"We want to meet this moment."

June 25, 2020 10:06 AM

Following fellow country music act Lady A (pka Lady Antebellum), the Dixie Chicks have changed their name to The Chicks. The Dixie Chicks' last single was 'Gaslighter' released in March. This month, The Chicks' first single is 'March March.'
posted by box (42 comments total)

As with Lady A, good for them for finally recognizing the need, and for being really low-key about it. But I still don't understand the partial name change, won't people who ever knew them as 'The Dixie Chicks' just habitually mentally insert the "missing" word every time they hear 'The Chicks'?

Since it's a new name anyway, why not properly rebrand and leave behind any association, even in memory, with the offensive term(s)? Especially since the new social awareness that prompted the name change(s) will likely also show in their songwriting going forward (at least, it ought to, because surely their lyrics won't be quite the same either, after the awareness of privilege they've come to...).
posted by LooseFilter at 10:21 AM on June 25, 2020

Holy crap, that March March song kills.
posted by suelac at 10:39 AM on June 25, 2020 [16 favorites]

Add March March to the list of great anthems and protest songs. I love The Chicks with or without the Dixie. (Never heard any Lady Antebellum, what a ridiculous name.)

March March to my own drum
March March to my own drum
Hey hey I’m an army of one
Oh I’m an army of one
March March to my own drum
March March to my own drum
Hey hey I’m an army of one
Oh I’m an army of one

Brenda’s packin’ heat cuz she don’t like Mondays
Underpaid teacher policing the hallways
Print yourself a weapon and take it to the gun range
Ah cut the shit
You ain’t goin’ to the gun range

Standing with Emma and our sons and daughters
Watchin’ our youth have to solve our problems
I’ll follow them so who’s comin’ with me
Half of you love me
Half already hate me

March March to my own drum
March March to my own drum
Hey hey I’m an army of one
Oh I’m an army of one
March March to my own drum
March March to my own drum
Hey hey I’m an army of one
Oh I’m an army of one

Tell the ol’ boys in the white bread lobby
What they can and can’t do with their bodies
Temperatures risin’ cities are sinkin’
Ah cut the shit
You know your city is sinkin’
Lies are truth and truth is fiction
Everybody’s talkin’
Who’s gonna listen
What the hell happened in Helsinki

March March to my own drum
March March to my own drum
Hey hey I’m an army of one
Oh I’m an army of one
March March to my own drum
March March to my own drum
Hey hey I’m an army of one
Oh I’m an army of one
posted by pjsky at 11:06 AM on June 25, 2020 [19 favorites]

Since it's a new name anyway, why not properly rebrand and leave behind any association, even in memory, with the offensive term(s)?

This doesn't feel quite the same to me as the Lady A thing. To me, a total rebrand would feel more like trying to distance themselves from the problem more. Bands change their names all the time for a variety of reasons, but changing it JUST by dropping the problematic part makes it clear that they're doing it for this specific reason.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:21 AM on June 25, 2020 [24 favorites]

I'm proud this band is from Texas.
posted by mcdoublewide at 11:43 AM on June 25, 2020 [16 favorites]

('Gaslighter,' previously--sorry to have missed mentioning it in the post.)
posted by box at 12:06 PM on June 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

[this is good]

There's a previous group called The Chicks, who released three records between 1965 and 1970 in their native New Zealand but don't appear to have made an international impression. The sister duo's song "Hucklebuck" is pretty fun. Looks like Suzanne Lynch went on to have a decent career.
posted by me3dia at 1:12 PM on June 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

It seems to me that The Chicks' decision to change their name was, at this moment, an opportunity to say the 330 names at the end of their March March video.

