In Defense of Stevie Nicks (Cary O'Dell)

[michelej1]

In Defense Of Stevie Nicks Sep. 14, 2011 By Cary O'Dell

Cary O’Dell is a writer. See the Thought Catalog
http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/in-defense-of-stevie-nicks/

I’m a fan of Stevie Nicks. And that hasn’t always been an easy thing to admit, at least not publicly.

But, today, with many of her songs (“Landslide,” “Leather and Lace”) rightfully acknowledged as modern pop standards, and as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ms. Nicks is being more and more recognized as a true rock legend. But for many years, as she airily floated about, she was far too close to punchline and parody for even the most die-hard of fans to ably defend her fully. Hence, our frequent silence. Even the truly devoted among us, who secretly worshiped every aspect of her gothic crystal vision, often had to wonder if she wouldn’t be taken a bit more seriously, by audiences and critics alike, if just once she’d toned down some of her Enchanted Forest fever.

The cover art of her third solo album, Rock A Little from 1985, at first glance gave us a glimmer of hope. Despite the presence a crystal ball located in the lower right hand corner, Stevie’s cover photo, a full body shot of Stevie encased in a simple (for her) solid black dress, seemed to bode well for a new, more reserved, mainstream style. But then, back when albums had back covers (and back when there were albums), the photo of our beloved Ms. Nicks shown there fully squashed our delusions of Stevie ever abandoning any of her “Rhiannon”/ ”Sara”/ white wing ways. I mean there she was, superimposed over a tapestry background, in a hand-tinted photo, made up like a Renaissance maiden with a black fringed shawl wrapped around her shoulders and soft blond waves framing her face. The heavy eye make-up and black lipstick she also wore in the photo completed the Coming of Arthur vibe. Immediately we realized it: no, this Welsh Witch wasn’t going anywhere.

Since then, through her various solo efforts and her work with the occasionally reconfigured Fleetwood Mac, Nicks has fiercely hung onto her Dickens meets Earth Goddess meets Goth Chick vibe. In her latest album, In Your Dreams, she’s depicted on its cover black clad and in the woods, standing next to a white horse, an angelic starburst circling her form. Inside are photos of Stevie in one of her trademark top hats or, sometimes, with a Hogwarts-worthy owl perched on her arm.

But, now, it seems her look has outlasted her critics. In fact, her singular devotion to one style–one persona–is at present, a refreshing contrast to the disposable images that seem to dominate so much of the pop and rock landscape, especially among other female artists.

Madonna always gets a lot of credit for constantly ‘re-inventing’ herself, though her progression from Material Girl to cowgirl (for her Music LP era), has always seemed more calculated than organic. She seems no more devoted to one persona than any other; they are all just surface deep and she’s always just too ready to dump her current incarnation for the next big thing.

Madonna’s most successful descendent, Lady Gaga, meanwhile, is rushing through her own panoply of outrageous styles without really ever really finding one of her own. In some ways, that is Gaga’s fame game, but (at the risk of angering all the Gaga-heads of the world) her inconsistency creates a scatter-shot personage, undermining her art and message as she attempts instead to just one up the perpetual sideshow shock factor of her work.

More importantly, for the sake of comparison, you never saw Steve Nicks resort to adopting an alternate persona to achieve, well, whatever it is these ‘alters’ are supposed to achieve. No Jo Calderone or Sasha Fierce for her. There have been no other identities to try on just to see if it will fly.

Furthermore, except for the infamous nearly nude photo of Nicks on her and Lindsey Buckingham’s Buckingham-Nicks album from 1973, Stevie has remained modest, covered up in her layers of chiffon and silk scarves. Latter-day rock stars and some of her contemporaries (Cher comes to mind) certainly can’t say the same, as they have built much of their fame as much on getting naked as on making good music. Where would Britney be without her body stocking and songs about being slutty (“Seek Amy,” anyone)? Where would Christina be if she wasn’t always so willing to get “Dirrrty”? Even Mariah, who at least has the voice for musical magic, has seldom missed a chance to bare her midriff.

