DISCUSSION: Christine's songs from Tango in the Night [Archive]

MacShadowsBall

10-30-2010, 11:06 AM

aleuzzi

10-30-2010, 11:22 AM

Okay, these songs are the best ones on the record. And if she doesn't win this round then something isn't right in Denmark.

Little Lies is a great tune, still relevant, still exciting to hear. Everywhere is very good, too, but a little sugary. I love the demo more--that 2 minute bit that's floating around...

Mystified works well as an album track and has some very fine guitar work.

Isn't it Midnight is an all out guitar fest. Love it and love Christine's vocals on it for the record and live. My only wish was that Stevie's harmonies, which work so well live, were present on the record.

bluefox4000

10-30-2010, 11:38 AM

Now We're talking:thumbsup:

Chris's Songs

Everywhere- Fun tune. I have to say I like the Dance version better, but the album version's good too. a tad slower to me.

Mystified- A much better version of over you. This song is just really Steamy to me. Love this.

Little lies- Love this too A lot of drive behind this. Great little tune. The Tango album Just oozes sex:nod: lol

And I love The other 2 as well. Midnight is raw power, And You and I Is a great sing along.

Tango is my 2nd fav Mac album after Tusk. Great Stuff:]

Mick

MissLadyLoki

10-30-2010, 12:27 PM

Hell's yeah! :cool:

1. Everywhere- I dunno why, but I just love this song to pieces
2. Mystified- It reminds me of Only Over You, but I still don't really like it
3. Little Lies- Killer song. Can't decide if I like that or Everywhere more
4. Isn't It Midnight- Good, rockin' fun and some great guitar-playing
5. You and I Part II- In some ways, the lyrics hint to Lindsey leaving the band, sorta how Gold Dust Woman hints at the strangeness that's to come on Tusk, but other than that, I don't really like it

Nikolaj

10-30-2010, 04:54 PM

I love 'Isn't It Midnight' maybe most of Christine's songs ever, off the top of my head. It was a great track. I prefer the original 'Tango' version to the remix; but either way, really good song.

Artemis

10-30-2010, 05:03 PM

Everything Christine does on this album craps on everything done on the album by Lindsey and Stevie. (Admittedly for Lindsey it's only from a very small height, whilst with Stevie... from a very very great height)

Tango is the best showcase of Christine for me, personally. She has knockout songs on other albums, but, on this one, pretty much all of them are amazing.

If Little Lies doesn't win for this album, something is very wrong with the world :lol:

holidayroad

10-30-2010, 07:13 PM

All of Christine's songs from TITN are excellent!

Madelow

10-30-2010, 07:40 PM

Hello all: In total agreement. Believe this is the finest collection of Christine songs on any FM cd. All are excellent, and provide ammo for those who feel (as I do) that "Tango" is virtually the equal of "Rumours". (o.k. let the attacks begin. lol) Best regards, madelow.

jbrownsjr

10-30-2010, 09:41 PM

No attack here... I understand the analogy.. It has more of a group feel to it, and less weird.

Mirage is a very weird album... I love it's weirdness, but if you go back to the first time you heard Mirage... It's like.. "what in blazes is this music???"
Then it grows on you, and then you realize, "whoa, there's some really cool things going on here."

Tango is so different on the first listen. You get some killer percussion and drums and sequencers. Excellent rhythms, sweet poppy melodies, and layers of everything under the sun. It's like walking through candyland of Fleetwood Mac.

tilthefirefades

10-30-2010, 09:56 PM

Another amazing album to discuss! Everywhere is my favorite here, even though like others said, The Dance version is much better. Little Lies is simply a classic. Isn't it Midnight is a fun rocker. Mystified and You and I Part II are "meh" to me, although both are still good songs.

