July 21, 2004

Bonnie Raitt joins the "Bash Bush" bandwagon

Country singer Bonnie Raitt, on the tail end of a concert swing through Europe, took time out of her concert to take a crack at President George Bush. She received a loud ovation from the audience at the Stockholm Music Festival this week.

"We're gonna sing this for George Bush because he's out of here, people!" Raitt crowed Tuesday night before she launched into the opening licks of "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)," a cover that was featured on her 1979 album "The Glow."

Raitt's comments resulted in a round of applause and even whistles from among the estimated 3,000 concertgoers at the Swedish capital's annual jazz event held on the banks of the downtown Skeppsholmen island.

Swedes are skeptical of Bush and the Scandinavian country refused to support his efforts in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The nine-time Grammy award winner is no stranger to political activism. Her Web site urges fans to learn more about preserving the environment and she was a founding member of MUSE, or Musicians United for Safe Energy.

There goes another one...

Posted by mhking at July 21, 2004 10:11 PM
Comments

They're dropping like flies form my book. These people should keep their opinions to themselves to appeal to a wider audience, because their rants color and ruin their performances for me, whether dramatic or lyrical.

Posted by: Jane at July 21, 2004 11:35 PM

These people may be very talented - but, business persons, they are not. Too bad for them.

Posted by: Deb at July 22, 2004 01:22 AM

Yes you are famous....

Perhaps you have a little intelligence...

No, you are not a walking PSA....

Posted by: dmiller23462 at July 22, 2004 06:16 AM

Let her say what she wants. It's essentially noise as long as she's talking to Swedes. It's amazing how courageous people are when there's no chance of consequences.

Has anyone heard from the Dixie Chicks after it became clear that record buyers and radio stations would exercise a little freedom of their own?

Posted by: Gib at July 22, 2004 08:29 AM

After selling 6 million+ of their first three albums, the Dixie Chicks "Top of the World Live" CD only went gold (500,000). Usually, live albums don't sell too well, but the Chicks were one of the top 3 acts in country music at the time (heck, Garth sold over 3 million of his live CD). They are now on what they call 'maternity' leave and plan to make a new album in 2005. But I don't think they have a chance in country anymore. Of the 15 or so country stations in the Kansas City area, I've only heard one station play them, albeit sporadically, since their 'coming out'. And I don't see a fiddle and banjo competing with Usher anytime soon. :)

But besides the Chicks, have any of these moronic musicians been big in the past ten years? Bonnie Raitt, Linda Rondstat, John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle? Lord, take me back to the '80s! Any publicity is better than none, I guess.

Posted by: Rabbit at July 22, 2004 08:43 AM