Not Make Believe
 

I've just rediscovered this after some time and I love it more now than when I first heard it. Stevie sings this so effortlessly and it is so suited to her voice, no straining of vocal chords at all. It would be nice if she could record more songs in this style of singing. I like the demo version because of her harmonies in the background and also the HQ version because of the guitars and drums etc. How do you all feel about this song? It would be great to hear her sing this to Lindsey on stage. JMHO!:nod:

Totally agree -- I love it. One of her best vocals of the past decade, and the production is interesting without being overpowering (I'm looking at you, "Smile at You.")

I just wish she'd worked a little harder on the lyrics.

Yes. "Everywhere we go now, at home or at play" is far too clunky a line for use in the song's opening. It almost kills the song before it starts. I don't really mind the rest of the lyrics, although they certainly aren't anything near her best.

Sonically the song is just fantastic. I wish it had found a home that might've given it the wider audience it deserves.

To me it's a throwaway track.:sorry:

Seems like the band would agree with you. Given that that's pretty much what they did with it.

Agree! Not the best track.

The band must have liked it because they included it on the bonus CD. However it wasn't what I'd call a bonus. A bonus might have been the 1982 angry version of Smile At You in its studio crispness.

Don't be sorry. I agree. The song is okay, yet it reeks b-side status in comparison to her better songs.

The two bonus tracks are my favorite production-wise from the SYW sessions.

Not Make Believe is a song I sing around the house quite a bit haha

I tend to sing the opening lines as "It isn't just that we cause each other such pain/Everywhere we go now, at home or on stage" - does still sound a little clunky though.

I agree that the lyrics are definitely not her best, though I love the line "It hurts my self esteem...it hurts my everything".

I've loved this song ever since it emerged as a demo a dozen years ago. Personally, I enjoy the subject matter of the song. It's about the real struggles of love; the ups and downs, the indecision. Lindsey's production of the final product is quirky, and the song definitely sounds like it wasn't ever really intended to be on an album. It seems a bit rushed, perhaps unfinished. Despite that, I still love it & wish it would have found a more prominent home. Emotionally, it's one of my favorite of Stevie's songs from Say You Will.

I really like Not Make Believe, especially the It hurts my self esteem / It hurts my everything, line.

Not a big fan of I am reeling / Ooh it hurts my feelings bit though.

I like the tune as well... I agree 100% on the those lyrics above..

Good tune, great production, but woeful lyrics - scraping the bottom of the barrel, even by her standards...

PS It's worth noting that "Not Make Believe" was actually circulated, along with seven other tracks, on an advance promo acetate cd of the Say You Will album. This was after the decision had been made not to release a double album. Therefore, I'm assuming it was still being considered for inclusion on the main album up until a fairly late stage. Surprising since I also think it sounds unfinished, possibly due to the sparse production and those "working" lyrics...