Omg Ask Chris A Question
 

theworks@basca.org.uk


Ask Christine a question by 4/25

Article by NicksLive

Here's your chance to ask Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie a question. Deadline 4/25

If you could ask Christine McVie just one question about her songwriting career, what would it be?

Darren Haynes, Editor of "The Works" magazine published by The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), has secured an interview with Christine McVie to be published in the magazine this June. He's offering Fleetwood Mac fans, in particular, Christine McVie fans, the opportunity to ask Christine a question.

With such a lengthy career crafting some of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits, and a few solo hits of her own, I'm sure you've often wondered what certain songs she's written are really all about. Maybe your question is about some of the more obscure tracks on albums that weren't necessarily hit singles? What situation or person inspired her at the time she wrote a certain track, or maybe you are curious about her songwriting process. Does the music come first, or the lyrics? Does she keep a journal? After being away from the spotlight for a number of years, and with new music written, maybe you would like to know what the new songs are about and how she found writing again after so many years away from it. Wow... There are so many possible questions to ask... So much to learn.

So take a minute, think about it and submit your question.

Remember, your question should focus on Christine's songwriting skills or the meaning behind certain songs/lyrics.

The deadline for submissions is this Friday, April 25, 2014, so you only have a couple of days.

All questions should be submitted by email to Darren Haynes at: theworks@basca.org.uk

Your subject line should read "Christine McVie Question".

Oooh. This is great.

Michele

I just submitted my question, although I know she will never answer it due to band politics:

Dear Christine,

First of all: Welcome back!
Can you please enlighten us fans about how the new Fleetwood Mac material is coming to fruition?
We know that Lindsey, Mick and John recorded tracks in 2012 with Mitchell Froom, that Lindsey and yourself have worked on tracks in March in LA, and that you, Waddy Wachtel, Dave Stewart and Stevie are working on songs in Nashville.
How will this process find its way to a real collaboration between the five of you?

I’m looking forward to the new material.

Lots of success!

Gerald from the Netherlands.

Christine McVie Question
 

Chris, so glad to have you back!

Chris, if I remember you correctly, you mentioned on BBC radio 2 interview with Ken Bruce that you might write some songs styled to the Rumours, as you put it very “Rumoury”.

The intensity and lyrics of those Rumours songs were written within the heartbreaking dynamics of band members of the 1970's. it seems to me it can't be replicated and may not be suitable for today.

A three part question, since you have written "upbeat" love songs back then (except Song Bird), are you going to do the same?

Are you going to create and sing songs rewind back to 1975 time period?

Or sing love songs within the present time period and today band interaction?

You a brave and gracious lady, thank you.

Ms. Christine McVie,

You are by far the classiest of all the Fleetwood Mac members. I adore your music and personality! With the exception of, “The Chain”, will you ever collaborate with Stevie Nicks as you have with Lindsey Buckingham in composition? Seems that collaboration might spark some magic and chemistry as well.

Thank you.

isn't that what we think they actually are doing right now, in Nashville? :p

i like your tactfulness. :nod:

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!! :laugh:

I'm always tactful towards people I respect. Onetrackminded chiffons may get me out of that mode.

All 200,000 of them... all in the same outfits...

noooooooo! really? that could never happen to me. :laugh:

it's kinda nice to be over here in Christine's corner where people like that don't come much. Lindsey corner is less safe.

to be fair, i do know many chiffs that are very reasonable people and not one-track minded. so a bit less than 200,000.

Thank you for adding that.

My outfit is to die for/most accurate thank you very much! :laugh: but having said that, I don't really identify as a chiffonhead. I'm a buckhead in chiffs clothing ;)

Anyways, this is neat! I'll probably ask a question sort of similar to shackin ups'. Maybe if she gets the "what are you ACTUALLY doing?" question enough she'll cave in and give us an answer.

Well, it's not that I couldn't think of questions about her own songwriting, but I chose to tell her how much I admired Calumny and Northern Star and asked her if she's worked musically with her nephew since Meantime and put any music to his words.

Michele

I like that question.

You guys are the BEST!:angel:

You know? Basicly I 'm a Fleetwood Mac fan. I've become a Lindsey fanatic over here. Not because of Lindsey solely, but in the core because of critiqueless, Stevie-addicts. Which I was myself when I was a 12-18 year old. Here. I said it.

As long as I have been a Ledgie I have noticed your hostility to the Stevie fans.

Did you dress like a white winged dove and get thrown down like a barricade?

If anyone wants to just read the Christine related part of this post, skip down about 6 paragraphs. I wouldn't blame you. ;)

Individually, Stevie & Lindsey were always my two favorites. Stevie the main favorite (having been the one to first catch my attention), with Lindsey a close second. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've defended Lindsey's music to people over the past 25 years -- extolling his virtues, bragging about his talents, playing his material to win them over, etc.

But some of the Buckheads on the Ledge have been so condescending, pretentious, and often downright obnoxious over the years, that it's really dimmed my view.
I've said it before -- Lindsey's fans can be every bit as "critiqueless" and defensive as Stevie's fans, but there's this odd notion that, because they're in a comparative minority, that behavior is somehow less objectionable or less intrusive.

Because of that, I'm more critical of Lindsey's work and have a far less fawning view of him than I did years ago.

Trust me, I don't associate with the biggest moon-calves amongst Stevie's fans. I don't relate to them, and sometimes wonder if they're living on a different planet. But I'm not ashamed to be a Stevie Nicks fan, and I'm not embarrassed to speak up when I think there's another way to view her decisions or behaviors. Admittedly, I'm quick to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I think there are a lot of folks here, who -- if they're being honest with themselves -- are just as quick to find ways to disparage her.

