DISCUSSION: Lindsey's songs from Mirage

[MacShadowsBall]

Here's the 2nd discussion thread for Mirage - all about Lindsey Buckingham's songs.

Songs up for discussion
1. Book of Love
2. Empire State
3. Oh Diane
4. Eyes of the World
5. Can't Go Back

Unlike Christine and Stevie on Mirage, I guess one could say Lindsey didn't have that stand out "hit" like he did for Rumours, Tusk, and Tango in the Night. :shrug:

[jcalzaretta]

Eyes of the World
Can't Go Back
Oh Diane
Book of Love
Empire State

[TrueFaith77]

Eyes of the World probably stands out because of its three versions, all of which are awesome. But Can't Go Back is the prettiest. Oh Diane is underrated. Book of Love is gorgeous pastiche. Empire State is delightful lark.

[michelej1]

You know, all of these songs are nice to bop to, but I can't say there's one in that bunch that I really love or that I find to be more than "pleasant." Probably Can't Go Back is the one I like the most, due to the Melodies awaken sorrows from their sleep lyric.

Michele

[louielouie2000]

With the exception of Eyes Of The World, I find all of these songs to be terribly banal. The whole '50s throwback theme was so unimaginative and safe to the point it was insulting to the listener. It's like Lindsey was saying:

"Tusk was too out there for ya? Here! I'll give you a heaping dose of EXACTLY what you want!"

In spite of all that, i think Eyes is a pretty terrific song. I usually find myself hitting repeat with that one! :D

[tilthefirefades]

I love all of these songs so much! Except Oh Diane :laugh:. Can't Go Back is easily my favorite. But Book of Love is great to me too.

[Kayli]

I love love love love Eyes of the World, especially live. The rest of Lindsey's Mirage songs I find unexciting. Can't Go Back and Book of Love are pleasant enough. I like Oh Diane, however, the 1950's sound is unfitting with the rest of the album :shrug: Ha, I enjoy it to a degree. The music on Empire State is pretty cool.

[GypsySorcerer]

Much like Christine's work on this album, I don't think Mirage represents Lindsey's strongest material. However, I don't mind his tunes here. I've always really liked Book of Love, and Eyes of the World is probably my favorite (I love how Canon in D fits into the song). I even enjoy the much-maligned Oh Diane, for what it is. I will say that Empire State is one of my least favorite Lindsey songs ever. Yes, it's interesting musically, but it annoys me to no end. :shrug:

[Silver Springs]

I don't find anything offensive at all about Lindsey's work on this particular album. It's pleasant, if a little untrue to him as an artist. I do enjoy each song individually, that being said.

1. Eyes Of The World (I prefer this performed live as he gives himself more leeway to have fun with it. Part of the enjoyment of Lindsey's work is watching him "act up" to it.
2. Book Of Love (One of the songs that's most played on my Fleetwood Mac section of my iPod. I'm one who focuses on lyrics more than music for the most part, and these lyrics ring true as a narration).
3. Empire State (A fun song, if a little gaudy and "avant garde".)
4. Oh Diane (I never quite understood why it was places on Mirage as it doesn't really seem to fit. But as a song approached singularly I do enjoy it. It's unlike most of what Lindsey has ever done. Kind of an experiment. Some would say it backfired but personally it's one of those that will always place a smile on my face and have me singing along).
5. Can't Go Back (I placed this last purely because it's one of those that doesn't immediately spring to mind. Each time it's mentioned, I have to have a listen to it again just to refresh my memory as to what it even sounds like).

[MissLadyLoki]

Sorry, but Bucky was way off this time. Hell, he made me wanna put a drill in my ear. Of all the songs, Eyes of the World is the least painful (though Oh Diane is fun too)

[aleuzzi]

Beyond Eyes of the World, none of these songs interest me.

[holidayroad]

I love all of Lindsey's songs on Mirage. The whole album is great. I don't get why so many people dislike it. I know it's a lot different than Lindsey's work on Tusk. I'm sure he wanted his songs to be more 'out in left field'. I don't think he was given a lot of choice.

[Artemis]

1. Book of Love - It doesn't really do anything for me really. I think it plods on a bit too much. It's a pleasant song... but that's all it is.
2. Empire State - I actually LOVE this song. I don't know why, it's just so... bouncy and fun. Empire State - Straight Back - Hold Me is a really strong run of songs. I like to stick Empire State on repeat quite often >_>
3. Oh Diane - I don't quite get the levels of hatred this song sometimes receives. It's not wonderful, but, it's fun and catchy.
4. Eyes of the World - It's a fun song, but I don't have strong feelings either way for it.
5. Can't Go Back - I had to go listen to it just to remember what it sounds like. It's fun while it's on... but it doesn't have a lasting impression on me.

On a whole, I think Lindsey's songs on Mirage are just... nice. They're not spectacular, but they're not god-awful either.

[Sleepless-Child]

I don't really care for his songs on Mirage, i like them all (except for Oh Diane) though. Book of Love and Eyes of the world are the best to me.
I actually love this album, it's fun and catchy, and there's not one song that is deeeep and dark, maybe except for Straight Back. It's joyful, I'm joyful, and then we're joyful together. Mirage :thumbsup:

[HomerMcvie]

I love all of these songs so much! Except Oh Diane :laugh:. Can't Go Back is easily my favorite. But Book of Love is great to me too.

What.you.said.

Me too, exactly. And Oh Diane is easily the worst song on the album.:mad:

[Silver Springs]

What.you.said.

Me too, exactly. And Oh Diane is easily the worst song on the album.:mad:

Oh Diane isn't that bad. It's a bit of fun, if cheap. Kind of in the same ball park as Lindsey's Bwana and That's How We Do It In L.A. Wierd for the sake of wierd, if you want to simplify it lol.

[vivfox]

I love all of these songs so much! Except Oh Diane :laugh:. Can't Go Back is easily my favorite. But Book of Love is great to me too.


Finally you said the right thing that will keep you from the chopping block.

[vivfox]

Oh Diane - I don't quite get the levels of hatred this song sometimes receives. It's not wonderful, but, it's fun and catchy.


I hate, Hate, HAte, HATe, HATE this song sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo effing much. It makes me want to kill somebody.

And to top it off, WB released it as a single in 1982 and then I was forced to listen to it on the radio. AND THEN I had to explain to people WHY I was a fan of FM!

[TrueFaith77]

You know, all of these songs are nice to bop to, but I can't say there's one in that bunch that I really love or that I find to be more than "pleasant." Probably Can't Go Back is the one I like the most, due to the Melodies awaken sorrows from their sleep lyric.

Michele

Yes! But he works out that concept more fully on Law & Order than on his Mirage tracks.

[CreepingDeath]

I'm not too keen on any of Lindsey's songs on Mirage. Eyes of the World, Book of Love, and Can't Go Back are nice enough, but that's all.

Oh Diane and Empire State makes me want to hurt small children and puppies. :nod:

[michelej1]

I love all of Lindsey's songs on Mirage. The whole album is great. I don't get why so many people dislike it. I know it's a lot different than Lindsey's work on Tusk. I'm sure he wanted his songs to be more 'out in left field'. I don't think he was given a lot of choice.

Mirage may be my favorite FM album. Hard to say, but it could be. I was a new fan when it came out and I guess that made me cherish it more. I was also a student then and had more time to listen to music, so I played this thing to death.

I love Lindsey's work on it too -- I just don't think that work is best exemplified on his own songs. Michele

[Stew_Matthews]

Mirage I love Lindsey's work on it too -- I just don't think that work is best exemplified on his own songs. Michele


I tend to agree with this. I remember my brother’s girlfriend bringing ‘round a copy of Bella Donna and friends said FM were much better and I went out and bought Mirage. Since then I was ‘hooked’ on this album and Lindsey in particular. His individual tracks aren’t his best and I have this notion that maybe he spent months working on Christine’s and Stevie’s tracks and his own were then something of a rush at the end. The arrangement of Hold Me, the production of Love in Store (that elevated it above what Christine wrote/demo’d), the guitar playing on Straight Back just seem to represent more effort than he put into his own songs. Having said that ‘Can’t go back’ is wonderful in my opinion.

[PenguinHead]

I was always perplexed by the retro style/approach he took on his Mirage songs. I tend to agree with what another Ledgie said -- that it was Lindsey's response to the backlash he got in the aftermath of Tusk.

That said, his songs have grown on me. Eyes of the World was the immediate standout. Empire State was also interesting.

I've come to appreciate the simplicity of Oh Diane. But I'm still surprised that it was selected to be released as his single...and that it actually sold/charted respectively in certain markets/countries! It's such a light-weight sliver of a song.

Though I didn't intially like the clankity-clank production of "Can't Go Back," it has become one of my favorites. Wish they would have performed it live. It was actually a single in Europe -- I have a picture sleeve single of it.

[aleuzzi]

Yes! But he works out that concept more fully on Law & Order than on his Mirage tracks.

I totally agree with this. Law and Order works wonderfully. All of the "toy" songs on there really make sense. Bwana is a favorite but there are many others. Somehow on Mirage the experiment just doesn't work for me. There's a weird lack of energy.

What's even more annoying is that two really good tunes--Goodbye Angel and Teen Beat--were left off Mirage.

[jellyman10]

If I stick to what I think of the studio cuts of LB's Mirage songs, then the one that I dislike the least is 'Can't Go Back'.

If I take the songs in a more general sense of what comes to mind when I just think of them generally, then the live 'Eyes of the World' actually transcends into being enjoyable!

Loz

[MissLadyLoki]

I totally agree with this. Law and Order works wonderfully. All of the "toy" songs on there really make sense. Bwana is a favorite but there are many others. Somehow on Mirage the experiment just doesn't work for me. There's a weird lack of energy.

What's even more annoying is that two really good tunes--Goodbye Angel and Teen Beat--were left off Mirage.

I was convinced that Teen Beat was a Christine B-side from Tango in the Night. Turns out I was wrong.

Goodbye Angel is Say You Will, right? If so, I'm shocked at how far back it went, almost as much as when I found out that Planets of the Universe wasn't just from before Trouble in Shangri-La, it was almost a Rumours song.

[TrueFaith77]

Goodbye Angel is Say You Will, right?

No.

Goodbye Angel was released on The Chain: 25 Years.

You might be thinking of Goodbye Baby or Say Goodbye.

[kokoro]

What's even more annoying is that two really good tunes--Goodbye Angel and Teen Beat--were left off Mirage.

I really like these songs. I'd certainly rather hear Lindsey making weird sounds in Teen Beat than hear Book of Love, Empire State, and Oh Diane. Replace those songs and Lindsey's contributions to Mirage would have been fairly strong offerings. As it is, I only like Can't Go Back and Eyes of the World.

You've got to wonder what they were thinking when they made these decisions about what songs would go on the album. Along with Goodbye Angel and Teen Beat, they also left off Smile at You and If You Were My Love, which are certainly stronger than Straight Back. Alas, missed opportunities. :shrug:

[MissLadyLoki]

No.

Goodbye Angel was released on The Chain: 25 Years.

You might be thinking of Goodbye Baby or Say Goodbye.

I didn't know that. See, those song titles sound too close, and wityh a heathen fan like me, I'm bound to get 'em mixed up.

[holidayroad]

I think it's great (but of course, I have no taste!:lol:)

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[bluefox4000]

Can't Go Back- Nice springy melody. Good to sing too.....good. That's it. This is one of my Mom's fav's.

