I must confess, I’d listen to Natalie Maines sing the phone book. Lucky me then that The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) have a career-full of considerably more interesting fare – a catalogue that has made them the top-selling female group of all time in the US (and a natural for this week’s video as we celebrate wonderful women of the world, and at home).
Mixing pop, country and bluegrass in the best way, Maines and sisters Marti Maguire and Emily Strayer have been breaking boundaries and charting their own inspiring, independent path since the ‘90s (with some notable detours and considerable controversy along the way, such as the fallout from saying they were “embarrassed” by George W. Bush). Indeed, it’s a been “a long way around,” as they sing in the video linked below.
But that roller coaster ride never hampered the music. To discover the depths of my (musical) crush on Natalie, check out the trio’s cover of “Top of the World” (the Patti Griffin cover, not The Carpenters’ namesake tune), which earned them a Grammy in 2004; Griffin’s version gives goosebumps, but Maines’ incredible voice makes it transcendent.
Similarly, the heart-breaking “Travelin’ Soldier” – as powerful an anti-war song as ever been written; or her unexpected but utterly magnificent solo take on Pink Floyd’s “Mother.”
I could go on, but perhaps better to just shut up and let them sing!
A Long Way Around
My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses
In the same ZIP codes where their parents live
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
I hit the highway
In a pink RV with stars on the ceiling
Lived like a gypsy
Six strong hands on the steering wheel
I’ve been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I’m gonna settle down
But I’ve always found my way somehow
By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I met the Queen of Whatever
Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies
Moved with the shakers
Wouldn’t kiss all the asses that they told me to
No I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
It’s been two long years now
Since the top of the world came crashing down
And I’m gettin’ it back on the road now
But I’m taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I’ll just take my time, I won’t lay down
And take the long way around
Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess, I could’ve made it easier on myself
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I’m gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I’m taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I’m taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I’m taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around