THE CHICKS RULE!!!

So, a couple of years ago or so when all the stuff went down with the Dixie Chicks, in particular Natalie Maines telling a London concert audience: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas," I couldn't believe the response. I live in Atlanta and I was disappointed with my favorite radio station's decision to pull the Chicks' remake of "Landslide" off the air. They justified it by having an official vote, but honestly who that wasn't upset by the comment (me included) was actually going to call up and demand it not be taken off. I actually didn't even know about it until it was already over. I don't think it was a fair representation of what listeners really wanted. It actually seemed more to me like it was a representation of a small group of people who were fired up and had nothing better to do with their life than demand a boycott of a band. How stupid. I think now, and then, that it was total censorship and that it should never have happened. These people who talk about the war and defending our freedoms and all that other patriotic stuff that they like to bring up need to remember that FREEDOM OF SPEECH is one of those. Just because you don't like what was said doesn't mean you can just pull what you don't like off the radio. That's the great thing about radio and other forms of art and media. It's supposed to be FREE of censorship. Totally FREE. I blame the radio station most though, they should have known better. They sacrificed their integrity just because there was a little heat. I do commend one of the DJs though. Melissa Carter was the only one that said "hey, wait a minute. I don't agree with this". I remember her making the point that they were a top 40 radio station and that they should continue to honor that format no matter what, and if the song fell out of the top 40 because of the comments made then that should be the only reason why the station should stop playing it. A voice of reason, even if no one listened to her. Thanks anyway Melissa.

Anyway, my point is that just this week I heard the new Dixie Chicks single. It's called "Not Ready To Make Nice". I love it, I love the words, I love the CHICKS. I love that they are still saying what they feel, no matter what and they aren't scared of it affecting their career. That, my friends at the radio station I love so dearly, is what integrity is. It's standing up for yourself and not backing down from a fight. You Go DIXIE CHICKS!! Thank you for not going away quietly like so many wanted you to.
Here are the words, pick up the single from itunes.

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting

I'm through with doubt
There's nothing left for me to figure out
I've paid a price
And I'll keep paying

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I’m mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I know you said
Can't you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don't mind sayin'
It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Sayin' that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting