Sometimes It's a Bitch

[Carolina Girl]

I just watched a video of this song, which I've never heard before. Watching the video and hearing the lyrics, it seemed like the exact story of Stevie's life. So I went to nicksfix to read the lyrics and was surprised to see that Jon Bon Jovi wrote the song. Can someone fill me in on the background of this song and how it came to Stevie?

[skcin]

I believe Jon wrote it specifically for Stevie & gave it to her to record. I love the tune, and the video is one of her best, IMO, with all the old clips. Unfortunately, my copy is pretty blurry, but I watch it anyway.

Paula

[DrummerDeanna]

I actually really really like this song...it's a good pick me upper song in my opinion...sort of empowering in an odd way...

I've got nothing tocontribute to the history of the song, except to say it is on Timespace...and there's a blurb about it in the liner notes :)

[Sorcerer386]

From what I remember from the liner notes (mine are lost), Stevie thought it was some intense love song until Jovi told her it was a song about her life. Unfortunately, I believe they didn't get along too well making the song because Stevie didn't want to do it how Jon wanted it to be done, or something like that. Also, I read in some interview (in fact, I believe you can read this and the liner notes at sararhiannon.com) that her management told her she had to do a song by Bon Jovi so that it would be a big hit and save her career, which of course it wasn't a big hit. Personally, I don't know why Stevie never did the song live...considering the story behind it, I think it would make a nice opener or encore for her.

[dissention]

It's alright, but painful at times. The lyrics weren't written by Stevie and it's very noticeable. I cringe at many of the lines because they are very cheesy and generic. She puts in a good vocal, though.

I like the video, but I think they should've had clips comprise the entire thing; the live parts in the video are horrific. :laugh:

[Johnny Stew]

Just to touch upon, and expand upon, what's already been said...
Modern Records basically strong-armed Stevie into recording songs written by Jon Bon-Jovi and Brett Michaels ("Love's A Hard Game To Play") for 'Timespace.'

They told her she needed to reach a new audience, or her career would be finished.
Ironically, the popularity of "hair bands" like Bon Jovi and Poison, was rapidly waning by 1991, and that genre of music became instantly passé when grunge rock exploded around the same time 'Timespace' hit the shelves.

Anyway, before she ever heard the song Jon Bon Jovi was writing, Stevie assumed he would write a love song for her to record. Of course, when the song was delivered to her, she realized it wasn't anything of the sort.

Stevie never had any problems with Jon personally, and has actually spoken quite highly of him (as he has of her)... however, Stevie has said that she was very uncomfortable singing a song that used the word "bitch" in it so often, and that she was upset with her record company for basically forcing her to record it despite her unease with it.
(Which is a big part of the reason that I absolutely disagree with anyone who thinks she says the f-word and "G.d." in the Red Rocks performance of "Outside The Rain." It's just not Stevie's nature to swear in a song... coked-out or not.)

It should be noted that "Sometimes It's A Bitch" was never performed live... not even on the Timespace (aka "Whole Lotta Trouble") Tour.

Interesting tidbit about "Love's A Hard Game To Play"... I was told by a friend in Canada that within the last eight months, Brett Michaels appeared on a music show there, and was asked about Stevie.
He said he had a fantastic time working with her, and that she was wonderful to be around.
Brett also noted that a portion of the lyrics in "Hard Game" were re-written by Stevie, but that she insisted that he and Pat Schunk retain full songwriting credit for it.

[Sorcerer386]

Speaking of Bret Michaels, didn't he say that one of his greatest accomplishments (or some word to that effect) in music was writing a song for Stevie and working on it with her? I went to sararhiannon.com, and if you look under Words of a Poet and go to Timespace and to Love's a Hard Game to Play, Stevie has some very nice things to say about Michaels. It's strange too because I was just talking to a couple people today who were saying how nice Bret Michaels is. The one guy said that he heard a father said to Michaels that his daughter wanted to meet him so bad, so he wrote something and gave it him and told him to have her bring it to the next show to get backstage. Also, someone else wanted to meet him, so he left a message on his or her answering machine. This is, of course, "second hand news," but interesting. Ok, sorry for the side tangent.

