Review of Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing (2006) by Karyn S — 25 May 2009

Documentary Centering around Natalie Maines' provocative statements from London's Shepherd's Bush Empire Concert, 2003.

I got to look at this film for the first time this week and it made me sorry I didn't see it first-run. It was an on-the-spot chronicle of a presumed faux-pas centering on Natalie Maines 'ashamed Bush is from Texas' statement. If your a public figure held up to ridicule due to a misinterpreted comment, this is EXACTLY what you would need as vindication. Up to this time and due to my admittedly small knowledge of the current music trends, I was taking the word of a lot of ignorant right-wing commentators (supposedly schooled) with Big Zeal to match Big Mouth. What really appalled me is how horribly biased the media was in their conduct save for Bill Maher who was a glimmer of hope. The Right (most notably Pat Buchanan) tried to paint a picture of three "Bimbos" (actually using that word) who didn't know their backside from a hole in the ground. What I saw was three accomplished musicians, composers and singers verging on brilliant whom I would not insult by referring to them as typical Country singers. I also saw so many bizarre people in Texas claiming to be Americans which in truth had no clue to the meaning of the word. It was just mind-boggling how much vitriolic HATE was stirred up. It put me in mind of Ed Sullivan's chastisement of Elvis and dear old Lubbock's banishment of Buddy Holly in the early days. People just wanted to be holier than anyone else not even including internet cowards who have a lot of backbone when they aren't in striking distance making this fi;m's climax even more gratifying after 3 years had passed and people finally woke up to all the White House lies.

Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck assembled a most thoughtful and fascinating account of these three very brave and very talented people who rose in the face of idiocy the the status of prophecy. Everyone who's not familiar with the facts should see this wonderful piece.