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Lorenzo Dean, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Philando Castille, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, Eric Garner, Eric Reason, Alteria Woods, Amadou Diallo, David McAtee, Botham Jean, Chris Beaty, Italia Marie Kelly, Dion Johnson, Jamel Floyd, William Green, Troy Hodge, Darrien Hunt, Kalief Browder, Renisha McBride, Oscar Grant III, Miles Hall, Kendrick Johnson, Charleena Lyles, Timothy Caughman, Sylville Smith, Corey Jones, Tyre King, Dontre Hamilton, Victor Duffy Jr., Kobe Dimock-Heisler, Clinton R. Allen, Kionte Spencer, Darius Tarver, Wayne Arnold Jones, Manuel Ellis, Rekia Boyd, Danroy "DJ" Henry Jr., Karvas Gamble Jr., Korryn Gaines, Bradley Blackshire, Timothy Thomas, Reginald Doucet Jr., Marcus Deon Smith, Chavis Carter, Martin Lee Anderson, Christopher McCorvey, Nicholas Heyward Jr., Christopher Whitfield, Willie McCoy, Victor White III, Carol Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Ryan Matthew Smith, Derrick Ambrose Jr., Addie Mae Collins, Sean Bell, Atatiana Jefferson, Jemel Roberson, James Lee Alexander, Aiyana Stanley Jones, Pamela Turner, Dominique Clayton, Antwon Rose II, Tayler Rock, Malice Green, Ramarley Graham, Elijah McClain, Aaron Bailey, Ronell Foster, Stephon Clark, Corey Carter, Terence Crutcher, Paul O'Neal, Bobby Russ, Jordan Edwards, Demetrium DuBose, Demarcus Semer, Willie Tillman, Terrill Thomas, Torrey Robinson, Darius Robinson, Kevin Hicks, Mary Truxillo, Dyzhawn Perkins, Christopher Davis, Marco Loud, James Byrd Jr., Peter Gaines, Antronie Scott, Wendell Celestine, David Joseph, Calin Roquemore, Quintonio LeGrier, Wayne Wheeler, Janet Wilson, Randy Nelson, Miguel Espinal, Brian Pickett, James Carney III, Bettie Jones, Richard Perkins, Phillip Pannell, Nathaniel Harris Pickett, Benni Lee Tignor, India Kager, La'Vante Biggs, Carlos Santiago, Michael Lee Marshall, Dominic Hutchinson, Anthony Ashford, Alonzo Smith, Tyree Crawford, Keith Harrison McLeod, Leslie Sapp, Lamontez Jones, Paterson Brown, Asshams Pharoah Manley, Michael Stewart, Felix Kumi, Michael Sabbie, Brian Keith Day, Christian Taylor, Troy Robinson, Albert Davis, Darrius Stewart, Billy Ray Davis, Samuel DuBose, Freddie Carlos Gray Jr., Joseph Mann, Salvado Ellswood, Jonathan Sanders, Brendon Glenn, Victor Manuel Larosa, Eric Harris, Walter Scott, William Chapman II, Alexia Christian, Natasha McKenna, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, Mya Hall, Phillip White, Matthew Ajibade, James N. Powell Jr., Frank Smart, Ernest Lacy, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Andre Murphy Sr., Jerame Reid, Michelle Cusseaux, Mary Turner, Laquan McDonald, Malcolm X, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Ezell Ford, Dante Parker, Medgar Evers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Henry Smith, David McAtee, Robert Johnson Jr., McHale Rose, Dreasjon Reed, Michael Wallace, Lucas Alvarado, Kerry Michael Bounsom, Jerome Hill, Francine Graham, Malik Williams, De'Von Bailey, Hasim Wilson, Mantry Norris, Jaquan Diijon Thompson, Brent Durbin-Daniel, Bryan Bernard Wallace, Terry Frost, JaQuavion Slaton, Edtwon Stamps, Ryan Twyman, Fabian Rivera, Samuel Galberth, Enosa Strickland Jr., Ryan Smith, Isaiah Lewis, Harlod Vincent Robinson, Marzues Scott, Anthony Orlando Bowers, Oscar Cain, Julius Glover, Michael Gulley, Daviri Robertson, Chris Joseph, Kevin Samuel Capers, Osaze Osagie, Michael Cohen, Sokhom Hon, Phillip Wayne Outland, Rodney Fisher, Roy Anthony Scott, Gary Clark, James Scott Reed, Tommy Kirby, Angel Burke, Decynthia Clements, Alkeeta Allena Walker, Jamil Harvey, Joel Jacobo, Darion Baker, Lee Edward Bonner, Chris Kimble, Raymond Bishop, Mark Daniels, David Darden, Tierre Guthrie, Brett Dontae Bush, Anthony Joe Williams, Albert E. Morton, Gilberto Salas, Khalil Lawa, Donte D. Shannon, Terry Amons, Amanuel Dagebo, Shalun Dique Smith, Trayvon Mitchell, George Mann, Jarvis Lykes, Dennis Plowden, Kameron Prescott, Zoe Dowdell, Mario Sanabria, Kieta O'Neal, Robert Lightfeather, Armondo Frank, Madgiel Sanchez, Herbert Gilbert, Patrick Harmon, Adam Trammell, Douglas Wiggington, Malik Carey, Gregory Kever, Zelalem Eshetu Ewnetu, Olugbalah Ridley, Keith Price, Isaiah Murrietta, William Spates, Roy Dale Evans Jr., Raynard Burton, Willard Scott, Quanice Hayes, Nana Adomako, Tiano Meton, Gregory Gray, Michael Sutton, Travis Faison, Jerry Nowlin, Delbert Gutierrez, Alejandro Cordero-Rivera, Rumain Brisbon, Mark Bartlett, Leonardo Little, Naeschylus Vinzant, Kyron Hinton, Keith Childress, Kevin Matthews, Michael Noel, Leroy Browning, Roy Nelson, Freddie Gray, Nathaniel Pickett, Tiara Thomas, Cornelius Brown, Jamar Clark, Reginald Moore, Christopher Kimble, Junior Prosper, Freddie Blue, Victor Larosa III, Spender McCain, Kevin Bajoie, Zamiel Crawford, Jermaine Benjamin, Kris Jackson, Kevin Higgenbotham, Ross Anthony, Richard Davis, Curtis Jordan, Marcus Clark, Lorenzo Hayes, De'Angelo Stallworth, Dajuan Graham, Reginald Moore, Nuwnah LaRoche, Jason Champion, Bryan Overstreet, David Felix, Terry Lee Chatman, Samuel Harrell, Norman Cooper, Brian Acton, Darrell Brown, Frank Shephard III, Donald Ivy, Jason Moland, Denzel Brown, Brandon Jones, Askari Roberts, Terrance Moxley, Bernard Moore, Charly Keunang, Darrell Gatewood, DeOntre Dorsey, Thomas Allen Jr., Lavall Hall, Calvon Reid, Gerdle Moise, Terry Price, Jeremy Lett, Kevin Garrett, Alvin Haynes, Emmett Till
posted by iceberg273 at 1:52 PM on June 25, 2020 [55 favorites]