In contrast, throughout her 40-plus year career, Stevie Nicks has not only not traded on her sexuality, but she has remained true to her muse. Long before Glee gave us all permission to just be, Nicks, through word and action, has always just been herself no matter what the record-buying public thought or a music exec suggested. And in a world, and especially in rock and roll, where everyone it seems is flaying about always trying to fit into a shifting, ever shrinking niche, her true individualism is a trait certainly worthy of respect.

Long may she twirl.

[GoldDustWoman22]

I love this article! It basically says everything that I truly love about Stevie! Makes some wonderful points. I agree with the author when she states that Stevie's look is more than just look. It's a sign of just how true she really is to herself and to her audience.

[Christopher]

It's kinda sad that this writer/blogger was at times ashamed publicly for her Stevie fandom :rolleyes: Poor Thing!;) Stevie = timeless. Always has, always will. As she has always rocked to the beat of her own drum! Not only is that admirable, but fierce and trailblazing! And now that Stevie is in the elder stateswoman phase of her career, all of a sudden she's heralded as an unwavering original worthy of respect!?? WTF!! Those of us who've never been ashamed of Stevie's eccentric or unconventional stylings both as a performer and singer-songwriter, and have been fans for decades upon decades, not just during the popular years, but all the years, get it! It's the rest of the world thats been playing catch up, including this blogger/so-called *fickle* fan. So while Stevie now nurtures her illustrious legacy as the legend she always was destined to be. She is doing so with dignity, class and of course her enduring & enchanting singular aesthetic! She truly is an American treasure. No Question.

[TrueFaith77]

Too bad she doesn't mention her art and the relationship between her persona and her art.

And we have Glee to thank for our individuality? Must be the new conformity...

[Christopher]

Too bad she doesn't mention her art and the relationship between her persona and her art.

And we have Glee to thank for our individuality? Must be the new conformity...
You are becoming (last few posts) quite the counter culture pop zeitgeist.:laugh: Perhaps you always have been :shrug:

[MoonBeamDreams]

Awww.....that was a beautiful essay about Stevie!! :nod:

And actually the reason I became a Stevie fan was because Stevie was an individual artist who created her own world through her unique music and fashion style, and didn't change it for nobody or for anything. That's what I was very impressed with besides the really, really great music she offers! :D

As this article states, this is why I don't think Gaga nor Katy Perry will last very long compared to the greats like Stevie or even Striesand for that matter. They are too quick to sell certain aspects of their persona (including their music) to stay in the limelight. It's a shame, but also why the great artists of yester-year still have their music played and amired from us young people around the world.

Thank you for a wonderful and heart-warming article! :xoxo:
Alicia

[TrueFaith77]

Awww.....that was a beautiful essay about Stevie!! :nod:

And actually the reason I became a Stevie fan was because Stevie was an individual artist who created her own world through her unique music and fashion style, and didn't change it for nobody or for anything. That's what I was very impressed with besides the really, really great music she offers! :D

As this article states, this is why I don't think Gaga nor Katy Perry will last very long compared to the greats like Stevie or even Striesand for that matter. They are too quick to sell certain aspects of their persona (including their music) to stay in the limelight. It's a shame, but also why the great artists of yester-year still have their music played and amired from us young people around the world.

Thank you for a wonderful and heart-warming article! :xoxo:
Alicia

Do people like her (and become fans) because she created her own world and didn't change it to make anyone else happy rather than for what in that world they found appealing and meaningful...

[The Catdancer]

It's kinda sad that this writer/blogger was at times ashamed publicly for her Stevie fandom :rolleyes: Poor Thing!;) Stevie = timeless. Always has, always will. As she has always rocked to the beat of her own drum! Not only is that admirable, but fierce and trailblazing! And now that Stevie is in the elder stateswoman phase of her career, all of a sudden she's heralded as an unwavering original worthy of respect!?? WTF!! Those of us who've never been ashamed of Stevie's eccentric or unconventional stylings both as a performer and singer-songwriter, and have been fans for decades upon decades, not just during the popular years, but all the years, get it! It's the rest of the world thats been playing catch up, including this blogger/so-called *fickle* fan. So while Stevie now nurtures her illustrious legacy as the legend she always was destined to be. She is doing so with dignity, class and of course her enduring & enchanting singular aesthetic! She truly is an American treasure. No Question.

ITA especially with this statement you made:

" And now that Stevie is in the elder stateswoman phase of her career, all of a sudden she's heralded as an unwavering original worthy of respect!?? WTF!! Those of us who've never been ashamed of Stevie's eccentric or unconventional stylings both as a performer and singer-songwriter, and have been fans for decades upon decades, not just during the popular years, but all the years, get it! It's the rest of the world thats been playing catch up, including this blogger/so-called *fickle* fan".

I've been a fan for decades, never been ashamed to admit it and many times I got the question:"Who's he?' indicating that people didn't even know who she was. Now everybody knows who she is and you're right, they're playing catch up. We got it a long time ago.

[beccamorrisfift]

Music should be about about your voice, your sound and the style that comes with that, not selling your body, that's prostitution which is a lesson certain artists need to learn quick.
This elegance that Stevie has is just one of the reasons that we adore her I guess, to put it simply, she's just brilliant.
Thank-You for posting :D

[MoonBeamDreams]

Do people like her (and become fans) because she created her own world and didn't change it to make anyone else happy rather than for what in that world they found appealing and meaningful...

I don't know if you are asking me directly or opening it up to the whole board, but I will elaborate and hopefully clarify what I said.

I tuly became a fan because of the uniqueness, beautiful, and very meaningful music first, and then became impressed in her persona/world after listening to a couple of her signature songs and looking for videos and pictures online. In that order even. The reason I mentioned more on her persona and world is because the article relates and discusses more about personas than about the music itself. And to be completely honest, I prefer individual artists (key word there!) who are willing to dance to their own beat of their drum if it's popular or not. Following your own muse as an artist rates really high in my book, and I feel deserves the respect from me for an artist who is willing to stick to their guns through the high and lows of their career (and the general population's interest in their ideas) and that they know what they have is something extra special. If an artist changes directions- even a little bit- I don't mind as long as it comes from the artist themselves and not the music execs and current trends dictating how the music should be maded and presented. Stevie's muse it seems has remained the same throughout her career even though her music was not in vogue or highly praised through some of the years. And I'm really proud of her for doing this! This is why this is the reason I became a fan of Stevies after falling in LOVE with her GREAT music of course!

So I hope this anwers and elaborate what I said earlier. And sorry for the really long post!
Alicia

[fringed n fab]

In Defense Of Stevie Nicks Sep. 14, 2011 By Cary O'Dell

Cary O’Dell is a writer. See the Thought Catalog
http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/in-defense-of-stevie-nicks/

I’m a fan of Stevie Nicks. And that hasn’t always been an easy thing to admit, at least not publicly.

But, today, with many of her songs (“Landslide,” “Leather and Lace”) rightfully acknowledged as modern pop standards, and as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ms. Nicks is being more and more recognized as a true rock legend. But for many years, as she airily floated about, she was far too close to punchline and parody for even the most die-hard of fans to ably defend her fully. Hence, our frequent silence. Even the truly devoted among us, who secretly worshiped every aspect of her gothic crystal vision, often had to wonder if she wouldn’t be taken a bit more seriously, by audiences and critics alike, if just once she’d toned down some of her Enchanted Forest fever.

The cover art of her third solo album, Rock A Little from 1985, at first glance gave us a glimmer of hope. Despite the presence a crystal ball located in the lower right hand corner, Stevie’s cover photo, a full body shot of Stevie encased in a simple (for her) solid black dress, seemed to bode well for a new, more reserved, mainstream style. But then, back when albums had back covers (and back when there were albums), the photo of our beloved Ms. Nicks shown there fully squashed our delusions of Stevie ever abandoning any of her “Rhiannon”/ ”Sara”/ white wing ways. I mean there she was, superimposed over a tapestry background, in a hand-tinted photo, made up like a Renaissance maiden with a black fringed shawl wrapped around her shoulders and soft blond waves framing her face. The heavy eye make-up and black lipstick she also wore in the photo completed the Coming of Arthur vibe. Immediately we realized it: no, this Welsh Witch wasn’t going anywhere.

