Shut Up and Sing Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Shut Up and Sing
Year: 2007
Director: Barbara Kopple
Country: US
Language: English 

Comprising of Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, and Martie Maguire, The Dixie Chicks is an American country music band that also crosses over into other genres like rock and pop. Forming in 1989 in Dallas, Texas they slowly paved their way to stardom, winning a total of 13 Grammy awards by 2013. Their hits include the then controversial "Goodbye Earl", a song about joyfully murdering an abusive husband, a remake of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide", and "Travelling Soldier". In 2003 their career would hit a big bump on the road, when they would take on the President of the United States.

In 2003 two entities were incredibly popular with the Southern Christian majority; George Bush and The Dixie Chicks. However with the US invasion of Iraq about to begin over frustrated worldwide objections about this needless war, Natalie Maines vents at a UK concert by saying "we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas". This creates a whirlwind of controversy, including a nation-wide radio ban of their music. 

Shut Up and Sing takes you to the center of the violent political storm that surrounded the daily lives of The Dixie Chicks through 2003-2005. It is not a film that whines and drags on, like most Michael Moore films do, we are taken behind the scenes and shown very intimate access into each members' life. There are a decent amount of stock footage of rednecks burning their cd's and radio station dj's refusing to air them, it is reminiscent of The Beatles' controversy of the 60's, when John Lennon said that they were "bigger than Jesus"

Lead singer Natalie Mains is shown as a rebellious figure who refuses to apologize for speaking the truth, she is what young women should strive to be. However the patriarchal society that is America decides to bring her down by calling her a "Dixie slut" among other names. Even in a developed country it seems like women can't have an opinion. The film is also a warning about nationalism, blind love for one's country is incredibly dangerous and leads to great ignorance.

In conclusion, Shut Up and Sing is a very smart film that is more than just about freedom of speech. Unfortunately the film never becomes too dark, it always shows the Chicks as a tight-knit group despite the fact that they must have had some disagreements throughout that firestorm. Natalie's timing could not have been worse, when she stood up against the war in 2003, but thankfully she came out of it alive. Praise it! 4/5