Milestones From 10 Years Ago
Milestones. Several of them were reached by different artists ten years ago, in a scant two days, and it’s interesting to look at what’s happened to those people in the ensuing decade. Three of those milestones happened on Oct. 15, 1997:
The Baltimore Orioles paid tribute during a baseball game to John Denver, who’d died three days earlier in a plane crash. The O’s played “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” between innings. That same day, the Dixie Chicks debuted their first major-label video, “I Can Love You Better,” on CMT in 1997. In addition, CASH: The Autobiography was officially released. The fourth milestone occurred for Brooks & Dunn, who released their first best-of album, The Greatest Hits Collection, on Oct. 16.
Denver kind of faded into obscurity. It’s difficult to find his music anywhere on a radio dial, and despite all of his efforts to educate America about the environment, we’re staring at some very real issues -- global warming and water shortages, to name two -- for which we still can’t come with an answer. The Chicks have become a polarizing act. Their music remains terrific, enough so that they took home five Grammys this year, but the reaction to Natalie Maines’ off-the-cuff comments about the president derailed them commercially. Their descent in the marketplace remains one of the most bizarre occurrences in recent pop culture. Cash, dead for four years, has been mythologized in much the same way as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Brooks & Dunn now has a second hits album, with enough momentum for at least a third volume before it’s all over.
I believe one of the reasons we, as a society, have created fame is that it gives us examples to follow or lessons to learn. The thing that all four storylines have in common is that all four acts generally conducted themselves with a high degree of honesty and passion about their work. The general public then cast figurative votes and decided where their art should stand on a societal rung. The lesson here is so simple it sounds childish, but it’s also really encouraging: Do the best you can do and don’t worry how everyone else will perceive it. You can’t control anyone else’s reaction anyway.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
hotelmotel says:
Its true, as the post says, “You can’t control anyone else’s reaction anyway.” But you can strongly influence how others will react.
Had the Dixie Chicks stated their opposition to the war in a more civilized and intelligent way (and not on foreign soil), and then followed up by wearing the “FUTK” shirt on national tv, they probably could have gotten their point across without causing a national backlash. The Chicks had to realize that their audience wouldn’t accept such behavior (although some rock audiences would).
You can influence how others percieve you. Example: a study found that the public’s impression at how effective a laundry detergent is at cleaning stains is affected by the color of the box/bottle that the detergent comes in.
Another example: lets say my boss really believes I should do my work in a certain way, but I know a different way would be more effective. How to proceed is a difficult question, and the childish advice “Do the best you can do and don’t worry how everyone else will perceive it” may not be the best advice. It is a start, but only a start.
funinthesun says:
Interesting article. However, John Denver is still in the hearts and minds of music fans, even if his music isn’t played on the radio. Radio play means very little for classic acts/songs. I don’t remember ever hearing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” on the radio, but yet I know it by heart.
The Dixie Chicks may have lost country radio play and some country fans, however they have gained international recognition and tons of new fans, while maintaining dedicated old ones. (As for the comment - It would not have mattered when, where, how and why it was said. Some people wanted/needed someone tangible to hate at the time and they picked the Dixie Chicks…to country music’s huge loss.)
The Johnny Cash mythology just goes to show how America loves a rebel - somebody who did it their own way, stood out, struggled, took some heat but ultimately prevailed.
I believe you can influence how others perceive you, but that usually means taking the really safe route — Never provoke, never stand up for anything, never take a chance - musically or otherwise. Yes, people will adore you for a time, but will people remember you? Will they admire you? Personally, I’d take a million Dixie Chicks’ and Johnny Cash’s anyday over all those acts out there playing it safe. May honesty and passion always come out on top.
Buce Cotton says:
I love to download info on country stars.Born in Lansing,Michigan 71 years ago, I have always loved country. Willie Nelson’s “Maria, shut up and kiss me”. He has some beautiful smiles and Toby Keith with his “High Maintenance woman is pretty music and the chubby guy with his actions are great too.SAra Evand has some great songs and music also.