Natalie Maines Takes Jab at Jason Aldean

[broker03]

There is bad in the world and there is good in the world. There is black and there is white.

[pklongbeach]

And then there is every other color in between.

[allamericangirl8]

... I'm not offended by this at all. Even if the jab was at Carrie, I don't think I'd be offended. Natalie's never acted like she was that nice girl who doesn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. She said something that I would totally expect from her. I kinda love it. Clearly, she knew people wouldn't like her opinion, but she said it anyway because that's what she does. I don't know. It's not the same thing as when someone like Elliott Yamin says something and then acts all innocent. Natalie tends to stand by her claims regardless of whose feelings she hurts. I love it. She's one of the only rock stars in country music in that sense. Like Kanye West. You know?

Anyway, I don't listen to a lot of Dixie Chicks, but I've never heard a song by them I didn't like. Karly showed me Travelin' Soldier recently, and that's legit one of the best songs I've ever heard.

[broker03]

And then there is every other color in between.

There is no grey area with this woman. Bad is bad. Period.

[bigbluegrl23]

There is no grey area with this woman. Bad is bad. Period.

... sure
Becca

[HuiZ]

Wow. Rude much, Natalie? That was so uncalled for. It's sad because I really like Dixie Chicks' music.

This is why I LOVE Carrie. She's more than just a musical talent. She's actually a classy and wonderful human being, first of all.


P.S. She doesn't like mainstream country yet she appreciates Taylor? LOL, clearly she's lying about not knowing much about mainstream country

[robinannhunt]

I agree that the comments she made about country music came across as hypociritcal and self serving.
Country music made her a very very rich woman. And now she has the nerve to suggest that she never really liked or followed it in the first place.
Not cool Natalie.
Even if it's true, not cool.
And yeah, you can kiss a comeback goodbye at country.
And as little as they get played right now, I imagine they are getting pulled now once and for all.

I can think of at least one other country star that will end up to be a Natalie.

[Farawayhills]

I guess I'd better comment here - mainly because I've followed Natalie's band since long before she was in it, and wrote the web page on one of their early associates. (That page is no longer being updated, but if anyone would care to see it, this is the address
Sharon Gilchrist

The Chicks won Best New Band at Telluride with a different lead singer (Patty Mitchell) and released three albums with two of their founder members (Robin Macy and Laura Lynch) alternating lead. They gained a major label contract with Columbia Records (a division of Sony) without Natalie, but brought her in soon after. She was the daughter of their steel player, Lloyd Maines. Karly's right in that their huge commercial success after that owed a great deal to Natalie's singing voice, which was one the most distinctive in contemporary Country Music. Many fans badly want Natalie back, and some will defend her to the end, and hear no wrong of her. That's understandable, as part of the phenomenon of fandom,

My own position is rather different. I've shown a strong interest in the band, and many aspects connected with it, but I've always been analytical, and seen the bad along with the good. There are a number of points on which I take issue with Natalie. This hiatus is definitely her choice, and there is ample evidence that the others didn't want it. Emily Robison has revealed that she cried at the end of the Accidents and Accusations tour when Natalie announced she was going on hiatus. They've waited a long time before starting their Court Yard Hounds project, and those were wasted creative years.
I also take issue with Natalie's "reinvention" of her back story. Although she claims she was never into Country Music growing up (which even her mother contradicted in an interview), she was moonlighting from Texas Tech as a session backing singer at Don Caldwell's studio when she joined the Chicks, and her pre-Dixie Chick recordings were Western (with Andy Wilkinson) or Country (with Pat Green). Her boyfriend, and later first husband was Pat's bass player, and her best early recording was her duet, "Snowin' On Raton", where she shows huge potential, but sounds Countrier than almost anyone.
My real sadness over Natalie is the way she changed her voice for the 2006 album, to make it sound "less Country". (I'm sensitive to this, though others may not notice it, or may like it). That last record contained some strong songs, but was musically disappointing for me, as it pushed the sisters into largely speciality passages, It was targetted at a new audience, though ironically, Neilsen figures suggested most of the sales were in their old Heartland market. They made sacrifices in their sound, and I think Natalie was very disillusioned that she didn't get more support from the adult Pop and soft Rock markets.

