Dixie Chicks could bring political edge to Grammys

Reuters (Rooters!) ^ | Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:19am ET | Dean Goodman

[Thrusher]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Grammys could take a rare step into the political arena on Sunday if the Dixie Chicks win the coveted album-of-the-year award, as observers of the music industry's biggest honors are predicting.

The Texas country trio is reveling in its new outsider status after picking a fight with President George W. Bush in 2003, and watching its popularity plummet as the Republican-leaning country music establishment snubbed the chart-topping group.

The Chicks' first album since the brouhaha, "Taking the Long Way," yielded five Grammy nominations, including three for the wry single "Not Ready to Make Nice." The acclaimed album was the ninth-biggest seller in the United States last year, even if its commercial success fell short of its predecessors.

Grammy voters love underdogs and comeback stories, which could help the Dixie Chicks add to their collection of eight Grammys. But politically charged music arising from such turbulent times as Vietnam and Watergate has traditionally been ignored at awards time.

Indeed, for a liberal-leaning recording industry full of rebels and other creative misfits, there has been little acknowledgment in recent years that an unpopular conservative president is embroiled in a war that has cost the lives of more than 3,120 U.S. military personnel and over 50,000 Iraqis.

"I think people are paranoid," former Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart told Reuters. "I think that if they speak out, they think they're gonna get whacked by the government. It's pretty oppressive now. Look at the Dixie Chicks. They got whacked."

[Thrusher]

Nixed in Nashville, they were embraced by free-speech advocates, opponents of the Iraq war and other causes, especially as public opinion turned against Bush.

I'm actually shocked that this article doesn't blast the ridiculous "censorship" charge over and over again, but they did backdoor a "free-speech" slam.

[EndWelfareToday]

The "Dixie" who?

[Hildy]

They are the only reason I don't want to watch the Grammy's this year. As always, I will TIVO it and skip over them. The Grammy's are the only people who still remember this group. They will win the award and will receive a standing overation because in Hollywoodland these bitchy millionairesses are truly seen as oppressed!

[IronJack]

Ooooooo goody! Now the six people watching this tripe will have something "controversial" to drool over.

[neodad]

Is the little fat one still with them?

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Their record sales aren't that great and their concerts have been cancelled in many cities. But since they hate Bush they are honored by the "pretty people" in Hollywood and New York.

[Afronaut]

There will be a Live thread here most likely, the People magazine fans will step away from the "Ann Nicole is dead live thread" and make a few posts...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Where's that "Not this feces again" guy?

[stm]

I remember the flap it produced when Toby Keith performed with a backdrop with Maines PhotoShopped next to Saddam Hussein. That was an absolute classic.

These women are marginally talented libtards that are in serious need of a good beating with a clue bat.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

****I think people are paranoid," former Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart told Reuters. "I think that if they speak out, they think they're gonna get whacked by the government. It's pretty oppressive now. Look at the Dixie Chicks. They got whacked."****

Excuse me Mr. Einstein how did the government whack the Dixie Cows. What happened is the people who listen to country music radio station decided they didn't not want to listen to the Dixie Cows anymore. This comment clearly demontstrates how soft, thin-skinned and shallow most leftist are.

[originalbuckeye]

They will win; they will slam our President and our country; they will then disappear back into obscurity until the recording industry wants to slam said person/country again.

The Dixie Chicks used to be entertaining; now they are nothing but a cartoonish portrait of leftist bilge-spewing has-beens.

[Dutch Boy]

So what is the criteria for album of the year? It can't be sales. They can't sell out concerts. Even the article mentions their popularity has dropped.

Will the Grammy's jump the shark just to make a political point? I wouldn't know, I stopped watching them years ago when I discovered most of my favorite music came from idiots, a$$es and degenerates.

[sgtbono2002]

Why should anyone care what the liberals give to other liberals?

Awards dont amount to crap any more. Just another political statement.

Tell them where to stick their Grammy---Sideways.

[AdvisorB]

I thought the twits were still in mourning.

[IronJack]

There will be a Live thread here most likely, the People magazine fans will step away from the "Ann Nicole is dead live thread" and make a few posts...

I would hope FReepers have better sense ...

[Abigail Adams]

I thought they broke up?

[KenmcG414]

Anyone who wishes to watch that drivel is welcome to it.

[Thrusher]

I think people are paranoid," former Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart told Reuters. "I think that if they speak out, they think they're gonna get whacked by the government. It's pretty oppressive now. Look at the Dixie Chicks. They got whacked."

Wow, I missed the "by the government" in that comment. I guess the article had two sideways "censorship" slams without actually saying the word.

I would love to have someone, anyone, show me even the lsightest, smallest, barest piece of any kind of evidence that the government was involved in the "brouhaha" that erupted after those comments were made.

Oh, I forgot, Bush and Cheney instructed JimRob to send out anti-Dixie Chicks stuff on the Official Evil Free Republic Blacklist Mailing List of Doom (which I am still not on, apparently -- what up with that?).

[airborne]

Too bad I'll miss the Grammys.

I have to watch paint dry.

[LdSentinal]

There will be a Live thread here most likely, the People magazine fans will step away from the "Ann Nicole is dead live thread" and make a few posts...

Wait till the Oscars later this month.