Nicks McNuggets

[SisterNightroad]

Top 10 Victory Songs
by Bryan Wawzenek



Rock history is loaded with millionaires, legends and icons, so it should be a breeze to come up with the Top 10 Victory Songs, right? Turns out that these people with piles of cash, tons of fans and enviable love lives often avoid singing about those things. And if they do, it’s typically sardonically, as you’ll hear in some of the songs below. For these people who essentially “won life,” angst, struggle and loss tend to be the favored subjects (which is why our Top 10 Loser Songs list could have gone on forever). Still, we found a handful of classic artists who decided to sing when they were victorious on this list of Top 10 Victory Songs.

10
'I'm Still Standing'
Elton John


From: 'Too Low for Zero' (1983)
A sizable hit, aided by an early MTV staple shot in the South of France, 'I'm Still Standing' finds Sir Elton getting over a former lover in victorious fashion. Bernie Taupin's lyrics show resiliency in the face of heartbreak: "Did you think this fool could ever win? / Well, look at me, I'm coming back again." Love might have been the inspiration, but the song has become something of an anthem for Elton John, who remains a mega star around the world. Of course, as a piano player, he does his best work sitting down.



9
'Victory'
Megadeth


From: 'Youthanasia' (1994)
As John Lennon once ventured into the Beatles' past via a 'Glass Onion,' Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine name checks his band's former glories on the punishing final track to 'Youthanasia.' Mustaine did it as a joke, but ending up relating something a bit more personal. The choruses to 'Victory' emphasize the singer/guitarist's triumph over addiction ("Had fingers in my eyes / Had needles in my veins") and, perhaps, a nod to his firing from Metallica ("A knife right through my heart"). In the end, Mustaine wails, "I am a victory." He sounds as grateful as he is defiant.



8
'Winning'
Santana


From: 'Zebop!' (1981)
How could 'Winning' not make the Top 10 Victory Songs list? Argent alum Russ Ballard wrote the tune, and included it on his 1976 solo record, and in 1981 it became Santana's last big hit until the late '90s. This synth-stuffed single features vocalist Alex Ligertwood, who traces the trajectory of a man who goes from rock bottom to the top of the world. "I'm winning," his keening voice cries out, "And I don't intend on losing again." As a band, Santana couldn't deliver on that until almost 20 years later, when Carlos became 'Supernatural.'



7
'Paths of Victory'
Bob Dylan


From: 'The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3' (1991)
Back in his folk singing days, Bob Dylan heard 'Wayworn Traveler' by the Carter Family, then wrote new lyrics to the melody to create 'Paths of Victory.' Not long after, he wrote a completely new set of words, altered the time signature to 3/4 and delivered 'The Times They Are A-Changin'.' As such, 'Paths of Victory' and its vague tales of overcoming the political battles of the '60s, got left behind, only to be scooped up by fellow folkie Odetta and, later, the Byrds. Dylan's demo version finally saw release on the first edition of 'The Bootleg Series' in 1991.



6
'Long Distance Winner'
Buckingham Nicks


From: 'Buckingham Nicks' (1973)
This Stevie Nicks ditty is one of the only tracks from the vaunted 'Buckingham Nicks' album to be re-released in the digital era (as part of Stevie's 'Enchanted' boxed set). It's a moody gem in which she wraps her sweet and sour voice around poetic lines about a lover she admires, sometimes from a distance. Nicks sings, "I come running down the hill but you're fast / You're the winner, long distance winner," as her real-life lover at the time, Lindsey Buckingham, weaves circles around her with his prickly and chiming guitar.



5
'Winning Ugly'
The Rolling Stones


From: 'Dirty Work' (1986)
Between standing on the shoulders of blues giants, beating dicey altercations with the law and embracing corporate-sponsored mega tours, the Rolling Stones have been winning ugly for much of their career. So it's all the better that they wear it well, with a sneer and a smirk, on this track from the much-maligned 'Dirty Work.' The production is bombastic, but the sentiment is interesting as Mick Jagger compares his band to a scheming sports team: "I'm never wrong at all / I always fight the call... And we're winning ugly." With Mick's tongue planted firmly in his cheek, the message is still clear: Winning ugly sure beats losing.



4
'One Little Victory'
Rush


From: 'Vapor Trails' (2002)
The propulsive opening track from Rush's 'Vapor Trails' album contains an unmistakably positive sentiment. As with a great deal of this band's songs, drummer Neil Peart wrote the lyrics, which indicate that small victories can become major breakthroughs. In the chorus, singer/bassist Geddy Lee declares, "The greatest act can be one little victory." As with many songs on this list, sports references abound ("another chance to score"), but so do greater themes of tolerance, imagination and determination -- which Rush appears to suggest are all elements of notching a victory.



