Street Of Dreams - Lindsey's most poignant song?

trackaghost · #1 01-30-2004, 10:46 AM

I love this song so much!

The fact that it's about his dad, the beautiful lyrics, the rain sounds (which I presume were recorded in his rain room at home), the beautiful guitar playing at the end that sounds like rain falling... I could go on and on.

It's one of his shining moments IMO, and the best song off Out Of The Cradle.

What do you all think?

Genius or drab?

chiliD · #2 01-30-2004, 11:17 AM

Well, seeing him play it live tainted how I hear the album track now. I don't like the song NEARLY as much as I did BEFORE hand. I now hear the "over-the-top" dramatics of his concert performance, instead of the song itself. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), I didn't like the song live.

wondergirl9847 · #3 01-30-2004, 11:49 AM

When I first saw the Center Stage performance of Street of Dreams, I cried. It's an amazing song about overcoming grief and remembering that people who have left you are ALWAYS with you.

BlueGrass · #4 01-30-2004, 01:46 PM

Lindsey actually talked about this song in an interview and said Richard Dashut recorded the rain sounds in downtown L.A. while it was raining.

I think the Live version is much more emotional and powerful because of how he talks abotu the song and starts it off with This Nearly Was Mine.

trackaghost · #5 01-30-2004, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueGrass
Lindsey actually talked about this song in an interview and said Richard Dashut recorded the rain sounds in downtown L.A. while it was raining.

I think the Live version is much more emotional and powerful because of how he talks abotu the song and starts it off with This Nearly Was Mine.

Wow, I didn't know that. Cool. I do love the rain sound on the album version, its a stroke of genius.

And I agree the live version is also amazing, I couldn't disagree with ChiliD more (once again

).

Very poignant to know that Lindsey was imagining what his father would say to him if he was still alive.

chiliD · #6 01-30-2004, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trackaghost
And I agree the live version is also amazing, I couldn't disagree with ChiliD more (once again ).

"Once again" ?!?!?!? What else?

(not that I haven't given people TONS of stuff to disagree with me on)

When I was at Lindsey's show at the Wiltern in LA, I was looking forward to hearing EVERYTHING from Out Of The Cradle. I just thought he just went way to overboard on "Street Of Dreams" (thinking back, a lot has to do with his attempted vocalization of the rain sounds. I didn't think it fit...should've had the rain sounds recorded/sampled so that the keyboard player could've done the "rain" live.) Maybe it was only that performance he did, but that's what is burned in my grey matter; and has tainted how I hear the album version these days. I DID like how he tacked "This Nearly Was Mine" in front of "Street Of Dreams". I still like the song, the lyrics, etc, but that performance ruined it for me.

(thanks for being "Captain Redundant", chili!)

trackaghost · #7 01-30-2004, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chiliD

(thanks for being "Captain Redundant", chili!)

Don't get me wrong I enjoy disagreeing with ya!

Although today I agreed with you too (check out the reissues thread).

Patti · #8 01-30-2004, 05:46 PM

I love the studio version. The first time I heard OotC, I fell in love with Street of Dreams. It's definitely genius in my book!

I've only seen the live version via grainy video, but I don't like it nearly as much.

Patti

Cammie · #9 01-30-2004, 10:29 PM

This Nearly Was Mine followed by Street of Dreams!
A guy

who remembers his Dad is okay!!! Luv,Sky

Janet · #10 01-31-2004, 01:55 PM

I agree, I think SOD was over the top in the live performances that I heard/saw on video. I can't quite enjoy the live recordings as much as the album. If I were in front of him though, I'm sure I'd be whistling a different tune.

SOD is an amazing song and I think it's beautiful. On the album, it's still a tad dramatic, especially the way he shakes his voice when he sings "never never.." after the "climax" of the song. BUT I really think it's beautiful and after instrumentals like " Stephanie" this is his most poignant and I guess with the lyrics being as they are, it IS his most poignant moment.

Gazza · #11 01-31-2004, 01:59 PM

I like the live version. Those sort of songs always sound best live imo. And because of This Nearly Was Mine...

Any live versions I've heard didn't feature any "vocalization of the rain sounds" though. I can understand why that might be a bit much.

face of glass · #12 02-02-2004, 09:52 AM

"Street Of Dreams"? Probably the most open emotional wound on OOTC. Sure, it can depress you and it is severely self-indulgent. I don't think it's entirely about wallowing in the mire though. The bridge offers us a relief of sorts, an uplift that helps him to overcome the grief. I identify with this track to a tee and I don't even have a dead father.

It's a very subtle variant of darkness he's offering us during the verses. They remind me of Joy Division's "The Eternal" from their Closer album and how that band too changed from savage blasts of darkness into something more grandiose and artsy. Consequently, the bridge reminds of JD's "Decades". The uplift in those is close to each other.

I agree with ChiliD's criticism of the live versions; the album version easily tops them for me. But I believe even that "lapse of taste" can be overcome with good will and ears.

4Buck · #13 02-02-2004, 11:12 AM

>>>>>>>>>Genius!

THIS NEARLY WAS MINE was a song from the musical, SOUTH PACIFIC and one of Buckingham’s beloved dad’s favorite songs. It did make for a keen acoustic segue into into soul-baring STREET OF DREAMS. This song was written when Buckingham was creatively drifting, and felt he could have used advice from a certain astute businessman & business founder -- his late father, Morris Buckingham. I love this beautiful, dramatic number on OUT OF THE CRADLE. But what I do like about the live rendition is the emotional screaming delivery, (which can be justified in this case, IMO) in the lyrics:

“Shadow on my daddy's stone
Ten years gone,
it seems I ask him
Will I ever stop,
ever stop dreaming dreams? “

And then as if to mollify, he tenderly sings:
”He said 'never, never, never'”

Here is another possibility in regard to the rain on the studio rendition of STREET OF DREAMS....this was from Rolling Stone October 1984:

Buckingham is standing in the “rain room.” This is his favorite room in the house other than the recording studio. The room has a glass ceiling. Flip a switch and a gentle shower of water begins pitter-pattering against the roof, as if it were raining. “It’s great for freaking people out, he says smiling. “You just turn it on without saying anything and you’re in here talking, and suddenly they think it’s raining." The room also contains an immense pine tree growing right out of the floor and up through a hole in the ceiling. - RS October 1984

In 2001, Nicks said in Buckingham's BEHIND THE MUSIC that he never really did get over the passing of his father......

Quote:

A guy who remembers his Dad is okay!!!

>>>>>>>Agreed!