Pink’s song Dear Mr. President has taken me back to the Dixie Chicks saga a few years ago. The problem I had with that whole thing was the whining that went on about how they were being treated unfairly etc… Well the point is the people who liked your music happened to people who didn’t like what you said or the place and way you said it. Country music fans tend to be conservatives who support the troops and for the most part the president. Attacking the President’s war policy is often seen as an attack on the troops overseas fighting. It’s not surprising the Chicks lost much of their fan base. That was the consequences for their actions, losing money and air play from the people who generally disagree with them and their methods of expressing themselves.
Personally, I like the Dixie Chicks music. I never bought their music, even before the controversy, but I rarely buy music anymore. I do listen to the radio watch video music channels. When Dixie Chick songs come on I don’t turn the channel even though I didn’t like the way they expressed themselves. What I don’t do, however, is listen to their interviews any more. I no longer really care what they believe any more, but they still make great music.
Honestly, I think if they had expressed their dislike for the war policy in a song there wouldn’t have been as much fall out. This brings me back to Pink. I don’t agree with the song she wrote. I think it is demeaning to the President and herself. There are better ways to express your self in songs than attacking a persons personal life and childhood. It is her opinion though and she has the right to express it. I will still listen to her music, though, like the Chicks, I probably won’t listen to anymore interviews by her.
I found the whole Dixie Chicks mess to be irritating too. People who aren’t willing to accept the criticism that comes when saying something controversial in public ought to just keep their mouths shut.