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At the Toronto Film Festival: Dixie Chicks Don’t Shut Up, Do Sing

9/11/06, 5:37 pm EST

There’s some irony in watching the screening of the documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up And Sing at the Toronto International Film Festival on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. The tragedy and its aftermath are partly what inspired singer Natalie Maines to comment onstage in 2003 at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire that she was ashamed the President of the United States was from Texas. Opening with the Texas-reared group— Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison — reading some of the hate e-mail that poured in after Maines’ comment, the documentary chronicles the rather stupefying onslaught the band faced as a result of Maines’ comment. There’s plenty of Bush-bashing (“what a dumbfuck”), F-word usage, and even blowjob jokes – stuff that directors Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck obviously kept in for a reason: to show the Chicks as they are, warts and all. None of it is particularly shocking. The movie gets its momentum from the controversy surrounding the band’s politics and the ways in which they dealt with the backlash as it happened, from the bulldozing of their CDs to country radio’s boycott and beyond. But it’s the personal dimension – footage of the women with their husbands and children, and in the studio together — where the film truly shines. The ways in which the women voice their opinions even in the face of criticism, support one another, and fight back is truly compelling, whether you’re anti-Bush or not. Your heart goes out to the Chicks as they endure the backlash – which some could argue is itself a form of terrorism. (Footage of the group taking the stage directly after Maines receives a very specific death threat — “Natalie Maines will be shot dead, Saturday June 6 in Dallas Texas” — is especially poignant.) With any luck, Shut Up And Sing will achieve what the band’s been trying to achieve for the last three years: to shut the door on this episode for good and move on.


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Comments

Kent67b | 9/11/2006, 11:45 pm EST

I hope this film changes some peoples’ opinions of the Dixie Chicks but also helps their wonderful music get heard more.

Stephen | 9/12/2006, 12:07 am EST

Is there any talk in this movie about how the so-called “stupefying onslaught” was the best thing to ever happen to their career?
It’s really kind of laughable that these women are lauded for being so “brave.” Speaking out about your country’s president in another country isn’t exactly what I’d call revolutionary. They even apologized for it! Only after they realized what great publicity it was did they decide to ride this thing as far as it can go. And who can blame them?
“Your heart goes out to them”? Boo-hoo. I’m sure those C-notes work great as hankeys.

Dex | 9/12/2006, 12:45 am EST

I usually loathe modern country music,but these chicks have the balls to say what they feel.

Anonymous | 9/12/2006, 12:50 am EST

It was kind of stupid of them to alienate their core audience. Nonetheless I’m glad to see that they are still going strong.

benjamin1 | 9/12/2006, 1:36 am EST

An artist always wants to be heard. If your an actor you want to be seen. If your a writer you want everyone to read. If your a politican you want people to vote(for you). If your a singer you want to be heard. Any of these people are allowed every right to speak and show what they stand for. They are just like everyone else. All anyone wants in life is to be known for who they are. This film will really show the true colors to all those who have not figured out who the Dixie Chick women really are.

Caruso128 | 9/12/2006, 1:37 am EST

I hope that this movie makes people more aware of how truly talented the Dixie Chicks are, and that they go out and buy their new album!

BUSH | 9/12/2006, 1:37 am EST

Ok, I’ll see the film.

whatever | 9/12/2006, 4:49 am EST

Remember, she’s not ready to make nice. They are’nt trying to move on. Give me a break. When things are cutting into there income then you hear “we just want to move on” otherwise celebrities just keep on being blow-hard jerks. Even before she made her stupid comment I didn’t care less what there political views are. Everybody needs to watch what they say, celebrity or not. Comments have a way of coming back and biting you on the ass. If she is going to use the world arena for her rants then get used to the backlash. Natalie — SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!!

wunderboy | 9/12/2006, 6:08 am EST

They have husbands? I’m glad to see, for their sakes, that there are still poor slobs who find crude women attractive. I’m a fiftyish boomer, Bush-weary and nostalgic as can be, longing for the days of The Fabs and JFK, feeling infinitely sorry for the world and its loss of sanity, glamour, and cool. Like their many anything-for-a-headline peers, The Dixie Chicks are boring beyond belief. Where’s Aretha, Smokey and Ray Davies when we need ‘em most? Good ol’ Dylan, #1 on the charts..all right! Whodathunkit? To paraphrase the late, great Sen. L. Bentsen, “Chicks, yer no Norma Jean!” I’ll take my sweet propriety-conscious babe anyday, a FMEO firebrand who wouldn’t think of publicly shaming her best boy, not to mention her kids, with attention-seeking toiletmouth. DC chumps, you may proceed to envy me now…(Q. Anybody seen Jimmy Dean? A. Sure as hell not lately!)

Ed from Texas | 9/12/2006, 7:37 am EST

Gas $3.00 a gallon
Look at how messed up gw bush has us! He will go down in history as one of the worst presidents. So maybe the chicks are right, he is an idiot, at least they can sing! I’m sure he’d screw that up too.

whocares | 9/12/2006, 7:40 am EST

my “name” says it all, who cares! I never liked em anyway. Even b4 the Bush comment. They hurt themselves. They know that most country fans are red blooded republicans. What was she thinking? But say it in America, not London, to have some real balls. Anyho, I just read the article cause my wife likes em. Thats fine with me.

