Shut Up And Sing Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Shut Up and Sing

An interesting film about a band I'd never heard. The chicks mainstream country (though well played and sung) isn't really my thing but that doesn't stop this being a highly watchable film. The construction, which flits between 2003 when lead singer Natalie Maines made a (pretty innocuous) comment about George Bush which threatened to destroy the band's career and 2005/6 as they record and promote their next album can get annoying as it doesn't let you settle into the storytelling. However both sections of the film provide compelling material.

It helps that Maines and founding members Emily Robison and Martie Maguire are engaging people. They come across very well on camera; smart, often funny, and passionate about both their music and their family life. They also present a completely united front when it would have been much easier to distance themselves from what Maines said.

It's perhaps not AS personal an insight into a band as Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, but Shut Up and Sing is a comparable achievement.

Interesting

The all girls band was doing so well until the performance in Shepherds Bush, when the lead singer made an unpopular remark without thinking. It just shows that one should think before speaking. Or as the title says, just shut up and sing.

[Highly rated reviewer]

I;m not ready to make nice either!

I saw the trailer to this film originally on apple trailers and thought that looks really interesting. I'm not into country music but as a musician i am interested in how music has a profound effect on its listeners.

What i got from this film is that a certain porportion of Americans are so dumb and led by the media that they would take a comment about Bush and turn it into an out and out Hate campaign and even go as far as to threaten Natalie's Life!

This film charts their fall from the country pedal stool and their triumphant rise back without airplay from the country radio stations. What is crazy really in all this is that come 2005/6 Natalies's views were ultimately shared by 59% of the population.

What Natalie Maines said is no more offensive than what i say on a weekly basis at any one of my gigs. But her comment nearly destroyed the bands career in the so called land of the free and of freedom of speech.

The film is interesting and also makes for a great conversation topic after viewing. And although i really was not familiar with their mainstream country material i think i will pop off now to itunes and purchase this 2005/6 album.

But before i do to put it in the words of Rage Against The Machine...'the land of the free, whoever told you that is your enemy'

There is never freedom when you have to think before you speak!

Good Film, Great Music

A very watchable film for an evening in. Sit back and enjoy.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Not Ready to Make Nice

Excellent film documenting the last 3 years since Natalie Maines made her infamous comment about President Bush in London. If you're a fan of the band, there's lots of footage of them recording the comeback album 'Taking the Long Way' and several live peformances. Just a shame there's no extras.

[Highly rated reviewer]

V. Good

Dixie Chick fans will LOVE this, and music fans will also enjoy. It traces the 'Chicks' from 2003-2006, a period when their career was in doubt because of remarks made about the American president. This film is a fly-on-the-wall journey with them as musicians and as people. It gives insight to their maturing journey and the lessons they learned about themselves through the ordeal.

The price of free speech....

An interesting look at how one simple comment can create such a storm in the home of the brave, and how people can be so easily manipulated by the media. The film runs out of steam before the end but is worth a look even if your not a Dixie Chick fan.

Brilliant

A great documentary of controversy in our time and the way throw away comments are blown out of all proportion. Well worth seeing to put the record straight about what was said and when then happened.

I Hate Country & Western

I hate country & western, but I love the DIXIE CHICKS, Natalie Maines has the guts sadly lacking in nearly all the politicians & media pundits in America.

She refused to back down in the face of DEATH THREATS from the moronic fringe in the US.

I know the yanks don’t do irony but FREEDOM of SPEECH used to be a fundamental & integral part of their constitution (one of the few things to be admired about their brand of ‘DEMOCRACY’).

P.S. I wonder, is this the same version of ‘DEMOCRACY’ that they are trying to export to Iraq ?

P.P.S. the music was good. I’ve just bid on their latest CD on EBAY!

Fascinating.

A fascinating look at not only a band, but a rather scary Right-Wing America. The vile treatment these girls got just got excerising their right to free speech, from hateful protesters to legitimate death threats - it's just incredible, and makes you realised the USA has a long way to go before becoming the free, liberal nation that it likes to think it is.

What is almost revolutionary, and inspiring - is seeing these girls, especially the lead singer - completely standing up for herself and not backing down to appease her record label, or country fan base. Great viewing. You could almost say, essential viewing.