Censorship or Freedom of Choice?

POSTED BY: JCKnife
UPDATED: Saturday, August 28, 2004 05:29
VIEWED: 9305
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JCKNIFE

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 5:21 PM

Whoopi is fired by Slim-Fast after her ranting at a Kerry fund-raiser.

Linda Rondstat is escorted off the premesis and fired from her gig at a Las Vegas casino for dedicating a song to M. Moore.

Now Elton John has this to say to Interview magazine:

http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=219012

He says that Toby Keith is allowed to sing about the war but the Dixie Chicks go down in flames for their anti-Bush comments.

How is any of this censorship? Looks to me like these people are simply facing the consequences from a fanbase that does not agree with their left-leaning politics. Consumers have always voted with their dollar, and sponsors have always been beholden to their customer base. Such is capitalism.

MILORADELL

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:04 PM

I think manufacturers are sticking to the safe lane. If it's controversial, don't have it on your label! Get rid of it. I don't believe it's a statement one way or the other as far as right and wrong go, or popular sentiment. They're protecting their profit margins.

(Oh - and as far as the Dixie Chicks "going down in flames" - didn't they have a sell-out tour?)

****
“Once you’re finished killing each other, we can plow under all the buildings and plant rows of flowers that spell out the words “Too Annoying To Live” in letters big enough to be seen from space. “ G’Kar

STLOUISPHILE

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MiloraDell:
(Oh - and as far as the Dixie Chicks "going down in flames" - didn't they have a sell-out tour?)

I think Elton John was referring to the very nasty negative publicity the Dixie Chicks received from the press and fans who didn't agree with their sentiment. I for one enjoyed their take on the negative press when they did their cover for People magazine or was it Time?

"Enjoy every sandwich." Warren Zevon

CONNORFLYNN

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MiloraDell:
I think manufacturers are sticking to the safe lane. If it's controversial, don't have it on your label! Get rid of it. I don't believe it's a statement one way or the other as far as right and wrong go, or popular sentiment. They're protecting their profit margins.

(Oh - and as far as the Dixie Chicks "going down in flames" - didn't they have a sell-out tour?)

Depends on who you listen to in terms of ticket sales. I think they suffered alot more then folks are hearing.
My problem with Natalie Maines (I personally love the Dixie Chicks music and will continue to buy it as long as the music doesn't go political), is the fact that she criticized our country and our President outside of the US. She has the right to express her opinion, however she also has the right to suffer the consequences.

Quote:

****
“Once you’re finished killing each other, we can plow under all the buildings and plant rows of flowers that spell out the words “Too Annoying To Live” in letters big enough to be seen from space. “ G’Kar

I love it

On the chance that I may be shot for this..Who is G'Kar?

RADHIL

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:22 PM

Slim-Fast and the Vegas casino are hardly what one would call "fanbases". I don't recall the Dixie Chicks pissing off any particular company as much as pissing off everyone, but it might also be fair to say it wasn't their fanbase as much as it was just everyone who heard (and wanted to scream back).

In all fairness, Linda Ronstadt royally pissed off the crowd she was playing for, and the casino could easily have let her go for that. That's a fairly different situation though - she was "on the clock" as it were, entertaining and such, and brought politics into it. Bad move. The rest were gigged for things they did off on their own.

Is it censorship? It's not *government* censorship in its most blatant or obvious form, no. But it's hard to ignore that only one side seems to be stepped on in this way. Otherwise, the three examples cited are a little too unique to all treat the same way.

And G'kar is from Babylon 5. One of the more quotable characters in existence.

Radhil Trebors
Persona Under Construction

KNIBBLET

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MiloraDell:
(Oh - and as far as the Dixie Chicks "going down in flames" - didn't they have a sell-out tour?)

My friend, Maureen, ordered 8 tickets. She paid for the tickets with the understanding that the folks she bought them for would reimburse her.

Some knee-jerk decided that she didn't want her ticket and wouldn't pay for it --- despite the fact that she had an obligation to pay Maureen who had already laid out the dough.

I had tried to buy tickets but it was sold out. Imagine my delight when Maureen told me about her friend's lapse of logic and concience. I snatched that ticket up in about .385 of a second.

The Chicks were awesome. They invited the audience to have two minutes at the opening of the concert to boo and hiss .... what they got was 22,000 people cheering at the top of their lungs.

I don't hold it against Toby Keith that he's all rah rah for the war. I hope he, unlike the President, is attending military funerals.

They had an opinion and expressed it. I wish that the village that lost Bush would come reclaim their idiot.

"Just keep walkin, preacher man."

HJERMSTED

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:37 PM

RE: Dixie Chicks' comments abroad.

When you are an American in Europe, you actually end up doing A LOT of apologizing for the United States government. It's just part of the travelling experience nowadays.

If you've been over there, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. The beautiful thing is that most europeans (regardless of their race, origins or income) understand the difference between the US government and the US citizens. They mostly feel bad for us that our political system has gotten so far out of our hands.

RE: Toby Keith.

Is he old enough to serve? Head on over to Iraq, my friend! Does he have kids of draftable age? Sign 'em up! Put your money where your mouth is my man! War isn't a f*cking country song.

mattro

MILORADELL

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 8:13 PM

G'Kar is probably one of the best characters ever written - he was on Babylon 5, played by Andreas Katsulas. The character is just awesome, and got some of the best lines! And the coolest thing - he changed completely from the first episode, to the last. Definately kick-ass character!

He's talking to Londo Molari in that quote, who's Centauri, an enemy of G'Kar's race, the Narn. They turn out to be something like best friends. Very interesting dynamic.

And I won't shoot you for not knowing him . I just recently became reacquainted with him myself.

****
“Once you’re finished killing each other, we can plow under all the buildings and plant rows of flowers that spell out the words “Too Annoying To Live” in letters big enough to be seen from space. “ G’Kar

SERGEANTX

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 8:18 PM

It's not censorship. Just insecure companies courting a population made fearful by their government and fascist leaning media. Ain't democracy grand?

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

JCKNIFE

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 8:22 PM

Country music sales jump on strength of new artists
By JOHN GEROME
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Last summer, country music's hottest act, the Dixie Chicks, was in a meltdown. Country CD sales were sliding and record executives were praying for a spate of holiday releases to perk up the industry.

This year the mood is sunnier on Music Row, with country sales up 11.2 percent...

[SNIP]

...
It's a sharp turnaround from last summer when the Dixie Chicks were seeing a backlash from fans after singer Natalie Maines made a disparaging remark about President Bush at a London concert shortly before the Iraq war.

After sales of the band's discs plummeted and some radio stations banned their singles, Maines apologized for the phrasing of her remark. But she continued to say she had the right to criticize Bush and his policies, and the group has yet to regain favor with country listeners.

Also blamed for the poor sales were an ailing economy, a dearth of releases by blockbuster artists -- especially compared to the flashy releases of 2002 -- growing competition from DVDs and video games and illegal downloading from the Internet.

When the final numbers were tallied for 2003, country sales were off nearly 10 percent.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/music/jump/2689333

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