Isn't it time????

[gypsysoul]

Considering how many not so special pop/rock stars have been given honours isn't it time Christine was recognized for her pioneering work for women in music?
She might not see herself as doing anything other than pursuing what she loved but in her quiet way she was quite a trailblazer. And it would be nice to see her get some recognition.
I'm not a huge fan of the honours system but since it exists why not give one to someone worthwhile.
There is an argument for John and Mick to get something too but that's a different point. I think Christine could properly be recognized as a major female figure in British music.
Any views

[strandinthewind]

^^

My memory is bad, but she got an award in England a year or so ago.

I do think, though, that she will likely never get a huge award because all of her stuff basically was with FM and she is no longer with FM and she purposefully eschews the spotlight. I think many of those awards are things that people lobby for, like the Blockbuster Award La Nicks got for "songwriting." Not that she did not deserve it, she did, but where are the BB awards now and the timing of that coincided with TISL and Sherly Crowe, who was wildly popular then, was onstage with her?

O do agree, though, that is she were game fr it, she should get some kind of lifetime achievement award.

[gypsysoul]

I think the award was for Rumours.

I wasn't thinking of awards as such, Strand, but more an honour from the queen such as an OBE, MBE or even how about Dame Christine!
These are known as the Queen's birthday honours and are recipients are basically selected by the primeminister's office.

She doesn't have to be in the spot light to receive such an honour. And the fact she was in a group doesn't really matter. After all it's Sir Paul mcCartney and Sir Jagger but not Sir keith Richard or Sir Ringo.

[strandinthewind]

. . . She doesn't have to be in the spot light to receive such an honour. And the fact she was in a group doesn't really matter. After all it's Sir Paul mcCartney and Sir Jagger but not Sir keith Richard or Sir Ringo.

I think people still lobby for those through their managers. But, I agree, QEII should have made her a Dame two decades ago.

Also, is any of it based on anything other than popularity - maybe charity work. Many stars have big charities they sponser. Just asking as I do not know.

Also - I believe the non-sirs you mentioned are a little bitter about that :laugh:

Here is some info on Dames http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire

[macfan 57]

^^
My memory is bad, but she got an award in England a year or so ago.


That was a songwriting award. She's received 3 awards since she retired:

That honorary degree at the University of Cantebury
The Legends award(she accepted on behalf of Fleetwood Mac for Rumours.)
The songwriting award last year.

Here's the picture of her at the awards event.

[gypsysoul]

Well, I believe Paul got his Knighthood while George was still alive which I thought was rather mean. So I can understand if there is/was some bitterness. (The Beatles got MBE's years ago but John later returned his in protest at the Vietnam war).

Sure, people do lobby for them and Blair's government was notorious for trying to promote 'trendy' nominees to make itself look as if it had its 'finger on the pulse'. So, recently quite a few minor showbiz figures have received titles and lesser honours.
But a lot of non famous people get them for services to various industries and ofcourse charities.

I just think that if someone like Olivia Newton Jon can be an OBE then someone like Christine should be recognized for her considerably more substantial services to music and, as i say for being a trail blazer for female musicians.
I rather like the idea of a Dame Christine!

[macfan 57]

Does anyone know if any other female singers or musicians have received these honours from the Queen? I can't think of any other female musician who would even deserve it other than Christine.

[macfan 57]

I rather like the idea of a Dame Christine!

So do I.:nod: :D

[gypsysoul]

Macfan, i've just mentioned ONJ. I can't think of anyone else off the top of my head but some pretty useless entertainers and sportspeople have got them recently.
I can just see the Spice Girls or someone equally abysmal receiving honours for 'services to music' and that would be too awful for words when someone like Christine hasn't been recognized.

[macfan 57]

Macfan, i've just mentioned ONJ. I can't think of anyone else off the top of my head but some pretty useless entertainers and sportspeople have got them recently.
I can just see the Spice Girls or someone equally abysmal receiving honours for 'services to music' and that would be too awful for words when someone like Christine hasn't been recognized.

I didn't see your ONJ post. You must have posted that while I was typing.:) I have nothing against ONJ, but she's certainly no musician. The Spice Girls are just fluff. Christine McVie has talent AND substance. Chris probably isn't the type of person who would campaign for something like this either.

[Gailh]

I didn't see your ONJ post. You must have posted that while I was typing.:) I have nothing against ONJ, but she's certainly no musician. The Spice Girls are just fluff. Christine McVie has talent AND substance. Chris probably isn't the type of person who would campaign for something like this either.

You can't campaign on your own behalf for an honour such as an OBE. I believe that you can be nominated though.

Maybe I should send Gordon Brown a letter!

