Civilization. What a concept!
Civilized discourse, a direct decendant.
I think lil ole country gal's have as much right,
to disagree with their parents views as their
parents had to disagree with their own parents views.
Times change,
and some people don't after a certain point.
This is equally reflected in child vs parents musical choices.
The 'establishment' changes regularly,
one decade you're on one side,
the next you are suddenly in the opposition,
and only 2-4 percentage of the voters put YOU
in that position. ('Texas Swing Voters'...
)
There is also a periodic shift from one
absolutist, black and white point of view
to one MUCH more grey in character for many.
Yet some never change, though the landscape
changes around them.
I agree with the Shock and Aauuuww no, she didn't say THAT!??? factor
for many of their fans. Who were thinking;
these good lil country gal's is one'a us,
then in one fell swoop; my god they's the enemy.
No matter that their MUSIC still speaks to the heartland,
their opposition to certain subjects is now clear,
so they are shunned. By some.
No matter if their motives are pure.
Hey lil girl shut up and play your guitar.
Don't ask, don't tell,
we wanna think you agree
with all our notions.
Of course from adversity often grows great music.
Some of the best albums have been because times were tough.
Or the artist was going through a real bad patch.
Or they were standing up to people gettin in their face.
Ya know I am in a country where there is
a 'country music' scene, 'Songs for Life'.
It reflects the hardships of the little people
from the backwoods, coming to Bangkok and other citys,
and trying to make a living and help the folks back home.
Sound familiar?
And trust me most of these people would LOVE to
be in a West Virginia shotgun shack.
that being 2 steps up the ladder.
There have been 17 coup d'etat's here.
I been through one, and anyone local my age
has been through 5-6 at least.
Speach has been stifled depending on who's side
you were on, and that side changes regularly.
But the music makers still get out their songs,
and talk from the stage.
Before I was with them,
my 1st band was run off the stage with M-16's...
And we scream at the Chicks for disgreeing with
the powers that be. Well you can appreciate
the difference, of getting yelled at, albums burned,
no air-play, to getting guns at your back
till you cut the amps...
The last government was sueing EVERYBODY who dissented,
newspapers, singers, actors, professors, reporters,
ANYBODY who had a disenting view and actually spoke out.
It was Whitewater or Plame multiplied by 100.
No exageration.
The suits eventually were dropped.
And the singers continue to write
songs of their times, and say their piece.
Inspite of a junta in charge, for the moment,
the older singers STILL are active
with the bully pulpit THEY have earned,
to aid those less fortunate here.
Even if it goes against the powers that be, establishment of the day.
If we stifle dissenting voices,
then we get what we deserve,
NO SAY in what's going on.
Since you could be on the other side
in a few years yourself.
As Elvis Costello sang in that Nick Lowe song.
"What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding".
You may not like that the Chicks disagree with you
from any spot of terrain on the planet, but they
are just being themselves, and their music comes
from their experiences, in the same places you came
from in many cases, yet their views are different.
It's amazing what 15 years in age difference
can do to peoples outlook. On both sides of the middle age.
Their music still reflects great segments of the heartlands.
Where kids have gone much more rock and hiphop
than classic country and rockabilly.
Different times different views,
and yet still their musical core is down home,
even if the parents think their being to rebelious
or uppity.
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