Since then, through her various solo efforts and her work with the occasionally reconfigured Fleetwood Mac, Nicks has fiercely hung onto her Dickens meets Earth Goddess meets Goth Chick vibe. In her latest album, In Your Dreams, she’s depicted on its cover black clad and in the woods, standing next to a white horse, an angelic starburst circling her form. Inside are photos of Stevie in one of her trademark top hats or, sometimes, with a Hogwarts-worthy owl perched on her arm.

But, now, it seems her look has outlasted her critics. In fact, her singular devotion to one style–one persona–is at present, a refreshing contrast to the disposable images that seem to dominate so much of the pop and rock landscape, especially among other female artists.

Madonna always gets a lot of credit for constantly ‘re-inventing’ herself, though her progression from Material Girl to cowgirl (for her Music LP era), has always seemed more calculated than organic. She seems no more devoted to one persona than any other; they are all just surface deep and she’s always just too ready to dump her current incarnation for the next big thing.

Madonna’s most successful descendent, Lady Gaga, meanwhile, is rushing through her own panoply of outrageous styles without really ever really finding one of her own. In some ways, that is Gaga’s fame game, but (at the risk of angering all the Gaga-heads of the world) her inconsistency creates a scatter-shot personage, undermining her art and message as she attempts instead to just one up the perpetual sideshow shock factor of her work.

More importantly, for the sake of comparison, you never saw Steve Nicks resort to adopting an alternate persona to achieve, well, whatever it is these ‘alters’ are supposed to achieve. No Jo Calderone or Sasha Fierce for her. There have been no other identities to try on just to see if it will fly.

Furthermore, except for the infamous nearly nude photo of Nicks on her and Lindsey Buckingham’s Buckingham-Nicks album from 1973, Stevie has remained modest, covered up in her layers of chiffon and silk scarves. Latter-day rock stars and some of her contemporaries (Cher comes to mind) certainly can’t say the same, as they have built much of their fame as much on getting naked as on making good music. Where would Britney be without her body stocking and songs about being slutty (“Seek Amy,” anyone)? Where would Christina be if she wasn’t always so willing to get “Dirrrty”? Even Mariah, who at least has the voice for musical magic, has seldom missed a chance to bare her midriff.

In contrast, throughout her 40-plus year career, Stevie Nicks has not only not traded on her sexuality, but she has remained true to her muse. Long before Glee gave us all permission to just be, Nicks, through word and action, has always just been herself no matter what the record-buying public thought or a music exec suggested. And in a world, and especially in rock and roll, where everyone it seems is flaying about always trying to fit into a shifting, ever shrinking niche, her true individualism is a trait certainly worthy of respect.

Long may she twirl.

And you'd think stars who do this and change images weekly would realize it. :shrug:

[fringed n fab]

It's kinda sad that this writer/blogger was at times ashamed publicly for her Stevie fandom :rolleyes: Poor Thing!;) Stevie = timeless. Always has, always will. As she has always rocked to the beat of her own drum! Not only is that admirable, but fierce and trailblazing! And now that Stevie is in the elder stateswoman phase of her career, all of a sudden she's heralded as an unwavering original worthy of respect!?? WTF!! Those of us who've never been ashamed of Stevie's eccentric or unconventional stylings both as a performer and singer-songwriter, and have been fans for decades upon decades, not just during the popular years, but all the years, get it! It's the rest of the world thats been playing catch up, including this blogger/so-called *fickle* fan. So while Stevie now nurtures her illustrious legacy as the legend she always was destined to be. She is doing so with dignity, class and of course her enduring & enchanting singular aesthetic! She truly is an American treasure. No Question.

I agree. Why would anyone think Stevie's fans are ashamed to admit publicly they love her ever? :shrug: You are spot on with how the majority of us fans think. :nod:

[fringed n fab]

I guess on the plus side the blogger admired the Rock A Little cover as do I, so that was nice. :D

[KarmaContestant]

This was a great article - thanks for posting. Stevie's unchanging style is a huge part of what people love about her. That back cover of Rock A Little remains my favorite album shot of all time.

Conversely, Madonna's ever-changing style is also part of why her fans love her - it's something to look forward to. What look, style and sound will she sport this year/album?