As for the rudeness, I'd agree that Natalie can be a difficult person to like. This blunt speaking and contempt for the Mainstream is actually widespread in parts of the Roots sector - where the audience often see it as part of the "Outlaw" culture, but, from an ex-Mainstream millionaire, it comes across a bit like biting the hand that fed you. But I haven't stood in Natalie's shoes, What I have seen is the rabid filth on the message boards in 2006, calling for whipping, rape, prayers for the Oklahoma bomber to be raised from the dead so he could go and kill her, etc. It was the fans, often bewildered schoolgirls, that bore the brunt of this - but Natalie's bitterness is understandable. The Chicks believe that no other artists except Merle Haggard and Chely Wright defended them publicly (though they say several did privately). But that is actually a misconception. I followed the story closely and know of several others who defended them openly at concerts, and also of at least four songs that were written in their defence.

For fans who are hoping for a reunion, I can offer little consolation. Emily's most recent comment, in an interview pre-concert at her home town (San Antonio) was "I've always said I would love to record another Chicks album at some point. But we all have to agree on that.”

The active future is with the duo, Court Yard Hounds, who are definitely Alternative (where they've spent, in fact, most of their career). That suits me, more than it would many fans, and I'm truly sorry for them.
If they do record again as a trio, I'm sure they won't release to Mainstream Country. (In 2006, they virtually refused any contact with that sector in the USA, and only sent the record to format radio stations in four cities, as a favour to their manager.). I'm sure Natalie is in no mood to change that, and I think the others will back her. But, in any case, Natalie is still not willing to undertake the two year cycle of writing, recording, promotion and concerts in any format.

[Gator]

I can think of at least one other country star that will end up to be a Natalie.

I bet I can guess to whom you are referring!

[bigbluegrl23]

I bet I can guess to whom you are referring!

If you are talking about who I think you are talking about, this person cares way more about money and marketing to ever turn her back on country completely.
Becca

[Farawayhills]

This, by the way, was the first significant recording of the girl who said she never listened to Country, LOL



And this beautiful song, which she threw in the face of Nashville, (who probably thought they'd banished this style to the fringes for ever) - on a sophomore Mainstream album, no less - was one she actually WROTE (with Emily)



I actually can't blame her personally for feeling bitter, but the tragedy is, I think she sounds much more bland with her "de-Countryfied" crossover voice - and it's a crowded market. This was her latest recording (with the Webb Sisters on backing vocals, not Emily and Martie.)



)

[clh_hilary]

I think all these anger in her heart isn't doing her very good. I mean after all these years she can't still be angry at the entire country community, especially not everybody went against them on the first place.

Jason's performance was less than stellar that night but I wonder what she said about Taylor Swift in this case? Or Katy Perry / Rihanna for that matter?

Anyway now I really have no hopes to see new music from the Dixie Chicks...I hope she finds peace in her heart soon. All the best.

[carriefann]

^ You're such a nice guy, Hilary!

[teesharky]

what an idiot!

She bashes Jason for being pitchy, yet compliments Taylor? What a joke. Taylor was much more pitchy then Jason-- and she is not remotely country.

Natalie sees Taylor playing the banjo one time--- and assumes she is this organic country singer....when she is a pop singer posing as country to reep the benefits of both.

If she had a clue, Natalie would have realized that Jason is the true country talent, not taylor.

[teesharky]

I think all these anger in her heart isn't doing her very good. I mean after all these years she can't still be angry at the entire country community, especially not everybody went against them on the first place.

Jason's performance was less than stellar that night but I wonder what she said about Taylor Swift in this case? Or Katy Perry / Rihanna for that matter?

Anyway now I really have no hopes to see new music from the Dixie Chicks...I hope she finds peace in her heart soon. All the best.

