Posted on 10/16/2006 7:56:38 AM PDT by Pokey78
NEW YORK — Country music might seem like a pretty conservative medium, but Tim McGraw is bucking the trend. "It's innate in me to be a Democrat — a true Southern populist kind of Democrat. There's not a lot of those anymore," McGraw tells Time magazine in its Oct. 23 issue.
"The issues that matter to me are the social safety nets for people, health care, middle-class concerns. We need to take care of the middle class and the poor in our country. The chasm is getting larger between haves and have-nots, and that's something we need to close down a little bit," says the singer and star of "Flicka."
Could that mean a McGraw on an election ticket soon?
"One of these days, if the opportunity's there, that's something I'd love to do," he says. "It's a high calling to serve the community, and if you can do it, I think you should."
___
To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy:
Let every American know, regardless of his or her wishes, that we shall pay any price, impose any burden, force any hardship (upon you), support any enemy, oppose any friend to assure the survival and the success of socialism.
Roy Acuff, a far better man than McGraw (and much more revered) ran for Govenor of TN in 1948 as a Republican. He lost. This was when TN was a Yellow Dog dem state.
Now, TN is a (marginal) red state. Mississippi is even redder. Does Mr McGraw think his star power is enough to overcome this, even knowing the lessons of Mr. Acuff's history?
Oh, he's gonna run. I've never seen a couple more propped up by the media than these two and I don't know about her, but he DEFINITELY believes his own press. I'll respect him more if he does. I don't mind celebrities entering the political fray if they really do it, instead of hit and running. Up until now, only Republicans walked the talk...let's see about this guy.
CMT did a "Behind The Music" kind of show on him awhile back, and one thing really made me laugh out loud:
They were interviewing a record producer, who said: "One thing I can say about Tim is he can really pick a song." As if that is a great challenge. I really admire the singers that write their own stuff.
Faith stopped being country years ago. I stopped buying her stuff when she went all VH1 diva. Bring back the music she used to sing before she dumped her husband for Tim.
As for political backlash - they aren't flat-out insulting the President, just throwing out a socialist opinion. That's a far cry from the whiny woe-is-me Dixie Chicks.
Not that I appreciate anything Tim's done musically in recent years, either.
Nashville got invaded with Democrats and dead brain liberals (is there a difference between the two?) when hair rock/metal went down for the knockout punch by the hands of Kurt Cobain.
Every loser in the industry that could manage to try and fit in with any kind of band and play any kind of basic country riff or bassline or drum fill...were hired as studio musicians and the rest of the lot put out on tour as back up bands.
Where do they all come from? Los Angeles,Hollywood,and New York City.
Yep....total country right there.
Once hair rock was killed...they needed to put these guys somewhere and that is exactly where they wound up...COUNTRY. If you look at the concerts most country artists put on today they bear a strong mirror to the flash pot concerts of the mid 1980s to very early 1990s.
Put on any Poison, Winger, Skid Row, Cinderella, Bon Jovi concert from those years and just compare it to the country concerts today...same crap...packaged differently.
McGraw grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. All hat, no cattle.
You'll let me know when Tim and Faith have moved out of their mansion and moved into a double-wide in a trailer park in Columbus, Mississippi.
If they want to close the gap that's fine. Show us how it's done Tim.... I hear that Marlette Inc. makes a fine double-wide. Should be plenty enough for you don't you think Tim.
BTW we're going to tax your assets at 30% per year, and tax your income at 50% per year just to make sure you get the idea. With those kind of rates you should be in that double-wide in no time.
I always thought this guy sings out of his nose, never seen the hype!
I knew where his politics were with "Red Rag Top" (Abortion) anyway.
A friend who spent a summer working with the McGraws on tour told me that Mr. Tim and Miss Faith both have quite the nasty coke habit.
sniff, sniff...
"I always thought this guy sings out of his nose"
Well, that's what country singers *do*.
McGraw needs to go smoke some weed with Willie Nelson and remember what happened to the Dixie Chicks.
For me if you are a Democrat then you don't support the troops. If you don't support the troops then you don't support the country. As the song says "When you 're running down my country you're on the fighting side of me."
No kidding. Faith Hill went from being a frsh faced, girl next door beauty to a Vegas diva act with 50 pounds of mascera on each eyelash. As for Tim...If his political ideals are as genuinely shallow and empty as are his overwrought whining vocals, he'd make a good democrat. His songs have always been a bad Country Kaoroke act for me.
In order to say something nice about them: Jo Dee Mesina says they are both very nice people and loyal friends.
You could look at it another way. When songwriting, harmony, and instrumental virtuosity went out of style in pop/rock music, those that COULD do those things, and wanted to continue, moved to Nashville. I welcome them.
Yes, that means Sheryl Crow, and Brett Micheals moved here. But we also have Micheal McDonald, Donna Summer and for a while Peter Frampton and Steve Winwood (all talented in their own way).
But don't fool yourself. Nashville has ALWAYS had its share of liberals (Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson when he was here, Merle Haggard is a Dem, ALL the suits). I know some of them personally.
But most are quite comfortable with conservatism (even if they aren't conservative themselves). It's very telling that Paisley/Williams , Urban/Kidman (the two highest profile Hollywood/Nashville couples) have NOT threatened to leave TN if Proposition 1 (banning gay marriage) is passed. In fact, those two couples appear to be extremely apolitical. I think that's typical.
For instance, can you tell Gretchen Wilson's political affiliation? She's quite savvy for a 'Redneck Woman'.
Tim, read the bible. Jesus said YOU take care of the poor. Don't lay it at Caesar's feet.
So, let's see you empty your fat wallet and do something about it.
To be fair, it's been that way since there has been a music industry in Nashville.
Yes, in the 70's there was a surge of singer/songwriters, but that was an anomoly. Some people sing very well. Some people write very well. Very few people do both. (Kris Kristoferson, anyone?).
Nashville is one of the few places on earth that has a songwriting "industry".
IMHO, I don't think McGraw is a very good singer. But he (or his producer) has an eye for a song that will be a hit. It could have been Urban, or Paisley, or Chesney that released "Live Like You Were Dying". (I don't think I would be able to stand the song if Kenny Chesney had done it).
But, like I said, it's always been that way here. Especially with women performers.
What about Waylon?
Exactly....
Country music IS the lyrics....
not the music or even the quality of the voices....
The lyrics are what carry a song. Period.
As for singer/songwriters....Brad Paisley and Toby Keith come to mind off the top of my head. (Granted, country isn't my favorite music, but it's what I listen to when I haven't got a CD with me).
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