Like or dislike Bella Donna [Archive]

skcin

07-14-2005, 02:32 PM

We do so many lists of favorites, least favorite, best lyrics, best music, etc., it's hard to keep track of who likes/dislikes which tunes & why. I'm going to do a thread every few days on a specific song. I'll probably go in the order they are on the albums.

Please post your thoughts & opinions on the song - do you like it or dislike it? Why?

So, to start:

Bella Donna

I adore this song. The piano intro grabs me right away. I think the harmonies are some of the best she & the girls have ever done. I can overlook the goofy "phoney/pony" lyric because I love the music & vocal so much.

I know some dislike "face becomes thin" but I don't. I don't take it literally, like someone losing weight. I think of it in connection with the "tired/disappears" line; it's heartbreaking - a woman turns around one day & years have gone by & she's old & sad & alone.

I also like the guitar "whining" in certain parts, esp. live when Stevie would sing along with it.

The few live versions that exist are pretty true to the studio version & I would love to hear Stevie do this song live again.

diamondsnake

07-14-2005, 02:35 PM

I love this song! Why hasn't it been done live recently? She could still totally nail the vocals today.

It is not one of those songs that I am amazed with or have to listen too every few days or something. But, it is a beautiful song that I enjoy listening to whenever I have the album on. I'm just saying that I seldom play just this song or specifically want to listen to this song.

GypsySorcerer

07-14-2005, 02:36 PM

I love it too. I think the music is gorgeous and I love how she sings "oooh, my bella donna." And the line "the lady's feeling like the moon that she loved" more than makes up for phoney/pony.

CreepingDeath

07-14-2005, 02:37 PM

WTH kind of question is this? Of course I adore Bella Donna. It's exquisite. :nod:

vermicious knid

07-14-2005, 02:42 PM

When this song started playing after I bought Bella Donna, I knew the album was going to be good.

The Tower

07-14-2005, 02:42 PM

This one is in my top ten list alllll the time.

She should have opened with it in Vegas. It would have been awesome.

Neal

07-14-2005, 02:42 PM

This was one of my least favorites the first time I heard it. It took quite a few listens before it grew on me, and now it's one of my top 3 on the album.

SapphireSister

07-14-2005, 02:47 PM

One of my top 10 Stevie songs ever and one of the reasons I fell in love with her. I love everything about this song, from the lyrics to the beautiful piano melodies, to the metaphors (not that I understand every one of them). Hell I don't mind hearing about ponies and trapezes :p And this song in particular, after reading what it means to Stevie, holds a special place in my heart. So many times I've said to myself over and over, "Come in out of the darkness". It is probably the most personal song to me of all of her songs lyrics wise. So much of what she is saying is relevant to my own life, it's almost as if she's telling my story. I would die to see it live. "Don't change, baby please don't change...." That voice!! *swoon*

dudden22

07-14-2005, 02:49 PM

I like it and can overlook some of the lyrics because of the emotion in her vocals and some great lyrics.

"No speed limit...this is the fast lane...It's just the way that it is here" easily makes up for the phoney poney line.

And the woman may be awestruck
And the woman may truly care
but the woman is so tired...
So the woman dissappears...

Makes up for face becomes thin.

eric51078

07-14-2005, 02:49 PM

I love this song...I cant put my finger on it...but every time I play the record I listen to it twice and then the rest of the CD. There is something about it...
No speed limits...this is the fast lane...it's just the way that it is here...I love that line!

amber

07-14-2005, 02:49 PM

This was one of my least favorites the first time I heard it. It took quite a few listens before it grew on me, and now it's one of my top 3 on the album.
Ditto, that. Well, it didn't take quite a few listens, maybe, like, 6? I still think the lyrics are pretty darn bad, but I do like the song. Her pronunciation and inflections are awesome. I love the way she sings "Belladonna" all low and separate. I also love the way she says "foh thuh nothuhn stah". etc. and the way she sings "but you'll nevah scaeeeh me". That "scaehy" is awesomely strange.

The Tower

07-14-2005, 02:52 PM

SapphireSister

07-14-2005, 03:03 PM

I also love the way she says "foh thuh nothuhn stah". etc. and the way she sings "but you'll nevah scaeeeh me". That "scaehy" is awesomely strange.

