Toby Keith

[Liontamr]

Pardon the following rant... but I've been meaning to get this off my chest for a while:


How classic is this guy?

First off he's a country singer. That's a strike right there. No offence country fans, but lets face it the only things that country singers can profess to be experts on are: dogs on the front porch, cheating on spouses, drinking, the virtues of being a hick, drinking with a bunch of people, getting hammered, drinking on the front porch with the dog right after the spouse left & John Deer tractors.

I like country music as much as the next guy... (Meaning I'll listen, as long as I know no one else knows I'm listning) But they are hardly the type that should speak about world matters. It's like a kicker in football trying to act like a big football star.

But ol' Toby gets pissed off that he can't sing his song "Courtesy of the red white and blue" at a 9-11 benifit show. Toby can't seem to understand that the idea of the show is to support those who suffered loss - many of those living outside the USA - and to lift spirts with inspirational songs. No, Toby would much rather talk like a jilted bully who swears revenge on anyone and everything that damn near isn't American.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago.

It's bad enough the Dixie Chicks voiced their opinion.. (No one CARES! You are the Dixie Chicks! Sing about cheatin boyfriends and cornfields damnit) .. but then good ol Toby chimes in first slams the D-Chicks for voicing personal opinions and flat out says they are wrong and then says no one cares what celebrities think.

I mean yeah the Chicks shouldn't have said anything being country singers and all.. but to say they are wrong? Who's he to judge?

And this bit about how no one cares about celebs? What the hell does Toby think he is? For christ sake he sold right out and started pimping Ford trucks! If that doesn't make him a celebrity then nothing will!

I wish I could say Toby Keith never met a mirror he didn't like, but that wouldn't be true because based on the way he acts, he's never taken a good look at himself in front of one!

And again... HE'S A COUNTRY SINGER. Stick to singing songs about driving down a dirt road with your dog by your side while chugging a six pack of Bud chasing down your cheating girlfriend.

Leave the political opinions at home.

 

[Bent]

Who is Toby Keith?

 

[modest mouse]

Country singers are simply proving they are as ignorant as their performers.

(Witha qualifier, I mean those who like/sing modern country while having no clue of the origins fo the genre. You know who you are.)

 

[Liontamr]

Country singers are simply proving they are as ignorant as their performers.

(Witha qualifier, I mean those who like/sing modern country while having no clue of the origins fo the genre. You know who you are.)

Damn near everyone today who calls themselves a country singer..

Funny thing is I used to love country back in school. Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Hank Williams Sr. & Jr., The Judds... But I don't ever recall hearing a song by Kenny Rogers singing about Vietnam.

 

[Liontamr]

Who is Toby Keith?

Exactly!

 

[morninggirl5]

Never listened to Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town did you?

Or God Bless America again by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.

Or what about the Fighting Side of Me by Merle Haggard.

Or any of several songs by Charlie Daniels.


Oh wait, i'm one of those ignorant people who listens to country music so i don't know what i'm talking about.

 

[Lasz]

Hey you got to realize this is a guy who's biggest hit is "Let's talk about me". Maybe he is just a little self centered?

 

[modest mouse]

MG5, as I said in my post I was referring to modern country music. I think we can both agree that COnway Twitty and Merle Haggard are not 'modern' Though Merle is timeless.

 

[Bent]

Are we 'one' tonight Lion? I honestly have no idea who that guy is, except that he is hosting the Country Music Awards with Pam Anderson...looking at him, I think if I do watch, it will only to look at her.

 

[Liontamr]

Never listened to Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town did you?

Or God Bless America again by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.

Or what about the Fighting Side of Me by Merle Haggard.

Or any of several songs by Charlie Daniels.

Oh wait, i'm one of those ignorant people who listens to country music so i don't know what i'm talking about.

Point taken...

Don't get me wrong morninggirl.. This isn't a rant against fans. This isn't even a rant against the music in particular. (Last comment may have been I suppose) ... This is a rant about a guy who seems to forget that he is merely an artist.

Music has many artists who have made money playing off political themes - not just country music - hell bands like Rage Against The Machine made a living off it.

