The evolution of your fandom?

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. So, I was wondering where everyone else is at on this subject.

How has your Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fandom evolved?

For example, I first got into Stevie around 1998 and became an obsessed, avid fan. I think I really stuck with that intense following through at least 2005. I think around 2007 or so, something changed. I do still listen to her music (although my musical tastes have branched out a lot). No longer will I pay out all the savings I have to follow them around. In fact, I did not see her show in Atlanta on the In Your Dreams Tour because I just didn't have the time or money. I would have loved to see the show, but I have different priorities.

I used to sit for hours watching old footage, bootlegs, etc. I would go online and acquire new rare items (collectibles, bootlegs, etc.).

I often question myself, what changed? Was it me? Was it Stevie?

I'm definitely still a fan, but the intensity is not there like it was..

Thoughts anyone....

[mezzoforte]

Good question!

I think it's pretty common (and healthy) for a new fan's rabid, all-consuming zeal to settle to more normal, socially acceptable levels. Our family and offline friends are doubtless grateful.

I became a fan fall of 2010 - late in the game. I had one year of truly crazy fandom, but I think I've balanced out a bit. Seeing her on this tour has reignited my passion, but I would no longer schedule my afternoon around watching her on Oprah, for example. Still, I'm a total live music junkie, and as long as she's touring, I'll probably hit as many shows as I can.

[WildHearted]

Good question!

I think it's pretty common (and healthy) for a new fan's rabid, all-consuming zeal to settle to more normal, socially acceptable levels. Our family and offline friends are doubtless grateful.

I became a fan fall of 2010 - late in the game. I had one year of truly crazy fandom, but I think I've balanced out a bit. Seeing her on this tour has reignited my passion, but I would no longer schedule my afternoon around watching her on Oprah, for example. Still, I'm a total live music junkie, and as long as she's touring, I'll probably hit as many shows as I can.

I agree pretty much completely with this and this has been my experience, too.

I still obviously follow her/theband, but I don't stay up until 7 am watching interviews on youtube (mainly because... I've already seen them all now!) anymore, and I'm not constantly annoying my friends and family by obsessing over her. Not constantly, only sometimes.

However, as I am still a relatively new fan there are still a lot of bootleg/demo recordings and stuff I don't have so I do have fun getting a hold of those. And with the tours, I kind of go into crazy mode sometimes looking up what people have put on youtube from recent shows and fangirling over things they've said in their stage talk.

And my tumblr is essentially a Stevie shrine with random tidbits of my life and a few pictures of waterfalls thrown in. But, whatever.

[windbecame]

well... I became a fan around Wild Heart time, but moved into crazy fandom around Rock a Little.
Times were different then, however. She was on an album every year from then til Timespace. She was still on the radio so there were singles to buy. After Timespace I discovered record shows and Goldmine magazine. So that was when I discovered demos and bootlegs to sustain me through til Street Angel. That also helped sustain crazy fandom til The Dance.
Then the internet came. Back in the day there were numerous Stevie sights and I could spend hours downloading things and reading articles I would never have had access to.
That being said. Once I had access to all those things through the internet at the drop of a hat my crazy fandom-ness toned down. I still listen mainly to Stevie... but nowhere near what it was like before Trouble in Shangri La era... So back in the days of snail mail/pre internet it was easier to sustain the crazy fandom time because you didn't have access to much, and had to wait for record shows or things you ordered out of a catalog...
just my rambling thoughts :nod:

[skcin]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. So, I was wondering where everyone else is at on this subject.

How has your Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fandom evolved?

For example, I first got into Stevie around 1998 and became an obsessed, avid fan. I think I really stuck with that intense following through at least 2005. I think around 2007 or so, something changed. I do still listen to her music (although my musical tastes have branched out a lot). No longer will I pay out all the savings I have to follow them around. In fact, I did not see her show in Atlanta on the In Your Dreams Tour because I just didn't have the time or money. I would have loved to see the show, but I have different priorities.

I used to sit for hours watching old footage, bootlegs, etc. I would go online and acquire new rare items (collectibles, bootlegs, etc.).

I often question myself, what changed? Was it me? Was it Stevie?

I'm definitely still a fan, but the intensity is not there like it was..

Thoughts anyone....

You took the words out of my mouth. :nod: Seriously - exactly the same for me. I got into Stevie/Mac during The Dance & was lucky enough to see the Buffalo show 11/97. Got crazy into her around TISL & remained pretty nuts through SYW. STarted to calm down around '08 maybe?

