Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Ditzy Twits not getting the love

Three years after the former country superstars opened their cakeholes and imperiled their careers, the repercussions are still being felt by the Ditzy Twits. From UPI:
It appears the war U.S. country radio stations mounted against the politically outspoken Dixie Chicks has not abated in the least.

The band is promoting "Taking the Long Way," its first album since Natalie Maines told a London audience in 2003 she was ashamed to be from the same state as U.S. President George Bush. The comment sparked a radio boycott of the group's music.

Although the album hits stores Tuesday, the first two singles from the album are not getting widespread airplay, Billboard.com reported Monday.

The first single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," only peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and the second single, "Everybody Knows," is moving downward after its peak at No. 48.

WKIS FM in Miami reported it pulled "Not Ready to Make Nice" due to listener complaints after only one week.

The program director at KUBL/KKAT in Salt Lake City told Billboard he was angered by its "self-indulgent and selfish lyrics."

Neither the Chicks or their label, Columbia Records, would speak to Billboard for its article.
The aforementioned single, "Not Ready to Make Nice", is an unrepentant song that thumbs the Twits' noses at the world. Such an attitude was displayed in a recent interview (just before the album's release):
For band member Martie Maguire, the controversy was a blessing in disguise.

"I'd rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith," Maguire said. "We don't want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do."
Something tells me that their record label, Columbia Records, couldn't disagree more with such a stupid, arrogant, and condescending statement. Plus, if the current lack of playing time is an indicator of what can be expected, then Maguire et al will get their wish for a smaller fan base. I don't know about you, but if I'm in the entertainment biz, I'd just as soon receive money from the "uncool" people who don't "get it" as from the "really cool people who get it." Rumor has it that both groups' dollars are equally green, but I have not personally verified this.

The Ditzy Twits are free to say and sing whatever the hell they like. The American consumer is equally free to voice his/her displeasure by spending his/her dollars buying less ignorant and offensive artists' music. Ain't freedom grand?