Go ahead.. Express your opinion through song. If I don't like it then I won't listen.

But don't try to shove a song about American pay back down our throats. And don't try to tell us one group of people should shut up because you don't agree with them. And for the love of god don't publicly trash what you in fact are and thus make a huge fool of yourself.

Then again, it is America.... I suppose he has the right to do that.

 

[Spinaroonie]

If you mess with this thread, you get a boot up your ass.

Plus, I'd like to reaffirm my belief that I'd rather walk ten miles and be down on my luck than ride around in a non-Ford pickup truck.

 

[Bent]

But Spinny, it's the 'Chevy Man', that 'can'.

 

[morninggirl5]

MG5, as I said in my post I was referring to modern country music. I think we can both agree that COnway Twitty and Merle Haggard are not 'modern' Though Merle is timeless.

I was directing my comments to Liontamr who said he never heard a song about Vietnam from Kenny Rogers.

 

[Spinaroonie]

But Spinny, it's the 'Chevy Man', that 'can'.

What? He does them too?

 

[Liontamr]

Just to add...

Honestly, if I want someone's opinion then I'll ask for it. I do it all the time at work. I hear sides that are both anti-war and pro-war. I hear anti-American opinions and pro-American opinions.

So that's not what this is about. I don't care what side Mr. Keith takes.

I just don't want to hear or read about him going on about it. And the fact he trashes those who oppose his beliefs by acting like some higher authority on the matter really rubs me the wrong way.

 

[Angel]

really rubs me the wrong way.

I'd be worried if Toby Keith was rubbing you the right way.

 

[Liontamr]

I was directing my comments to Liontamr who said he never heard a song about Vietnam from Kenny Rogers.

Well like I said, I never heard him sing a song about Vietnam.. but then I can't profess to be a big country fan.

My main point is that I never saw Dolly Parton hold a "No War" sign or Randy Travis stop a show to blast people for being what he thinks is anti-American.

 

[modest mouse]

Can we please get back to bashing the Dixie Chicks?

 

[morninggirl5]

Point taken...

Don't get me wrong morninggirl.. This isn't a rant against fans. This isn't even a rant against the music in particular. (Last comment may have been I suppose) ... This is a rant about a guy who seems to forget that he is merely an artist.

Music has many artists who have made money playing off political themes - not just country music - hell bands like Rage Against The Machine made a living off it.

Go ahead.. Express your opinion through song. If I don't like it then I won't listen.

But don't try to shove a song about American pay back down our throats. And don't try to tell us one group of people should shut up because you don't agree with them. And for the love of god don't publicly trash what you in fact are and thus make a huge fool of yourself.

Then again, it is America.... I suppose he has the right to do that.

It seems to me your problem with Toby Keith is that he expressed his opinion through his song and then spoke out about the statements Natalie Maines made in England.

He has that right. In fact, most country music singers are being asked how they feel about Natalie Maines and what she did. You won't find many supporting her, because most of them are well aware who their fans are and how their fans feel.

You have the option of not listening. So if the music is so abhorent to you, don't listen. If Toby Keith is foolish for what he did, think about what you've just done. State you don't like a genre and noone cares what country singers have to say....... THEN your long rant about it and you continue to respond. Pot meet kettle.

 

[morninggirl5]

Can we please get back to bashing the Dixie Chicks?

The Dixie Chicks are now a joke. Natalie Maines realizing her career is in the toilet has described her comments as "just a joke."

Nobody is laughing.

 

[Liontamr]

It seems to me your problem with Toby Keith is that he expressed his opinion through his song and then spoke out about the statements Natalie Maines made in England.

He has that right. In fact, most country music singers are being asked how they feel about Natalie Maines and what she did. You won't find many supporting her, because most of them are well aware who their fans are and how their fans feel.

You have the option of not listening. So if the music is so abhorent to you, don't listen. If Toby Keith is foolish for what he did, think about what you've just done. State you don't like a genre and noone cares what country singers have to say....... THEN your long rant about it and you continue to respond. Pot meet kettle.

