At this year's Grammy Awards, the Dixie Chicks won in all five categories in which they were nominated (Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Country Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year).
Do you think these awards were given as an industry message in support of free speech? Or was it a message from an often-perceived liberal industry thumbing its nose at right-leaning music fans? Maybe there was no intended message...what do you think?
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I'm not sure whether the Dixie Chicks deserved five grammys on their 2005 performance, but their story of censorship is worth examining. Freedom of Speech does come with consequences. If one makes their living by public opinion, such as the Dixie Chicks and their music fans, they must realize that what they say may impact their fans negatively. Yes, Freedom of Speech allows us to offer our opinion without fear of going to jail or being hushed away in the night, but it doesn't come without possible repercussions.
It's one thing if fans don't like what somebody says,writes or sings. They have the choice not to purchase the artist's music.
That's not what happened to the Dixie Chicks.
Corporate America, in particular three radio conglomerates which own almost every country radio station in the U.S. made a corporate decision not to play the Dixie Chicks' music. A corporate, business decision to censor their music because of one statement that Natalie Mains said.
Were they speaking for their radio listeners? Some say they were, others say they weren't.
I think these radio comglomerates were acting on the basis of profit: their advertisers made it clear they didn't want to hear an "unpatriotic" music group...and if they did,might no longer agree to purchase advertising on those radio stations.
An individual's decision to boycott a musical act is one thing; corporate radio America wasn't acting on some principle, I would argue, they were acting on their profit margins.
The Dixie Chick paid the price.
I think it was LA thumbing their noses at Nashville. And the blacklisting was not about radio conglomerates picking on the Chicks and censoring their music. It was all about profit. They were just giving the fans what they want, or in this case NOT giving the fans what they DIDN'T want. That's the way American capitalism works.
i didn't see the Grammys, but i do know about what they said toward the president. the industry obviously wanted to poke at the free speach, because they went from no playing of their music to five grammys. HOW?
I think Corporate America initially acted in favor of profit margins and American consumers acted on behalf of a distorted sense of patriotism.
During that time, I believe mainstream Americans were still very nervous from the events of 9/11 and were actually demonstrating more nationalistic characteristics rather than patriotic traits.
I also think American decision making can be compared to the group mentality of fans rooting for the average hometown football team. And many Americans can simply be described as fair-weather fans.
Whenever the team gets a new quarterback, the fans of the team get behind him, setting aside and even disuading any skeptical criticisms.
At that time, Bush's lame-duck approach to his job was enjoying a new found liveliness thanks to the war on terrorism. He became the new starting quarterback, or at least the guy suddenly yanked from the bench.
Many people rallied behind him as the principled, steadfast leader the country needed, while those not so sure of his ability were forced to bite their tongues.
As the political climate regressed back to full swing partisanship, and Bush's policies came under increasing fire, Bush supporters lost momentum and credibility.
Fast forward to this years Grammy's
and it seems almost natural that the Dixie Chicks' career be redeemed by the awards. No thanks to their timid fans, who did'nt speak up loud enough in their defense, and to the shame of the nationalistic fools who tried to silence their democratic voices to begin with.
m.taghizadegan
Howdy this is Betne McCoy--
I think that the 5 grammys the Chicks recieved was definatley ment to be a message for someone. The Chicks were not even as poular in 2005 as they were in past years. I think that this was an "out cry" to the public. It yelled a message that Freedom of Speech is to be a found and used treasure and not buried among the sand of what is suposed to be right and wrong.
Hey its Nikki Martinez:]
It mayve been a subliminal message, however they are worthy musicians. Free speech is definitely a right that people should be aware of and willing to defend. Maybe their comments were crass but ultimately it was their right to say them.
I personally believe that the Dixie Chicks really did deserve to win in all five categories. I don't believe these awards were given as an industry message in support of free speech because that would be kind of an odd reason to give an award, I mean if an artist would get awards based on something that they said in the past to show support for free speech, then Kanye West would also be winning a ton of awards. I don't think that it was a message from the industry either. I happen to have the Dixie Chicks latest CD and I do believe that it did deserve all of the awards it got! I am slightly liberal so I did side with the Dixie Chicks on what they said, I mean it really wasn't that bad. It was just dramatized to the point that it basically made people think way to much about it! So really, I don't think there was any kind of intentional message behind the Dixie Chicks winning this award but they really did deserve them!
-Angelina Perez
I don't think there really was an intended message on the part of the Dixie Chicks winning 5 Grammy awards. Even through there free speech thingy was a huge topic, i think they rightfully won there awards
I do believe that the five awards may have had something to do with setting an example for free speech. They certainly took a hit when they spoke up against the President. Corporate American did not back them up. I believe it was due to profits as much as peoples sensitivity over the attacks. We all know that freedom of speech comes at a cost. They were willing to pay the price. I am glad they are back on their feet and doing well. We must speak out when we believe much is at stake.
