Dixies Blast Schwarzenegger

Six months after anti-George Bush remarks made by singer Natalie Maines onstage in London erupted into a conservative backlash in the United States, the Dixie Chicks are on tour in Europe again and targeting another high-profile Republican.

"[Arnold Schwarzenegger] is a great film star," banjo player Emily Robison told a German newspaper, "but I find his run for governor absolutely insane."

The Terminator star and former Mr. Universe is the leading Republican candidate in the California recall ballot to replace Governor Gray Davis, and has drawn ire from women's groups over his days as a playboy bodybuilder.

"America should be governed by people who have a clue," Robison continued. "I hope he doesn't win."

This week, the Dixies return to England -- the site of the controversy that resulted in some U.S. country radio stations boycotting their music and the group receiving death threats -- before heading to Australia at the end of the month.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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