I remember when they criticized Bush - I was in my early teens and just beginning to learn about politics, and my (lefty) family listened to a lot of country music. They had never been among my favorite bands but I was aware of them, and I remember thinking how gutsy it was to come out against a Republican president, considering their fanbase. I've had a huge amount of affection for them ever since.

And Goodbye Earl is a top-tier karaoke jam.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:54 PM on June 25, 2020 [14 favorites]

Given any thought or research it is obvious in retrospect that the Dixie part had to go. The odd tangentially-related thing I just learned is that apparently the song "Dixie" was basically Lincoln's favorite song. It is catchy.

Their Iraq moment was like Sinead tearing up the pope's photo, except I think more people (though maybe not country radio programmers) agreed on Iraq at the time.
posted by snofoam at 2:18 PM on June 25, 2020 [3 favorites]

And somehow "The Chicks" isn't still problematic?
posted by krisjohn at 2:27 PM on June 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

Just a tiny clarification, they released the excellent "Julianna Calm Down" in between Gaslighter and now.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:28 PM on June 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

And somehow "The Chicks" isn't still problematic?

Why do you feel it is problematic?
posted by snofoam at 2:42 PM on June 25, 2020

And somehow "The Chicks" isn't still problematic?

Inasmuch as it's problematic at all, it's <quote>problematic</quote> in the same way that, oh, The Breeders, The Slits, Pussy Riot, 7 Year Bitch, Snatch, The Coathangers, and so on are. You'll note that none of those imply an endorsement of slave culture.
posted by me3dia at 2:44 PM on June 25, 2020 [20 favorites]

Why do you feel it is problematic?

A quick Google for "calling a woman a chick" hits most of my points. Here's a quote from one result:

Being called a bird is infantilising. Such terms hold women back
www.theguardian.com
Sep 30, 2016 - 'Bird', 'doll', 'chick' and 'babe' are all words women hate, according to a new survey. Little wonder: these nicknames are fluffy, cute ...

posted by krisjohn at 2:47 PM on June 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Have you seen Duke Fame's current album?
posted by snofoam at 2:57 PM on June 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

"Being called", not "Calling your band".
posted by sagc at 2:57 PM on June 25, 2020 [17 favorites]

I assume there are further branding issues if the Chicks or Lady A changed their names to something more drastic.

But that said, I'd go with the "D-some other word Chicks" or "Lady A-some-other-word" if I were them.

Well, better late than never, I guess.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:04 PM on June 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

And somehow "The Chicks" isn't still problematic?

Should have gone for "The Chix" instead ?
posted by y2karl at 3:08 PM on June 25, 2020

Should have gone for "The Chix" instead ?

If you're changing your band's brand just ditch the name for a logo as in "The artist formerly known as Prince". (is there unicode for that?)
posted by mikelieman at 3:45 PM on June 25, 2020

Can we please not derail this to discussing whether "chicks" is an appropriate term, and instead focus on them renaming because, as they say, they want to meet the current moment? They're dropping "Dixie", that's what's important now.
posted by Lexica at 3:59 PM on June 25, 2020 [24 favorites]

Mod note: One comment deleted. Digging in to insist women can't choose to call themselves chicks is distracting from the point of this post which, yes, was white bands changing their names that had celebrated racist institutions. Please let that derail drop.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 4:00 PM on June 25, 2020 [20 favorites]

The Dixie Chicks were an early victim of cancel culture, in case you end up getting into that argument with your family
posted by Merus at 4:52 PM on June 25, 2020 [7 favorites]

Yeah, in retrospect it's weird how conservatives canceled the Dixie Chicks over their criticism of Bush and Iraq, then elected a guy that claims to have opposed the Iraq War and said 9/11 was Bush's fault. Something something freedom fries.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:00 PM on June 25, 2020 [10 favorites]

The Dixie Dregs changed their name to The Dregs in 1981.
Unclear why those guys didn't catch as much criticism for it.
posted by Cookiebastard at 5:05 PM on June 25, 2020 [5 favorites]

"March March" is punk as fuck. And it's country, so it's even more punk. This song made me ugly cry.