Gaga, bless her heart, is sweet and in my opinion totally brilliant, and a very VERY necessary part of pop culture right now (as opposed to the throw-away Katy Perry or Ke$sha) - but I do wonder if she's giving too much too soon. Every day she's different! Any good drag queen will tell you, you gotta make all those outfits last, girl!

[darklinensuit]

Am I the only one who does not get any "Renaissance maiden" vibe from the RAL back cover?

I do think that Stevie has necessarily reinvented herself over the course of her career if we look beyond the look. Years ago she was the fragile baby sister who needed protection and hugs. Now she markets herself as a survivor, which people just eat up, especially when it comes to her past drug use. For a while she did not even want to discuss that part of her life. Now we can't get her to shut up about it.

Also, at least in my opinion, back when it was tough being a die-hard Stevie fan, Stevie's airy-fairy image wasn't as embarrassing as her deteriorating voice and poor song choices. She could wear all the chiffon she wanted if she would have sounded better and abandoned at least some of that synth & Kenny G.

- Jake

[KarmaContestant]

Am I the only one who does not get any "Renaissance maiden" vibe from the RAL back cover?



:laugh: I don't either. Medieval maiden on the other hand... :laugh:

[PenguinHead]

It's kinda sad that this writer/blogger was at times ashamed publicly for her Stevie fandom :rolleyes: Poor Thing!;) Stevie = timeless. Always has, always will. As she has always rocked to the beat of her own drum! Not only is that admirable, but fierce and trailblazing! And now that Stevie is in the elder stateswoman phase of her career, all of a sudden she's heralded as an unwavering original worthy of respect!?? WTF!! Those of us who've never been ashamed of Stevie's eccentric or unconventional stylings both as a performer and singer-songwriter, and have been fans for decades upon decades, not just during the popular years, but all the years, get it! It's the rest of the world thats been playing catch up, including this blogger/so-called *fickle* fan. So while Stevie now nurtures her illustrious legacy as the legend she always was destined to be. She is doing so with dignity, class and of course her enduring & enchanting singular aesthetic! She truly is an American treasure. No Question.

It's a great articulate article, and it's spot on. I don't understand the "sad" comment. There's nothing sad about it. It's very true that there was a time, during the ebbs and flows of her career, Stevie had fallen slightly out of favor in the general public. The appreciation of her was waning for various reasons. Still, her die hard fans stuck with her, as this writer has inferred. It wasn't about being ashamed, but being out of step with popular opinion.

In the past ten or so years, she's regained a huge amount of respect in the industry, and has gained a new generation of fans. Fans can now profess their love of Stevie to people who may not be fans, but now they can understand why!

[The Catdancer]

Am I the only one who does not get any "Renaissance maiden" vibe from the RAL back cover?


- Jake

Nope, I don't get it either :shrug:

[SaidSomething]

II have always made my own parade. I don't like pigeonholing, segregation, exclusive to any community or culture. Unlike some...I didn't have to try to be different.

I remember having a job while in highschool, I was always working with the "adults" and often got the, "who's he"?

I remember a time...gees it seems like yesterday...I actually used to ask people, "other than Stevie Nicks...whose your favorite Rock N Roller"?

...the beautiful, and the sensitive...and the oh, so very young...

[michelej1]

By Marty Salgado The Orion | October 18, 2011 [Stevie mention bolded]
http://theorion.com/opinion/article_f3de2788-f9f6-11e0-ade2-001a4bcf6878.html
Social cues separate sexuality

I was upset, to say the least.

I'm a Paul Simon fan and I am not gay - not that there's anything wrong with that.

Ever since elementary school, I've been interested in less macho activities than some of my male peers, and I've been ridiculed for it. When everyone was playing on a Game Boy, I was reading the newspaper. When my friends got excited for Green Day's "American Idiot" tour, I was stoked to see Simon and Garfunkel back together on their "Old Friends" tour.

Because I didn't fit in with the norm, I was labeled as different, and sometimes different meant gay.

Labeling is part of being human. We all have a label, and we belong to a certain group. But we shouldn't be patronized because of it.

In September, 14-year-old James Rodemeyer committed suicide after repeatedly being teased for being gay. On Sept. 9, just a few weeks before killing himself, he posted the following message to his blog, according to the Daily Mail.

