Campaign of deception used to push patriotic song up charts | Tennessean

[Ediacara]

Campaign of deception used to push patriotic song up charts


TENNESSEAN / FILE
Country singer Chely Wright spent time recently
performing for 8,000 soldiers in a hangar of Baghdad
International Airport. Wright's pro-military ballad,
The Bumper of My SUV, is the subject of a phone-call
and e-mail campaign to get the song airplay and boost
its sales.


CLAUDIA B. LAWS / THE (LAFAYETTE, LA.) DAILY ADVERTISER
Stephanie Hoffpauir of Lafayette, La., a part-time music
teacher at the Episcopal School of Acadiana, recently blew
the whistle on country singer Chely Wright. Hoffpauir was
one of 17 fan club members who were asked to call radio
stations, posing as a GI or a family member, to request
airplay of The Bumper of My SUV.

By JEANNE ANNE NAUJECK
Staff Writer

Country singer Chely Wright said yesterday she was dismissing the head of her fan club and shutting down a team of volunteers after The Tennessean learned that some of them posed as members of the military or their families to promote her latest song.

Seventeen members of a handpicked team of fans contacted radio stations around the country asking for more airplay for Wright's pro-military ballad, The Bumper of My SUV. It was all part of an organized campaign by leaders of the fan club who encouraged the team to do such things as ''tell 'em your husband is a marine — whatever it takes.''

After Wright learned that The Tennessean intended to publish an article about the campaign in today's newspaper, she issued a statement saying that she had dismissed Chuck Walter, a longtime friend who has headed her fan club since 1996.

More at the Nashville Tennessean

[NashVegas]

1. Going to go against popular sentiment here

Working musicians, especially the more ambitious ones, often have so-called "street teams" they solicit through the 'net to do this kind of promotion for them.

Off the top of my head, here's one example: http://www.arihest.com/site.html -- go to the "A Team" link on the navigator

The thing you need to know about the Tennessean is it's a fucked up excuse for a supposedly liberal paper. They will take a story they think they can get a knee-jerk reaction on and milk it (remember Gizmo the dog?), while ignoring stories that truly affect us.

Why don't they take on all of Music Row and the industry in general for playing Musical Astro-turf?

John Sebastian, programmer at country station WSM-FM 95.5 in Nashville, said Thursday that Bumper has generated a lot of caller interest in recent weeks. He also said he believed the fan reaction was sincere.

I don't believe that for a minute, unless the people they have manning the phone lines are off-air interns or office staff. Experienced on-air jocks have radar for this kind of shit and can smell the insincerity in a heartbeat.

Bottom line: that they're doing this is bullshit, but it's no more bullshit than anywhere else in the industry. I'd love to see the Tennessean finish what they've started and look at the larger issue. If they keep the scope this narrow they risk a backfire.

[Ediacara]

3. I agree

Everyone has teams trying to maximize airtime for their favored musicians, but I think the point that the Tennessean was trying to make was that in this case, they had definately gone to far because they encouraged lots and lots of lying.

And yes, the Tennessean should continue on this thread.

[NashVegas]

7. it's one of my biggest pet-peeves

..

[DavidFL]

9. But are the street teams you mention asking their members to call...

radio stations and then lie by saying they are vets, active military, or their family members? Probably not, and that's the difference to me.

Who do these people think they are? George Bush and Dick Cheney? :7

[NashVegas]

11. no, not to that extreme

..

[Toucano]

14. That's exactly the point.

Campaign slogan #1:

"It's the lying, stupid!"

[Don Claybrook]

2. I looked up the lyrics to this little gem

The "singer" is upset about liberal-elitist minivan drivers:

I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car,
Says: "United States Marines."
An' yesterday a lady in a mini-van,
Held up her middle finger at me.
Does she think she knows what I stand for,
Or the things that I believe?
Just by looking at a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/wright-chely/bumper-of-my-suv-14691.html

----------------

Maybe someone needs to let this lady know that the shoe is usually on the other foot. I still remember the jerk who tried to run my wife off the interstate days after September 11th. We had a sticker on the car that said "Stop Bush". That's all, that's it.

