Thanks for the ping :)
Posted on 02/16/2007 11:52:00 AM PST by beansox
Almost lost in all the furor over the former country music group the Dixie Chicks' domination of the Grammy Awards was another major development. The knee-jerk vote by liberal Grammy members wanting to send the White House and Nashville and country radio a large middle finger about the alleged persecution and martyrdom of the trio also effectively poisoned the well for other deserving artists in the five categories the Chicks swept.
In essence, all of the other nominees for album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, country album and country duo or group performance never had a chance. And that includes artists of the caliber of Alan Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Little Big Town, Mary J. Blige, Josh Turner, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Willie Nelson, Gnarls Barkley, Rascal Flatts, the Wreckers and many others.
The fact that the Grammys are supposed to be the most prestigious music awards in the world means that they should receive serious consideration and voting. The fact that they most likely did not in this case does not reflect well on Grammy voters or the voting process itself. The fact that there is no way to effectively convince voters to vote for musical excellence -- rather than political vindication -- is unfortunate but is a fact of life. And the voting process cannot confine Grammy voters to vote only within the genres in which they work and are knowledgeable. Another fact of life.
One major survivor of the very mixed Grammy Awards evening is a young artist who is pretty much right now the new face of country music, just as the Dixie Chicks are pretty much the old face of country music. Underwood was the first country artist to capture the best new artist award since LeAnn Rimes 11 years ago. (Note to purists: Bobbie Gentry received the award in 1967 and so did Debby Boone in 1977, but neither has been considered a country artist.) Underwood also received the Grammy for best female country vocal performance, and her hit, "Jesus Take the Wheel," was named best country song.
American Idol, for better or for worse, is having a major impact on country music. Its pervasive reach into so many audiences and into so many homes means it's almost inescapable. And country music remains this nation's biggest audience, so any artist aspiring to country success can find a magic portal at Idol. That kind of ubiquitous sort of force-feeding means that any Idol performer with genuine talent and a winning personality should be able to capture an audience. The fact that all Idol contestants and winners have not been able to do so is certainly a testimony to the American public's occasional ability to detect and reject crap, unlike the cynical, scheming Idol screeners and judges.
Underwood is a testament to the ongoing American star-making myth. One thing I noticed immediately the morning after the awards show in reviewing the media coverage was that Underwood got by far the largest photograph of any Grammy artist -- period -- in the Los Angeles Times' extensive Grammy coverage. She filled up almost half a page in the Times in a glorious color picture. That means her stardust is working.
And, sometimes, that's what it's all about.
The fact that she survived being thrust into performing not her own material but an odd tribute to Bob Wills and Don Henley is an indication of her survivor skills. Rascal Flatts, who also performed during the Henley tribute, were even more ill-suited to the material than she was and did not emerge as well as Underwood did. But she's proving herself to be a trouper. At this stage, her debut album has sold almost 5 million copies. The Chicks' latest CD is holding at less than 2 million, after their previous releases were at multiples of that figure.
In backstage press questioning, Underwood didn't wilt as she refused to be drawn into a Dixie Chicks controversy about who was giving the finger to whom. I couldn't make this up, but this is what she said when asked about the Chicks "giving the finger" to the country music establishment: "Next question, please. I don't like talking about anyone giving the finger."
Well, all right. That's refreshing in an age of increasing vulgarity. It also shows a lot more grace and class than Natalie Maines' clueless and rude invoking of the Simpson's "heh-heh" in her little country Grammy acceptance speech.
Does it sound like I like Carrie Underwood? Well, I do. I think she's genuine and charming. Her style is emerging, and she will grow into the mature artist that she is not yet. But at this stage in her career, I can see a bit of Reba and Dolly in her, and I think that says much about her.
I wouldn't count on it, unless she plans to switch from country. The Dixies messed where they live and are being kept on life support by the liberal Bush-protest dollars, but those people aren't willing to go to concerts. If Underwood's people want her to have a healthy career, they'll avoid anything political.
The same thing happened to Loretta Lynn a few years back with "Van Lear Rose." Very fine album produced by Jack White, but she couldn't get the time of day on Country radio. Also the first album that she entirely wrote or co-wrote in many years.
The same thing happened to Loretta Lynn a few years back with "Van Lear Rose." Very fine album produced by Jack White, but she couldn't get the time of day on Country radio. Also the first album that she entirely wrote or co-wrote in many years.
Thanks for the ping :)
my guess is 10 yrs from now those grammys will be for sale on eBay as the "destitute chicks" peck for scraps, LOL
Sorry about that -- I think that might be my first double post in almost nine years on FR...
Hi there,
I'm the writer of the blog u just mentioned as "an islamic blog". just wanted to let you know my blog is not "an islamic blog"! although there is nothing wrong with that! im just a girl who writs about my daily life and ecperiences...just wanted to clear that up!
Thanks
See, there's the problem.... Even the artists understand that the Grammys are simply an excuse for a party, a marketing gimmick for the record labels, and essentially nothing but a big circle jerk. Nobody takes the Grammys seriously as far as separating good music from better music. What actually happened was, the voters cut their own throats. Couldn't happen to nicer bunch. Heh heh.