3
'Life's Been Good'
Joe Walsh


From: 'But Seriously, Folks ... ' (1978)
Very wealthy Eagles member. Solo star. Mind-blowingly great guitarist. Life's certainly been good to Joe Walsh, who drew on his dry sense of humor for this classic send-up of the rock star lifestyle. Walsh, somewhat lovingly, lays waste to aloof success stories with couplets like "My Maserati does 185 / I lost my license, now I don't drive" and "I live in hotels, tear out the walls / I have accountants pay for it all." It's funny because it's true. And Walsh's crunchy guitar only makes it better.



2
'Thunder Road'
Bruce Springsteen


From: 'Born to Run' (1975)
The Boss has spent the majority of his career chronicling the struggles of losers -- or people who tend to come out on the losing end, at least. But on the 'Born to Run' LP, there was still the promise of escape, of a narrow victory in the final seconds as the clock wound down. That's what happens on 'Thunder Road,' with a protagonist that "ain't no hero," but can still offer a chance for a better life via a long car ride into an uncertain future. That's about as close to victorious as Springsteen songs get, hence the famous kiss-off line, "It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win."



1
'We are the Champions'
Queen


From: 'News of the World' (1977)
And the most victorious song in the Top 10 Victory Songs List is this Queen epic. You can't do much better than declaring yourselves "the champions of the world." Written by Freddie Mercury with anthemic aspirations, 'We are the Champions,' has become exactly that -- a song that rings out consistently in sports arenas around the globe. Additionally, in 2011 some scientists declared that, mathematically, it was the "catchiest song" in music history. In terms of sing-alongs, Queen wins every time.





Read More: Top 10 Victory Songs | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/victo...ckback=tsmclip

[soul_drifter333]

http://http://www.cbsnews.com/pictur...orite-duets/2/

[teedeerocks]

Originally Posted by DauphineMarie

I just heard Stevie's Silent Night in the airport and this lady started twirling lol.

C'mon now - we all know that that lady was YOU

[DauphineMarie]

Originally Posted by teedeerocks

C'mon now - we all know that that lady was YOU

Not if you can't prove it

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by teedeerocks

C'mon now - we all know that that lady was YOU

That girl was me ...

Michele

[galestreet]

Ecclesiastes 1:7

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by bethelblues

Oh come on. The arrangement is terrible. She even switches to singing the harmony rather than the melody.

On which version? I know of two released versions; perhaps there is a third!
I bet that if Stevie ever made a Christmas/holiday album, she would record yet another version of Silent Night.

[michelej1]

Bustle Magazine, Six Powerful Witchy Women, 2/13/2015 by Kristen Sollee

http://www.bustle.com/#/articles/642...nist-ancestors

#1 Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks transformed the music world with her shimmering songs, twirling scarves, and seductive contralto vocals. Her lyrics, style, and pop culture prominence inspired many to speculate about her powers, and guest starring as a witch on American Horror Story: Coven only cemented her enchanting aura.

2. Daenerys Targaryen

Game of Thrones’ Mother of Dragons is a hardcore feminist. Not only does she use her gifts (inflammability, dragon-taming, tactical brilliance) to help women, but also men. Her witchy ways have led her to free slaves and build an army to defeat a group of misogynistic oligarchs. Good luck, girl.

3. Elvira

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (played by Cassandra Peterson) proves you can use bombshell femininity to your advantage, particularly with the help of wise-cracking wit and a spell or two. She is still working her magic over 30 years after she started starring in her own TV show, reigning supreme as a scream queen.

[michelej1]

[Bryan Adams mentions song he wrote for Stevie]

The Chronicle Herald by Stephen Cooke 2/19/2015

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...-rocks-halifax

“Many years ago we used to listen to music on these big plastic circles called records,” he deadpanned. “And if you put too many songs on one, the needle would skip.

“I’m sorry if I’m making this all sound too technical.”

This particular unreleased track proved to be of higher calibre than Boys Night Out, a song written by Adams and Vallance for Stevie Nicks, “which she never did because we didn’t know her,” he explained, hanging his head.

“I don’t know why I’m telling you this story, ’cause it’s a downer”

The happy ending is that Let Me Down Easy turned out to be a solid ballad, worthy of rediscovery for Adams fans, and a compliment to the rest of the album.

[SisterNightroad]

Brits greatest hits: the inside story

The Brit awards are back on 25 February, hosted by Ant and Dec with performances by Madonna and Sam Smith. Former hosts and stars on the highs and lows of the past 35 years

You can spend the whole year preparing for the Brit awards: booking the hottest acts, securing enough rehearsal time, making sure all the right bigwigs are invited. Then you turn up and there’s not enough booze, the live acts are deafening the guests and the deputy prime minister is calling you into his office for a dressing-down.

The Brits might have a reputation for being terminally uncool, but even the best-planned ceremonies have a habit of going awry. We spoke to some of the ceremony’s major players to find out what it’s really like behind the scenes … and how Stevie Nicks’s hairdryer once saved the day.

Prezza’s hairdryer treatment

Rob Dickins Former record executive and Brits chairman from 1993-1995
In 1988, I said we had to cut the last award to get the Who [who had recently re-formed] on stage. The producers and Noel Edmonds said no. Noel started reading out the categories for best male artist, and I flipped. I went on stage, as the clock was ticking towards the news, and said: “The winner is Rick Astley. I am accepting on his behalf. Please welcome the Who.” I don’t think Rick has ever forgiven me.

