At the risk of winding up on this police blotter, I’ll use last night’s Grammy Awards as an excuse to plug what I thought was one of last year’s best movies: Shut up and Sing.
The documentary, which is available on DVD, follows the Dixie Chicks as they try to survive lead singer Natalie Maines’ Britian Bush-bashing. Maines’ comment — “We’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas” — sent the Chicks’ camp into major spin mode, threatened to kill their ticket and record sales, and made them the scorn of the South, all of which is captured wonderfully in the documentary.
It’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the marketing machines that run bands like the Chicks, and how even the slightest shooting off of one’s mouths can really mess shit up. And last night’s awards tied it all together: the Chicks’ latest album, an emotional response to the firestorm, cleaned up — and somehow felt like yet another Fuck You from Maines to Bush. — Joe P. Tone
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2007.