Chicks Rule Grammys
The Dixie Chicks are officially forgiven.The country music trio swept the Grammys last night, winning in all five categories in which they were nominated, including the top prizes of record, album and song of the year. Their album, "Taking the Long Way", also scored best country album, and their single "Not Ready to Make Nice," took home the award for best country performance by a duo or group with vocals.
It was a bittersweet victory for the Dixie Chicks, who saw a huge slide in their popularity when lead singer Natalie Maines, at a London concert in 2003, famously quipped: "Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas".
After the remark, record sales plummeted when several U.S. country stations boycotted the group for their supposedly anti-American sentiments. CD-smashing, fan protests, and even death threats ensued.
The backlash was chronicled in 2006's excellent documentary, "Shut Up and Sing", which debuted at last year's Toronto International Film Festival.
Other big Grammy winners included Mary J. Blige and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who won three and four awards, respectively.
However, it was clearly the Dixie Chicks who came out on top. Unapologetic, honest and brave, these three women deserve all the acclaim they get. It is the fickle Chicks critics who are now the ones shamed.
Source: [Link]
posted by Laura at
2/12/2007
1 Comments:
The awards given to the Dixie Chicks were simply one thing....sending a message.
As you know, these awards were not given by the people. This was not the People's Music Awards, rather less than 11,000 members of professionals in the music industry. One writer brought up the idea that the vote for the various catagories was so split, that the largest chunk of votes left were the politically active members who had the opportunity to "make a statement" with what amounts to a lackluster album and a really boring song.
First of all, there's no way a song like that would take song of the year at the Grammys unless it had help, through collusion or other means, or jury nullification, just like the O.J. trial. And for them to win 5 awards if just not only improbable, but impossible! It looks like the Grammys jumped the shark last night, allowing politics to influence the outcome of not one but 5 awards and I personally could never look at them in any kind of positive light again, though that's been coming for a long time now.
I've been a professional musician for over 35 years, a session player on albums and a touring sideman. I'm hearing nothing, and I repeat nothing, but disbelief at what happened last night. Some are asking for an investigation to see if there was indeed any wrong doing in the "winning" of these awards. And all along, Natalie and the world still actually think that they really won those awards.
Sad. Hope they never realize what really happened. They were used!
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