Starting in '01 & through '07 or so, traveling out of town, seeing 4 or 5 shows per tour, going to Vegas for the first set of shows @ Caesar's, flying to Cali to see her on stage with Petty, etc. I traded bootlegs, watched old grainy videos, conversed online with fellow fans into the wee hours. I met lots & lots of really cool fans & I think that's what a lot of the traveling/multiple shows was about. That connection that I didn't have with anyone else - I found it with my fellow fans online & at pre-show get-togethers.

I am still a huge fan. I still consider Stevie & Mac my #1 favorite musical artist. I try to see 1 show each tour. But I am older now, I have a kid, more responsibilities & less leisure time. Usually, I'm too busy to bother watching old concert footage, or I'd rather be doing something else instead. :shrug:

I've met so many cool people & have maintained close friendships with several fellow fans; I don't feel the urge to meet anyone else, tbqh. I've been front row for Stevie, Lindsey and Mac. I've taken some really great photos & video to share with others. I've shaken Stevie's hand 3 times. I've strummed LB's guitar 3 or 4 times. I got to meet LB a few weeks ago. It's almost like "been there, done that" at this point. I treasure my experiences & feel very content - I don't need to do more.

[HejiraNYC]

I fell pretty hard and quickly during the BD era, especially after the WWD show on HBO. At first it was all about Stevie Stevie Stevie... but about a year later, I picked up my first FM album, Live, and then it was all about FM and Stevie. I would say that my fandom was at its most potent, mercurial apex during the Wild Heart era, especially after the ubiquitous videos and that legendary appearance on Solid Gold. I must have watched the videos (that I had recorded off of broadcast TV on VHS) hundreds of times. But somehow, for whatever reason, I fell a bit out of love during Rock a Little, which was perhaps a bit too dark for my teenage mindset. I fell further astray after catching one show on the RAL tour, where she was clearly on a major drug-fueled bender. I remember reading about her rehab stint prior to the RAL tour, so I realized she had fallen far, far off the wagon, and I worried about her future. It was so shocking that I vowed never to see her in concert again. But I was pulled right back into the fold for Tango in the Night and the Shake the Cage tour, in which Stevie was cleaned up, a lot more subdued, but looking great and sounding great. I guess my fandom has pretty much stayed on a consistent course ever since then. I'm no longer collecting every single snippet of audio ever broadcast or aired, or attending record shows trying to track down rare video footage (thanks, YouTube!), but I still get a thrill every time I hear or see something I didn't know existed. And I have been going to see more and more concerts every year. I know people often wonder why I go to see the same setlist night after night, but for me it's about spending time with the people that have defined the major eras of my life. I can't think of a single era after 1981 that didn't feature Stevie or FM somewhere in the mix. When I hear certain songs, I remember where/when I heard it back in the day, and it makes me happy to hear that the music is still a living, breathing thing today. That's why it never gets old with me, and each show is an event with the potential to be occasionally transcendent.

[cliffdweller]

You took the words out of my mouth. :nod: Seriously - exactly the same for me. I got into Stevie/Mac during The Dance & was lucky enough to see the Buffalo show 11/97. Got crazy into her around TISL & remained pretty nuts through SYW. STarted to calm down around '08 maybe?

This is me. My superfandom has since cooled but I'm still a huge Stevie/Mac fan and probably always will be. I have only ever had the money to see them/her once on a tour. I once vowed never to spend money on another greatest hits tour every again, but it's been so long since I've seen FM I would do it if they played in my city. I don't think I'd travel for it, though. Those days are gone.

[Macfanforever]

I got into Stevie when she was in FM.At that time I was knee deep into country music at that time in the 1970's.I heard from somewhere she was recording a solo record in which I was happy to hear.In 1981 I was fiddling with the radio dial and heard SDMHA and said WOW.Around late 1981 as I was listening to country radio 1050 WHN from NYC at work and heard Leather and Lace .I was so happy to hear the tune
I end up dropping some of the work I was doing.Luckly the boss forgive me at the time.When I first saw the pre-views of the HBO show advertised on HBO .I endup watching ever run in that month of april 1982.I had no vcr at the time to record it.
The other night I happen to find the TVGuide from when the show was first aired.Also I have the HBO guide somewhere too.I think the crazy fandom started in that time frame.

