Check out what Merle Haggard just said

[Jesus Saves]

"We've got to regain control -- the people. "For the people, of the people," all that -- that's not the current situation. We are under control, and if people don't realize that, they haven't looked around. And if they're not paranoid, they haven't thought about it."

He's on tour with Bob Dylan right now. I love Dylan. I love Haggard too.

[chicagojoe]

1. Cool.

[applegrove]

2. Excellent. They cannot hurt the muscians.

[TWiley]

8. Don't forget about the Dixie Chicks.

Clear Channel and Rupert Murdock attacked the Chicks because one said she was ashamed to be from Texas. They got booted off all their stations. This was not a grass roots movement, this was the result of WH intervention and an individual who controls a large portion of the media.

[blogbear]

9. that's true and I haven't heard much lately from..

susan sarandan or even michael moore..

[TWiley]

14. The so called "Liberal" media is shunning them.

The bushtapo has attacked the livelihoods of many people who have publicly challenged their stupidity.

[blogbear]

24. I Don't Doubt It and Thanks For Sharing! Peace!

[Bridget Burke]

41. Susan Sarandon & Michael Moore are busy right now.

She's got two movies "in the can" & is filming another; IMDB.COM shows yet another movie for 2006. Michael Moore is working on a sequel to Fahrenheit 9/11 & a movie on the pharmacological industry; no doubt they'll earn lots of publicity, a handful of awards & a bunch of money.

Both these artists have busy careers. Occasionally they take time out to express their political beliefs. They are not Republican has-beens with lots of time on their hands.

[applegrove]

26. Dixie Chicks did good. Their concert was the biggest selling one

in the world that year. Now they have babies and stuff. I would not worry about them.

[TWiley]

29. I miss them because they are not publicly insulting bush.

Well, I like their music also. It is a damn shame they got pulled off the air just after their Fleetwood Mac remake. I like theirs better than the original.

In all, the music industry (not just Country) has been unbelievably quiet on these issues.

[applegrove]

51. Sociopaths make examples of anyone who steps outside the rules.

People would have to be suicidal to step up alone. That is how coercision works. The sociopaths threaten to take away the things you hold most dear. For many people it is career.

[lonestarnot]

35. Bought everything they ever made! and have always loved Merle n/t

[GiovanniC]

55. The Dixie Chicks Are Wildly Popular Still

[Momof1]

3. That's the News

Suddenly it's over, the war is fin'lly done.
Soldiers in the desert sand, still clingin' to a gun.
No-one is the winner an' everyone must lose.
Suddenly the war is over: that's the news.

Suddenly celebrity is somethin' back in style.
Back to runnin' tabloid for a while.
Pain's almost everywhere, the whole world's got the blues.
Suddenly the war is over: that's the news.

That's the news, that's the news.
That's the ever-lovin', blessed, headline news.
Someone's missin;' in Modesto, an' it's sad about the clues.
Suddenly the war is over: that's the news.

Instrumental break.

Suddenly the cost of war is somethin' out of sight.
Lost a lotta heroes in the fight.
Politicians do all the talkin': soldiers pay the dues.
Suddenly the war is over, that's the news.

That's the news, that's the news.
That's the ever-lovin', blessed, headline news.
Politicians do all the talkin': soldiers pay the dues.
Suddenly the war is over, that's the news.

[TWiley]

7. Wow, great tune.

It sounds like something 60's Dylan would have penned. Too bad we do not have a crop of musicians who actually put some meaning in the lyrics anymore.

[Clark2008]

40. We probably do, but because they do not look like

Adonis or Miss America, the corporate labels aren't snapping them up.

[LosinIt]

4. That's Great, do you have a link?

I would like to send that to some Repub country fans.

[LosinIt]

10. I found the link myself

It's buried in this interview, near the end.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=musicNews&storyID=2005-03-21T030144Z_01_N2051571_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-MUSIC-HAGGARD-DC.XML

[rl6214]

5. Does he speak in complete sentences?

That can't be the entire quote, can it?

