Stop The Madness!!!!!

[mike_nh]

Does sheryl crow think the entire music industry will collaspe
if she doesn't have a hand in EVERYTHING that surrounds
stevie or her music? When will it end? I remember when
stevie's songs used to have a kinda..''feel'' to them. you knew
you were listening to stevie. but within the last 8 years her
music just don't have the same..punch as it used to. and i'm
sorry to all the sheryl fans out there but i put a big part of the
blame on sheryl crow. i also think for better or worse stevie's
songs were better back in her cocaine days. if you go back and
think of all the somgs that put stevie on the map they were
songs from 1975-85. anything after that was not as good.
and to be quite honest i don't think we have seen the REAL stevie
for quite awhile. because anything that was done after 85
stevie didn't do alone or was somthing from her past.
a few examples...
1991-timespace (greatest hits cd don't count)
1994-street angel (stevie herself said that was a terrible cd)
1995 stevie and sheryl meet (stevie looses what little confoidence
she had left)
1997- reunion tour (again reliving glory days thru silver springs)
1998- enchanted box set (a bigger greatest hits set with some
OLD songs thrown in)
2001- trouble in shangra la (major sheryl influince on over half
the songs on the cd and the other songs that we know were
from the old days) that leave's the songs on that were just stevie's are too few to make a judgement on. and now sheryl
is messing with a remix of landslide. maybe she never heard
of the words ''don't mess with perfection''

come to think of it...maybe someone should have told sheryl
that the day she met stevie.

so my question to you guys is....has stevie lost her confoidence
in songwriting?

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by mike_nh
and now sheryl is messing with a remix of landslide. maybe she never heard of the words ''don't mess with perfection''Hmm... maybe I misread your comment, but it sounds like you're under the assumption that Sheryl has remixed Fleetwood Mac's version of "Landslide."
That isn't the case... she has remixed the Dixie Chicks' version.
(For the record, FM's version was already remixed back in 1998, and Sheryl had nothing to do with it.)

As far as your question about whether Stevie has lost confidence in her writing... and I'm assuming that you're basing this question on her working with Sheryl... I don't think that's the case at all.
Yes, around 1994 and 1995, she says she wasn't feeling very confident about her talents, but that seems to be a problem she has worked thru quite well.

Working with Sheryl isn't, in my opinion, evidence of anything troublesome going on in Stevie's career... she is simply working with someone she is friends with, someone who respects her talents and abilities, someone who is another successful female in the male dominated world of rock music, and someone with whom she feels a kindred spirit.

Thru her current music, I think we're very much seeing the REAL Stevie... just a DIFFERENT Stevie.
She is someone who has grown and changed and matured over the course of her 29 year career, so of course she isn't going to be exactly the way she was in, say, 1985.
The 'Rock A Little' era was an interesting point in her career, but I wouldn't want Stevie to still be a coked-out and crazy rock 'n' roll chick at 54 years old. I think that'd be a bit pathetic.

And I really don't understand the animosity towards Sheryl Crow that some people seem to hold... and I'm not saying that as a major Sheryl Crow fan either. I like some of her singles, but I don't own any of her albums (aside from 'Live In Central Park').
But even though I'm not a big fan, I have no problem with the two of them working together.

Perhaps the difference is, I don't see Stevie as HAVING to work with Sheryl... I see Stevie as WANTING to work with Sheryl.
And if Stevie's happy with their collaborations, then that's all that matters.



Johnny Stew

[Sorcerer386]

I don't think Stevie's confidence or her "feel" has anything to do with Sheryl Crow. First of all, it's your opinion that Stevie was best in her cocaine days, and maybe others agree with you. I certainly think her SINGING and performances were better then, but that has a lot to do with the Klonopin, and now of course age, plus the fact that her range just keeps getting smaller and smaller. I think THAT'S where Stevie lacks confidence, her voice, and that's because so many people have criticized it since '85. Don't forget, many of Bella Donna's songs were written back in the 70's before she got heavily into cocaine. As far as Sheryl goes, Stevie WANTED Sheryl to be a part of TISL. It's not like Sheryl is butting her way into anything. I highly doubt Sheryl said, look Chicks, your song is too country, I'm gonna remix it and you ARE going to use it. They certainly had the choice of whether to remix it to sound more pop-like or not, and they CHOSE to do so. Speaking of which, I hope you do realize it was Sheryl messing with the Dixie Chicks' cover of Landslide, not Fleetwood Mac's Landslide. I don't think Stevie has lost confidence in her songwriting at all, otherwise there would have been more than 3 vault songs on TISL. And as far as her pulling songs written way back when, well, those songs weren't written just to sit there. If she feels these songs are good, then why not finally record them?