No no.. I don't care he made his song. He can sing about whatever he likes. Like I said many singers do likewise. Every single RATM song was some sort of political statement..

Make your music. Music is an expression of ones self.

Problem is he got pissed off at ABC when they refused to allow him to play it at a 9-11 benifit TV show. He didn't understand that it wasn't right time or place to sing that kind of song.

And as for country singers being asked... fine. No problem. If you get asked by someone in the media your thoughts and opinions, then go ahead and fire away. If you want to make clear to your fans that you don't agree with her, then releace a short and simple statement saying so. Hell everyone has a website nowadays right?

But to stop right in the middle of a show in front of thousands who paid you to SING - not make political statements - to take time to blast someone and her opinion?

 

[Liontamr]

The Dixie Chicks are now a joke. Natalie Maines realizing her career is in the toilet has described her comments as "just a joke."

Nobody is laughing.

I find that very funny in fact.

It's funny how a person can make a comment that goes against popular opinion and now can consider her career finished.

Isn't it?

 

[daiseelady]

As a point of interest...

The whole thing with the 9/11 special...

He was invited to sing that song on the program... he was honored to do it...

Then, the host of the show (was it Dan Rather? having a hard time recalling which newcaster it was... ) said that he would not "allow" Toby Keith to perform his "angry american" song on "HIS" program because of the word ASS. The whole issue was not about not being able to sing his song, but about being told that he was "anti-american" and offensive... in the most insulting way possible... had they not invited him to sing it in the first place, nothing would have ever been said at all...

There was also something at the same time about the Dixie Chicks saying something bad about Toby Keith that has sparked him to say a few not so nice things about them...

I guess my outlook on this is... songwriters have their opinions about current events the same as everyone else does... they are just able to broadcast it over the airwaves... and something about them... sells the records... if they didn't sell... they wouldn't get airtime...

I personally saw Toby Keith in concert this past November. I was quite impressed with him as a performer. I think that even if you weren't a fan when you walked into the auditorium, you would have been when you left there... he is a true showman and you can tell that he truely loves every second of being on stage. This is a quality I look for in ANY performer I go to see play live... a love for the fans and a love for the music they are singing...

Just my opinion mixed with a bit of the facts...

 

[morninggirl5]

I find that very funny in fact.

It's funny how a person can make a comment that goes against popular opinion and now can consider her career finished.

Isn't it?

Her career is finished. The joke comment was a last ditch attempt to try and regain the support of the audience that she threw away. It didn't work.

The majority of the backlash against Natalie Maines isn't about her opinion but the fact that she gave her opinion in such a disrespectful manner in another country. She obviously hasn't learned the lesson.

 

[Liontamr]

As a point of interest...

The whole thing with the 9/11 special...

He was invited to sing that song on the program... he was honored to do it...

Ok, that I didn't realize so I stand corrected. I thought the dispute was over the fact it was an "angry American" song.

So, my apologies when it comes to that.

There was also something at the same time about the Dixie Chicks saying something bad about Toby Keith that has sparked him to say a few not so nice things about them...

That may explain why his comments were made.. But in that case I can't help but think his comments were to 'kick a person while they were down' Toby could have just been happy that the Chicks career was over as everyone claims it to be, move on and left it at that.

I guess my outlook on this is... songwriters have their opinions about current events the same as everyone else does... they are just able to broadcast it over the airwaves... and something about them... sells the records... if they didn't sell... they wouldn't get airtime...

Thing that bothers me as I've said is they keep saying and talking about their beliefs.

They as artists have tremendous influence over their fans.. When I see an artist constantly harp on that same topic and their beliefs on it (ie: Rosie O'Neal) it bothers me that they are trying to take the fame and voice they gained as a singer and use it as a podium.

Give your opinions if asked.. Hell if you want to make some money off an "angry American" song then go right ahead.. But don't make it a point to use that stage that you should be performing on to be a stage that you preach on.

Just my opinion mixed with a bit of the facts...

Thanks for those facts and correcting me on a few.. I don't claim to be right even half the time, so I don't mind people pointing out where I may be wrong.