Dixie Chicks on Comeback to Country Music?

I love this country. I love that I am an American. And I love country music. The Dixie Chicks are both. Period. Now, you rarely hear of the Dixie Chicks anymore, it’s a shot in the dark to hear them on almost any country radio station in the country now a days yet, they ARE the top selling all female band of all time. You don’t hear of them anymore because of one comment made overseas during a concert, which, is probably the most controversial statement in country music. Scratch that--it IS the most controversial.  But the Dixie Chicks are reinventing themselves and you just may hear them again. I’ll tell you the details on this project and my thoughts on their controversy.

During a London concert ten days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, lead vocalist Maines said, "we don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States (who at the time was George W. Bush) is from Texas" (which, is the Dixie Chicks' home state). The statement took off like wildfire and many people were outraged, thought it was unpatriotic and disgusting. After, the media exploded on covering the topic, the controversy fired up and cost the band half of their concert audience attendance in the United States, caused hate mail, death threats, and public destruction of their albums in protest. I mean, you rarely-to-never hear them on country radio stations anymore.

But if you’re still a fan of the Chicks or at least, good music (because...let’s face it…the Dixie Chicks make good music. Disagree? Ask the Grammy’s why they received 5 Grammy’s for their last album then…or why in the Nielson Soundscan era they are the top selling female group of all time) than good things are happening this week!

Two thirds of the Dixie Chicks, sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison have teamed up, without Natalie Maines to form a band called the Court Yard Hounds. The duo has been in action for almost two years now with an album that was delivered mid-last year. Robinson will be taking the reins on lead vocals so let’s see if these guys will be able to produce music that will come back to the charts. More importantly, these gals are coming to Buffalo this Thursday!! Perhaps, this is the upswing of the Dixie Chicks, who are still an entity and have no broken up throughout this side project. Perhaps, this duo will see radio again and sold out stadiums. None the less, they are back in action and making great music. Check out their website at www.courtyardhounds.com. The Dean of Country and WYRK will be down this Thursday at the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf for the Free Concert as we welcome the Court Yard Hounds. Go check them out!

Now, my opinion on the issue is more neutral to in favor of the Dixie Chicks and I’ll tell you why. I’m not saying that what they did was right. I probably wouldn’t have said it. But, I want you to think about what you thought about the war and how the media negatively looked at George Bush for sending all those troops to Iraq at the time. I can tell you I didn’t support that. A lot of people thought the same way. So the Dixie Chicks said it. Now, last time checked we live in the United States of America and Amendment number one of the Constitution gives us some pretty powerful rights (I’d love to see how many people who live in this country and boycott the Dixie Chicks because of this know all the rights in Amendment One anyway). The Dixie Chicks were being honest and spoke for all those people who thought the same way they did. They are famous and people forgot that they are real people too with an opinion. Also, I realize they were in another country when this was said but they didn’t support George Bush’s move. Do you support every move our president now makes? But, like I said... They are country music. They make great music. And to me, I honestly don’t care what an artist says. If they make great music….I will still be listening. See ya at the Harbor…