The Bullying and the Scare Factor

In case anyone missed her notorious quote the first time - the 2003 remark that sparked a radio ban, mass CD destruction and multiple death threats - chief Dixie Chick Natalie Maines said it again last night.

When Maines made her initial comment on March 10 2003, 10 days before Operation Iraqi Freedom unleashed "shock and awe" over Baghdad, the Dixie Chicks were probably the biggest act in country music. Yet within days, their music vanished from the charts and the airwaves, apoplectic rednecks crushed piles of their CDs with tractors, and the FBI was feverishly monitoring death threats against the trio. It was the most heinous pop-star outrage since Ozzy Osbourne urinated on the Alamo.

"The reaction was as if Natalie had said 'Death to the President' or something," says violinist and vocalist Maguire.

"It was the bullying and the scare factor," shudders banjo and guitar player Robison. "It was like the McCarthy days, and it was almost like the country was unrecognisable."

The level of debate can be gauged from the way Maines was compared to "Hanoi Jane" Fonda, who was photographed manning a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun at the height of the Vietnam war. - (telegraph.co.uk)

Even those who are not followers or fans are pleased that others have resumed purchasing the Chick's music.

Sadly, Bullying and the Scare Factor: still there, as Michelle malkin attempts to turn the tables on the Chicks! My patriotism is not so fragile that I find entertainers all that threatening... indeed, it seems Country Music in the USA has lost it's way:

"At Thursday afternoon's Americana nominations announcement at the BMI building on Music Row, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer announced a slate of nominees that includes Rodney Crowell, James McMurtry and Neil Young, all of whom recently released caustic musical critiques of the political, economic and military status quo.

Even the Dixie Chicks received a song of the year nomination for "Not Ready To Make Nice," a song largely ignored by country radio.

"This is the first time since the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' soundtrack that the top-selling album in America is on Americana radio but not on any other genre's stations," said Jeff Green, the AMA's executive director. "Americana artists have never shied away from being politically outspoken."

Chicks members Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Robison aren't the only nominees who were once featured on country radio. More than half the nominees have either sung or played on country hits, including former radio staples Crowell, Marty Stuart and Rosanne Cash.

The host Americana Music Association defines the genre as "American roots music based on the traditions of country," though Americana also encompasses music with roots in blues (Delbert McClinton) and rock (Drive-By Truckers). Artists that were once on the cutting edge of commercial, Music Row country often find acceptance in the Americana world after their days at country radio are through." - tennessean.com

Related: Amazon video of the Dixie Chicks on Bill Maher's show in Flash Video format.

Elsewhere, Wendy Cheng is back blogging her Xiaxue best in Singapore, after a tryst with her American love monkey. Everybody loves the USA!

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