Saturday, October 07, 2006
FLIPSIE CHICK
The ABC’s Scott Bevan interviews Dixie Chicks spokespod Natalie Maines, currently touring Australia:
SCOTT BEVAN: From a London stage in 2003, just before the US invaded Iraq, Texan born Natalie Maines told the audience, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas” ... Before you said that, had you discussed it, planned it, had you considered it, the words and the ramifications?
NATALIE MAINES: No, no. I think if I had considered the words, they would have been better ...
SCOTT BEVAN: Country music radio stations boycotted the Dixie Chicks’ songs. Cheers turned to jeers and the trio received even death threats in the mail ...
NATALIE MAINES: I would never take it back, but it wasn’t thought out and I never in a million years and I’m very glad I never would have thought any of those things would happen. Those things don’t cross my mind.
It didn’t cross Bevan’s mind to check the history of this dopey Dixie diss, which generated a rapid apology:
Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines was singing a new tune late Friday, this time in the form of an apology to President Bush for saying she was ashamed that he was from Texas.
“As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect,” Maines said in her latest statement.
So much for “never taking it back”. Maines also took advantage of an AAP reporter’s short memory:
The outspoken country music singer is sticking to her comments that she’s ashamed Bush was from her home state of Texas.
“I am disgusted with him (Bush) and his people,” Maines told AAP in Sydney ...
“We used free speech ... we are very proud of our controversy,” said Maines.
(Via J.F Beck, who has a mountain of fun posts to peruse)