One thing that has always irritated me about celebrities is
that so many of them feel a need to tell too much about what they think. No,
I’m not complaining about when they want to talk about the album, tour, family,
etc….After all, that would be less writing for me if that were the case. But,
sometimes, people in the public eye think we need to know everything about
their political views.
One of the coolest people on television in the 1980s was Tom
Selleck on “Magnum, PI.” I still enjoy his work on “Blue Bloods” from time to
time. And, one of my favorite actresses of the past twenty years is Ashley
Judd. I bring up those two because they can be very outspoken about their
political leanings. Pardon me, but I thought the aim of entertainers was
to…entertain. In all of my writings over the years, I don’t touch religion or
politics. The reason for this is easy. I have friends on both sides of the
street. And, my opinion is not tied to one particular party either.
I said all of that to bring up the album that I will be
featuring on “Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner” on June 10 – Home by The Dixie Chicks. Released in
the fall of 2002, it was a brilliant album by what very well could have been
the most talented act we had seen in the country music business in years.
Talent, swagger, and style, the Chicks had it all. The first three singles all
hit the Billboard top five, and it was almost a foregone conclusion that the
trio would take home the Album of the Year award from the CMA that year – if
not more.
Then, it happened.
The group was overseas in concert when Natalie Maines uttered
these words - "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do
not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the
United States is from Texas.” It was her opinions about the current war that
the country was in. Do I think she should have made such a statement? No. But,
what happened next was equally uncalled for. One of the biggest radio companies
in America – quickly took their music off the playlist of their stations,
crippling their career. People would call them “America Haters,” and that they
were against the troops. A load of bull, considering that family members of
Martie Maquire and Emily Robison were serving the U.S. in the war. Radio said
that their listeners demanded their music be gone. Unless major market
listeners are a lot different, I don’t recall many “demands” being made to me
as a programmer. When the dust settled, I think country radio – save that one
company – would have returned to playing them, but Natalie kept fanning the
flames, talking about not feeling a part of the country format anymore.
I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for the trio. I’m sure
they sleep well at night, and their bank accounts have a few more digits in it
than mine. But, at the end of the day, that controversy – and the response to
it – robbed the format of its’ brightest jewel. Proof of that can still be
heard on Home a decade later. Songs
like “Landslide,” “Travellin’ Soldier,” and “Long Time Gone” still sound as
fresh as anything then – or now. (Even though, I probably need to apologize to
my listeners in Dickson. I played “Long Time Gone” a lot!)
And, there was a lot more where that came from. “White Trash
Wedding” was hilarious from start to finish, and “A Home” and “I Believe In
Love” showcased Maines’ vocals to the max. And, then there was the
instrumentation. Granted, it wasn’t a Bill Monroe record, but it was the
closest thing to Bluegrass that radio would play --- and they did…until.
I hope I haven’t alienated any of you, because I know how
fragile egos are when it comes to politics. But, that’s the point. It never
should have gotten that far. It’s music. And, I realize that many of you might
feel that Country Music survived the loss…..and that Maines had it coming for
what she said post-comment. I will agree with both of those statements, but
tune in on Wednesday, June 10……I think you will agree with me that it was
simply a shame we let them get away. And, I’m sure that there were as many
elephants as donkeys who bought the album – after all, six million purchases
don’t lie.
Next week, I’ll tell you about an artist who has never
stopped creating great music – whether it be 1964, 1974, 1984, 2004, 2014, or
the title of next week’s album – 1994….