I don't know...you're saying so much in this post. I'm anxious to see how others respond. I'm not trying to sound condescending or bluntly mean, but I just don't find a lot of sense in some things here. I mean, TISL is probably the highest critically acclaimed album Stevie has ever had, maybe with exception to Bella Donna. But Stevie's older, she's lost some energy, and her voice is just lower than it used to be. I DO agree though with one thing that you didn't really say but kind of implied, and that is Stevie should do more songs that were JUST written by her. She only had two of those on OSOTM.

[Janet]

I like Sheryl and all,

Im just glad she isn't on the new FM album at all!!

I just don't want Stevie's career to be riding on Sheryl's coattails.

[sulamith]

I think we're gonna see plenty of the real Stevie on the new FM album.
Just be patient a little longer, mike!

[SmthngOfADreamr]

I don't think I'll ever understand why some of you will never allow Stevie to evolve in any way as an artist. I can't even count how many times people have complained that Stevie lost any talent she had after 1985 and albums that she has released subsequentely has been boring meaningless crap. First of all - 1985 was now almost 20 YEARS AGO!!! If Stevie had the same sound as she did then, she would be the laughing stock of the industry. Think about where you were 20 years ago - and how much you have changed, and maybe you can get some insight as to where Stevie is today.

And to say that everything she did after 1985 is not as good is pure opinion. Again- it's just different, because she is different. And personally I'm glad she's different because I'd rather listen to Street Angel or TISL any day over the over 80-fied RAL, which is by far my least favorite solo project. And working with Sheryl on TISL was just another evolution in her work - and in my opinion it turned out quite well.

And who cares if she uses some songs that were written in the 70's. First of all, when they are produced now, it is not as if they sound like a retro 70's song in any way. And secondly, if I wrote some great songs in the past, I'd want people to hear them all too!

So to answer your question, I don't think that Stevie has lost confidence in her songwriting at all. If anything, she has done nothing but gain confidence in the past few years. I think that's quite evident, regardless of whom she chooses to produce or co-write her songs.

[kristin]

I LOVE Sheryl very much!! A close second to Stevie and FM!! I cannot say that herwork with Stevie is my favorite stuff Stevie has done, but I do like it quite a bit :)

Kristin

[FiercestCalmSea]

I'm not sure how you are equating a supposed loss in confidence with songwriting with Sheryl.I mean,i understand your statement,but i don't think it has validity.I like to think i am a pretty big Sheryl fan..although lately she is just everywhere too much..but that is another issue.The only thing that Stevie has seemed remotely reserved about in recent years is maybe her loss of range,and of course her stage persona...she is not as animated as say,she was on the WH Tour...she doesn't experiment with her wardrobe very much at all...overall she has lost some onstage spontanaity,but her words still resonate as much as they ever did.Her lyrics are still personal and beautiful...she hasn't caved to pop standards...
anyway...my point is..she is still a consumate writer...
...and i mean Sheryl produced some of TISL...she didn't go in and have Stevie rewrite her songs or anything.So,IMO Stevie hasn't changed any for the worse..and Sheryl is certainly not a detriment to her work at all.

[nae]

It seems to me that the cocaine and other drugs had hindered Stevies ability to be creative and now she's coming back around after so many years of self abuse.

As far as Sheryl goes, I think they are great together. It's obvious Stevie really enjoys working with Sheryl and if anything, Sheryl is probably a source of inspiration.

Nae:)

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
Perhaps the difference is, I don't see Stevie as HAVING to work with Sheryl... I see Stevie as WANTING to work with Sheryl.
And if Stevie's happy with their collaborations, then that's all that matters.



Johnny Stew

Well said as always Johnny. I am a fan of Sheryl through my love of Stevie. And I am happy with their collaborations :)

Pip

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
.

And I really don't understand the animosity towards Sheryl Crow that some people seem to hold... and I'm not saying that as a major Sheryl Crow fan either. I like some of her singles, but I don't own any of her albums (aside from 'Live In Central Park').
But even though I'm not a big fan, I have no problem with the two of them working together.