[laurie816]

Stevie Nicks paired with the "hair band Gods" of the day...I'll be the first to admit...as crazy as it sounded...I LOVED it...I was so into those guys and their ilk in my late teens and early 20's...('til Eddie Vedder came along....and I was like Cartman on South Park..."Screw you guys..."

In any case, I enjoyed both songs....even though..."Sometimes It's A Bitch" is a bit cheesy...but I thought "Love's A Hard Game To Play"...was kinda cool...Listening to them in hindsight, it's kind of funny...the big BOOMING sound of the '80's is very apparent...and I just picture Stevie doing killer air guitar:laugh:

Sadly, I haven't seen the video for "Sometimes It's A Bitch", but it sounds very cool.

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
(Which is a big part of the reason that I absolutely disagree with anyone who thinks she says the f-word and "G.d." in the Red Rocks performance of "Outside The Rain." It's just not Stevie's nature to swear in a song... coked-out or not.)



No Spoken Word?

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
Interesting tidbit about "Love's A Hard Game To Play"... I was told by a friend in Canada that within the last eight months, Brett Michaels appeared on a music show there, and was asked about Stevie.
He said he had a fantastic time working with her, and that she was wonderful to be around.
Brett also noted that a portion of the lyrics in "Hard Game" were re-written by Stevie, but that she insisted that he and Pat Schunk retain full songwriting credit for it.

Let me guess. "They say it's better to have lost at love, than never to have loved at all"?

[darklinensuit]

SIAB is not a favorite of mine. The keyboards drag the pace in the verses. However, I do think that even with the Klonopin, Stevie's vocal has an expressive quality that fits the theme of the song.

- Jake

[dissention]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
Let me guess. "They say it's better to have lost at love, than never to have loved at all"?

That's what I figure.

Oh well, even Stevie couldn't save that clunker of a song. :laugh: The line that makes me cring the most is "We can endure loves sweet pain." Ugh. Where's the bucket? :laugh:

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by dissention
[B]That's what I figure.

Oh well, even Stevie couldn't save that clunker of a song. B]

And yet, again, I like this vocal. Her voice has the same deep, soothing quality as on the 1987 Silent Night. But the lyrics do stink.

- Jake

[dissention]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
And yet, again, I like this vocal. Her voice has the same deep, soothing quality as on the 1987 Silent Night. But the lyrics do stink.

- Jake

Oh, I like the vocal, but the song itself is gawd awful.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
No Spoken Word? Aw, doggoneit, Gldstwmn, I do that every time we talk about this! Grrr!!!

Thanks for correcting my mistake! :)
Yes, I meant to say "No Spoken Word."

I guess what happens is that when I think of 'Live At Red Rocks,' the first song that always comes to mind for me, is "Outside The Rain," because that's my all-time favorite version of that song.

I'll type it correctly one of these days, I swear!!!

(Johnny Stew goes to the chalkboard....)

I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."

[EnchantedSLN]

Originally posted by dissention
That's what I figure.

Oh well, even Stevie couldn't save that clunker of a song. :laugh: The line that makes me cring the most is "We can endure loves sweet pain." Ugh. Where's the bucket? :laugh:

"I've run through rainbows and castles of candy" :lol:

I do agree with Jake in that I like her vocal in the song. And I like the video. Even the live closeups! The general spirit of the song very much reflects Stevie's life & I think it was a nice sentiment for Jon to write it for her. But I'm with you on the lyrics--blech!

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by dissention
Oh, I like the vocal, but the song itself is gawd awful. Well, as nice as I've heard Brett is, how much can we really expect from the fella who wrote "Every Rose Has Its Thorns"? ;)
I actually think "Love's A Hard Game To Play" is quite good in comparison!

I also think it's sweet that he so desperately wanted Stevie to like the song he wrote for her. :)

But in the end, I would have much rather had two new songs that Stevie had actually written herself.

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
Aw, doggoneit, Gldstwmn, I do that every time we talk about this! Grrr!!!