And thank you Amber so much for spelling these lines out EXACTLY the way they sound. You know I've noticed you have a real talent fuh this. :xoxo:

Janet

07-14-2005, 03:07 PM

This song is so deep. The way she sings it, the piano, the lyrics. It's really a gorgeous song. It's not my favorite from the album but it's definitely a very good song.

Nightbird17

07-14-2005, 03:11 PM

As soon as i popped this into my cassette player and heard the piano and opening line "you can ride high atop your pony" I was in love with the album....amazing song

when she got to the "no speed limit ....this is the fast lane" I wet myself :cool:

ontheEdgeof17

07-14-2005, 03:15 PM

I love how it has a climax in the middle of the song. A lot of Stevie's songs do not have it. When I listen to this, even today, I get chills. It's freakin' amazing.

Rickypt

07-14-2005, 03:15 PM

I think it is perfect from start to finish, always have. I never even paid much attention to the lyrics. It's the intensity and her delivery that make it epic.

HejiraNYC

07-14-2005, 03:19 PM

Definitely one of my all time favorite songs by anybody. The sweetly hoarse vocals, the moaning guitars, Roy Bittan's piano, the percussion and especially the way it builds and builds to a climax and just stops for a second right before "And the woman disappears..." That being said, what has always annoyed me is the line "You are in love with... and I'm ready to sail... It's just a feeling." WTF???? Triple non-sequitors. Sounds like someone smoking a doobie who lost her train of thought mid-sentence. :lol:

amber

07-14-2005, 03:21 PM

And thank you Amber so much for spelling these lines out EXACTLY the way they sound. You know I've noticed you have a real talent fuh this. :xoxo:
:) thanks sweetie. It is Stevie, just add some "H's" and a few extra vowels, and you're good to go! :woohoo:

David

07-14-2005, 03:32 PM

Bella DonnaI have always really really loved "Bella Donna." Stevie once said that "Rhiannon" is the one song she always plays when she sits down at her piano. "Bella Donna" is the one song I always play at my piano -- I can't walk by a keyboard without playing the opening. It's like being on autopilot; I'm not even totally aware I'm doing it. Just out comes "Bella Donna."

It's a perfect, ironic, sophisticated image, a great melody, a great vocal & great lyrics about being so enervated by your profession & wondering whether you will ever pep up again & feel & see with fresh eyes -- but also it's about pulling yourself together & making that decision to snap to, & knowing you have to do so in order to possibly save your life.

It's a strong ballad that opens & sets the tone not just for the whole album but for Stevie's solo career in general (& the reasons she went solo). It's one of Stevie's all-time best songs.

David

07-14-2005, 03:37 PM

That being said, what has always annoyed me is the line "You are in love with... and I'm ready to sail... It's just a feeling." WTF???? Triple non-sequitors.I've always imagined that the "ready to sail" image had something to do with Stevie heading down to South America after the Tusk tour to try to make sense of her career & her emotional life. I like to believe she took a ship down to Chile or Argentina (I forgot which country she stayed in). She went down to stay with some nuns in a convent somewhere, or visited them.

But also of course sailing forth figuratively into the horizon of a new life & a new way of being & doing. Stevie wanted to change. Being a Fleetwood Mac superstar for five years had left her unable to find her center.

lagringader&r

07-14-2005, 04:49 PM

WTH kind of question is this? Of course I adore Bella Donna. It's exquisite. :nod:

I agree, wth kind of question is this? I'll make this easy. There are very, very, very few songs of Stevie's I don't like. They're Stevie so.. I don't like L&L. Other than that, it's all good. I LOVE Street Angel. The whole thing.

equeen102289

07-14-2005, 05:00 PM

Bella Donna is actually the song that made me adore Stevie. It wasn't Edge of Seventeen, or Rhiannon...it was Bella Donna. I had just gotten TVBOFM, and Stevie's songs happened to be my favorite. So one day, I'm in Art class, and my teacher brings in his cds. I skim thru them, and see Stevie Nicks Bella Donna, and get all excited (and to be honest...at this time, I didn't even know she had a solo career :eek: ) and was eager to listen to it. So he tells me it's his wife's and she won't care if I take it. So it goes home with me!

