The daring Dixie Chicks

As The Dixie Chicks, Emily Robison, Natalie Maines and Martie Seidel have never been anything but controversial. And never more so these days after people found them gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly in the nude. In keeping with their image, the photo shows the trio not only without a stitch on but with contradictory slogans decorating their bodies. "Dixie sluts" says one. Traitors is on another. Big Mouth, Hero, Brave, Opinionated, Proud Americans, Saddam’s Angels, Boycott, Patriot, Peace, Shut Up! Free Speech, etc. etc.

The picture and the words are the girls’ defiant reaction to the backlash against their opposition to the American invasion of Iraq. This happened during a concert in London last March 10. Lead singer Natalie, in referring to American President George W. Bush’s plan to initiate military action in Iraq, was quoted as saying "Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." She has since expressed regrets over her words against Bush but made no apologies for being critical in her thinking.

Her remark has resulted in a strong backlash against the group. Radio stations have stopped playing Dixie Chicks songs. The girls’ latest album, Home, is still the top-selling country album in the US but sales have gone down. They say that they have also received death threats and now perform under very tight security. They opened their new tour in South Carolina last Wednesday and I am curious to know how they were received by the audience, that is, if anybody turned up. There is no middle ground where war is concerned. You are either for or against it. The Dixie Chicks chose to be "against." Unfortunately for them, the "for" won.

American country music, save for very few exceptions, is a genre Filipinos are still unable to relate to. And unlike other big country acts who decide to crossover to pop once already assured of their following, the Chicks have remained completely country since their big splash with Wide Open Spaces five years ago. Truth to tell, they have become even more uncompromising. Home, an excellent production, is in fact more bluegrass than any they have done.

So while Filipinos still have to warm up to the music of the Dixie Chicks, that is no reason not to give Home a chance. Neither is the girls’ stance against the war in Iraq. Music should never be subject to ideological boundaries. Recorded entirely in their hometown, Texas with country music legend and Natalie’s father Lloyd Maines as co-producer, Home is the girls’ best album, so far. The songs sizzle. The vocals, particularly Natalie’s sparkle. The sisters Emily and Martie attain new heights with their tighter, more cohesive handling of the dobro, banjo and fiddle, instruments traditionally found in bluegrass arrangements.

As should be expected, I Believe in Love, the least country-sounding in the song line-up, is the single release. It is a sweet love song composed by the Chicks. I will not be surprised though if listeners also gravitate towards Landslide. Written by Stevie Nicks and first recorded by Fleetwood Mac, the song comes in two different mixes. One, done by Sheryl Crow, brings a new pop-country flavor to the song.

Though recorded long before the London incident, the girls’ anti-war sentiments is expressed in Travelin’ Soldier, which is about a young man who never came back from Vietnam. The other cuts included are Long Time Gone, White Thrash Wedding, A Home, More Love, Tortured, Tangled Hearts, Lil’ Jack Slade, Godspeed (Sweet Dreams), and Top of the World. These are mostly love songs but a hint of strong words to come can be found in Truth No.2, which opens with "You don’t like the sound of the truth/coming from my mouth…."

Incidentally, the Dixie Chicks are not the only celebrities now in hot water for speaking out against the war in Iraq. They are now sharing a stage with Academy Award winners Susan Sarandon and Michael Moore, and nominees Tim Robbins and Sean Penn and many others. They are all talented, all outspoken and expected to headbutt anybody who threatens freedom of expression, or any sort of freedom for that matter. It is quite a company now looking at the threat of diminished box-office and album sales and of being constantly under security.