Mick Fleetwood and Samantha Fox [who hosted the following year] weren’t meant to be funny, but it became the funniest show of all. I was in a box with Tim Burton, who was making Batman at the time, and we were crying with laughter.

John Prescott was on the table I was hosting in 1998. To get on to the table [to pour water over Prescott], one of Chumbawamba stepped on my wife’s thigh, so she had a bruise the size of a football. Pauline Prescott had to borrow Stevie Nicks’s hairdryer backstage to fix her hair. We got called in [to Prescott’s office] the next morning, and hauled over the coals.




http://www.theguardian.com/music/201...ry-brit-awards

[michelej1]

Guardian UK

[excerpt from an article on backstage stories from the Brits award show]

Brits Greatest Hits, the Inside Story, February 22, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/music/201...ry-brit-awards

Rob Dickins Former record executive and Brits chairman from 1993-1995
In 1988, I said we had to cut the last award to get the Who [who had recently re-formed] on stage. The producers and Noel Edmonds said no. Noel started reading out the categories for best male artist, and I flipped. I went on stage, as the clock was ticking towards the news, and said: “The winner is Rick Astley. I am accepting on his behalf. Please welcome the Who.” I don’t think Rick has ever forgiven me.

Mick Fleetwood and Samantha Fox [who hosted the following year] weren’t meant to be funny, but it became the funniest show of all. I was in a box with Tim Burton, who was making Batman at the time, and we were crying with laughter.


John Prescott was on the table I was hosting in 1998. To get on to the table [to pour water over Prescott], one of Chumbawamba stepped on my wife’s thigh, so she had a bruise the size of a football. Pauline Prescott had to borrow Stevie Nicks’s hairdryer backstage to fix her hair. We got called in [to Prescott’s office] the next morning, and hauled over the coals.

[nicole21290]

NY Times
SOURCE

[Mark Duplass lists some of his influences behind his filmography]

9. Stevie Nicks, backstage on an early ’80s Rolling Stone shoot, singing “Wild Heart” on a bad VHS recording
“When I’m feeling a little depressed, a little anxious, a little depleted, I lean on that clip. And it works about 100 percent of the time! It’s about the magic of a weird little moment that you can’t plan. I’ve built my whole creative process around that. You can feel lightning in the video — she’s making up harmonies as she goes, on a warbled VHS that should put her out of tune but somehow doesn’t. The recording of ‘Wild Heart’ that she professionally made and meticulously crafted six months later, it pales in comparison to that moment."

[michelej1]

[From an interview with Molly Sterling] by Claire McCormack 1/3/2015

Independent (Ireland)

http://www.independent.ie/entertainm...-31030888.html

She was compared to pop sensation Taylor Swift by the Eurosong panel on Friday night - but Ireland's talented 16-year-old Eurovision entrant hopeful says she's more of a Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac kind of girl.

On The Late Late show, Molly Sterling from Nenagh, Co Tipperary - a self-taught pianist and singer songwriter - was selected to represent Ireland at the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Austria with her entry Playing with Numbers.

And her favourite artist was with her throughout the spine-tingling performance that won both the public and the jury vote.

"I love Stevie Nicks, I had one of her records in my piano stool so I said to myself: 'Stevie is right there, so it will all be fine,'" Molly told the Sunday Independent.

[michelej1]

Profile by Lauren Walega, Model of the Week 3.3.2015

http://www.theweekender.com/news/WK_...-Lauren-Walega

name: Lynsey Noel

Hometown: Throop

Favorite Weekender feature: Quick Chord

Favorite bar/restaurant: The Honky Tonk in Dunmore

What are you passionate about? Being kind to everyone, making people laugh and working hard for what I want.

Who do you admire? Stevie Nicks, she is such an amazing woman.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I’m obsessed with hot sauce and put it on almost everything I eat.

Are you a dog person or a cat person? Both! I love all animals.

If you had to pick, would you want someone with beauty or brains? Brains make things more interesting.

My last meal would be … An extra dirty martini and a burrito from Panchero’s.

My theme song would be …Fool in the Rain by Led Zeppelin

My best concert was …Fleetwood Mac in Philadelphia!

For a good time I …Go to the beach as much as I can, go on hikes, hangout with my family and friends, and Serve/ Bartend at Quaker Steak and Lube.

[SisterNightroad]

History of Duets with Kelly Clarkson
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy and Kelly perform a medley of the greatest duets of all time, including:
"I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher
"Mockingbird" - James Taylor & Carly Simon
"Islands In The Stream" - Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
"Don't You Want Me" - The Human League
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" - Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty (at 2:07 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df8MjNmNs-c&t=127)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John & Kiki Dee
"Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
"Don't Know Much" - Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt
"Opposites Attract" - Paula Abdul & MC Skat Kat
"Just Give Me A Reason" - P!nk & Nate Ruess
"Endless Love" - Lionel Richie & Diana Ross