Veteran Ledgies - The Dance

[skcin]

I became a fan because of The Dance, but I wasn't aware of The Ledge until a few years later. Just wondering:

Was there controversy when The Dance first aired like there is about the Live in Boston DVD? Maybe controversy isn't the right word, but were fans complaining about stuff (picture quality, sound, vocals, hair & makeup, camera angles, clothing, etc.), or was everyone just so happy to see them back together?

Paula

[CarneVaca]

I always complain. I'm sure I had plenty of complaints back then.

[chiliD]

The "controversy" was over the Time album three years earlier (and apparently that has never ceased).

The Dance was an event that was just unbelievable at the time. Who ever would've guessed that Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood & John McVie would ever be on the same stage as a unit again?

The biggest "criticism" I recall was that since The Dance was a compilation of three days of filming (a dress rehearsal and 2 shows in front of an audience), some of the pictures & music didn't exactly match...such as, 1) Lindsey's banjo string breaking, then less than 2 seconds later, in a different shot, he has a fully stringed banjo; and, 2) on "Go Your Own Way", what he's playing in the picture isn't matching what is coming through the speakers.

[David]

Was there controversy when The Dance first aired like there is about the Live in Boston DVD? Maybe controversy isn't the right word, but were fans complaining about stuff (picture quality, sound, vocals, hair & makeup, camera angles, clothing, etc.), or was everyone just so happy to see them back together?Most were happy just to see that fivesome back together, although as I recall there was a little heated discussion about whether Christine was dressed in an unflatteringly mannish way.

And then there was the brouhaha over the green cup. . . .

Don't worry about fans who complain. They're just trying to make some sense out of this crazy universe of ours.

[hayley]

I think everyone was so thrilled and shocked that the Mac was up to something, anything, that there wasn't a whole lot of dissention about any of it.

Many were annoyed at the canned quality of the video and live tracks, with all the overdubs and retouches, and the "industry" audience that wasn't excited enough to be there, but on the whole, very few people were knocking a gift horse in the mouth.

[Johnny Stew]

It wasn't so bad, really. We discussed some "issues," as chiliD said... including the way the album was mixed (the high-end on the CD wasn't prominent enough for some of us, leaving the sound somewhat murky), but we didn't have what I would consider massive heated debates about any of it.
There were just some little peculiarities about 'The Dance' that we discussed... and most of the time that was done with good humor.

I really do think that so many of us "older" fans, were just so blown-away that we actually had a brand new Mac release & tour to discuss (especially one that featured the 'Rumours' lineup), that we were able to keep the nit-picky things in maybe a better perspective.
And the new fans who came on board thru 'The Dance,' hadn't been fans long enough to really discover any areas for displeasure.

But, as they say, "familiarity breeds contempt," so pretty much everything they do has the potential for criticism now!

[skcin]

And then there was the brouhaha over the green cup. . . .

Don't worry about fans who complain. They're just trying to make some sense out of this crazy universe of ours.

I don't mind hearing (or doing the) complaining, I love a good debate.

What's this about the green cup?

Paula

[MirrorInTheSky]

The biggest "criticism" I recall was that since The Dance was a compilation of three days of filming (a dress rehearsal and 2 shows in front of an audience), some of the pictures & music didn't exactly match (such as, 1) Lindsey's banjo string breaking, then less than 2 seconds later, in a different shot, he has a fully stringed banjo...then on "Go Your Own Way", what he's playing in the picture isn't matching what is coming through the speakers)

I'm sure this has been noted before, but thank God you finally explained Christine's disappearing brooch. Mystery solved.

[dissention]

I think everyone was so thrilled and shocked that the Mac was up to something, anything, that there wasn't a whole lot of dissention about any of it.

Don't drag me into it, doll. I could give a rats ass about a bloody green cup. ;)

[Vianna]

I know I was so thrilled that all 5! of them were back together again in the same room, smilingand seeming to have a good time that I wasn't finding anything to criticise. Also on the subsequent tour it was my first time seeing Lindsey live and I was so excited I could hardly stand it=:-)

[jbrownsjr]

I hated it. I wanted Bekka!

[AliceLover]

Another thing on the Dance on My Little Demon and Everywhere for the majority of the songs stevie is using the black tamboruine then in some shots you see her with a white one.

Jimmy

[Johnny Stew]

Another thing on the Dance on My Little Demon and Everywhere for the majority of the songs stevie is using the black tamboruine then in some shots you see her with a white one.

That's actually not a problem with the editing, Jimmy... it's just one of Stevie's magical powers. She can't turn water into wine, but she can turn a white tambourine into a black one (and music into gold)! ;)

[jbrownsjr]

In some shots it's Dave Mason playing guitar, then in other shots it's Lindsey. :rolleyes:

[goldie]

What's this about the green cup?

Paula

Yes, do tell about the green cup!!! I'm intrigued!

[Lauren]

I remember the green cup but what was it about? I know I found the Ledge because of the Dance - actually the MTV airing first and I went and did a google search for Fleetwood Mac cause that "Lindsey guy" looked familar to me! LOL!

I found Chili D who was a wealth of info and a few others that are still here (although many are gone) and we all had quite a good time learning about Fleetwood Mac, speculating about Stevie and Lindsey....


From the Dance I remember us girls tried to figure out if Kristen was in the front row and what she looked like. We tried to figure out if Stevie and Lindsey were together, especially cause of "Landslide" and "Silver Springs". When the CD came out I believe there were TWO versions of the "no one falls into a special set of labels" speech, right? Depending on when you bought your CD.

Those are my memories. I don't recall us picking it apart really. I think we were sooo happy to have it on CD and DVD!

