You’ve probably heard that The Dixie Chicks have recently changed their name to The Chicks. The band has decided to distance themselves from a word that’s heavily associated with the Confederate South. The change has enraged some conservatives, but this isn’t the band’s first brush with controversy. Back during the Bush era, the band famously received extreme backlash from Americans (including death threats) because of their comments about the sad direction America was moving in.
While many thought that incident was going to be the death of the band, The Chicks came back swinging with their manifesto album Taking the Long Way, and their lead single “Not Ready to Make Nice”, which directly questioned the actions of those who criticized the band. The album quickly shot to #1 on the Billboard charts, and at the Grammys, the album took home five awards, including Song of the Year and Album of the Year. It’s clear that The Chicks are fueled by protest. So it should come as no surprise that the Trump era has reawoken the band, and they’re back and ready to dominate the charts once again.
Earlier this year, The Chicks released the title song from their new album Gaslighter. The single, which challenges the way men treat women, has already amassed over 5.5 million views and has received rave reviews.
More recently, the band released an ode to protesting with their new single “March March“. The single demands equality and shows solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ community, and also calls for action on climate change and pollution, among others.
So far, the new album has been met with excellent reviews. Variety called it “An album in which each new incendiary lyrical moment seems to top the last,” and People said, “With Gaslighter, The Chicks have pulled off the rarest feat, a comeback record that reminds listeners why they fell in love in the first place.”
The entire album is a call to action and a demand for change. Although it’s the band’s first album in nearly 14 years, it’s proof that The Chicks are only getting better with age.
Gaslighter is in stores now, as well as iTunes and Amazon, and is streaming on Spotify and YouTube. To keep up with The Chicks, follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