TerraRhiannon

10-30-2010, 11:59 PM

Everywhere is such a wonderful and fun 'love' song, and the Dance version is amazing. Excelllleeennntt song, used to be one of my all time favorites :)

sjpdg

10-31-2010, 12:43 AM

Its time to tango - Tango in the Night, that is!! :laugh:

Songs up for discussion...
1. Everywhere
2. Mystified (co-write w/Lindsey)
3. Little Lies
4. Isn't It Midnight (co-write w/Lindsey)
5. You and I Part II (co-write w/Lindsey)

3 collaborations - I like when they work together on songs. :)

My picks as follows:

1) Little Lies
2) Mystified
3) Isn't It Midnight - This song friggin' rocked live on the "Tango" tour. Rick's solo was killer and the rhythm section (as always!!!!!!) just absolutely nailed it.
4) Everywhere
5) You and I Part II

Gailh

10-31-2010, 04:01 AM

Tango is one of my favourite FM albums. I know that Stevie was away with the fairies for most of it but Christine's songs were IMO her strongest collection ever.

Gail

jellyman10

10-31-2010, 07:31 AM

'Isn't It Midnight' is the song I dislike the least on this album.

astro-addy

10-31-2010, 10:53 AM

David

10-31-2010, 10:55 AM

The thing about Tango is, its all about the production, chris has no pretense in her music, she just writes songs and they can just slot into any type of production because they are just good songs.

The reason Lindsey and especially stevie, didnt come off as well on tango is because they have so much pretense that it sometimes goes against the grain of the more "modern" production.

Hmmm...that's an interesting insight, & I shall think about it further.

It sort of reminds me of Robert Hilburn's comment, way back in 1980 in a Los Angeles Times review of a Fleetwood Mac concert at the Hollywood Bowl, that Christine's material has greater shelf life than either Lindsey's or Stevie's "more stylized" songs.

vivfox

10-31-2010, 11:31 AM

My picks as follows(with help from another Ledgie)

1) Little Lies-ab fab
2) Mystified-brilliant
3) Isn't It Midnight - This song friggin' rocked live on the "Tango" tour. Rick's solo was killer and the rhythm section (as always!!!!!!) just absolutely nailed it.
4) Everywhere-tolerable, but annoying, especially the first 20 seconds
5) You and I Part II-this song doesn't even exist

astro-addy

10-31-2010, 11:50 AM

Hmmm...that's an interesting insight, & I shall think about it further.

It sort of reminds me of Robert Hilburn's comment, way back in 1980 in a Los Angeles Times review of a Fleetwood Mac concert at the Hollywood Bowl, that Christine's material has greater shelf life than either Lindsey's or Stevie's "more stylized" songs.

Thats definitely true of a lot of Lindseys material... Stevies problem is that Stevie Nicks cannot sound like anything other than Stevie Nicks.

I think that was one of the reasons Mirage didnt gel, Lindsey and chris were going for a certain vibe and their songs sound cohesive. Stevie is just being stevie, so her songs, while in my opinion are the best of the album, act as a spanner in the works and detract from the end product as a whole.

Tango avoided this, somewhat, by whitewashing over stevies nicksness with fancy studio trickery.

David

10-31-2010, 12:42 PM

Thats definitely true of a lot of Lindseys material... Stevies problem is that Stevie Nicks cannot sound like anything other than Stevie Nicks.Totally agree.

I think that was one of the reasons Mirage didnt gel, Lindsey and chris were going for a certain vibe and their songs sound cohesive.Yes, they're much more of a piece. Even as far back as "Tusk," Chris & Lindsey, by design or by coincidence, both take a minimalist approach in lyric writing & to a degree in instrumentation (allowing brief riffs to create casual vibes), & their tracks are more like siblings (with Lindsey's of course having the "brother" energy & Christine's having the "sister" energy). Stevie's songs are almost entirely in their own faraway world.

Stevie is just being stevie, so her songs, while in my opinion are the best of the album, act as a spanner in the works and detract from the end product as a whole.I can't agree that "Gypsy" is a better song than "Hold Me." The latter's lyrics are cleverer, peppier, & wittier, & the song construction is tighter. What "Gypsy" has going for it is a breathtaking, beguiling orchestration, but credit for that goes to the whole band.

Tango avoided this, somewhat, by whitewashing over stevies nicksness with fancy studio trickery.Yes. Word was that the album's esthetic approach & technology were ramped up in order to cover Stevie's absence. But that approach seems to have worked perfectly for the album's overall unity.

