Dixie Sluts!

The Dixie Chicks are the number one country group in North America. With hits such as Landslide, Long Way Around and Traveling Soldier, the Dixie Chicks have a strong following. However, it hasn’t always been that way.

In April 2003, Natalie Maines made a controversial comment at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, England. Between song performances and completely unrehearsed, Natalie said, “We are ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas”, referring to the decision to go to war in Iraq. The media immediately took this comment and blew it over the top, jeopardizing the band’s reputation and music career all together.

Although the Dixie Chicks were not the first musical artists to speak their mind in front of an audience, the timing of their comment lead to harsher criticism. In 2003, the decision to send soldiers to Iraq was fresh and seemed like a good idea. A strong and brave country such as the United States was going to protect and fight for “the good guys”. What’s wrong with that? Unfortunately, due to “manufacturing consent”, the public was being brainwashed with this positive attitude towards war and questioned the Dixie Chick’s patriotism. "Travelin' Soldier," a number one song at the time, vanished from the charts within two weeks and was banned from several radio stations.

Click here to view "Traveling Soldier" lyrics by the Dixie Chicks!

Dixie Chick's singing "Traveling Soldier" Live in Las Vagas!

In this particular case, manufacturing consent was used by the government to persuade people to support the war via media sources. With a high success rate, manufacturing consent is primarily used to promote an image, alter public opinion and direct people’s actions. With media playing such a large part in people’s lives, it is easy to fall under the influence of what is believed through television, radio, posters, etc. Black Hawk Down was movie made and supported by the U.S. government to promote and encourage war in Somalia.

It wasn’t until numerous deaths and a few years later did people finally realize the rationality of Natalie Maine’s comment. The novelty of war wore off and people were coming to their senses. The public’s fury towards them lessened and the Dixie Chick’s were able to get back on their feet. After the release of their album “Taking the Long Way”, inspired by their fans’ negative reaction to the comment, the band won a total of three Grammy Awards. Martie Mguire told Der Speigel magazine in Germany: "We don't feel a part of the country scene any longer, it can't be our home any more. We now consider ourselves part of the big rock 'n' roll family".

Shut Up and Sing Preview

The Dixie Chick’s weren’t the only celebrities to speak out about their negative views on the government. Pink released “Dear Mr. President”, a controversial song thought to be an open letter to George W. Bush, in the beginning of April 2006. Although it was banned from certain radio stations in the U.S., there wasn’t nearly as much “uproar” than there was with the Dixie Chick’s.

Click here to view "Dear Mr. President" lyrics by Pink!

Kanye West also used media to get his message across about the president. Live on NBC’s Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, Kanye spoke out about his feeling’s of inequality towards African Americans stating, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”.

Kanye West -- NBC's Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser

I believe that both Pink and Kanye West sent much more controversial messages than the Dixie Chicks. Kayne point blank accused George W. Bush of not caring about black people. Pink also insisted on blaming the president for several of the problems in the United States. The Dixie Chicks; however, stated their opinion in a fashion much more vague and innocent than the other two. Unfortunately, the country band received much more criticism and had to suffer through years of disapproval from the public. I had heard “Dear Mr. President” played on the radio before but did not hear any controversy around it. I had also seen Kanye West’s remarks on YouTube, however the media coverage died down after a few days and I had not heard of it since.

It is sad to know that the government can play such a negative role in the lives’ of performers. Although we are given the right to free speech, these cases of protest prove that it is not as wonderful and easy as it sounds.

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Artist not available. “Dixie Chick Lyrics” azlyrics.com. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dixiechicks/travelinsoldier.html


Artist not available. “Dixie Chicks” MTVN Direct Inc. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/dixie_chicks/bio.jhtml


Artist not available. “Dixie Chick’s Traveling Soldier” YouTube. No Date. 29 May 2008. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxB02IK1ujc>


Artist not available. “Kanye - Don’t Care About Black People” YouTube. No Date. 29 May 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUzLpO1kxI

Artist not available. “Pink Lyrics” azlyrics.com. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pink/dearmrpresident.html


Artist not available. “Shut Up and Sing Preview” YouTube. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_at-y9M2kC0