Any songwriters out there? Could you help me out with some lyrics for MY new song: Abraided Neocon Spleen Stuck in the Bumper of my SUV?

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Ugh...

Does she think she knows what I stand for,
Or the things that I believe?
Just by looking at a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

Yes... she does know what you stand for. That's why she flipped the bird at you - rightfully so.

[LynnTheDem]

6. Anything in her lyrics about the THREE TROOPS A DAY it's costing

to run her SUV?

And how much of her profits is she donating to the troops? Did she buy them any armor? Food? Anything?

Didn't think so. Sure is easy to be a "patriot" and "support the troops" when one is a rightwingnut. Just mouth the rhetoric and slap a made in China magnet on the bumper.

EXACTLY what I plan to do, when the rightwingnuts get drafted to go die for bush-god's bullshit. :)

[LostinVA]

13. Her brother is a Marine in Iraq

That's why she has the bumper sticker on her car. That I can understand, and give her a nod for doing. HOWEVER, the song is disgusting, as far as I'm concerned, and falls into the old trap of anti-war equals anti soldiers and anti American. I used to love Country, but the only people I listen to any more are the Dixie Chicks and Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill. I listen to them because they publicly spoke up for the Chicks -- the only big time Country singers who did.

[hatrack]

15. Oo! A bumper sticker! How brave!

If it says "United States Marines", then why in blue fuck aren't you over in the sand and shit with your brother Marines, rather than parading your "patriotism" for the neighbors to see?

Just when you think the hypocrisy gag reflex is good and suppressed, along comes some bullshit like this. :mad:

[MileHiStealth]

19. c'mon , it wasn't the Marines sticker ...

It was the big "W" sticker the dumb bitch had next to it ...

[LostinVA]

27. And... could it be avarice???

She was REALLY big when she first acme onto the Country scene, but hasn't had a hit in a while. Hmmm.... could Darrell Worley, etal's success of Music to Freep By had anything to do with this???

[krkaufman]

26. Or maybe someone could educate her on the irony....

.... of placing a bumper sticker of support for the Marines on her SUV!!! They're only over there because of the oil she's wasting in her frickin' SUV.

[Theres-a]

38. amen

:puke:

[bunkerbuster1]

40. See also my sig quote

I've lived in blue states and in red states. I doubt very, very much that anyone in this country has been given "the finger" for displaying a USMC sticker on the back of a vehicle.

[genieroze]

41. How about " My husband who is a Marine died so you can have

gas for that SUV. If you drove a hybrid he might sill be alive"

[asjr]

5. The only thing good about the Tennessean is using it as

a french fry drainer. I stopped reading it a long time ago. You are correct about the Tennessean.

[w4rma]

30. Why? This is a good article. (nt)

[BiggJawn]

8. Back when Dee-Jays were gods....

The record companies used to buy us drugs, cars and hot women to get their songs played...
This was called "Payola" and was eventually outlawed. I never made it to the "Bigtime" before that happened.

Now you get people to call the request line and lean on the jocks for free.

Which is worse?

[fryguy]

10. repukes engaging in vote tampering???

who would have ever expected that one????

<<sracasm>>

[kodi]

12. wag the dog

"courage, mom!"

[nashville_brook]

16. mmm PAP music

Chely Wright is a whore for doing such a lame song aimed at quick patriotic sales (wasn't she in trouble not long ago for oxycontin?).

As the wife of a musician and someone who has worked the promo and publicity side of the music biz i can tell you this is something i wouldn't be willing to do. this is something that i wouldn't want associated with my artist.

the music biz is corrupt beyond belief and getting airplay and attention is HARD WORK. imho that makes this *combination* of crappy promo tactics (a bad song and lying fans) all the more despicable.

do the work. no excuse.

[trapper914]

21. Oxycontin

That was Mindy McCready.

[nashville_brook]

22. that's right -- i knew it was one of the hottie country wimmins.

actually, i loved her pic in the Tennessean when she was being arrested. she looked great and was smiling. wasn't over-the-top rebellious, but there was a little spark of mischeif in her expression.