IN 1982 when FM came out with Mirage I was happy to see the live show .

In 1983 Wildheart came out I played the crap out of that LP.Some how I missed that tour .


RAL tour was the first tour that I went to and I've have not missed a tour since.

And the rest is history.

[Aussie W/Heart]

My full on Stevie obsession started in 2008, after connecting to the Net for the first time, ..(old school me lol..) :shrug:Firstly i jumped on YouTube, typed in Fleetwood Mac for old times sake, up came my favorite songs such as GDW & Sara.. I was totally blown away with GDW live in Japan & SOTM Mirage Live:thumbsup: I stayed up till 2 or 3 am every night re discovering everything Mac related, then moved on to Stevie's Solo concerts, interviews & unreleased demos etc Not long after i discovered The Nicks fix & ( The Ledge = my other obsession)
Highlight was being in front row 2009 Unleashed tour & IYD's Tour..
My fandom is still on the same scale, i listen to Stevie's music & read The Ledge daily

Going way back to 1977, i bought my first record = Rumours , not long after they toured here Oz.. We walked for over 2 hrs to see them perform, as we were too young to drive & made our way to front row.. standing just below Lindsey.. They were well just SO AWESOME!!!! tho i remember feeling a little annoyed with Stevie leaving the stage after each of her songs.. lol

[Enchanted_Stevi]

I knew of Stevie's music through my mom playing "The Dance" a lot when I was younger...mostly Landslide and Silver Springs...never really got into it because I was so into Spice Girls and Nsync lol But one night it clicked and I started to really like it...So I started listening to other songs on the album and really liked them...one day I was flipping through the tv and saw The Dance concert on TV and I recognized the music...and BAM I saw Stevie and was awe struck! This was probably like 2000....

Then I started googling Stevie and trying to find like EVERY and ANY videos I could find...and raided my moms cd collection and found Timespace and some others...When I would first listen to Stevie's songs I would cry because they just spoke to me in way nothing else has...

I joined a ton of message boards...looking for pics of Stevie and any websites on more info and stuff about her and Fleetwood Mac....

I remember staying up til the wee hours of the night in the Nicksfix chat room...

I feel like when you finally know almost everything and have almost everything and see almost everything about Stevie and Mac...its less exciting...so I cant really pin point when it died down for me...but whenever shes on TV or tours I get all excited all over again...

[PolishStevieFan]

For me it all started with VH1's special "Storytellers" featuring Stevie Nicks. Instantly I became a fan. Around 2002 I bought "The Other Side of The Mirror" and it made huge impression on me, to the extent that I had to buy everything with Stevie's name on it. For better or worse I live in Poland where Stevie's not popular at all, so it took me almost ten years to buy "Bella Donna". So much of "timespace" between albums purchases gave me opportunity to appreaciate her music even more as some kind of rarity. I've always had eclectic taste, so I had no problems with listening to Stevie one day and Diana Ross the second. After the release of "In Your Dreams" my interest in Stevie's music grew even stronger and that is why I decided to become a member of this forum. Even if sometimes I listen to her less than other artists, still I think that "less" doesn't mean "worse" in any way. I try to concentrate more on lyrical content and production aspects. I remember that in 2000 I became a fan of Pat Benatar and even though I still love her voice and some of her albums, her music simply doesn't do it for me anymore.

[skuncles]

I first became aware of Stevie in 1982, I was 11 at the time. My cousin was playing the Rumours album and I was hooked, my older sister had the Bella Donna album but I didn't realize the Stevie on Rumours was the same Stevie that my sister had been playing all summer. I got The Wild Heart on cassette and wore the song titles off the tape i played it so much. By 1985 I was renting the HBO concert from the video store every other month or so. First concert was during the RAL tour and by then I was taping EVERY Stevie mention from MTV or VH1 that I could catch.
Jump ahead to 1994 and I had just gotten the Internet and the music collector magazine, Goldmine and spent a TON of $$ on ANYTHING I could find to do with Stevie, radio shows, promos, posters, imports etc. That point in time is probably my peak, it went into the obsession category.
Since then it has calmed way down, still get the albums and go to the shows (will be at the Mohegan Sun on Thursday) but having real bills has stopped the spending on eBay. At this point I have all the demos, have seen all the interviews, have or have at least most of the memorabilia out there, so there's really nothing new out there for me.
I still listen to the albums, in fact all of the Mac and Stevie's solo albums have a perminent home on my iPod, but the "all things Stevie" phase has passed.