HomerMcvie

10-31-2010, 12:52 PM

I can't agree that "Gypsy" is a better song than "Hold Me." The latter's lyrics are cleverer, peppier, & wittier, & the song construction is tighter. What "Gypsy" has going for it is a breathtaking, beguiling orchestration, but credit for that goes to the whole band.

Well, the thing that both songs have going for them, are that they're both so brilliantly OVER-produced, that playing them live, almost wasn't possible. Live, both are/were so lame, compared to the recordings. Although I think Hold Me rocked, in such a RAW manner, that I loved it, even if the band didn't.:mad:

GypsySorcerer

10-31-2010, 09:47 PM

Tango is one of my favourite FM albums. I know that Stevie was away with the fairies for most of it
Gail

:laugh:

I have a soft spot for Tango, as well, and I think it represents some of Christine's best work.

Isn't it Midnight -- LOVE this. I like that it has a harder edge than most of Chris's other songs. LB's guitarwork is great too.

Little Lies -- Just a perfect little pop song. I enjoy listening to it through headphones. Kudos to Lindsey on his production here; I especially like how the three of them are seemingly "calling" to each other in the chorus.

Mystified -- Pretty song, with nice harmonies.

Everywhere -- Better on the Dance.

You and I, Part II -- Not the strongest song by far, but yet I still like it. "Hoping tomorrow will never come, for you and I." :thumbsup:

aleuzzi

10-31-2010, 10:30 PM

Word was that the album's esthetic approach & technology were ramped up in order to cover Stevie's absence. But that approach seems to have worked perfectly for the album's overall unity.

I never heard this. I just assumed they got all synthesizer and studio slick because they wanted to make a mid-80s sounding record in the mid-80s, to establish a certain musical relevance. The approach works best on Christine and Lindsey's material (though not always uniformly) probably because the band spent a heck of a lot more time shaping that than they did with Stevie's material. And, let's be honest here, Stevie's Tango songs--no matter what arrangement was given to them--were weak, career lows for her.

Tango has a unified sound, but that sound is a bit dated now. Songs like Little Lies and Big Love hold up because they are interesting and unusual. As Andrew Oldham once said: three ingredients for a hit are a good song, a good song, and a good song. Lindsey and Chris gave a lot of these on Tango.

louielouie2000

11-01-2010, 02:05 AM

Christine's songs on Tango are just perfection, what else is there to say? :shrug:

I know a lot of people don't like Mystified, but it's one of my all time favs. So beautiful and ethereal.

To me, Christine's songs are what truly defines this album, and makes it what it is. Everywhere & Little Lies are '80s icons. Isn't It Midnight is just such a sophisticated '80s pop rocker. Christine was probably at her utter height when this album was recorded. But then again, everything she's ever done is A+ material.

TerraRhiannon

11-01-2010, 09:00 AM

I love the song Isn't it Midnight. Chris' voice is so beautiful in it.

jbrownsjr

11-01-2010, 09:03 AM

Isn't It Midnight is simply a kickass tune!

chiliD

11-01-2010, 12:48 PM

Mystified - To me, this sounds like Lindsey & Chris were purposely attempting to write a Bob Welch song. Seems like they used Heroes Are Hard To Find's "Safe Harbour" as the basis. Love this one.

Little Lies - Just a typical Christine tune ramped up by technology. Would like to hear a stripped down Tusk-like mix of it for comparison purposes.

Isn't It Midnight - one of my top 3 favorite Christine tunes. Lindsey pulls off his best guitar solo on record on this one.

Everywhere - like, but do not love, this song...it just sounds like a "hit". (Even like Chaka Khan's cover about as much as I do this original)

You & I, Part 2 - Not a big fan of this one (probably should've just written Christmas lyrics and made it into a Christmas song; it kind of has that feel)...prefer "Soul Drifter" off of Lindsey's Out Of The Cradle better...they sound like "twin songs, separated at birth". Of the "Part 1", "Part 2" "You & I"'s, I also prefer "Part 1" (the "Big Love" single B-side).