[Flammable Materials]

34. I thought that was Wynonna Judd. n/t

[democraticrevolution]

17. Interesting

You know I think that artists who make songs like these better make them for the right reasons. That's all i'm saying don't make songs like this to capitalize on a certain segment of the population.

Don't sell ribbions for a car if you don't beleive in the troops. I mean I don't beleive in the war but I support the troops.Its difficult to see who is doing it for a marketing gimmick and who is for real.

[MileHiStealth]

18. So what's the lyrics .... ???

I got a yellow ribbbon on my SUV
It hogs gas , but at least I'm free
My country needs oil, and now you see
Got troops in Iraq , dying for me !!!


Just Kiddin'

[underpants]

20. Here are the actual lyrics

Lyrics to 'The Bumper of My SUV'

(as posted on anycountrymusiclyrics.com)

I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car Says United States Marines And yesterday a lady in a mini-van held up a middle finger at me Does she think she knows what I stand for Or the things that I believe Just by looking at a sticker for the US Marines On The Bumper Of My SUV

See, my brother, Chris, he's been in for more than 14 years now Our dad was in the Navy during Vietnam Did his duty then he got out And my grandpa earned his purple heart On the beach of Normandy That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines On The Bumper Of My SUV

But that doesn't mean that I want war I'm not Republican or Democrat But I've gone all around this crazy world Just to try and better understand

Yes I do have questions I get to ask them because I'm free That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines On the Bumper Of My SUV

Cause I've been to Hiroshima And I've been to the DMZ I've walked on the sand in Baghdad Still don't have all of the answers I need But I guess I wanna know where she's been Before she judges and gestures to me Cause she don't like my sticker For the US Marines On the bumper of my SUV

So I hope that lady in her mini-van Turns on her radio and hears this from me As she picks up her kids from their private school And drives home safely on our city streets Or to the building where her church group meets

Yeah, that's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines On the bumper of my SUV

— Chely Wright

[lolly]

23. Wait, those lyrics left out something

What about the hero who saved his swift boat campanions, won a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, then returned home only to be mocked and ridiculed by a coke-snorting, AWOL brat and his cronies???

Oh, wait . . .

[nashville_brook]

24. so, does Cheley Wright actually have family in the marines?

or is this another music row-manufactured lyric?

i just assume everything coming off of music row is *engineered* for sales rather than expressions of real life.

[LostinVA]

28. Her Brother is in teh Marines in Iraq

eom

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

29. What a STUPID PIECE OF SHIT OF A SONG...eom

JB

[GinaMaria]

36. So she doesn't want anyone to make assumptions

about her based on a bumper sticker, but she can make assumptions about a woman in a minivan, private school etc? Do I have that right? Time to pick up the hand mirror and not the magnifying glass, Chely.

[underpants]

42. Excellent point

:thumbsup:

[catzies]

25. I'd like to dedicate this freeway blog to Chely Wright.

[drhilarius]

32. That pretty much sums it up. eom

[Theres-a]

39. bravo

well put

[Cooley Hurd]

31. kick

:kick:

[WCGreen]

33. Maybe the woman flipped her off because she drives like shit...

Maybe she flipped her off becuase she had a bad day...

Why does this creepy woman think she was flipped off because she had a marine sticker on her bumper...

Is she so defensive and unsure of her pro military position that she takes everything that comes her way and frames it as a pro or anti military action?

This fluffy Reba Mac wanna be should just get over her rhinestone self......

[Flammable Materials]

35. No, let's just put a kibosh on the whole "middle finger" thing right here.

This is what I call "martyr-baiting". It's an invented story of persecution, created to perpetuate a false image of a group of people (i.e., liberals) that you disagree with - in this case, the image being "Liberals Hate Our Troops".

[Skittles]

37. maybe she got the finger because she SUCKS AT DRIVING

bet that stupid wench never even CONSIDERED *THAT* option. Moron.

[Sparkly]

43. That wouldn't fit in with the persecution complex they play to.

They need to believe they're persecuted for their patriotism and righteousness, by us evil Murcan-hating libruls.