Dixie Chicks: Shut Up & Sing (2006)

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. July 17, 2008

Entertaining and Informative

The Chicks made their remark while everyone was really from 9/11. At the time, Bush's approval rating were in the stratosphere. Natalie's remarks in my opinion where a breathe of fresh air.
This movie is more of a day in a life that a political piece. We learn that Natalie was not the Chick's first lead singer and got the job after her Father left a tape for their manager. Natalie has a foul mouth, but a heavenly voice. She is shown laying around a lot. We get a glimpse into the family life of the two other Chicks and a significant amount of time is spent in the recording studio. July 9, 2008

an important story

I picked up a copy of this on principle after having seen that it was screening in Los Angeles. The story is now an integral part of American history interwoven with a Presidency that will itself be studied for the rest of time.

Leave it to country music to paint every dimension of the American struggle. As I write this the number of US lives given in Iraq stands at 4113. To the Iraqi people, I would echo the most important line from "Saving Private Ryan" ... "Earn this." July 5, 2008

Take a lesson

This documentary gave me a new found respect for the Dixie Chicks. As a person who has always loathed country music, despite my Southern upbringing, I now have respect for the true talent these ladies display. The film gives you good insight into the controversial comments about President Bush, the anger of the American public, and the power of censorship. I think it's a good film to use with excerpts in a high school discussion of censorship or obtain a "clean" version to delete the profanity. I like the film overall and I think it would spark an interesting discussion about the freedom of speech. June 30, 2008

Would be TEN stars if I could

This is the best documentary I have ever seen. It does exactly what a documentary should do, stand back and film the reality of what happened. It gives you an in depth experience of what the Dixie Chicks dealt with in the aftermath of Natalie Maine's exercising her freedom of speech during a concert, for her own fans. It also shows how their families, friends and fans were affected by the backlash in the years afterward (not to mention the fine album they were inspired to do as a result of it all). What she did would have been applauded by everyone if it hadn't have been for the fear being instilled in this country in the aftermath of 911. This documentary is proof of the travesty the current administration has made of our freedoms, and how it has turned our citizens against one another in an attempt to get attention away from the lies and crimes they have perpetuated since Bush was elected. So as well as being about the subject described, it shows how far we've come as a country if speaking your mind is seen as traitorous behavior, and everyone thinks it's patriotic and acceptable behavior to gang up on you and threaten your life and livelihood as a result. June 30, 2008

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