Product Description: This documentary captures the female country-&-western group the Dixie Chicks in performance around the U.S. and London between the years 2003 and 2006. While performing in 2003 singer Natalie Maines ignited a maelstrom of controversy and red-state rage when she declared--from a London stage on the eve of the Iraqi conflict--that she was ashamed President George W. Bush was from her home state of Texas. When a rabidly right-wing group picked up on it the band found themselves in the center of controversy regarding the nature of patriotism freedom of speech feminism and the split between pro- and antiwar Americans. Filmmaker Barbara Kopple brings us the fly-on-the-wall view of the next three years: we find Haines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire in dressing rooms on stage and in recording studios bonding with each other their families producer Rick Rubin and their supportive manager Simon Renshaw. Through the crises they keep their sense of humor and sisterhood not backing down from their liberal stance and turning the backlash into a triumph. They also make some great music and the film includes plenty of riveting intense footage of the band in performance onstage and in the studio. Among the faces appearing in archival footage are President Bush Bill Maher and rabidly right-wing country star Toby Keith.Format: DVD AUDIO Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 796019799294 Manufacturer No: 79929
Amazon.com: Shut Up & Sing finds two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple (American Dream) and co-director Cecilia Peck following the lives and career developments of the Dixie Chicks in the wake of singer Natalie Maines’ denunciation of the Iraq war and President Bush in 2003. The film returns to the pivotal moment in which Maines, speaking to a London audience, raised opposition to America's invasion of Iraq, resulting in a backlash in America. The Chicks, as one sees, have had little peace of mind since then, banned from country music stations, picketed at concerts, and targeted by death threats. Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Robison respond to the extensive and sometimes scary criticism they've faced, though their latest music, including a song called "Not Ready to Make Nice," also speaks for itself. Kopple and Peck spend a lot of time with the band on a human level as well, in homes and dressing rooms and recording studios. The collective--and quite touching--portrait is of three women who wish only the best for one another and back each other's decisions all the way. This is essential viewing for fans of the gifted Kopple as well as the always-against-the-odds Dixie Chicks. --Tom Keogh
Texas vs Texas A doco of Dixie Chicks female music band cashing on anti-Iraq-war, anti-US-president stance inevitably triggered questions of freedom speech limits and right to express own opinion pro- and against the issue.
More politics than music.
Not Ready to Make Nice After buying a year ago, I finally watched it. And I liked it.
To be fair, I was much more into the mechanics of how they wrote and recorded 'Taking the Long Way' than I was over the 'controversy'. There wasn't enough of that for me.
In retrospect, forgetting the change in the view on the war and approval ratings gone south, the furor over 12 words seems a bit over the top. People heard what they wanted to hear and nothing of what was really said.
And while I defend the right to free speech, on both sides of the conversation, Maines' comments while sincere, they were also light-hearted. It was the responses that were so venomous and out of kilter to the original statement. But I'm ok that the Chicks didn't bend or break to what others told them was "right" - and they stood together.
While always lively, sometimes it is almost too so. Managers, artists, publicists all talking over each other in heated discussions. Sometimes it was a bit much, but it was a stressful time for all involved.
The pseudo-documentary was well done, but I'm ok I didn't go out of my way to see it in a theater. DVD viewing was just fine.
Originally bought it for my girlfriend, but I enjoyed it too Good documentary... Much better than I thought it would be. Really gives you a good feel for what they went through after what they said at that fateful concert in London back in 2003. More than anything, it gives you a really good sense of how ignorant and narrow-minded the yammering hordes of mainstream America are. You also get to see some cool behind-the-scenes stuff with regards to their recording process... I had no idea Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Pepper's played the drums on one of their albums... etc.
The Truth I wasn't a Dixie Chicks fan, but I sure heard about the hoopla raised by Natalie Main's remark about Bush & Texas. I live in Texas, and the outrage was remarkable. I first watched this film on a cable channel. It proved to me how extremist groups can take things out of context and create suspicion and innuendo, when in reality it was just an American doing what we do everyday--voicing an opinion. Anyone who loves America needs to watch this film. The music created after these women went through the firestorm of conservative back-lash turned me into a forever fan. It was the music, where they pour out their souls, that originally turned me on. The film reveals the source of the anguish inflicted upon these American citizens by their own countrymen. It is a sobering, but beautiful film that emphasizes the friendship and love between the three women of the Dixie Chicks. The actual events, as they happened, will enlighten anyone who has an ounce of intelligence. The film allows me to be there as the events happened, and to make up my own mind, but anyone would be hard-pressed to think that what American extremist groups do is benign or even helpful. The sad thing is that the initial result was a condemnation of the Dixie Chicks, when it should be a condemnation of these boycotts for our "moral" good. Watch this film! The audio CD is outstanding, too!
Freedom of Speech---- Go Dixie Chicks! The documentary, "Shut Up & Sing", pertains to the country music band "The Dixie Chicks" and the statements made by lead singer, Natalie Maines, in 2003 regarding President Bush & the Iraq War while "The Dixie Chicks" were on tour in London, England.
Maines' statements during the "The Dixie Chicks" concert in London, England set off a fire storm amongst their fans back home in the USA, whom thought her statements about President Bush & the Iraq War were unpatriotic. Many music stations stopped playing music recorded by "The Dixie Chicks" due to public outrage.
"Shut Up & Sing" documents the situation and shows how "The Dixie Chicks" handled the situation and eventually bounced back in full force on their own terms.
"Shut Up & Sing" is a touching documentary that places the viewer in the midst's of what the three women whom make up "The Dixie Chicks" were thinking and feeling during this time in their lives and their career. "Shut Up & Sing" is very well done documentary.
The only drawback for me regarding this documentary was the fact that most of the information in it was already dealt with publicly in the news. I felt as if there wasn't much new in terms of information to be learn that hadn't already been heard before.
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