Lauren

[Kelly]

I don't think there is too much of a "story" to tell about the green cup but I guess some people were a bit annoyed or maybe amazed, that Christine had that NEON green cup sitting right next to her. It does stick out like a sore thumb, although Chris always had cups next to her at shows..soooo.

Another thing I remember being discussed was Stevie's bangs/hair. She has much straighter, flat hair one night and bigger, fuller hair with no bangs the last night. You can really notice the difference during a song like Everywhere, Stevies hair looks nothing like it does in Silver Springs.

I remember discussing all the celebrities in the audience, Edward Norton, Winona Ryder, Tom Cruise, Courtney Love..um, I can't remember who else. Tickets were IMPOSSIBLE to get as they mostly went to industry people, as you can see by the mellow audience.
There was a bunch of debate over the "girl shown clapping" after GDW..is it Kristen or not?

[ChainGang1]

I thought that was Courtney Love...? Am i Wrong? :shocked:

[terrivac]

As mentioned before, I think for those who have been fans for years (for me since the 70's) it was just a miracle to see those 5 together again, something I thought I would never hear again or see live again. Oh yes, and the green cup, I forgot about that.

Terri

[JamieSPC]

Ah, the days of (and leading up to) The Dance...

The Ledge was a WWWBOARD script...

There was no such thing as a "Ledgie" yet...

I emerged from the haze of a Pat Benatar/REO Speedwagon/FLEETWOOD MAC show...

To find that the five fireflies were coming back.

Sweet, sweet days they were.

These days, we don't realize how blessed we are. What a cool place to hang out online. What a cool thing to have something new from FM to look forward to pretty much constantly (!!!!!!!). What a cool band we follow.

~JamieSPC

[Claudia]

I thought that was Courtney Love...? Am i Wrong?

I thought that was Courtney Love too. :shrug:

[EveryHour]

There was a bunch of debate over the "girl shown clapping" after GDW..is it Kristen or not?

Unmistakably Courtney Love.:nod:

[EveryHour]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

These editing comments are cracking me up...Stevie and her magical tambourines (is it impossible for her to have just picked up a different one during the show?! ;) ) and Dave Mason & Lindsey! :laugh:

I'm not denying the editing, but I remember Stevie saying something about them "not being happy with the footage from the first two nights" and that they knew they "had to make the last night the best it could possibly be" and that's what they ended up using. :shrug:

Some of the things mentioned, like Stevie's change of hairdo are possibly not editing. I just assumed she re-groomed and changed her outfit (it is a different blackdress beginning with Landslide, no?) during Big Love. :shrug:

[Janet]

No there was a flash of a girl that was Kristen I guess. I guess it was in the beginning. It was nothing to do with Courtney, who was also there.

I came to the Ledge in 1997, but I'm a Dance fan so I came knowing nothing, just some "green" 19 year old. GOD. That was a long time ago!

I think most of us were romantics. We wanted so much for S/L to be together ( and prayed that WASN'T Kristen in the video!) we were romantics and made up stories...again, many many moons ago.

But I know the Dance was a huge deal. If it got to me, it got to a lot of people. At the time I was a die hard...ABBA...fan. It sure as hell diverted my attention!

Green cup! Someone made up email cards and one of them said Green Cup on them LOL! That was funny.

Tusk lover as well...that's another story.

Yeah, it was really exciting around here. Everyone urgently awaiting concert reviews. Did Lindsey LOOK at Stevie? Did Stevie touch Lindsey at all? At least I was hopeless, I know alot were back then before marriage and babies.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Well I'm glad to hear us complaining about audio and video stuff in the Boston video rather than the color of cups...whew!

It didn't look odd to me the hair thing either...just when she comes out for Landslide she HAS bangs they are just pushed over to the side, not very hard to figure out...

Chris

[Claudia]

No there was a flash of a girl that was Kristen I guess. I guess it was in the beginning. It was nothing to do with Courtney, who was also there.

Oh... I think I know the one you are talking about... The one smiling, right? You're right it looks like Kristin.

But the one clapping after GDW was Courtney Love, wasn't she? :confused:

[Lauren]

I think that's Kristen during "Tusk" - I know me and some others analyzed the video to death to see if we could figure out who was her. Now that we know what she looks like, I do believe that's her during "Tusk" - front row - near Lindsey of course!

Yes, Courtney Love was there too but not to be confused with Kristen!

Lauren

[Kelly]

Obviously Courtney can be seen too, I thought that most people would recognize her and I would not have to make a distinction..I guess I should have. There is another blonde, maybe it is before GDW??, who many were asking about..she is seen clapping as well and smiling and there was alot of speculation AFTER the baby was born as to whether this was actually Kristen. It looks like her to me.
As far as Stevie's hair goes, it certainly did not matter to me whether is was full or straight but I remember people discussing it.

[wondergirl9847]

IWe tried to figure out if Stevie and Lindsey were together, especially cause of "Landslide" and "Silver Springs".

Some things never change.

:laugh:

[dontlookdown]

i know for most of us elders (fans that go back to at least the Tusk tour) we were shocked and amazed - but mostly happy that Stevie had finally gotten a vocal coach and redeemed her spot as the reigning queen of rock and roll.

Silver Springs was a big surprise and to see her "hit it out of the ballpark" (i hate sports metaphors) was the icing on the cake. I wasn't all that thrilled with all the extra players - one local newspaper here in LA called it "the fleetwood mac orchaestra" - but you take what you can get.

[Villavic]

[QUOTE=David]Most were happy just to see that fivesome back together, QUOTE]

Yeah, whatever we complained, the most important thing was that we were so happy they reunited.

I remember they complained about the silence. Since it was for a cd, public was forbidden to scream, jump, etc.

And comments about Chris that never laughed. I guess she smiled just once during the beginning of GYOW