We all know why the Dixie Chicks got their Grammys. If they hadn’t written a song that had conflict with our former, soon to be out of a job president, there wouldn’t be such a loud problem. Yes, they are okay artist for the country scene, but when the lead singer of the trio had conflict with the president and refused to apologize for it, Americans with the same feelings united in the song. The song is powerful, but if you don’t know what went on you don’t realize that the song has more meaning to it. It’s hard not to be bias when it comes to the president with me, I am happy that the Dixie Chicks got the award because I believe that this is a way to get our voice heard. Do the Dixie Chicks really deserve the reward? I don’t know. Before the controversial song hit the air I thought they had fallen off the deep end, and weren’t a big name in country music anymore. If someone doesn’t agree with this, it is their choice to not listen or to listen. No one is forced to buy a cd. There is no reason to censor the music. Freedom of speech?
It shouldn't come down to what they said,, if thats the case whats the point of our constitution and the right to freedom of speech. If you make good music,fans appreciate your work you should be recognized for it and thats all thats should matter. No, i dont think these award were given as an industry message in support of free speech, if thats the case i believe everyone in the music industry would do this to benefit themselves.
I don't feel like there was some big political message in the fact that the Dixie Chicks won 5 grammys. However I do feel like there was a message being sent when the sales of their cds went down and no one wanted to play they're music after they spoke out against the President. I think at that time people were upset and felt it was unpatriotic. Now I think people are also second guessing the decisions made by our President and are finding it more acceptable to say so. And whether or not you agree with the political decisions of the Dixie Chicks should not affect whether or not you like their music. I feel like the media played a big part in what happened to the Dixie Chicks, it seemed like the Grammys were aired one night and by the next morning everyone had heard about what was said. Radio stations across the nation quit playing the Dixie Chicks, stores took their cds off the shelf, ect. I think this is a perfect example of Free Speech gone bad.
I think that there sort of was a message to be intended for the Dixie Chicks to have won in every event. Not only was it saying that we still love your music even though you are not a fan of the president but it seems like not many people really are these days and for these girls to be alienated for expressing their freedom of speech is quite a contradiction to the true freedom we are supposed to have in this country. It could be possible that there was no message intended however the chances of that don't seem very likely due to the great big deal that it caused that everyone in the whole world heard about. Personally, I firmly agree with what the Dixie Chick said and even if I didn't I would still love them for their music and talent and I would have voted for them to win just to show my support for their band and their American freedom that they have every right to display.
The Dixie Chicks winning the grammy's seems to be more or less the qaulity of there music and a pinch of thier past. I personally hardly listen to country, but I have respect for the Dixie Chicks because they have always presented a pleasant image and they have also made acceptable music that almost any one can listen to. I am very sure this is not the first grammy the Dixie Chicks have won and I believe it is unfair to say this is the public throwing freedom of speach in peoples face because that does not seem to be the case. The freedom of speech incident may have created a lot of controversy around the group, but maybe that is what they wanted. I do not think they are imposing any values, they just acknowledge that they are a part of this country too and they have a right to an opinion.
I feel that it was no messsage in the Dixie Chicks and their grammy awards. I believe that their comments just raised the publicity and their popularity. I feel that by them making their comments on the president made the Dixie Chicks stand out even more for their political views on top of their musical talent, and the awards were so much easier for them to win.
I dont think that the Dixie Chicks getting 5 awards is based on someone trying to send a message across for free speech but for them having good music. I dont think that that is the first thing that comes to peoples minds since they had those comments about the president a few years back. Maybe they are good at what they do and deserve those awards. They have had some really good hits in the past 10 or so years and it just so happens they are back and maybe better then ever and are being recognized and given some credit where credit is due.
I was able to watch the grammys and after the comment that was made from the dixie chicks I do believe that the majority of why they won so many awards had a lot to do with the media showing that free speach is so important.
I lost all respect for the Dixie Chicks, as many American did. However, I dig Toby Keith and loved what he had to say about them.
I don’t know if there was a hidden agenda at the Grammys but the chicks are certainly talented just lack intelligence and integrity.
I couldn’t give you a valid opinion of their album because I refuse to listen to them ever again. The album may have been worthy of an award or sending out some kind of message. I don’t know that I have always agreed with the award given in the Grammys. The judges may like them but many Americans like me still don’t.
It is one thing to exercise your rights to freedom of speech with class and it is another to completely disgrace yourself and country. It is such a disappointment that the chicks disgraced our country publicly.
I don't know if the Dixie Chicks deserved five grammys for their music. But I also believe that it wasn't the industries way of thumbing their nose at them either. I believe that they have legitamite songs which deserve to have some recognition.
Kelli Kavinsky
i think the dixie chicks were put under were great controversy with there fued with president bush. i mean there people in texas having smashing parties of all the dixie chicks cds. this just goes to show that people dont follow the leader and after everything they went through and all the fans they lost for speaking their mind, they still have plenty of supporters to sweep all the awards in one night. kinda like a cinderella story right?
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