I get home...I put the cd in, and of course Bella Donna is the opening song. From the moment the words Bella Donna came out of Stevie's mouth, she had me hooked. I just loved the way she sang it...don't know why, just did and still do. And that was my favorite song on the album for the longest time (I didn't get to hear Leather and Lace and Outside the Rain till months later, because they always skipped so I never bothered with them). And it would still be my favorite if I had never heard LAL...

So to sum up my rambling...yes I LOVE Bella Donna. I think it's one of Stevie's "musical masterpieces," and why she doesn't do it in concert today, baffles me.

catinthedark

07-14-2005, 05:00 PM

I do love it - though I love the lyrics more than the music. :sorry: They are definitely some of my favourite Stevie lyrics (But the woman is so tired... oohhhh.... So the woman disappears...). Heartbreaking.

Livia

07-14-2005, 05:04 PM

WTH kind of question is this? Of course I adore Bella Donna. It's exquisite. :nod:

Kimberly, I love your avatar, and when I read your comment, I couldn't help but read it in Stewy's voice! :lol:

I love, love, love Bella Donna! The song and the album!!!

StevieNicksEO17

07-14-2005, 05:47 PM

I used to not like this song very much, but the more I listened to it the more I fell in love with it. :blob1:

PenguinHead

07-14-2005, 05:56 PM

That being said, what has always annoyed me is the line "You are in love with... and I'm ready to sail... It's just a feeling." WTF???? Triple non-sequitors. Sounds like someone smoking a doobie who lost her train of thought mid-sentence. :lol:

lol I also used to be annoyed and perplexed by that line too! Then one day it all made sense to me. So many puzzles in Stevie's lyrics! Her odd phrasing also confuses things.

COME IN OUT OF THE DARKNESS YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH, AND I"M READY TO SAIL

Ghosty

07-14-2005, 05:57 PM

It's always been one of my favorites of her songs. I love the lyrics, the music, everything about it. And I went crazy over the live version. I didn't hear that live version until like 6 or 7 years ago when I heard the full HBO concert on tape cassette. I was so bummed they left out a few songs on the concert video. What an absolutely horrible thing to do to us die-hard fans!! ;) I mean, can you just imagine being able to *see* her sing that along with hearing it? I think we'd all faint afterwards!

I forget...did she do Blue Lamp too on that show too (the radio show version that had Bella Donna, Angel, and what else....How Still My Love???) I love the Blue Lamp live versions too.

LiquidBlue5000

07-14-2005, 06:16 PM

Makes up for face becomes thin.

that line has never bothered me.. it's obviously symbolic... it fits perfectly in "Bella Donna", imo

darklinensuit

07-14-2005, 06:18 PM

Love it. Love the vocal, the guitar, and the lyrics that many posters make fun of.

- Jake

HejiraNYC

07-14-2005, 06:26 PM

lol I also used to be annoyed and perplexed by that line too! Then one day it all made sense to me. So many puzzles in Stevie's lyrics! Her odd phrasing also confuses things.

COME IN OUT OF THE DARKNESS YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH, AND I"M READY TO SAIL

Ah... what an interesting twist. I still don't know WTF it means, but it makes it a little less murky. :)

GODDESS6

07-14-2005, 06:55 PM

LUV, LUV this song, i'm not too keen on the riding high atop your pony part, but i LUV the rest of the lyrics, the music~ i think stevie sounds flawless & very young on it~ it's a delish song!!! :nod: ~

PenguinHead

07-14-2005, 07:17 PM

Ah... what an interesting twist. I still don't know WTF it means, but it makes it a little less murky. :)

I take that line as meaning "Hey, shake off the gloom and let's get going, It's only a feeling...it's not real."

Serendipity

07-14-2005, 08:20 PM

After buying Timespace, i was aching for more Stevie. So I went and bought the whole back catalogue in full. I played in all day, in order. I knew I was in love after the first verse of Bella Donna. Even now, that songs gets me every time.To me, the lyrics are beautiful, I just dont think of them "not making sense". LOVE IT.

~Nicki

p.s. I'm young so...theres more to the HBO concert? Where? I need to hear this!!!! Help me out?

AliceLover

07-14-2005, 08:27 PM

Dreammms

07-14-2005, 08:30 PM

I also love this song so much. I was very pleased to see that it was done on the bella donna tour. When I heard it live I was like, this song plays so well. i have no idea why she doesnt do itlive anymore.

I love Bella Donna too. Very beautiful song. I always wanted her to do Wild Heart live too. I like it more than Bella Donna.