Gail
Edit: 11:40 here is a link to a website that explains how you nominate someone http://www.honours.gov.uk/ - bit complicated isn't it?

[macfan 57]

You can't campaign on your own behalf for an honour such as an OBE. I believe that you can be nominated though.

Maybe I should send Gordon Brown a letter!

Gail
Edit: 11:40 here is a link to a website that explains how you nominate someone http://www.honours.gov.uk/ - bit complicated isn't it?

Yes, it does look pretty complicated. Someone should nominate Christine. I'm sure she'd accept it if approved.:D

By the way, Olivia Newton-John is Australian. At least Chris is British & lives in the U.K.

[strandinthewind]

I wonder if ONJ has sold more? Remember Grease is one of the highest grossing films ever and she was a mega star in the 70's and 80's. Sales aside, I think she deserved her award as does CM.

[SteveMacD]

I don't know why, but I see Christine just rolling her eyes at this. Which, I think is also true of how George Harrison felt, and Keith Richards, too.

[gypsysoul]

[QUOTE=SteveMacD;710954]I don't know why, but I see Christine just rolling her eyes at this.



She may well do so but these honours are like being nominated for an Oscar - very, very few ever turn them down.

My point is really more about merit - virtually every male musicain or actor who has been around a while seems to think getting a knighthood is their 'right' due to their contribution to their chosen profession.

Each year before the honours are announced the media starts saying 'isn't it time x was a sir. And often x will be just another celebrity who happens to have had a long career.

So, considering there are so few females musicians of substance, isn't it time Christine was recognized for her achievements in a male dominated profession especially cosidering the era that she started in.

[Gailh]

I agree that she deserves some recognition for her contribution to music over a long period.

However I'm not sure she has ever really been a role model for female musicians, at least not overtly.

Has anyone ever named Christine as their role model? (genuine question)

Gail

[macfan 57]

I remember in an interview that Christine said she's a big supporter of the royal family & loves everything about royalty. I'll bet she'd be thrilled if she were to ever get this honour.

[nicepace]

I completely agree with Gypsysoul about Christine's pioneering role as a woman musician. She was probably the first woman to sing, write songs, AND play an instrument in a band, as an equal among equals with the men in the band.

If other female musicians in rock and pop don't acknowledge that she was a trail blazer, that's simply a testament to Christine's modesty and lack of interest in personal stardom. She just never cared about promoting herself above the band she was in.

She also probably wouldn't care about pursuing an award like this, but I think she would graciously accept it if it were offered.

[Gailh]

I completely agree with Gypsysoul about Christine's pioneering role as a woman musician. She was probably the first woman to sing, write songs, AND play an instrument in a band, as an equal among equals with the men in the band.

If other female musicians in rock and pop don't acknowledge that she was a trail blazer, that's simply a testament to Christine's modesty and lack of interest in personal stardom. She just never cared about promoting herself above the band she was in.

She also probably wouldn't care about pursuing an award like this, but I think she would graciously accept it if it were offered.

I agree there aren't many women in bands who have done what Christine has and it is probably due to her liking just to be "one of the boys" that has caused her lack of recognition.

I still don't think that many women would name her as a role model

Gail

[nicepace]

I agree there aren't many women in bands who have done what Christine has and it is probably due to her liking just to be "one of the boys" that has caused her lack of recognition.


I agree, and I think it's just so interesting that she viewed herself as "one of the guys" while writing and singing such very feminine songs.

[gypsysoul]

Gail, i think you're right she doesn't tend to get named as an influence and I think that is partly because she keeps a low profile but also because by the time she became famous she was pretty much swamped by her more showy band mate who ironically does get named as an influence by quite a few women.
In addition I think the kind of women who would admire Christine are those who want to be 'one of the boys' and just get on with the music. Quite a few female punks, for example, might have admired her achievements if by then she had not been part of the kind of band that was anaethma to them.

When I was a child however, I do remember British radio presenter Anne Nightingale waxing lyrical about someone called Christine Mcvie on the kind of 'cool' rock show that as a child I hated because they didn't play the kind of boybands that constantly do covers (I thought that was the height of musical genius then!).
I don't remember the details but there appeared to be a general high regard for her from both Anne and her audience - certainly for her early stuff.

So, yes, Gail, get that letter off to Mr Brown! We'll all sign it - Arise Dame Christine Mcvie

[JazmenFlowers]

I completely agree with Gypsysoul about Christine's pioneering role as a woman musician. She was probably the first woman to sing, write songs, AND play an instrument in a band, as an equal among equals with the men in the band.

If other female musicians in rock and pop don't acknowledge that she was a trail blazer, that's simply a testament to Christine's modesty and lack of interest in personal stardom. She just never cared about promoting herself above the band she was in.