[TWiley]

6. I bet Dylan got him straightened out.

There just are not many Country Singers who dare to openly question the bushtapo. Look what happened to the Dixie Chicks. I refuse to listen to Country Music in general because of their links to Al-Bushco. Unless it is folks like Willie or the Chicks. Why support the cheerleaders of the evil team?

[William Bloode]

12. Wow you really don't know do you?

Not all or even half of Country singers support Bush, thats just what you have been led to believe.

[TWiley]

16. I do not believe your claim for a minute.

<<Not all or even half of Country singers support Bush, thats just what you have been led to believe.>>

Well, who would have lead me to believe this? Please cite your proof. I will not except your personal estimate.

They all (Country Singers) attacked the Dixie Chicks, not a single one backed them up. Bruce Springsteen was about the only musician to openly question clear channel, and the got scalded in the press. Merle and Willie are the only country singers I have even remotely heard of being opposed to the bushtapo.

I do believe that you are the one who has been misled.

[tnlefty]

17. I think that Mr. Haggard made a statement that he didn't agree

with the way that the Dixie Chicks had been treated, and this isn't the first time that he's stated that we're on dangerous ground in this country regarding free speach.

[TWiley]

18. Ya, Merle and Willie seem to be the only ones.

I missed Merle's criticism on how the Dixie Chicks were treated. He and Willie Nelson are the only Country singers who have publicly criticized bush. I personally, have heard of no others

The rest of them seem have been profound "patriotic" bush family war in Iraq supporters. I have have seen no evidence of the last posters claim.

[G_j]

21. & both are Nashville "outlaws"

so to speak.

[tnlefty]

22. At one time Mr. Haggard's comments were on his website. The

Music Row Democrats (www.musicrowdemocrats.com) are trying to organize to change the perception that country music is republican. They mention that they have 1300 members and I wish them lots of success in their efforts!

[TWiley]

28. Now that IS good news.

I wonder if there are any other "stars" on their list of 1300. But, even if there are not, it sure is nice to hear that there is some sanity in the industry.

[tnlefty]

37. Yes, it is good news and IIRC, didn't George Jones do a radio

ad for Wes Clark during the primary season? I'll take all of the good news that I can get.

[mmonk]

52. Yes to the George Jones

supporting Clark mention.

[Lars39]

27. They're around......

http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/

[TWiley]

42. They do have some activity on their message board.

What I am primarily thinking of are the Stars of Country Music. You know, the several dozen or so whose music fills most all the Country music stations.

[Bridget Burke]

30. You've already stated you're ignorant of country music.

Obviously, you'll only hear what the Nashville Establishment wants you to hear. There's more to country music than a few executives on Music Row & their pet artists. There always has been.

[TWiley]

43. If you feel I am so ignorant, then educate me.

Toss a couple dozen well known names at me who have publicly criticized the bushtapo. I have never heard of a Country Music station that did not have all that flag waving and bush supporting bullshit attached to it.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

32. You must be one of those people that believes everything that the....

...US mainstream media reports. If you are, then you probably believe that the Dixie Chicks were ruined by the negative publicity following the statement made about Herr Busch. If you are, you probably don't know that the Dixie Chicks' last album did VERY well financially, and every show they put on across the country was sold out. Additionally, One of their singles off that album went #1.

If the country music industry, including the fans, was as monolithic as you've been led to believe, the Chicks would have been destroyed. But that wasn't the case, was it? Even Toby Keith finally apologized for what he was saying about the Chicks during each of his live performances....do you think he would have done that if it hadn't been for all of the outraged mail he received from tons of country music fans?

You would be well served to start doing some of your own research instead of demanding information from other posters as if they owe you something.

[lonestarnot]

38. ewww you a little harsh, maybe up tooo late? Some of us have broken

our TV's and don't google because they spy. We depend on DU for info. Thanks for setting the record straight! You are a good DUr!

[TWiley]

45. Well, you would do well if you read my post

instead of responding to what you think I typed. I am not talking about country music "fans", and I know the Dixie Chicks sold out every concert after insulting the bushtapo.

I am referring to Rupert Murdoch, and Clear Channel who booted the Chicks off their stations. I am also talking about all the Country Music STARS (not fans honey) who joined in the attack of the Chicks.

Primarily, If you were to list the top 75 Country Music Stars, how many have publicly criticized bush or his families war in Iraq? How many have publicly supported Kerry or the Democratic Party. I think the stats would be roughly this:

(out of the top 75)
Bushlovers 60
Bushhaters 5
Neutrals 10

Would you define the group known as "Country Music Stars" as being "Bushhaters"? Remember, it would take a simple majority of them that the poster claimed there was.

Or, would you define the group known as "Country Music Stars" as "Bushlovers"? This is the category that I believe defines the group.

BTW, I would bet you that the group known as "Country Music Fans" would also be categorized as "Bushlovers", and not "Bushhaters". I mean, since you brought the topic up.

[fishwax]

46. You didn't start out talking about Clear Channel

or even about country music "stars," but rather "country music singers." And, as the other posters have said, there are a number of country music singers who have opposed bush, expressed concerns about the war, and/or generally been sympathetic to progressive/democratic causes over the years. People like Rosanne Cash, Todd Snider, John Prine, Steve Earle, Jimmy Buffet, Linda Rondstadt, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, the late Johnny Cash, and the aforementioned Willie and Merle, just to name some that pop off the top of my head. I'm sure I could find others with a little time. Some of these people don't get much airplay b/c of their politics and their general outsider status. (This was true of Willie and Merle in the 70s as well, hence the outlaw moniker.) The problem is with corporate radio and the corporate structure of the Nashville industry, not with the artists. For years it was assumed the audience skewed heavily conservative, but with the heavy crossover of the last several years, this thinking is pretty outdated, as the support of acts like the Dixie Chicks demonstrates.

[TWiley]

48. Well, check out post #8, my first one. It says:

SNIP

<<<8. Don't forget about the Dixie Chicks.

Clear Channel and Rupert Murdock attacked the Chicks because one said she was ashamed to be from Texas. They got booted off all their stations. This was not a grass roots movement, this was the result of WH intervention and an individual who controls a large portion of the media.>>>

SNIP

I love John Prine BTW, I was listen ting to him back in the 70's. I did not realize that he chimed in on the bushtapo, but I would not be surprised if he did. "Sam Stone" just got back from Iraqi Freedom.

The other folks you mentioned are primarily old-timers that you might hear on the oldies station. I was thinking of today's popular ones.

SNIP

<<<And, as the other posters have said, there are a number of country music singers who have opposed bush, expressed concerns about the war,>>>

SNIP

Which exactly are they? And, I do not mean those who protested past wars either. Just the relevent ones.

The poster had claimed that 50% "or more" country singers were opposed bush. I have always agreed that there are a few here and there, but the majority do seem to support the bushtapo, and my point is that the majority defines the group in general terms.

I do agree that most probably do not get the air time because of their political beliefs. There were a list of banned songs early on after 9-11, and one was John Lennon's song "Imagine"

On edit, I added the "snips" for clarity.

[fishwax]

49. You're right that you mentioned clear channel before, but I was referring

to this subthread. I'm sorry for the mistake.

But you haven't always "always agreed that there are a few here and there," since you said that "They all (Country Singers) attacked the Dixie Chicks, not a single one backed them up." And that's simply not true, as has been cited.

I agree with you that Clear Channel and radio country in general can be pretty horrid, but you said: "I refuse to listen to Country Music in general because of their links to Al-Bushco. Unless it is folks like Willie or the Chicks. Why support the cheerleaders of the evil team?"

A number of people similar to Willie and the Chicks have been listed. Here are a few more: Trishia Yearwood, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Pam Tillis, Lyle Lovett, Rodney Crowell (who campaigned for Kerry), George Jones (who campaigned for Clark), Jimmy Buffet ... there are more I can think of or find if I take the time, and plenty more that I'm sure are progressive but don't really have any verifiable proof. Listening to Clear Channel, or any other corporate radio (including Rock radio) may very well be supporting the cheerleaders, but listening to country music in general, not so much.


You can decide which artists you feel are relevant and which artists you feel aren't. I don't really know who today's popular ones are, since I don't listen to much of anything that gets on one of today's country stations. Nashville HATED Willie back in the day, too.

But my point is, there is a long and accomplished list of country artists who have been progressive, and I wouldn't be surprised if I could name one for every artist you could name that has been outspoken for Bush. But I can probably agree that the top stars kicked out by the Nashville machine are unlikely to be outspokenly progressive.

And John Prine is awesome. I haven't heard if he's said anything specifically about Bush, but I know I've played "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Heaven Anymore" quite a bit over the last several years :)

[TWiley]

50. Well, you have changed my positon some.

I do not recall any of those listed making a public comment in support of the Chicks.

As a side note, the concept of "boycott" has been not directly refered to, but it is implicit in the discussion. The Country Music stations around here are horrid. They are shameless Bush propagandists. Those are the only ones that I can refuse to listen to in reality. The others which may be more balanced, I simply do not have access to.

My opinion of Country Music in general is slanted though. I cannot get the idea of Redneck, Confederate Flag, Neo-KKK, and Bushloving flag-wavers very far apart from the music. They seem to be joined.

It is probably not unlike what the bushtapo has done for Christianity. They have given that outfit a huge black eye.

In all fairness, there have not been that many rock-n-rollers who have publicly criticized the bushtapo either. It seems that most feel their careers are jepordized by their use of free speech.

[fishwax]

56. Merle Haggard did, as did Faith Hill and Rosanne Cash

and I'm fairly sure Steve Earle. Vince Gill also defended them, though he clarified that he didn't agree with their comments and did support bush. Others probably did too.

But the Country Music Establishment hit them pretty hard, for sure.

I agree with you about the rock and rollers too. It seems like only those who already have careers and fan bases established and so can work outside the requirements of corporate radio with relative security really feel free to speak their minds. Either names like Pearl Jam or Perfect Circle that don't particularly need the radio or names like Springsteen and Green Day that the radio can't simply ignore. It's a shame.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Yeah you right Merle! n/t

:headbang:

[dbt]

13. Brang it, Merle!

No wonder Cash loved you.

[AngryAmish]

15. Hate Dylan, Love Haggard

Merle just has better music.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

33. Now that just flat-out ignores Dylan's body of work that goes back....

...more than 40 years to the early 1960s:

<http://www.new-pony.com/timeline.html>.

Everybody's entitled to their own opinions, but Dylan has had as big an impact on the music scene as Haggard.

[AngryAmish]

39. No, I have examined his entired body of work

It has been found wanting. Of course it is only one man's opinion, but it is the most important opinion, mine.

[spanone]

19. 'Radio' ain't playing Merle so he's got nothing to lose.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Our radio is. He's still followed by quite a fan base, myself included.

Sell out shows everytime. He's got tons to lose. Just because one may not like the music, that doesn't mean others don't love it. :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

20. That so totally rocks

not bad for an old country dude!

[LeahD]

23. Merle and Willie Rock.....

and when they're gone, I don't see anyone in line to replace them. They truly stand for the individual, freedom..........

[Tsiyu]

34. Steve Earle?

There are many outspoken musicians. (If a singer sings in the forest and only the MSM hears them, would they still make a sound?)

[LeahD]

47. Where Have I Been?

Not listening to enough music I guess. I just did some reading about SE. For a first purchase, would you recommend "The Revolution Starts Now" or another CD?

[Tsiyu]

54. Any and all

Buy the latest or buy the past stuff. Your edumication starts where you want it to....

Welcome to DU ( belated) LeahD

[donheld]

25. I'm very glad to hear that

Go Merle

[in_cog_ni_to]

31. Man, he's got THAT right! "If you're not outraged,

you're not paying attention." (bumper sticker) We NEED more celebrities like him! We NEED people with access to TV cameras who can tell the people to WAKE THE HELL UP!

[johnaries]

44. Nashville's Music Row Democrats ROCK!!!!!!

Pardon the pun.... :evilgrin:
http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/

[Robeson]

53. Nice. Thanks.