As I've put it to friends, this is the band to saying 2003 them "hold my keg."

They are not messing around anymore and I am here for it.
posted by darksong at 5:57 PM on June 25, 2020 [11 favorites]

See also: Now, About the Bad Name I Gave My Band by Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:59 PM on June 25, 2020 [5 favorites]

Historical Precedent: Jefferson Airplane -> Jefferson Starship -> Jefferson Airplane -> Starship
posted by hippybear at 6:34 PM on June 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

The Dixie Dregs changed their name to The Dregs in 1981.
Unclear why those guys didn't catch as much criticism for it.

That was because people thought they must be some kind of Molly Hatchet or Black Oak Arkansas type boogie ensemble, though, instead of a Southern jazz/rock/classical/bluegrass fusion outfit, and I think they reverted to the original name for reunion tours. They definitely did for the 2018 first album lineup shows. I wonder if Steve Morse has released a statement....I'm pretty sure that neo-Confederate sympathy was never a part of the band's agenda.
posted by thelonius at 8:35 PM on June 25, 2020

If you're changing your band's brand just ditch the name for a logo as in "The artist formerly known as Prince".

Funny story, Prince did that change *specifically* so people would still refer to him as Prince, even though his prior record company held the technical rights to that name.
posted by FatherDagon at 10:45 PM on June 25, 2020 [9 favorites]

"March March" is excellent, and the official video is really well done. I mean really well done.
posted by nangar at 11:38 PM on June 25, 2020 [5 favorites]

> an opportunity to say the 330 names at the end of their March March video

hell you talmbout
posted by kliuless at 11:42 PM on June 25, 2020 [10 favorites]

I loved their doc Shut Up And Song, a time capsule of the completely fucked up, jingoistic early GWB era.
posted by porn in the woods at 6:07 AM on June 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

Shut Up And Sing in multiple parts on YouTube -- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
posted by hippybear at 6:19 AM on June 26, 2020 [3 favorites]

Man, apart from the lyrics of the song (which are terrible) its interesting how varied the history of the word Dixie is. Dixie cups were invented in Boston and named after a doll company from New York? The word, when referring to a southerner, originally hales from an English Quaker surveyor? Also Northerners repeated tried to re-appropriate the song and reform it lyrics. Lincoln loved it? And Dixie has entered the language in other ways with other meanings?

I dunno, the Bitter Southerner isn't a fan of the word, and it's probably the most problematic for a music group or song to 'harken to ole dixie', but this is also one of those circumstances where I have some sympathy for southerners who are earnestly interested in confronting their complicated identity. Part of me wonders if it's the most neutral word for southerners out there, then I remember the Dixiecrat movement and then want to never hear the word again.
posted by midmarch snowman at 9:06 AM on June 26, 2020 [3 favorites]

Reminds me of my favorite story from late 2001 when, in light of anthrax scare, metal band Anthrax announced that it was changing its name to "Basket Full of Puppies."
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:59 AM on June 26, 2020 [1 favorite]

If you're changing your band's brand just ditch the name for a logo as in "The artist formerly known as Prince". (is there unicode for that?)

If I recall correctly, Prince released a file that was a printer language version of his symbol that was easily translatable for print media. It wasn't unicode, but it was universally useable.
posted by hippybear at 12:32 PM on June 28, 2020

It wasn't unicode, but it was universally useable.

Looks like it was encapsulated postscript...
posted by mikelieman at 12:46 PM on June 28, 2020

POSTSCRIPT thank you. My brain was entirely devoid of that word even though I was seeking it and I couldn't even formulate a useful google search to give me that.

Yes, Prince release a Postscript file of his symbol. So even small town newspapers were using the symbol while writing articles about him. It was amazing.

Also, I'm rewatching Shut Up And Sing, and it's really a remarkable document. If you haven't seen it, watch it.
posted by hippybear at 1:05 PM on June 28, 2020 [1 favorite]

I found the discussion of their previous release to be oddly interesting to read in this time.
posted by hippybear at 1:21 PM on June 28, 2020

Also, can I say, that Not Ready To Make Nice is one fucking hell of a song? Because it fucking is.
posted by hippybear at 1:38 PM on June 28, 2020 [2 favorites]

The rest of the album just dropped. Listening to it on Spotify now.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:49 AM on July 17, 2020 [2 favorites]