Sunday Divas / Three From The Hip: The Chicks

Sunday Divas / Three From The Hip: 

The Chicks

In my own personal big gay church there is a wing dedicated to those who are one of a kind divas; individuals who have remained just that - an individual, no matter their circumstances. They are 'The Rebels'. Three such souls

Emily, Marti, and Natalie. 

The Chicks.

The whole cliche' of three 'little ladies' stepping out of Dallas, TX and stealing the hearts of the whole world? 

Well, look no further. 

They made country cool again. 

But then? 

Country went cold on them.

Seems the old boys club that is country music doesn't cotton much to gals who shoot from the hip.

The only kind of 'chicks' they like are those that look cute and peep when told to. 

But these 'chicks'?

 

They know how to bite. 

They speak their minds. 

And the world is all the better for them. 

Not satisfied to go with the status quo. Not satisfied to play the game. 

These 'chicks?' 

They know how to ruffle yer feathers!

And whatever you do?

Don't tell 'em to "shut up and sing."

The gospel according to them?

Well, here's three from the hip, dropping from their lips. 

The topic? Country Music

"Historically, country music's always attracted an older conservative audience. They don't like it when someone comes along and rocks the boat. It's still the good ol' boy network in Nashville. But do you know what the biggest industry is there, apart from music? Porn! There's more strip clubs and sex shops than anywhere else. At the same time it's the world centre of production of Bibles. It's a pretty phoney town." - Natalie

"I am a country fan, but a lot of people just think of Top 40 country when they think of country [music] and that's not really my favorite music. That's what's in my blood. It's always going to make its way into our music, I think. We also listen to a lot of other different types of music that I feel passionate about and I like to play." - Emily

"But over the years, and especially, since country music's turned into this redneck theme, it's become kind of a negative. I think for a while, a lot of artists were doing a lot of great things. It was that were broadening the audience. So that country was cool. Because I always thought it was cool. So it makes me sad that it's kind of reverted back to a place that I'm not that proud of. And this is coming from a true country fan. I can't listen to the radio right now." - Martie

There's Your Trouble - The Chicks

Landslide - The Chicks

Sleep At Night - The Chicks

And three more parting shots...

"We're kind of glad all this happened to us, because we've changed. We've always been able to connect with our fans on some level ... but as you get older, you want your work to be a little more meaningful. We want our music to mean something." - Emily

"I'd rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith. We don't want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do." - Marti

"I don't even know what's played on country radio, but when they tell me some titles, it cracks me up. Besides, where would we fit on the playlist between `Honky Tonk Badonkadonk' and `Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off'?" - Natalie