I love the Dixie Chicks, but I am beginning to really dislike Natalie. She has so much anger and such a chip on her shoulder, always causing trouble and insulting people.

[JB172]

It is just head shaking at how much damage she did to the group.

[teesharky]

This is why I don't think Miranda should have criticized Nikki Minaj for her Grammy performance. I thought it was a bit mean on her part to trash her like that publicly. It is exactly what Natalie Maines did to Jason Aldean.

I won't comment on the Chris Brown thing here as that is another whole issue altogether---but the Nikkie Minaj comment was exactly what Natalie just did to Jason. Both were rude.

Granted-- I hated Nikki's performance and Miranda told the truth. lol But I don't think she should have said that.

[allamericangirl8]

what an idiot!

She bashes Jason for being pitchy, yet compliments Taylor? What a joke. Taylor was much more pitchy then Jason-- and she is not remotely country.

Natalie sees Taylor playing the banjo one time--- and assumes she is this organic country singer....when she is a pop singer posing as country to reep the benefits of both.

If she had a clue, Natalie would have realized that Jason is the true country talent, not taylor.

I haven't seen Jason's performance, but Taylor's was one of her best. I mean, it was miles ahead of that Stevie Nicks duet (was it last year's Grammys?).

[JB172]

This is why I don't think Miranda should have criticized Nikki Minaj for her Grammy performance. I thought it was a bit mean on her part to trash her like that publicly. It is exactly what Natalie Maines did to Jason Aldean.

I won't comment on the Chris Brown thing here as that is another whole issue altogether---but the Nikkie Minaj comment was exactly what Natalie just did to Jason. Both were rude.

Granted-- I hated Nikki's performance and Miranda told the truth. lol But I don't think she should have said that.

Miranda isn't going to get blackballed from the industry like the Dixie Chicks did for the comments that Means made about Bush.

[Farawayhills]

I think all these anger in her heart isn't doing her very good. I mean after all these years she can't still be angry at the entire country community, especially not everybody went against them on the first place.

Jason's performance was less than stellar that night but I wonder what she said about Taylor Swift in this case? Or Katy Perry / Rihanna for that matter?

Anyway now I really have no hopes to see new music from the Dixie Chicks...I hope she finds peace in her heart soon. All the best.

I hope she finds peace too. She says her hiatus helps her family, who suffer when she's a Chick. I can't argue with that - but I feel for her fans. Obviously, my bent is towards the sisters, whom I've followed for a long time, and I am very interested in the new Hounds music (which I prefer to much of the last Chicks album)

As for letting go - a complicating factor is the very bitter "culture war" that affects more than a few American political activists on both sides at present. Natalie feels she has both suffered from the symbolism attached to her by some on the political Right - but she's also swallowed the symbolism of some on the political Left, who consider it's not cool to like Mainstream Country. (Natalie is from a Republican background, and all the Chicks have Conservative relatives. The band once publicly supported the Independent Conservative candidate Ross Perot at events, but more recently switched to support the "Outlaw" musician Kinky Friedman in a Texas election. They say they are basically non-political, However Natalie has adopted a rather knee-jerk identification with the Left, probably in part as a reaction to the backlash against her . (Interestingly, Toby Keith, who is from a Democratic background, also thought he was being "demonized" symbolically by haters on the Left, and moved Right in retaliation.) It's probably a warning not to openly mix politics and music, if you want a Mainstream fan base. (The Roots scene is generally much more tolerant of artists who sound off)

The Taylor Swift connection is interesting. At least three times, Taylor has made public Chick references, wearing Chick lyrics on her arm, including an apparently "spontaneous" but carefully posed photo at a market, and has sung Chicks songs at concerts (including Natalie's old home town). It's possible to see one of her cover shots as a pose very like classic Natalie Maines. I suspected that hoping to attract some of the non-Country end of the musically varied, mainly female, Chick fan base was one of the possible roles she was exploring as a way of moving outside her "high school days" song base - but maybe she just like them!

(Emily's reaction to being compared to Taylor as a banjoist remains unknown, LOL)