Book of Love- Say what you want.......but I love love LOVE Lindsey's throwback songs. I can play this one all day. Love singing to it to:nod:

Empire state- Annoying. Yea that about covers it. This song......uhhhhhhhh....no.

Oh Diane- My guilty Pleasure here. Just good fun to me.

Eyes of the world- I never took a shine to this song. It's OK......I guess. Does not thrill me.

So Lindsey is a mixed bag here too. Love his throwbacks though.

Mick

[BaronVonBielski]

Eyes of the World is easily his best on the album which seems to be the consensus around here so far. Oh Diane and Book Of Love have their moments, a little more so than Can't Go Back... but Empire State shouldn't have made the album. Goodbye Angel should have made the album before Empire State.

[Silver Springs]

Eyes of the World is easily his best on the album which seems to be the consensus around here so far. Oh Diane and Book Of Love have their moments, a little more so than Can't Go Back... but Empire State shouldn't have made the album. Goodbye Angel should have made the album before Empire State.

If you ask me, EotW is easily one of the best to be performed live as well.

[moon]

Hi there! Now with Lindsey's songs, that I really like!

1. Can't go back. Lovely. Short but lovely! One of my favourites, with Book of Love. Guitars as always, amazing, good song! Can't say more about it, I love it!!!
2. Book of Love. That's the other favourite. I like lyrics because, in one way or another, talk about my...situation... (Tell me who wrote the book of love? Was someone from above???? Ha ha ha haaaa). I love the song, the vocals, everything!
3. Empire State. Well, what can I say...is not "wooow, the song!!", but is nice!
4. Oh Diane. I think I wrote a lot about it in other topics, but well, I love it!! I always write about the demo version, that I made it instrumental to sing it myself, that I changed the name of the girl for another girl...after Gypsy, it was the first song I met from Mirage!
5. Eyes of the World. The first time I heard it with attention, was in the DVD of Boston, but then I heard the original, and I liked it! I love Christine's backing vocals!!

That's all, regards!!

[Blueletter18]

Can't Go Back- This one bores me a little. I do like the guitar, but the whole song is a little too instrumental for me.
Book of Love- I really like this one, definitely my second favorite on the album. The harmonies on "love" and "above" are heavenly. Shares some lyrics with The Monotone's version- I guess he really was going for that 50s vibe.
Empire State- NoNONONO NO. I skip this one every time.
Oh Diane- Okay, shoot me, but this is my favorite Lindsey song on Mirage. It's so bouncy and fun! I like the fact that it's kind of stripped down and sounds almost like a raw studio take.
Eyes of the World- Meh. Could take it or leave it. Drums have a fuller sound on this one, which is nice. There is a driving groove, this is my third favorite.

[bangdrum]

Can't Go Back - I like the lyrics and melody, but I always wished it didn't sound quite so much like a music box or something.

Book Of Love - Great harmonies and guitars.

Empire State - I actually love this song. I probably wouldn't put it on by itself, but whenever I hear it, I remember how much I like it. Weird that works.

Oh Diane - Can I vote for the demo version? So much more passion in that one...

Eyes Of The World - Favorite LB song from Mirage and favorite on the album tied with Hold Me.

[vivfox]

Empire State- NoNONONO NO. I skip this one every time.
Oh Diane- Okay, shoot me, but this is my favorite Lindsey song on Mirage. It's so bouncy and fun! I like the fact that it's kind of stripped down and sounds almost like a raw studio take.
Eyes of the World- Meh. Could take it or leave it. Drums have a fuller sound on this one, which is nice. There is a driving groove, this is my third favorite.


All opinions are welcome on The Ledge so I'm just having fun here when I say I will shoot you. I have the shotgun in hand and I'm waiting by the shed to do away with someone who praises Oh Diane and knocks Empire State and EOTW.:laugh:The gun will also be used to blow Oh Diane into smithereens and then you and McTrouble and 3 other Ledgies can sit in the corner and cry and reminice for your pathetic song. Whoever's idea it was to make that song a single should have been shot too.