She also probably wouldn't care about pursuing an award like this, but I think she would graciously accept it if it were offered.
this is pretty much what I was gonna say.

[Gailh]

When I was a child however, I do remember British radio presenter Anne Nightingale waxing lyrical about someone called Christine Mcvie on the kind of 'cool' rock show that as a child I hated because they didn't play the kind of boybands that constantly do covers (I thought that was the height of musical genius then!).
I don't remember the details but there appeared to be a general high regard for her from both Anne and her audience - certainly for her early stuff.

So, yes, Gail, get that letter off to Mr Brown! We'll all sign it - Arise Dame Christine Mcvie

I remember listening to Annie Nightingale on the radio. I also remember seeing her interview Stevie on the telly and her saying she had "known Christine for years"

I think a Damehood (is that right?) is a little ambitious - I think you've got have an OBE or CBE or some damn thing first. the process looks a bit complicated to me. You've got to fill in a form which has to show the address of the person you're nominating so I could be a bit stuck. How about - address: somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Kent. that should do it. :laugh:

Gail

[aleuzzi]

Chris would probably love some royal family award! I'd love to see it, too! But, in response to the original issue of her being recognized formally by the industry for her pioneering role in rock...I sadly don't think that'll happen. And that's because the very thing that makes her a pioneer (a band player among the guys) is what makes her so "forgettable" to all those people who only focus on the frontline and on alll sorts of drama and image-conscious crap. Chris is not a stage narccisist. (sp?)

I do think, however, that there were (and probably continue to be) young women musicians who were inspired by her contributions to the band. Sheryl Crowe, for all of her vocal love for Stevie, may be one of them. I recently read her gloss on favorite albums and the White Album came in near the top of her list. She said she's listened to "World Turning" countless times while speeding down the LA highway. That tune is so largely tangled up with Chris I can't imagine she only likes Lindsey's guitar work.

You know, in a way, Christine reminds me of the late Laura Nyro...Both were/are excellent songwriters who quietly revolutionized women's roles in rock music. And both were/are extremely earthy presences on stage.

[gypsysoul]

I think a Damehood (is that right?) is a little ambitious - I think you've got have an OBE or CBE or some damn thing first.
Gail

Mick Jagger got his knighthood without any previous award. And Helen Mirren got her damehood despite having previously refused a lesser award for political reasons.
So Christine can go straight for the big one!

[nicepace]

Chris is not a stage narccisist. (sp?)
N-A-R-C-I-S-S-I-S-T <used a dictionary; how old fashioned is that? lol>


I do think, however, that there were (and probably continue to be) young women musicians who were inspired by her contributions to the band. Sheryl Crowe, for all of her vocal love for Stevie, may be one of them. I recently read her gloss on favorite albums and the White Album came in near the top of her list. She said she's listened to "World Turning" countless times while speeding down the LA highway. That tune is so largely tangled up with Chris I can't imagine she only likes Lindsey's guitar work.
I think that's probably very typical of a lot of people's reactions to Fleetwood Mac (not hardcore fans like us, but the general public). They say they're a Stevie fan but then when you ask them for a song they like they pick a Christine song. Chris's songs really define the whole sound of the band. Certainly if someone cites the 'White Album' as their favorite they are thinking of Christine songs.


You know, in a way, Christine reminds me of the late Laura Nyro...Both were/are excellent songwriters who quietly revolutionized women's roles in rock music. And both were/are extremely earthy presences on stage.
And that is a high compliment, considering the esteem awarded to Ms. Nyro (the writer of "Stone Soul Picnic," "Wedding Bell Blues" and a whole lot of other great songs).

[Ulpian]

I seem to remember this thread from the board on Christine's site. I think I suggested an OBE but the problem is, as Gail pointed out, that it is incredibly complex as a process. Really, 'fans' can't nominate someone simply because there needs to be a lot of detail, including addresses, names of referees etc.

My other thought is that sometimes a contribution to music simply is not enough. David Gilmour, of Pink Floyd, got his CBE for charity work as well as music; likewise Roger Daltrey of The Who, and Sir Paul McCartney for his support of the performing arts and related charities. I'm not aware of any philanthropic gestures Christine has made.

There are singers who got something through purely music-related work, e.g. Dusty Springfield, but they tend to be solo artists, or artists better known for their work outside a band. Also, if Chris were to be nominated, would Mick, John, Peter and Jeremy also merit consideration (being the British subjects, or formerly, who are traceable and eligible)?

Ultimately I am not convinced that Christine would be considered, but that if she was awarded something - and I'd say it'd be an MBE or OBE, no higher - she would accept. I just don't reckon it'll happen, unfortunately. :rolleyes: