On March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day.
On 19 March, we will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.
What do these things have to do with each other? The answer lies with one of my favourite bands, The Chicks (formerly known as The Dixie Chicks). Or more specifically, what they did on this day (March 10th), 20 years ago.
Come for a trip down memory lane.
It’s 2001, The first Harry Potter film has just been released, J. Lo and Ja Rule were #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, The Rock was still a wrestler and George W. Bush was the US President. But importantly on September 11 of that year, The United States of America suffered a horrific loss of life in a coordinated Islamist terror attack. It shocked the US and the world to our core. For those growing up at the time, life would never be the same.
The "Freedom" Agenda
It changed USA’s foreign policy as “the war on terror” became a key priority. By late 2002, the US had announced it would invade Iraq with its coalition partners, including Great Britain, Australia and a small contingent from Poland. The aim was “to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction [WMD], to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people”.
The problem was no one could find these supposed WMDs.
The UN looked and there weren’t any. They condemned the invasion illegal under international law and said it was a breach of the UN Charter. Even long-time allies like the governments of New Zealand, France and Germany opposed the invasion. Civilians around the world in 600 cities protested with three million people in Rome gathering; becoming the largest anti-war protest ever.
The Dixie Chicks and that concert
On March 10, exactly 20 years ago from today, The Dixie Chicks played a show in the UK. The Shepherd’s Bush concert venue wasn’t the only “Bush” on the band’s mind that day.
Touring Europe, they felt a wave of anti-US sentiment and opposition to the impending invasion. To confront the issue, lead singer, Natalie Maines, introduced their banger "Travelin' Soldier” by saying:
“Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
No good deed goes unpunished
Musicians say all sorts of things at gigs which go under the radar. However, this comment somehow made it all the way across the Atlantic, into Dixieland and country music’s heartland: political conservatives who supported George W. Bush. Fans felt betrayed; the band disrespected their President and criticised their country on the international stage. With many fans having family in the armed forces, it was also taken as a personalised attack. It didn’t matter that the band also said, “but you know, we’re behind the troops 100 percent”.
Bush even came out to say that while he disagreed with the band’s opinion, he believed in their second amendment right to freedom of speech.
In fact, many Americans shared some sense of opposition to the war: a January 2003 CBS poll found while 64% of Americans approved of military action against Iraq; 63% wanted Bush to find a diplomatic solution rather than go to war, and 62% believed the threat of terrorism directed against the US would increase due to war.
The witch hunt against The Dixie Chicks was irrationally vengeful. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, I guess.
A gendered agenda
Musicians have opinions. They've always had. From Bob Marley to Lizzo; to even a kiwi legend like Dave Dobbyn, many have used their platform to campaign for their social or political beliefs. However, fans tend to buy into their worldview and it becomes part of the act; another reason to love the musicians.
In fact, male country artists were challenging the war’s legitimacy and weren't persecuted. Willie Nelson was linking the war to a government conspiracy and Merle Haggard released the anti-war song “America First”.
But the public wouldn’t allow such rebellion from this girl-group. They were already seen as being a bit too feisty and provocative – traits however embraced by male artists at the time, like Toby Keith. Country fans placed expectations of docile subservience on the band and were outraged when the band wouldn’t comply. The Dixie Chicks were already seen as being too uppity for Country Music as their appeal was growing towards pop-music fans; winning 3 Grammys the previous month. As female country music stars, they were expected to toe the line and not be too bolshy, let alone mutiny.
Girls, Interrupted
The Dixie Chicks were cancelled.
But in response to Maines' comments, country radio stations stopped playing their music. Corporations dropped their sponsorship. Fans stopped buying their music. Fans started sending death threats. It was crazy. This isn’t supposed to happen to the best-selling all-female band of all time. Their hit single, a cover of “Landslide” fell from number 10 to number 43 on the Billboard Hot 11 in one week. It was entirely gone by the next. Radio stations that played their music were bombarded by angry callers. Protestors in Louisiana used a tractor to destroy The Dixie Chicks CDs and other merchandise. Even their tour bus driver resigned in protest.
Two days after making the remarks, Natalie Maines tried to clarify her position. Two days after that, she even apologised (but only for criticising the office of the President). It didn’t matter, fans had already made their mind up.
Tomorrow, when the war began
Five days later, on March 19, 2003, the invasion began , eventually leading to an occupation that would last another 8 years until 2011. It set into motion a destabilisation of the region which would have direct and indirect effects, including the rise of ISIS, damage to millennia-old cultural treasures, 5 million orphans and multiple refugee crises.
And they still didn’t find any WMDs.
And the Dixie Chicks never backed down.
Fighting back
In 2006, they released the song “Not Ready to Make Nice” as a response to the storm and the subsequent vitriol.
It’s amazing, quintessential 2000s: guitars, violins, belting big notes. And in a way that only country music can do, it tells a story. A story of how it feels to be continuously punished (“I’ve paid a price and I’ll keep paying”). A lament of the loneliness when bystanders can’t feel your pain (“I know you said, ‘why can’t you just get over it’”). A cry that comes from a lack of closure (“They say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting”). But it also displays a righteous anger against injustice and a (reluctant) conviction that it’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
“It's too late to make it right I probably wouldn't if I could 'Cause I'm mad as hell Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should”
Doubling down on her position, in the same year of the song’s release, Maines rescinded her apology “I don’t feel that way any more. I don’t feel [Bush] is owed any respect whatsoever.”
The controversy was covered in a 2006 documentary “Shut Up and Sing”, which, interestingly, was distributed by…Harvey Weinstein.
The rebirth
Abandoned by the country music industry, The Dixie Chicks had to pivot. They worked with the renowned Rick Rubin (famous for his work in hiphop and metal) for their 2006 album, “Taking the Long Way”. It won five Grammys including Album of the Year and sold double platinum. Thankfully, the Dixie Chicks didn’t become martyrs. That’s not to say that they weren’t stung for many years by the ex-fan hostility.
The incident did bring forth greater activism with them campaigning and donating to causes encouraging Americans to vote.
They eventually changed their name to “The Chicks”, removing the “Dixie” that is so closely tied to the Confederacy that fought in the American Civil War (to enshrine slavery, among other things...)
The Chicks were right
The Chicks were right: the war was wrong. It's easy to say that now. But it was much harder to stand up for that at the time; incurring death threats and risking your career, fame and fortune that you've worked your whole life to create.
So what do we learn from this? That women can be bad-ass and are entitled to anger? That the US is arguably responsible for a humanitarian crisis that could have impacts for centuries? That The Chicks are an inspirational band that combines artistry with activism? That the 2000s was a unique time to be alive? That cancel culture happens in every culture? That we should be more nuanced when listening to others’ opinions? That the band and their position have been cited as an inspiration to today's artists? That maybe you have to go out on a limb to lead and others might follow you? Maybe all the above?
I showed “Not Ready to Make Nice” to my son and we talked about these amazing women, the song, and the story behind it. It’s topical as we’ve been talking about anger and how to control it in Sunday School for the last couple of weeks. I told him I hope one day he discovers his anger against injustice; an anger that lights a fire in him to make the world a better place. He said “yeah, like against bullying!”. I love this boy!
International Women’s Day need not be just a day to inspire females, courageous women can inspire all of us.