MacShadowsBall

11-01-2010, 07:07 PM

Mystified, Isn't it Midnight, You and I Part II...

...count as Christine or collaboration...? :shrug:

michelej1

11-01-2010, 07:57 PM

Mystified - To me, this sounds like Lindsey & Chris were purposely attempting to write a Bob Welch song.

I never thought that, but I have typed Hypnotized when I've intended to say Mystified.

Michele

jcalzaretta

11-01-2010, 08:27 PM

1. Isn't it Midnight
2. Little Lies
3. You and I, Part II
4. Everywhere
5. Mystified

jbrownsjr

11-01-2010, 09:45 PM

1. Isn't It Midnight
2. Everywhere
3. Mystified
4. You and I part 1
5. You and I part 2
6. Ricky
7. Little Lies

RickRobert

11-02-2010, 11:50 AM

Everywhere: Love it, love the demo version even more... even if it is too short...
Little Lies: Really like this one, but it's always bugged me how deep in the mix the guitar and bass are...
Isn't It Midnight: Amazing in every possible way! :blob2:
Mystified: Like it, but the glockenspiel drives me nuts!
You And I Pt. 2: Do not like what happened to this song at all, I adore Eyes Wide Shut though...
Ricky: :eek:

astro-addy

11-02-2010, 04:05 PM

I can't agree that "Gypsy" is a better song than "Hold Me." The latter's lyrics are cleverer, peppier, & wittier, & the song construction is tighter. What "Gypsy" has going for it is a breathtaking, beguiling orchestration, but credit for that goes to the whole band.

Oh i agree, but hold me sits better among the other songs like diane, eyes, book of love and only over you.

I love stevies songs on that album and without them the album would have been a more cohesive unit... but not nearly as interesting.

MacShadowsBall

11-03-2010, 12:13 PM

I'm thinking counting Mystified and Isn't it Midnight as all Christine. I'm not sure what Lindsey's involvement was, but to me vocally, they sound Christine.

While "You and I part 2" sounds more duet like...:confused:

I need to know, due to post the Christine poll today...:distress:

RickRobert

11-03-2010, 01:02 PM

I'm thinking counting Mystified and Isn't it Midnight as all Christine. I'm not sure what Lindsey's involvement was, but to me vocally, they sound Christine.

The faaace of a pretty giiirl...

TerraRhiannon

11-03-2010, 01:05 PM

The faaace of a pretty giiirl...

Her voice is so pretty :)

chiliD

11-03-2010, 01:11 PM

I'm thinking counting Mystified and Isn't it Midnight as all Christine. I'm not sure what Lindsey's involvement was, but to me vocally, they sound Christine.

YEP, I've got your back on those.

While "You and I part 2" sounds more duet like...:confused:

Considering Lindsey's OotC version of "Soul Drifter", I'd give the entire song to Lindsey on that one.

TrueFaith77

11-03-2010, 01:14 PM

YEP, I've got your back on those.

Considering Lindsey's OotC version of "Soul Drifter", I'd give the entire song to Lindsey on that one.

I agree with chili on both matters and suggest the decision be deferred to his judgement.

MacShadowsBall

11-03-2010, 01:17 PM

So give Isn't it Midnight and Mystified to Christine, and "You and I" to Lindsey. :cool:

I'll get the poll done this afternoon...

TheSorcerer

11-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Everywhere - I've never really cared for this song all that much. It's simply OK. I can't stand the ending with those 'dum' voices. Drives me mental.

Mystified - This (along with "When I See You Again) is my least favourite song of the album.

Little Lies - Sure it's a bit of fluffy pop, but it's a classic and still a great song listen and sing along to.

Isn't It Midnight - Hands down one of my all time favourite Fleetwood Mac songs. It makes you wish that Christine and Lindsey had collaborated more often. The guitar at the end is just immense and really reminds you how great Lindsey is. There is just something magical about this song. It almost hypnotizes you in the same way that "Rhiannon", "Gold Dust Woman" and "Sisters of the Moon" do.