Aleksandar | 9/12/2006, 8:24 am EST

Oh lame ass americans. You try so greatly to preach democracy around this globe yet u can stand when someone waves the same flag in your fat face. I can imagine what would have happened to Chicks if they did that in US.
It is mind bogling to us living outside of your stolen land from natives soil that i never want to visit, to know that u people stood behind that moron in the white ass office, when u watched him sit for 12 minutes in front of all those children on 9/11 doing nothing. I beleve if he had svastika on his forehead u would still ignore the signs.
So u dont like chicks, good because finally they said it, they dont like u either.period…
I have met many amazing country fans and they beleive chicks did good, I never liked new country because it represented voice of yours. Finally someone different comes out and speaks out to people like me. And guess what I actually bought an album just to support them, when i had it downloaded a month before release. Few friends as well…and they rock

whocares | 9/12/2006, 8:42 am EST

Aleksandar. Lame ass Americans? What fucked up country do you live in? Afganistan? I think we found Osama its Aleksandar!! Get the fucker!

misty | 9/12/2006, 9:34 am EST

I greatly admire the chicks for their ability to stick together. I never thought for one minute this comment would cause such a backlash for these wonderful ladies. I think the people who reacted with anger and hate need to seriously look at who they are, they say they are great americans, BOOOOO!!! I’m sure they think they are great CHRISTIANS as well. So to all the HYPOCRITES and GREAT AMERICANS look in the mirror, you should be ashamed of yourselves!!

Scout | 9/12/2006, 11:45 am EST

The “lame-ass Americans” who perpetrated the death threats, CD stomping and downright hatefulness are an embarrassment to the rest of us who actually support our country’s Constitution. The Dixie Chicks have more guts than all of the country music industry and it’s fans put together and I’m very proud to call them fellow Americans. God Bless the Dixie Chicks!

suzyq | 9/12/2006, 1:08 pm EST

Just like their disappointing concert ticket sales in the U.S. have proven, people are pretty much OVER the Chicks. Who cares if they shut up OR sing?!? Canada and Australia can have them. This movie will not be a big hit, though the Chicks are desperate for it to be a success. They ASSUMED they would become instant rock-n-roll darlings, yet the U.S. stations (AC, Pop, and Rock–not just Country) have NOT embraced them with much airplay. No, it is NOT a boycott, people. This documentary will simply prove to the gals that they are OVER in the U.S…

Kym | 9/12/2006, 1:50 pm EST

DCX are the most awesome and incredibly gifted and talented women that the music industry has ever seen. They have overcome impossible obstacles and are still going strong despite the controversy they had to endure. It was ridiculous. as for bush all of this started because of him.I know it was a big deal then but I don’t know who would care now considering everything he has done to our country and others.IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW READ THE 911 COMMISION REPORT YOU WILL SEE HOW INCOMPETANT OUR SO CALLED LEADER IS.He did everything wrong.I pity our government and am afraid for us as a nation.

Tiff Prendergast | 9/12/2006, 1:59 pm EST

I will see them Chicks documentary, listen 2 their music, see them live (which wasw back in 2003) I have forgiven them & I hope others do too! The Chicks rock!

Kym | 9/12/2006, 3:23 pm EST

Congrats on the film girls hope you have lot’s of fun tonight:0)Rock the RED CARPET:0)CHICKS RULE:0)

Dan T | 9/12/2006, 5:33 pm EST

They had it right and still have it right. Bush is a loser. What a moron.

chicksfan | 9/12/2006, 6:52 pm EST

Its funny to me how country music calls some of their singers like, willie, hank, etc and toby Outlaws, but the chicks are the real country outlaws and they don’t get the respect from the country music industry! That industry treats it’s “outlaws” like gold for being rebels?? rebels that agree with them and are politically correct???

Linda | 9/12/2006, 10:02 pm EST

I’m so glad the “incident” happened. It made me pay attention to the Dixie Chicks, which led to buying their new Cd, which led me to realize these women are not just intelligent and strong but they are dripping with talent.

I went out and bought 2 more of their CD’s, went to their concert (It ROCKED !) and plan on buying the rest of their Cd’s.

Stay strong Chicks. You’ve made new fans. We are proud of you. You will be fine.

benitha | 9/12/2006, 10:44 pm EST

I really was surprised at the backlash that the DCX suffered from the “comment”. I think it has been way over the top for a while and the Country music honchos should have put a stop to it immediately , but chose not to. I think it speaks volumes though that they still count the DCX sales when they talk about country music’s numbers. These women are awesome. Almost 3 million total sold and little to no airpaly on regular radio. AWESOME!!!

Beldo | 9/13/2006, 1:59 am EST

I much prefer the transsexual country group The Chixy Dicks. And not a one of them is cross-eyed.