[StandbackStevie]

Good Quiestion to ask everyone.

I got into Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks back in 1979 when I was 9yrs old first album I got of there's was Tusk my parents belong to this record club called Columbia House Records and I wanted the Tusk album got it and been hooked since. Thru the years collecting all of the Fleetwood Mac albums released Fleetwood Mac is still my favorite rock band and Stevie Nicks is still my favorite singer/songwriter today.First time seeing Stevie in concert was when I was 16yrs old back in 1986 on the Rock A Little Tour pretty much seen every tour since then. I was lucky enough probably the last 9yrs I have gotten great seats in front of the stage and shaken stevie's hand's twice and Lindsey's hands twice as well was at the live taping of FM's soundstage in boston that night was the first time shaking both of there hands amazing night and tour Say You Will Tour 2003-2004.

have gotten to meet Stevie in person with a friend mine from work her name is Jessie we went to the barnes and noble union square in NYC cd/dvd signing of Stevie's Live In Chicago Soundstage Sessions she was amazing to meet in person never though that was going to happen but it did a wonderful experience to meet her like that. So my fandom is really good with Stevie and The Mac. I love other artists as well but they are number 1 still in my book.
But I do not go out of State to see them know I used to go to Boston and New York along with seeing them here in Connecticut. I said to myself a few years ago if She comes to CT and FM come to CT too I will be there and alright with any seat had my fun up at the front in the past and it was a blast. I am happy to be at a show enjoy myself. I have to be realistic on my money spending so usually I go with the cheaper seats if possible.Hey as long as I am at the show It's all good to me. I love Stevie and always will but I do give her space and breathing time. I am big fan not a stalker type fan.

In the past I used to go to record conventions and collect alot of cool stuff magazine articles and old concert and interviews on vhs tapes they would sell there and stuff I don't do that anymore just having there cd's and listening to the music once in while too not like i used to but still do once in a while but yes mine has died down I only want is there recorded albums and live dvd's they put out no waisting money on bootlegs.

[skuncles]

Good Quiestion to ask everyone.

I said to myself a few years ago if She comes to CT and FM come to CT too I will be there and alright with any seat had my fun up at the front in the past and it was a blast. I am happy to be at a show enjoy myself. I have to be realistic on my money spending so usually I go with the cheaper seats if possible.Hey as long as I am at the show It's all good to me. I love Stevie and always will but I do give her space and breathing time. I am big fan not a stalker type fan.

In the past I used to go to record conventions and collect alot of cool stuff magazine articles and old concert and interviews on vhs tapes they would sell there and stuff I don't do that anymore just having there cd's and listening to the music once in while too not like i used to but still do once in a while but yes mine has died down I only want is there recorded albums and live dvd's they put out no waisting money on bootlegs.

I'm the same way, anytime Stevie or the Mac are in CT then I'm there. I've been to all of her CT shows (1986, 1990, 1997-today). My biggest regret was during the Unleashed tour I had floor sets at Mohegan Sun, prior to the show starting an usher came down to my area and was looking for people to stand at the stage, I personally wasn't asked, but the people next to me we're, I should have just gone up with them. To this day I've never met Stevie or been up where I could shake her hand during the Edge walk. I'm ok with that though.
Stevie is the only artist that I see every time I can, there is no one else that I go to the effort to see each tour.

[StandbackStevie]

I'm the same way, anytime Stevie or the Mac are in CT then I'm there. I've been to all of her CT shows (1986, 1990, 1997-today). My biggest regret was during the Unleashed tour I had floor sets at Mohegan Sun, prior to the show starting an usher came down to my area and was looking for people to stand at the stage, I personally wasn't asked, but the people next to me we're, I should have just gone up with them. To this day I've never met Stevie or been up where I could shake her hand during the Edge walk. I'm ok with that though.
Stevie is the only artist that I see every time I can, there is no one else that I go to the effort to see each tour.

I agree to with you I only go see in concert is Stevie,FM out of every time they tour, I never paid scalper ticket prices
for any tickets and won't either , was lucky to get great tickets on my own thru ticketmaster the past few years.I also like Heart and see them ever so often when they come around.