"I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens," he wrote. "What do I have to do so people will listen to me?"

Gay teenagers and adults alike are suffering as a result of bullying - but they're not the only ones who have to deal with labels. Anyone, regardless of orientation, can be bullied like I was. We have to stop the bullying by choosing not to use derogatory names to put people down for being different.

This month - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month - is a great opportunity to take a stand against the pejorative labeling and name calling we all see and tolerate every day.

Just last weekend, I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert and held the hand of Stevie Nicks, one of the most offbeat, gifted songwriters in music history - but I was hesitant to tell people who didn't know me, for fear of being labeled as effeminate, or gay.

The unspoken cultural stereotypes we adhere to every day are preventing us from sharing our true identities with the world. Whether you're playing football, video games or practicing your triple lutz while listening to the Village People, you shouldn't be afraid to be yourself.

There's not anything wrong with that. Seriously.

[fringed n fab]

I don't see what the big deal would be. It's not like Stevie/FM only attract gay fans. They have many different fans, all ages. :shrug:

[tabruns]

Well bullies aren't logical or consistent. Just their perception that someone is different is enough for them.

[SaidSomething]

Well bullies aren't logical or consistent. Just their perception that someone is different is enough for them.

You could not have said it any better. Bless the bullied...and may their star shine bright and beautiful.

Bullies...are the ones in fear. Just look at the American GOP Presidential runners....especially, Michele Bachmann and her less than macho husband, Marcus...he greatly reflects a steroids typical gay man...stereotypes, and I don't like stereotypes but just as a classic example. Michele has let her hair grow, started wearing makeup and dresses...she vamped up her look to fit in as a stereotypical feminine woman. This look is new for her. Her husband Marcus and his crappy internet credentials for the Dr. Title. He is not a doctor...but he studied or payed for the title as a graduate of a doctorate program. I have several articles out on them...I think I mentioned before that I had a bigtime freelance job with a 30 day deadline. I had to rescind on the offer in my 3rd week. Everything I researched is coming out to this day. I was ill...I was barking and nasty to my loved ones...headaches you name it. Just last night I did a piece on Eric Cantor and his rotten mouth spewing hatred over the Americans vs Wall St....I just had to get a Bachmann jab in at the closing. 1 fact is that the district Michel represents has the highest teen suicide rate in US. Michele has been called many times to address this. She has not. Instead she remains a fraud and a bigot...and so do the rest of those in the top race...she has such a fetish though...and just go to youtube and google Marcus Bachmann gay, barbarian...I don't think anyone is old enough to remember Paul Lynde...or Liberace...his mannerisms invite the same bully bad guy backlash. I don't have Gaydar...I didn't know I was gay until my mid 20s...you cannot guess a guys sexuality by his demeanor or mannerisms...My partner can tell...and he's always right! But if I were to guess...I would say, Marcus..

My celebrity crush is a rugby payer from the UK. Ben Cohen. He's big time working on this cruel, sickening bully stuff...it has become his cause and he is a guy, strong enough in his skin to embrace and recognize the gay guys, like myself that...well...swoon over him.

I am working really hard at this topic...and often bring it up when I am a guest on my friends talk show.

Pat benatar sung it best...We Belong. And Debora Iyall of Romeo Void fame. Sings on her new album...Stay Strong...we all belong we all belong...http://youtu.be/CZRmKglxj4c

[SaidSomething]

You could not have said it any better. Bless the bullied...and may their star shine bright and beautiful.