TX2NY | 9/13/2006, 6:11 pm EST

The DCX are so talented. They dont belong in country music with all the crap I see on CMT. “TRICK MY TRUCK”… “MY BODUNCADUNK”… it all makes me want to puke. I enjoy seeing them on VH1 and breaking the record for #1 on the countdown there. This film is gonna be awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smellyoldgit | 9/20/2006, 10:31 am EST

It doesn’t seem very intelligent for Maines to call Bush a “dumb fuck” considering what happened after her comments in London.

Personally, and I live in Texas, I HATE country music, so if the Chicks disappeared tomorrow I wouldn’t care.

It just puzzles me why Natalie Maines keeps wanting to stir up problems and hurt the band’s career, just to make a point about a President. Weird.

etisfree | 10/5/2006, 2:22 am EST

It just keeps amazing me how unforgiving, hateful, down right mean, people can be!!! After all this time, you people are still not getting it. The DCX happened to be in London, and that’s why Natalie said it there. The war was about to start & that’s why the statement was made there. You can believe, Natalie would have made the comment in the wonderful United States of America if she was here. So I have no idea why you people don’t have lives of your own, when other people have to tell you what to do! It’s a very sad, sad situation our country is in now! When so called Christians & religious people act in such a hateful way & have continued to act that way, still, 3 years later! Why is it so important for all of you to want to destroy the DCX? You see what our so called leaders have been doing to our wonderful country! We are still in a war that will never be won, terror is still in our lives, our gov’t is accepting resignations as we type, and Bob Woodward is once again letting all of us know the truth about “Our State of Denial”.

We are in such denial that people can still get into schools & kill innocent children & Principals. We deny that a lawmaker can send sexually explicit e-mails to young pages. We are in denial of who we can trust & who we can’t. Denial of who’s covering whose ass this week. And for what?

All I know, is that I respect, admire and I’m truly in awe of Natalie, Martie, and Emily. Not only as the best female band ever…but for standing up for what they believe in…standing up for freedom of speech…standing up to hate…standing up to censorship…standing up to the media …powers that be…!

God Bless the DCX and their wonderful families.

I will see the doc. Probably, many times over. I know already because of the description from the directors that it’s going to be an extrodinary film. And I already know that I will get very emotional at certain times in the film. Please support the film & the Dixie Chicks! They are real women, not actresses!!! Peace!!!

Nick in Oz | 10/8/2006, 3:59 am EST

This is the way a revolution starts … and I am so glad I am here to see my daughter at 10 years be part of it!

Jennifer | 10/9/2006, 1:08 pm EST

The chicks are not over in the U.S. as suzy q said earlier. Their new album is just as big as their other ones. And the fact that they can stick by their opinions and comeback afterwards is awesome. So many of you hate country music why? Because they aren’t singing about beating women, killing gay guys or wait their grillz? That makes it bad music. The chicks are still loved in the country community. I’d be ashamed if Bush were from Nebraska!!!!

garyw721 | 10/10/2006, 5:40 pm EST

Hey Jennifer,its not that county music is bad,it just all sounds the same.They can say what they want,they have that freedom & with freedom comes responsibility.If somebody elce criticizes them,too bad.You can’t heve freedom of speech one way for your view & another way for the other view.

Squiggly | 10/10/2006, 8:38 pm EST

A singer in a country band says she’s embarrassed by Bush. Bush bombs a nation that never did anything to anybody, he kills thousands of people, he supports torture, and he has turned the entire world against us. Tell me, which is worse? Forget Texas — I’m embarrassed that George Bush is from the United States of America. Thank goodness for people like Natalie Maines, who are brave enough to speak their minds. That’s what America is all about. That’s freedom. That’s patriotism. All this kill everybody, wrap yourself in the flag crap is NOT patriotism — it’s anti-American; it’s blind devotion to your government; it’s cowardice. I wonder if the peoplw who sent Natalie death threats consider themselves Christian. If this is supposed to be a Christian nation, I wish all these bloodthirsty war supporters and death-threat idiots would crack open their Bibles and figure out who Jesus would bomb. Natalie rules! I’m so proud of the Chicks for prevailing!

Mr cool | 11/12/2006, 1:48 am EST

I love Dixie chicks

jonny | 11/22/2006, 7:05 am EST

jonny

Dr. Paul Harrison | 1/21/2007, 12:14 am EST

Let’s face it. The Dixie Chicks are right.Bush is a nut!But I would only fuck the one that plays the fiddle.

Music Fan | 2/12/2007, 3:50 pm EST

I’m not much of a country music fan but I don’t consider the Dixie Chicks a country music band, especially their newer stuff. The local radio stations don’t play them so I had to go out and buy all their albums. It was a good thing too because there are a lot of gems on the CD’s that probably would never get much air time (even without the silly boycott).

I have to laugh at the ignorance of all the people who smashed their DCX CD’s. After all, those CD’s were already bought and paid for! I can only guess how many were smashed in a momentary fit of Nazi like “patriotism” only to be replaced with new ones when it was discovered how large the hole was that was left without any Dixie Chicks.

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Spanky | 9/28/2009, 6:47 pm EST

F*^& the Dixie Chick(en sh&ts)

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