Posted on 08/12/2002 3:56:22 PM PDT by Katya
This is from the Los Angeles Daily news which is part of the Los Angeles Newspaper group,so I've only posted an excerpt....it's a great article. Use the link for more.
It's been years since country crooner Toby Keith cared what you thought about him. His independent attitude was born long before he grabbed headlines recently for a swaggering jingoistic anthem celebrating the kicking of Taliban butt. Although Keith has long been a top country attraction, it wasn't until ABC News anchor Peter Jennings reportedly booted him off an Independence Day special (the network denies he was ever booked) that everybody else caught on.
The flap over Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),' which contains the lines, "You'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A./'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass/It's the American way,' sparked a surge of airplay and publicity that helped bump the Oklahoma singer-songwriter's ninth album, "Unleashed,' to the top of the pop and country charts upon its release last week. The disc has given the DreamWorks label its first No. 1 album.
snip
The album has received its share of praise. "Keith can deliver a controversial anthem like 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)' in a way that's moving, even if you don't subscribe to his America-right-or-wrong flag waving,' wrote Rolling Stone magazine.
Others aren't so sure. Dixie Chick Natalie Maines said, "Don't get me started,' when asked Monday about Keith's smash hit.
"I hate it,' she said. "It's ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant. It targets an entire culture - and not just the bad people who did bad things. You've got to have some tact. Anybody can write, 'We'll put a boot in your ass.' But a lot of people agree with it. The kinds of songs I prefer on the subject are like Bruce Springsteen's new songs.'
snip
"He's got heart,' Philips adds. "He was one of the first to walk around ground zero talking to firefighters and police when the event was still very fresh. Our crew came back later and said, 'You know, this guy speaks from the heart.' '
snip
(Excerpt) Read more at u.dailynews.com ...
Well, two of them anyway.
A pretty ironic statement, defending a culture that otherwise would never let her or her "chicks" raise their burkhas to whisper a note of their brand of "tactful" music, if forced to live under islamic rule (which is their end state). Looks like the ignorance is on them, as usual.
Can anybody here tell me who they are referring to with the right or wrong comment? I presume it means that some folk think we were wrong for being the object of 9/11.
I hate their music, it's insipid, it's uninspiring and it makes country music sound like the worst kind of assembly line pap. The kind of country music I prefer is Waylon Jennings, Dwight Yoakam, George Jones. I also like Toby Keith because he sings what he believe and is true to his music. Unlike some cookie-cutter, talentless boobs who dress like hookers and sing plain-vanilla songs that are written for them by others.
It's the trendy way that leftist journalists refer to good old fashioned patriotism vs. being hip with a global, one world view. They can't (won't) make the distinction between patriotism and love of country vs. blind acceptance of U.S. foregein policy. You can be a flag waving patriot and still criticize some or all aspects of U.S. foreign policy and actions abroad. This takes real intellect and some logic, something liberals in general fail to grasp and liberal media types go out of their way to ignore.
"I hate it,' she said. "It's ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant. It targets an entire culture - and not just the bad people who did bad things. You've got to have some tact. Anybody can write, 'We'll put a boot in your ass.' But a lot of people agree with it. The kinds of songs I prefer on the subject are like Bruce Springsteen's new songs.'
Natalie, I love you chix, but find it kind of catty to knock somebody else's song as "ignorant" when you perform one called 'White Trash Wedding' on your first appearance on the Grand Old Opry. tsk, tsk, tsk.
The Dixie Chicks need to examine becoming a crossover group - as in crossing over the Atlantic and doing the Euro-weenie routine, because they'll fit in much better there...
Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)
American girls and American guys
Will always stand up and salute
Will always recognise
When we see Old Glory flyin'
There's a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our heads
My daddy served in the Army
Where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in the yard
Til the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother,
My sister, and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free
Now this nation that I love
Has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in
From somewhere in the back
But as soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the Fourth Of July
(Chorus)
Hey, Uncle Sam put your name
At the top of his list
And the Statue Of Liberty
Started shakin' her fist
And the Eagle will fly
And there's gonna be Hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin' her bell
And it'll feel like
The whole wide world is rainin' down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy
Of the Red, White, And Blue
Oh, justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The US of A
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way
(Chorus)
Hey, Uncle Sam put your name
At the top of his list
And the Statue Of Liberty
Started shakin' her fist
And the Eagle will fly
And there's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin' her bell
And it'll feel like
The whole wide world is rainin' down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy
Of the Red, White, And Blue... oh
Of the Red, White, And Blue... oh
Of my Red, White, And Blue... oh
me neither...but it's grown on me too, particularly since 9/11...it's just so....American. Never been a Springsteen fan....not about to start...but I agree, Keith's song hit a nerve with me too. Bought his new CD over the weekend.
The weight challenged, short lead singer.
Country music today is the same as the Eagles, Lynard Skynard, America, etc of the 70's that I grew up with. I embrace the country music scene...LOL!!! Especially Sara Evans (drool)
I also like Alan Jackson, George Straight and others.
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