on the altar of fools. Had they kept their big yaps shut after the comment about Bush, this probably would have just blown over without significant damage to their career. But they were not willing to stop there. They had to pick a fight with Toby Keith, disrespect their fans, their peers & country music in general. Then they had to start up again about Bush & patriotism. The inability to just. shut. up. is what has done them in. This has nothing to do with "free speech". Trying to label it as a free speech issue is just a diversion to garner sympathy. It ain't workin' for 'em.
Ten foot poles aren't long enough.
Damn! And I was SURE something was happening. Oh well!
Dixie who?
By the way, freedom of speech protects you from having the government silence you. The Chicks are free to say whatever they want about the president. Likewise, I am free to say anything I want to about the Chicks. Is it that hard to understand?
Welcome to Free Republic.
Natalie Maines Sez: Will Somebody Please Pay Attention to Me!!!!
The Dixie Chicks "Would You Like Cheese With That Whine?" tour.
Didn't they used to sell a lot CDs a few years ago?
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