Thanks for correcting my mistake! :)
Yes, I meant to say "No Spoken Word."

I guess what happens is that when I think of 'Live At Red Rocks,' the first song that always comes to mind for me, is "Outside The Rain," because that's my all-time favorite version of that song.

I'll type it correctly one of these days, I swear!!!

(Johnny Stew goes to the chalkboard....)

I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."
I will not type "Outside The Rain" when I mean "No Spoken Word."

LOL. Just teasing you Johnny.:)

[golden braid]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
Well, as nice as I've heard Brett is, how much can we really expect from the fella who wrote "Every Rose Has Its Thorns"? ;)

I love that song. And Bret is so cute too that I think it's cool that he and Stevie worked together even though Love's a Hard Game to Play isn't my favorite song. :cool:

[Carolina Girl]

Thanks to everyone who helped provide some background on this for me! I did go to sararhiannon and read Stevie's quotes. Thanks for the tip.

I think what made me like SIAB was the video: I just loved seeing all those old clips of Stevie ,and the close up live shots of her were beautiful. The lyrics are kind of corny, but yeah, sometimes her life was a bitch and sometimes it was a "breeze." (Maybe Jon could have thought of a better way to say that!) As for Stevie singing "bitch" repeatedly, I was kind of surprised about that.

Thanks again :)

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by dissention
That's what I figure.

Oh well, even Stevie couldn't save that clunker of a song. :laugh: The line that makes me cring the most is "We can endure loves sweet pain." Ugh. Where's the bucket? :laugh:

:laugh:

Personally, I like it better when she looks stoned out of her head of Arscenio Hall (sp.?) when she sings "Love's a Hard Game to Play" and wipes a fake tear from her eye at the end of the song!!! :laugh:

[dissention]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
:laugh:

Personally, I like it better when she looks stoned out of her head of Arscenio Hall (sp.?) when she sings "Love's a Hard Game to Play" and wipes a fake tear from her eye at the end of the song!!! :laugh:

You know why she's crying?

"I've sung this song before, and now again
But I can't endure the pain of my bleeding ear
Remember, starting these lyrics is easy
The hardest part is learning how to keep 'em from being cheesy"

If I sang it, I'd cry, too. :wavey:

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
:laugh:

Personally, I like it better when she looks stoned out of her head of Arscenio Hall (sp.?) when she sings "Love's a Hard Game to Play" and wipes a fake tear from her eye at the end of the song!!! :laugh:

Don't knock her, Arsenio's jokes used to bring tears to my eyes, too.:distress:

- Jake

[Johnny Stew]

I remember reading in some fanzine ('Rumours'?) back then, that Stevie was sick when she appeared on Arsenio.

She sure does rock the house with "Stand Back" though! :D

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
I remember reading in some fanzine ('Rumours'?) back then, that Stevie was sick when she appeared on Arsenio.

She sure does rock the house with "Stand Back" though! :D

I think I read that too - but, bless her heart, she still looked like she had taken to much Nyquil :laugh:.

Also, was this the first time she performed in public with the straight hair? I think it was before the Clinton thing, but could be mistaken.

[gldstwmn]

I thought that was a wig.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
Also, was this the first time she performed in public with the straight hair? I think it was before the Clinton thing, but could be mistaken. Originally posted by gldstwmn
I thought that was a wig. I'm pretty sure it's her real hair, although there might have been some hair pieces added for fullness.

That was her first TV performance with straight hair, but I'm not sure what her hair looked like when she performed at the Jane Goodall benefit a month prior to appearing on Arsenio. I don't think I've ever seen photos from that event.
The Clinton innaugural was about 14 months later.

Here's a pic from Arsenio... unfortunately it's small though.

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
I thought that was a wig.

I say WIG because it certainly looks like one and also is a color not naturally found in nature - not that there is anything wrong with that or that hair color is dispositive of a wig :laugh:

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
I say WIG because it certainly looks like one and also is a color not naturally found in nature - not that there is anything wrong with that or that hair color is dispositive of a wig :laugh:

Not that I'm an expert, but how many of Stevie's hair colors ARE found in nature?

- Jake