This is not just a random walk down country controversy memory lane
It was March 10, 2003 that Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks told a crowd in London that they were “ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas,” referring to George W. Bush.
The resulting backlash was swift and severe.
The immediate reaction was not as hostile as one would expect.
The crowd cheered, and the superstar trio went to bed without a second thought about what they had just done. Within the week country radio stations were not only banning their music, they were renting steamrollers and hosting parties to crush all Dixie Chicks albums into dust.
It was as if an entire format had been waiting and planning for such a quip.
Politics aside, country music lost a superstar act that day.
It was around eleven years ago that the Dixie Chicks, extremely popular then and far from controversial, caused a massive stir when singer Natalie Maines declared on stage in London: “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.” It was a little more than a week before their fellow Texan launched a war based on lies.
Of course, hatred was quickly spewed in the Chicks’ direction by media types, political figures and country music yahoos — who never then or now get so excited when right-wing entertainers and media celebs make threats against a Democratic president.
Boycotts were immediately announced. Maines clarified two days later, “I feel the president is ignoring the opinions of many in the US and alienating the rest of the world.” But record sales and advance sales of concert tickets plunged.
ISN’T WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE, GOOD FOR THE GANDER?
If songs and lyrics are important to you as a tool to deliver a message, maybe this one could be used for difficult moments in our lives.
This song marked a significant moment in the history of this band as well as the national events at the time. The explanation is below.
This song can be imported from that time. It can be used as an anthem to apply in any moment in one’s life, causing hardship, when there’s a turning point due to an action caused by another.
A major setback, a deed gone wrong, leading to emotional anguish, loss of security and maybe income. All lead to anger and the eventual healing process.
“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 … “
“Not Ready to Make Nice” is a song co-written and performed by American country music band Dixie Chicks. It was released in June 2006 as the first single from the band’s seventh studio album, Taking the Long Way. It remains the Chicks’s biggest hit in the US to date. The song was written by Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson.
On February 11, 2007, it won three Grammy Awards in the categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
In 2009, Rolling Stone named “Not Ready to Make Nice” the 77th best song of the decade.
~~Background~~
Controversy erupted over the Dixie Chicks in 2003 following a critical comment vocalist Natalie Maines made of the American President George W. Bush while performing in a concert in London, United Kingdom. In relation to the forthcoming invasion of Iraq, Maines said, “…we don’t want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
Taking the Long Way was the first studio album released by the Dixie Chicks after that. The controversy, and the band’s reaction to it, is the major theme of some of the songs in the album, including “Not Ready to Make Nice“.
The song, which was written by all three band members (Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire) along with Dan Wilson, is a statement of how they feel over the controversy, the banning of their songs from country music radio stations, and freedom of speech.
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
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
It Is What It Is 