Isn't this continual chipping away at the dixie chicks a bit like knawing at your own leg. They come from the same stock of people as you, they like the same music as you, they are you. Didn't they just comment on what some folks were thinking? Isn't that the whole point? Granted, the way Natalie critised the Pres. of the USA was not ideal, but the backlash was fairly extreme.
As a Brit I'm concerned you think they committed some great indiscretion by having a go at Bush in the UK. We already knew he had it wrong, so no embarrassment for you there.
And for the record so did Tony Blair. I mean if Winston Churchill had had his way we would have been a state in the union too, it was touch and go for a while.
Another thing; if George Bush or for that matter Tony Blair ain't big enough to deflect a little critisism no matter from where it comes, then we're in trouble on both sides of the pond. I for one expect my country's leader to be durable in that respect.
As for the music I like a few Dixie Chick tracks as i like a few Toby Keith tracks, I prefer Alan Jackson to both of them, he just has more fun with his lyrics.
And finally please don't take offence if I have a wrong grasp on this, to me that venting anger and frustration on three singers is misplaced, its the politicians who get paid to take the flak. Well I'm off for a cold beer, a steak and to sit my with my lady, ...oh no, I'm becomming a redneck...
"LOL. But not that much better, eh? You're here like the rest of us, reading and commenting on them."
And they don't even make a penny off of me, and I do nothing to boost their ratings.
I'd say I've been pretty honest with my values.
ping
'Not ready to make nice vs. Jesus take the wheel.
Jesus always wins.'
Very true.
I also like Miss Underwood ..she shows class.
bump
Welcome, N00b! With a statement like that, you won't last long around here.
Bush didn't have it wrong, even if every Brit in Britain thinks so. Having lived in your country and others on the continent, I take a jaundiced eye at anything Europeans say about Americans. Many of you are a just a jealous bunch.
If then the Dixie Chicks are allowed to criticize (note the Z, it's on purpose) the President, certainly we can criticize the Dixie Chicks.
Country music fans are "Red Staters". This means they have an almost zealous love for this country and anyone slamming her in wartime deserves their disgust. It's our way. Country music fans overwhelmingly voted for Bush. We don't like to see others go out of their way to put him down. Also, a lot of the reasons we so dislike the Chicks is due to their response to our criticizing Maines original statement. Basically, she said "Y'all are a bunch of dumb hicks to vote for Bush, so I ain't taking back nothing. If you don't like it, don't listen!" Fighting words. Bad mouthing your fan base is no way to keep them.
When that happened, fans didn't want to listen to them any longer. They demanded radio stations stop playing them. The radio stations had every right to continue playing the Chicks, or not. Those that chose to continue, lost a lot of revenue. That's the way the market works. To suggest, as certain Hollywood liberals did, that this was persecution of the Chicks is simply absurd. More accurately, it was the relentless stereotyping and ridiculing of white, Anglo-Saxon, Christian Southern Americans that finally caused so many to stand up and shout "Stop it!" The anger directed at the Chicks was part of this. They're a lot of American cultural issues in play here. You Brits don't understand them. But believe me, the Chicks insulted us and stupidly continue to do so, so they are history.
'We already knew he had it wrong, so no embarrassment for you there.
Welcome, N00b! With a statement like that, you won't last long around here.
Bush didn't have it wrong, even if every Brit in Britain thinks so. Having lived in your country and others on the continent, I take a jaundiced eye at anything Europeans say about Americans. Many of you are a just a jealous bunch.
If then the Dixie Chicks are allowed to criticize (note the Z, it's on purpose) the President, certainly we can criticize the Dixie Chicks.
Country music fans are "Red Staters". This means they have an almost zealous love for this country and anyone slamming her in wartime deserves their disgust. It's our way. Country music fans overwhelmingly voted for Bush. We don't like to see others go out of their way to put him down. Also, a lot of the reasons we so dislike the Chicks is due to their response to our criticizing Maines original statement. Basically, she said "Y'all are a bunch of dumb hicks to vote for Bush, so I ain't taking back nothing. If you don't like it, don't listen!" Fighting words. Bad mouthing your fan base is no way to keep them.
When that happened, fans didn't want to listen to them any longer. They demanded radio stations stop playing them. The radio stations had every right to continue playing the Chicks, or not. Those that chose to continue, lost a lot of revenue. That's the way the market works. To suggest, as certain Hollywood liberals did, that this was persecution of the Chicks is simply absurd. More accurately, it was the relentless stereotyping and ridiculing of white, Anglo-Saxon, Christian Southern Americans that finally caused so many to stand up and shout "Stop it!" The anger directed at the Chicks was part of this. They're a lot of American cultural issues in play here. You Brits don't understand them. But believe me, the Chicks insulted us and stupidly continue to do so, so they are history.'
Well stated and I agree!
Thanks for taking the time to explain your point of view and that of the 'Red Staters' as you put it.
And thanks for the noob! welcome.
Actually the album debuted at #1 on both the pop and country charts last May and went Gold the first week. It was the 9th overall best-selling album of 2006.
from February.
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