[McTrouble]

All opinions are welcome on The Ledge so I'm just having fun here when I say I will shoot you. I have the shotgun in hand and I'm waiting by the shed to do away with someone who praises Oh Diane and knocks Empire State and EOTW.:laugh:The gun will also be used to blow Oh Diane into smithereens and then you and McTrouble and 3 other Ledgies can sit in the corner and cry and reminice for your pathetic song. Whoever's idea it was to make that song a single should have been shot too.


:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

[McTrouble]

Love, adore, go into raptures - for ALL of Lindsey's on Mirage.

But Oh Diane has made me go swoony for 30 years - and my obsession with The Gorgeous One was born because of this song!

So shoot me now Viv! ;):lol:

[vivfox]

Love, adore, go into raptures - for ALL of Lindsey's on Mirage.

But Oh Diane has made me go swoony for 30 years - and my obsession with The Gorgeous One was born because of this song!

So shoot me now Viv! ;):lol:


I'm recording an oldies cd for a friend. She wrote down her requests. One of the songs, Wild Fire, I've heard a million times in my life but while watching it for the first time on youtube it brought tears to my eyes. As if we grow older yet the songs remain the same. I just turned 50 and this song represents my teenage years and oh how quick the time goes by. Shoot me now, Viv.

[McTrouble]

I'm recording an oldies cd for a friend. She wrote down her requests. One of the songs, Wild Fire, I've heard a million times in my life but while watching it for the first time on youtube it brought tears to my eyes. As if we grow older yet the songs remain the same. I just turned 50 and this song represents my teenage years and oh how quick the time goes by. Shoot me now, Viv.

Touche ! :laugh:

[elle]

One of the songs, Wild Fire, I've heard a million times in my life but while watching it for the first time on youtube it brought tears to my eyes. As if we grow older yet the songs remain the same. I just turned 50 and this song represents my teenage years and oh how quick the time goes by.

you know, sometimes when i listen to lindsey waxing poetically about stevie and their history and possible chapters yet to be written in their collaboration, and you can see and hear all his love for her in his voice and expressions, that's the thing that comes to my mind: she represents his youth.:nod:


EDIT: and i meant to say - happy bday vivfox!:woohoo:

[cliffdweller]

Much like Christine's work on this album, I don't think Mirage represents Lindsey's strongest material. However, I don't mind his tunes here. I've always really liked Book of Love, and Eyes of the World is probably my favorite (I love how Canon in D fits into the song). I even enjoy the much-maligned Oh Diane, for what it is. I will say that Empire State is one of my least favorite Lindsey songs ever. Yes, it's interesting musically, but it annoys me to no end. :shrug:

What she said :)

Also, "Book of Love" is probably my favorite Lindsey tune from this album with Eyes of the World as a close second.

[jcalzaretta]

Love Can't Go Back, Eyes of the World and Book of Love. Oh Diane is OK. Empire State is dreadful.

[Blueletter18]

All opinions are welcome on The Ledge so I'm just having fun here when I say I will shoot you. I have the shotgun in hand and I'm waiting by the shed to do away with someone who praises Oh Diane and knocks Empire State and EOTW.:laugh:The gun will also be used to blow Oh Diane into smithereens and then you and McTrouble and 3 other Ledgies can sit in the corner and cry and reminice for your pathetic song. Whoever's idea it was to make that song a single should have been shot too.

:laugh:Come on, you don't like it even at ALL? I like Empire State....but just a little bit, apparently not enough to listen to all the way through.

[moon]

So, we can agree that Empire State is maybe the lowest point in the album, and as I saw, songs like Oh Diane and Straight Back had better comments. OK, we like the song, but we know too that is not the best...
Regards!