Why don't you come to your senses?

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:59 pm

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Singer Linda Ronstadt not only got booed, she got the boot after lauding filmmaker Michael Moore and his new movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" during a performance at the Aladdin hotel-casino. Before singing "Desperado" for an encore Saturday night, the 58-year-old rocker called Moore a "great American patriot" and "someone who is spreading the truth." She also encouraged everybody to see the documentary about President Bush. Ronstadt's comments drew loud boos and some of the 4,500 people in attendance stormed out of the theater. People also tore down concert posters and tossed cocktails into the air. "It was a very ugly scene," Aladdin President Bill Timmins told The Associated Press. "She praised him and all of a sudden all bedlam broke loose." Timmins, who is British and was watching the show, decided Ronstadt had to go â€” for good. Timmins said he didn't allow Ronstadt back in her luxury suite and she was escorted off the property. Ronstadt's antics "spoiled a wonderful evening for our guests and we had to do something about it," Timmins said. Timmins said it was the first time he sent a performer packing. "As long as I'm here, she's not going to play," Timmins said. Ronstadt had been booked to play the Aladdin for only one show. Calls to Ronstadt's manager were not immediately returned. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal before the show, Ronstadt said "I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back." Looks like she got her wish. ***Sorry for posting an entire story, but it was necessary to make my point. Can we agree that ending the story with "Looks like she got her wish" is in horribly bad taste and a spiteful closing remark that suggests the writer is soldily in the casino's corner?***

Jamal · **Posted:** Mon Jul 19, 2004 6:42 pm

I read about this on Yahoo earlier. It sickens me that people made such a big deal out of this.

Mr. Ed · **Posted:** Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:58 pm

Agreed--the last sentence should go. It interjects the writer's opinion into the article. It's not supposed to be a column. Apparently it's a crime these days to disagree with the Bush administration's definition of "patriotism." Urging people to see Moore's movie shouldn't be grounds for removal from the property.

Ryminia · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:46 am

I have to admit, I think it's funny that her audience had such a strong reaction to her promotion of Moore's movie. I'm guessing the people paid to be entertained with music, not her political views. If she angered the audience to a great extent, then management has every right to remove her--their purpose to a) make money and to do so by b) catering to what the patrons want. It isn't nice, but it's an effective way to make sure entertainers stick to the advertised fare.Having said that, I'm not sure why such a big deal was made of the situation. Maybe it's because I'm still a student, but I'm not sure why this is a newsworthy event.

jmwalsh · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:09 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by JessicaN:
I have to admit, I think it's funny that her audience had such a strong reaction to her promotion of Moore's movie. I'm guessing the people paid to be entertained with music, not her political views. If she angered the audience to a great extent, then management has every right to remove her--their purpose to a) make money and to do so by b) catering to what the patrons want. It isn't nice, but it's an effective way to make sure entertainers stick to the advertised fare.Having said that, I'm not sure why such a big deal was made of the situation. Maybe it's because I'm still a student, but I'm not sure why this is a newsworthy event.<hr></blockquote>I like opinionated musicians and performers and oftentimes it is an intrinsic part of the act - can you imagine Henry Rollins, Andrew Eldritch, Cathal Coughlan or Jello Biafra keeping politics out of their shows?It's even more amusing when soft-rock and MOR musicians come out of the closet as outspoken individuals; lazy and complacent audiences expecting simple "entertainment" need to be jolted out of their comatose state. The above sounds like the reaction to Suicide at punk clubs in 1977.Anyway, it's "important" (or at least newsworthy) because of of the forthcoming presidential election. The presentation of the story is pure opinion, and it fits into a mould pioneered by right-wing radio pundits years ago - "Nasty members of the showbiz/Hollywood liberal elite" are out of touch with ordinary "folks".There's nothing wrong with that opinion, I just happen to think that it's wrong. The problem is, it is opinion, not news. The entire story is constructed in a one-sided manner, let alone that closing sentence. For example, this Timmins character is the only person quoted first-hand in the story. Tradition would dictate the reporter should have sought an opinion from a person not offended by Ronstadt's comments. Furthermore, Timmins seems to have a gift for hyperbole which is an amazing coincidence, as it allows the reporter to attribute the extreme reaction to someone other than him/herself.Then we come to this wonderful construction, "some of the 4,500 people in attendance stormed out of the theater". Some is a rather vague figure and could be anything from two to 4,499 people. I suspect the number was rather closer to two, otherwise some would have become "a third", "half" or "three quarters".Jason...[ July 20, 2004: Message edited by: Jason Walsh ][ July 20, 2004: Message edited by: Jason Walsh ][ July 20, 2004: Message edited by: Jason Walsh ]

majorbabs · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:32 am

More Tour de France, less Ronstadt, if I had to choose.

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:02 pm

It's a newsworthy event because it exemplifies an important trend in American society.I'm not saying the casino owner had no right to do as he did. I'm saying it's very saddening that he felt the need to do so.

jjmoney62 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:42 pm

It's a Linda Ronstadt show, people. Let's turn those frowns upside down.

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