DISQUS

2101bob · 4 months ago

The most likely reason the Dixie Chicks won so many awards in 2007 is that Grammy votes come from people inside the entertainment industry; they are not chosen by industry bosses, or swayed as much (in the case of open public votes) by industry campaigns. So it was largely a vote of sympathy for artists perceived by their peers as having been treated badly by the bigwigs and political factors which had had nothing to do with what one of the Chicks had actually said on just one occasion. It was fellow entertainers and associates giving those who had grabbed something as an excuse to make a political point and sacrificed the careers of the Chicks (by happen stance) to do so. And a protest against the "Country" Establishment trying to make everyone subscribe to their values - and let us remember that the Chicks had mightily annoyed this establishment before by not conforming to "the rules" of how they were expected to record, what they were expected to record, what instruments they were expected to play and so on (quite possibly the reason they were singled out anyway).

The reaction at the ceremony itself by the ladies was entirely in keeping with this general background of brief revolt by "the workers". And it was generally applauded by those present (though perhaps not all!). Like many such protests, it was short-lived, and never intended to be a wider challenge. Adults are allowed to behave like kids in similar circumstances - then it's back to reality. The Chicks themselves had had to grow up fast since 2003 (which they started out as entertainment darlings - for selling so many records), the product of which were the song and album which won the awards, and which stand as testimony to how far they had grown up.

Two years later, many Dixie Chick fans are wondering if the girls were so exhausted by the 2003-2007 experience which culminated in the Awards (and by having more children) that they've got little left to give, musically. As to their political leanings, apart from being against the Iraq war, contrary to media assumptions they have not spoken out, so we really don't know how they line up. Emily and Martie in particular have hardly voiced any opinions in public.