Gerald... I've typically enjoyed debating with you over the years. We don't often see eye to eye, but that's what makes the conversations so interesting. At least to me. It's a shame that you see my side of the discussions as nothing more than the rantings of a "critiqueless Chiffonhead" who doesn't deserve respect. But such is life.

Anyway, I've hi-jacked this thread/babbled long enough. But, since the door was opened, I thought I'd get that off of my chest.

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

This is the question I submitted to Christine. I originally wanted to ask about "Nights in Estoril," but since it's so obviously about Eddy Quintela, I wasn't sure how comfortable Christine would be with talking about it. Of course, it would be my luck that the song I did ask about, is also about Eddy!

Hello Christine! It's wonderful to have you back in Fleetwood Mac. You've been greatly missed.
My question is about one of my all-time favorite songs -- "The Smile I Live For." It's a forgotten gem in your catalog, and I'd love to know more about its origins, who inspired it, etc. Additionally, do you have any memories that stand out from when it was being recorded?

Thank you!
Brian,
Pittsburgh, PA

No her portrait hung beside my pillow....

Hostility. That's a big word. Come on.

Agreed, he's not just hostile to Stevie fans, he's hostile to everyone equally! ;):laugh:

oh no we've been discovered and invaded! ;)

lol. he's just equal opportunity - one hostile person! same as me. :p

I know a lot of great Steviefans online. I'll still state that I am one myself, really. When I say that Tusk is the best album ever recorded by anyone, how can one keep up that I'm hostile towards Steviefans? Great steviefans, I've met some of them in person too. Livia, darklinensuit, strandinthewind, Tommer, estranged4life, and a lot more can undeline that I am not a hostile person towards Steviefans. I'm talking about onetrackminded logic, with no perspective from another angle. I mean, someone like trackaghost, who loves Stevie in a healthy-but fanlike way, would never underlines that I'm hostile.

But hey, I love statements.

Although you have been very elaborate through the years, Stew, that is not the case for me. In a lot of discussions of the past i've had the feeling that there were no responds on the point I was making, but it floated away from it. Maybe because of my nonnative english, but basicly -in my view ofcourse- because it didn't acknowleged my viewpoint. That makes me snarky, perhaps, but if something is perceived as hostile, one can also ask where it is coming from. A lot of times there's a causal explanation.

I've been on downtime over here for years because of it.

I'm a Fleetwood Mac fan who is excited about the five coming together again if they ARE really coming together again, and concoct something as a band. In these discussions I don't like to point fingers, I think all five of them are responsable if they go recording in small groups with different producers, just to sail around old pain. I don't believe in quality coming from that.

When people are defending Stevie with pointing fingers towards other bandmembers based on behaviour in the (darkbrown) past, I can get direct and pointy. That may be percieved as hostile, but please understand: I want a good FM album, not happy Steviesongs ala IYD, which I honestly find riskless and mediocre. Every steviefan that loves that album: be my guest. Just don't invite me to that party.

these discussion are about FM, not about soloalbums. We should be critical towards them. I am not so happy with Lindsey's choice to record Steviefriendly popsongs just to seduce her into a FM album. Au contraire. But it is clear that he wants to record with an open view, and with eachother. If That's not possible, he even accepts other routes where he has a minor role.

I think that stinks. And I don't believe that will lead to an interesting FM album.

Gerald -- I do apologize if I've ever made it seem like I don't acknowledge your discussion points, or that I've dismissed them out of hand. Even when I'm in disagreement, I believe every view is a valid one. Perhaps in my desire to express my own viewpoint, I don't take enough time to show that I've given consideration to the opposite view.

Since we're being open, from my perspective I've often felt the same from you... that if it's a view I've expressed, you're inclined to immediately brush it aside.

Perhaps that's something we unfortunately bring out in each other -- but, with a little effort from both of us, I don't think it has to always be like that.

At any rate, we do both want the same thing... an outstanding Fleetwood Mac album that will knock our socks off and that we'll be listening to for years to come. We just have different thoughts on what will make it so.

Okay. Now let's place these Posts not about Christinequestions to someplace else. This thread is about her, not about us. Can you fix that?

Not sure if this question has already been answered, but I submitted anyway.

I asked for the main inspiration for writing "Why" also was the musical arrangement all Chris, or did others (Welch etc.) assist?

My question:

Dear Christine,
You've had many hits with Fleetwood Mac as well as a successful solo artists. Many of these songs (You Make Loving Fun, Say You Love Me, Don't Stop, Little Lies, Everywhere) have made it to the stage over the years. Are there any obscure/deep tracks you'd like to rehearse to try out with the band?

Were you asking me, Gerald? No, I haven't been a moderator for a few years now.
But I'm all for our posts being moved.

Speaking of the Christine Q&A... has anyone received any kind of confirmation that your question was received?

Here here!

I was surprised when I learned a month or so ago that not everyone was wishing for a new album! I am aching for one. And I want it to be excellent!

I've had no confirmation or no response, anyone else?

Nothing here... it may be like the, "In the Meantime" questions. We just keep asking, nobody answers.. :(

No, me neither...

omg It doesn't matter! Just wait our answers will come

I asked Chris if she needed someone to carry her bags on the next FM tour. I'm expecting an emphatic YES anytime soon. Can't wait to go on the road with my favorite band!! :blob2:

A capital YES! I adore that woman!! lol

She's looking incredibly fit these days. Well she really has for a while now. I'd like to know how she does it. I'm sure part of it is eating a healthy diet. So Chris, any plans for writing a cookbook? What are some of your's and Johnny's favorite recipes? Have you ever done yoga or pilates? Could be a whole slew of questions from that topic alone!

In the LA times she said she and Mick work out everyday.