Bullies...are the ones in fear. Just look at the American GOP Presidential runners....especially, Michele Bachmann and her less than macho husband, Marcus...he greatly reflects a steroids typical gay man...stereotypes, and I don't like stereotypes but just as a classic example. Michele has let her hair grow, started wearing makeup and dresses...she vamped up her look to fit in as a stereotypical feminine woman. This look is new for her. Her husband Marcus and his crappy internet credentials for the Dr. Title. He is not a doctor...but he studied or payed for the title as a graduate of a doctorate program. I have several articles out on them...I think I mentioned before that I had a bigtime freelance job with a 30 day deadline. I had to rescind on the offer in my 3rd week. Everything I researched is coming out to this day. I was ill...I was barking and nasty to my loved ones...headaches you name it. Just last night I did a piece on Eric Cantor and his rotten mouth spewing hatred over the Americans vs Wall St....I just had to get a Bachmann jab in at the closing. 1 fact is that the district Michel represents has the highest teen suicide rate in US. Michele has been called many times to address this. She has not. Instead she remains a fraud and a bigot...and so do the rest of those in the top race...she has such a fetish though...and just go to youtube and google Marcus Bachmann gay, barbarian...I don't think anyone is old enough to remember Paul Lynde...or Liberace...his mannerisms invite the same bully bad guy backlash. I don't have Gaydar...I didn't know I was gay until my mid 20s...you cannot guess a guys sexuality by his demeanor or mannerisms...My partner can tell...and he's always right! But if I were to guess...I would say, Marcus..

My celebrity crush is a rugby payer from the UK. Ben Cohen. He's big time working on this cruel, sickening bully stuff...it has become his cause and he is a guy, strong enough in his skin to embrace and recognize the gay guys, like myself that...well...swoon over him.

I am working really hard at this topic...and often bring it up when I am a guest on my friends talk show.

Pat benatar sung it best...We Belong. And Debora Iyall of Romeo Void fame. Sings on her new album...Stay Strong...we all belong we all belong...http://youtu.be/CZRmKglxj4c this is just one of Ben Cohen's messages to they sad and scared gay youth.

[iamnotafraid]

But for many years, as she airily floated about, she was far too close to punchline and parody for even the most die-hard of fans to ably defend her fully.

But, now, it seems her look has outlasted her critics.

Furthermore, except for the infamous nearly nude photo of Nicks on her and Lindsey Buckingham’s Buckingham-Nicks album from 1973, Stevie has remained modest, covered up in her layers of chiffon and silk scarves.

In contrast, throughout her 40-plus year career, Stevie Nicks has not only not traded on her sexuality, but she has remained true to her muse.



She became a punchline when she got fat. That's just the simple
truth. I suppose it was the time period following the Rock A Little
Tour. And followed that up by becoming listless for the Street Angel
period. The full on parody took it's place at the inauguration of
President Clinton.

You could feel two ways about it. As a fan you could feel sorry for
her during this time period. Or as a critic, you could tear her apart.
If the weight gain would have happened earlier in her career, I doubt
we'd see her in the same light.

As far as outlasting her critics, once you reach a certain age or mabye
I should say make it to a certain age, critics sometimes show a
little mercy for just hanging in there.

Thankfully the Dance happened and saved her career and legacy.

[PenguinHead]

She became a punchline when she got fat. That's just the simple
truth. I suppose it was the time period following the Rock A Little
Tour. And followed that up by becoming listless for the Street Angel
period. The full on parody took it's place at the inauguration of
President Clinton.

You could feel two ways about it. As a fan you could feel sorry for
her during this time period. Or as a critic, you could tear her apart.
If the weight gain would have happened earlier in her career, I doubt
we'd see her in the same light.

As far as outlasting her critics, once you reach a certain age or mabye
I should say make it to a certain age, critics sometimes show a
little mercy for just hanging in there.

Th

Thanks for showing some perspective. The writer of the article got a lot of undeserved and misguided flack here. Despite the undying love of Stevie professed by some angry Ledgies here, Stevie, in some public circles, was not always as loved by critics and the general public --even before her solo years, when she was in Fleetwood Mac. She wasn't taken seriously. Big deal! So what? If you liked her, you liked her.

I can admit that I was a closet Fleetwood Mac fan in my high school days. They were not "cool" at that time. My obessesive devotion to them was kept a secret for many years. As decades went by, it was great to see people gaining a new perspective and respect for them.

That writer clearly was a fan, and was being very honest about her perspective. and it was spot on. She didn't just come a fan because Stevie is now considered "cool." She was always a fan -- there was nothing fickle about it. Please get a sense of perspective and humility and drop the attitude that Stevie is some kind of deity beyond reproach.:nod:

[TerraRhiannon]

That was an awesome article, they really hit the nail on the head! I'm making coming here a priority again because in the midst of my schedule and work and taking care of my new house, I hate missing news and new articles like this one :|