Johnny Stew

sniff sniff...thank you! hehe..but really...I don't get all the animosity either...I mean she is in no way more exposed than Naked Christina Aguilera, Eminem etc....I would MUCH rather hear from Sheryl...but I am a huge fan of hers...so I think it's great that someone with actual talent gets so much of the spotlight...she's worked her ass off to get where she is...I, for one, think it's great! AND I love the way SHeryl and STevie's voices sound together :)

[rhiannon1119]

I will agree with the fact that Sheryl Crow does seem to be everywhere you look these days.. but I am a fan of her stuff and think she is very talented. I love the collaborations with Stevie and Sheryl. I think they compliment each other very well.

I don't think that Stevie has lost any of her confidence in her writing abilities.. I think she was blocked for a while before TISL, but fixed that right up. I am very much looking forward to hearing Stevie's new songs on the new album... and seeing what is floating through her mind these days!

:) Michelle

[bookie29]

This is my first post although I have been reading the messages for a while.

I loved Sheryl's work long before she started working with Stevie and her obvious love and admiration for Stevie only makes me love Sheryl more.

I like the work that she does with Stevie especially on TISL. It seems that on the songs that Sheryl was involved in, Stevie really tries to hit the high notes again(Sorcerer & It's Only Love).

I agree with Johnny that as long as Stevie wants to work with Sheryl she should as long as it is not out of desperation.

Also, the songs on TISL show how great of a songwriter she still is. I especially love Love Is, I Miss You, and Fall From Grace. These are all new songs, with great lyrics, and great vocals.

Just my opinion.:)

Sean

[sulamith]

Adam, I do think that jimmy Iovine was a great producer for her, but I don't want her anywhere near him these days!
I watched the Ulimate Albums series on the Marshall Mathers LP just because I knew Jimmy would be making comments (am a devoted fan, or what?), and let's just say that not only has Jimmy gone down a different creative road than Stevie, he's run right off into the ditch! Man, I'm all for free speech, but that stuff is completly the opposite of Stevie's persona.

Having said that, I will most definitely admit that Stevie benefits from a strong producer, and she has worked some that were great. I think Sheryl a really nice job with TISL. I wonder what happened to the whole Dallas Austin thing, anyway?

Sheryl is very talented, and I agree wholeheartedly with whoever said she is no more over exposed than all those "artists" we love to hate.
At least she's a real musician and a songwriter......not some "performer". She's all right with me, and if anything has brought a Stevie a few more fans.

People who know Stevie well say she knows exactly what she wants and goes after it, so I doubt she is being manipulated by anybody anymore. Haven't you heard her talk about how horrible her life was when she was letting others call the shots....the klonopin years, Street Angel, etc.. I think Stevie is plenty smart enough these days to avoid anything that even resembles that type of situation.

I do, however, get tingly all over when I think of this new album, because Lindsey is once again producing her, and for me, that's as good as it gets.
I hope we get a couple of more classics to add to the list!

[sulamith]

Hey, look guys! We got our very own bookie now!

Welcome to the Ledge!

[golddustwoman77]

I personally think that Stevie's success depends on Stevie, not Sheryl. Sheryl is a "johnny come lately" in comparison to Stevie Nicks. Sheryl is good, but she hasn't had the experiences or the amount of time in the industry that Stevie has. Therefore how could anyone say that Stevie would be riding Sheryl's coattails. :laugh: Stevie influenced Sheryl, not the other way around. I don't see Stevie's music taking on a Sheryl-ish sound. If you don't like the direction that Stevie's music is going in, I don't think that you should look to Sheryl Crow to blame. It is Stevie's music, right?

I think that they have a lot of similarities in their life: men problems, rock star lifestyle, etc. This draws them together. I think that they help each other, but that is because Sheryl loves and is influenced by Stevie so much. Stevie is Sheryl's mentor.

Also, I don't think that Stevie has lost confidence in her songs. She is in the studio right now making that new album, which promises new, quality, Stevie material. It sounds more like the person who start this thread has lost confidence in Stevie, instead of Stevie losing confidence in Stevie.


:wavey: :wavey:

[golddust]

~~~I love Stevie - I love Sheryl. I love it when they work together. Bottom line, they're friends and they choose to work together. This friendship has enriched both of their lives. Each has brought much fun and joy into the other's life. I'm happy for them.~~~

[Wldhrt315]

Hey Bookie, it looks like we are neighbors. Pretty interesting!!! Take care!