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 08:32 PM

I love Bella Donna too. Very beautiful song. I always wanted her to do Wild Heart live too. I like it more than Bella Donna.

Bella Donna is my Fav album and I would die if she did it live again...

BombaySapphire3

07-14-2005, 08:37 PM

I was a teenager and went to the Wherehouse to buy Bella Donna the day it was released .This was back in the days before any internet so the only song I had heard was SDMYHA before the LP came out and I already had Blue Lamp as the Heavy Metal soundtrack had been released a week or so before..As I got ready to drive over to the Wherehouse I heard Edge on the radio and was stunned after I recovered I got to the Wherehouse and they were playing the song Bella Donna .I thought this has been so worth the wait as I got the album and got in line.

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 08:51 PM

I bought Bella Donna at the local drug store in town..when i first came out...I fell in love w/ Think About It..and Im still in love with it...

Bella Donna is my most fav SN album..and always will be

dissention

07-14-2005, 08:54 PM

I was a teenager and went to the Wherehouse to buy Bella Donna

You have no idea how I read that at first. :laugh:

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 08:55 PM

it was about the same time..lol...oops did I say that :eek:

catinthedark

07-14-2005, 08:56 PM

You have no idea how I read that at first. :laugh:

You and me both!! I'm still giggling about it. :lol:

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 08:57 PM

im glad i gave a laugh to someone tonight

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 08:58 PM

oops i just outed myself to everyone here....wouldnt be the first time..LOL :eek:

AliceLover

07-14-2005, 09:01 PM

I love Bella Donna too. Very beautiful song. I always wanted her to do Wild Heart live too. I like it more than Bella Donna.

Ehh. I don't think it would work live, but Bella Donna would be great.

Dreammms

07-14-2005, 09:01 PM

oops i just outed myself to everyone here....wouldnt be the first time..LOL :eek:

so you did it for the first time during bella donna?

Dreammms

07-14-2005, 09:03 PM

Ehh. I don't think it would work live, but Bella Donna would be great.

It could! :thumbsup:

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 09:04 PM

no i came out to my family..not did the first time.... :D

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 09:05 PM

first time was Tusk..lol

nickslover2071

07-14-2005, 09:06 PM

Tmi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

littlecricket2

07-14-2005, 09:14 PM

You have no idea how I read that at first. :laugh:

I do, because I read it the exact same way! :nod: I guess that makes at least three of us so far!

Oh, btw, never commented on the song. It's not one of my favorites, but reading all of your takes on it makes me want to dig out my Bella Donna album and give it another listen, or watch my video of the White-Winged Dove tour HBO special! (although she doesn't sing "Bella Donna" on it, does she?). Ok album first, then video. :thumbsup:

Glittermoondust

07-14-2005, 09:49 PM

I love this song :) Wow--I actually love a song that everyone else doesn't hate!! ha ha

Amy

golden braid

07-14-2005, 09:54 PM

I love this song and the whole album. I love almost all of Stevie's music though. There are only a few songs that I don't really care for. I totally think this song would be a great opener for her concert too.

TheBlueLamp

07-15-2005, 03:38 AM

I'd probably put Bella Donna in my top twenty. I love it and it's one of a few Stevie songs that literally give me chills every time I hear it. The phony/pony use to irritate me, but even that I don't mind now. The rest of the lyrics are perfect. It feels like some grand old movie compressed into 5 and a half minutes of music. ...And now I'll stop gushing.

BombaySapphire3

07-15-2005, 03:44 AM

Cool pic on your sig there BlueLamp.Isn't that from Straight Jacket?

TheBlueLamp

07-15-2005, 04:03 AM

Yup...I love my Joanie :nod:

slnrox

07-15-2005, 05:36 AM

I do, because I read it the exact same way! :nod: I guess that makes at least three of us so far!

Make that four!

skcin

07-15-2005, 09:20 AM

The sweetly hoarse vocals, the moaning guitars, Roy Bittan's piano, the percussion and especially the way it builds and builds to a climax and just stops for a second right before "And the woman disappears..."

That's IT! I described it as a whining guitar, but you hit the nail on the head - it's moaning. Perfect! :nod:

OK, feel free to continue discussing Bella Donna if you'd like. I'll be starting a new thread for the next song.