Mass Communication - Application

Shut Up & Sing is a documentary that followed the limelight of country singers, The Dixie Chicks. The pop country trio included Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, Martie Magquire. While performing a concert in London, Maines made a statement that she never thought would have strongly impact her and the future popularity of the Chicks. Maines had told the crowd, “we don’t want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.” (in reference to Bush and the girls’ home state). From that moment on their fans became highly critical. Eventually radios stopped playing Dixie Chick songs because they did not want to offend any more people or because already offended people demanded that the Chicks’ songs and albums should no longer be promoted… and for what specific reason? The public thought the Dixie Chicks had become disrespectful and unpatriotic while in actuality they simply took a stand to express their own opinion. Although it may have been negative they still showed their support for the troops through their songs but Maines’ statement turned things around.

Through mass communication, what had only been amongst London news quickly made its way back to the United States. It was a chain reaction as the statement was initially made before thousands of people present at the concert, then European media, followed by becoming newsworthy back home. It amazed the Dixie Chicks and their manager on how fast it traveled and how it immediately dropped the status of their country stardom. At the same time, Natalie wasn’t quick to regret what she had said because it was a statement that someone was going to say sooner or later as she had anti-sentiments against the war. The documentary illustrated how the original message filtered through different channels and then impacted thousands of other people.

The Dixie Chicks remained a tight-knit, opinionated group regardless of death threats and diminishing number of fans. They managed to make a comeback and continued to vocalize other messages through their talents, singing songs like “Travelin’ Soldier” and “Not Ready to Make Nice.” Overtime, what once was an outrage back in 2003 had simmered down (or diffused) and the Chicks continue to be genuine people and proud Americans.