[Macfanforever]

I'm the same way, anytime Stevie or the Mac are in CT then I'm there. I've been to all of her CT shows (1986, 1990, 1997-today). My biggest regret was during the Unleashed tour I had floor sets at Mohegan Sun, prior to the show starting an usher came down to my area and was looking for people to stand at the stage, I personally wasn't asked, but the people next to me we're, I should have just gone up with them. To this day I've never met Stevie or been up where I could shake her hand during the Edge walk. I'm ok with that though.
Stevie is the only artist that I see every time I can, there is no one else that I go to the effort to see each tour.

Ditto on that.I've been at all of Stevie's/FM's show here in the Nutmeg state{CT}.

[Macfanforever]

I agree to with you I only go see in concert is Stevie,FM out of every time they tour, I never paid scalper ticket prices
for any tickets and won't either , was lucky to get great tickets on my own thru ticketmaster the past few years.I also like Heart and see them ever so often when they come around.

I probably seen everyone bothers and sisters of country music over the years.But when it comes to Stevie and FM tours I'll pre -empt the country shows to go see Stevie/FM shows.I did get scalper tickets for Tom Petty tickets in 2006 for the Mansfield show due to me being slow to get them early.Also I did a upgrade at the same venue for Stevies show to get better seats.That earned me a handshake from her.

[jannieC]

My first memory of Stevie is with Fleetwood Mac- my parents were listening to Rumours a lot. Then I remember Whenever I Call You Friend was my favorite song for a while, though I'm not sure if I knew who was singing it.

I was in all my Stevie glory during the Rock A Little era. I wore that cassette out in my camaro. :laugh: It wasn't until the TISL tour that I discovered this online world of Stevie fans. I'm pretty sure The Nicks Fix was my first online experience, bless my heart. I remember being just as excited to see her for TISL as I was for RAL. I was reading the fan reviews, looking at pictures, and just being a total Stevie dork.

I've never had the financial ability to go nuts on her tours. One show per tour and not always great seats. It wasn't until Fleetwood Mac/SYW that I got a front row seat.

Anyway, I am a lifetime fan and always will be though I don't feel the same way about her as I did say, 20 years ago. I have no desire to go back stage, meet her, tell her how much she's meant to me. I will *always* go see her play when I can and support her by buying her music. I think she is a great songwriter, performer, and probably an all around cool person. Stevie's music is pretty much the soundtrack to my life, and I will never tire of listening.

[rhiannondontgo]

I was just thinking about this the other day! Stevie's just one of the people I'm really into, along with Dolly Parton, Cher, Madonna, and others.
She was however my first so she'll always be the most special. My mom is a huge Stevie fan and when I was a baby she would sing me Landslide, so I guess you could say i've been a fan longer than I can even remember :)
I made it a personal mission when I was younger to see every interview on youtube, and every live song, and have every demo, etc etc. I was a little wacky with all that. After a few years, it was just like I had seen it all, and I loved her just as much but stopped with the constant following. Until several months ago when I saw she was coming to NJ twice. I had loved her all my life but never had enough money as a kid to see her in concert as I'm from a very, very low-income family. But I started saving up every cent and selling all my old things until I had enough to get tickets at Holmdel for myself, my mother, and her bestfriend who's also a big fan, for Mother's Day. The concert was so great, I saved up enough for the Borgata as well. And i'm now just remembering why I loved her so much and what she meant to me. It's refreshing to see someone who was such a huge part of your childhood through the eyes of yourself once you're grown. I was also too young as a kid to get into the forums or make "Stevie friends" but it's cool to be able to do so now.
I'm not very much into the Stevie gossip, or demos, or collecting like crazy, anymore still. But it is refreshing to be able to go back to your childhood like this and see her now.
Reminds me of Gypsy. :)

[Nickingham]

I'm not a rabid fan or really well versed in all things Stevie, but I do know some things about her and consider myself a fan.More of a conservative fan, I suppose?
(Note: This post is long.Sorry if I come off as being a little redundant. I'm typing this stuff as it comes to mind.)

First off, I'd like to state that I never saw FM or Stevie live. I grew up poor so I couldn't afford it and when I was working, I still couldn't afford it. And at the moment I can't go to a concert due to health problems.I have only watched videos of concerts, interviews and documentaries.I have also read interviews, bio's and forums.Including this one.Thanks guys! :)

My fandom started in 1984 when I was 4 years old. My mom and I went to a record store in the mall and I remember her picking out the BD album from one of many crates that were on the floor.I remember seeing TWH album and I asked her if she wanted that too but she said "No. I want the Bella Donna album. It has SDMHA and EoS on it."
So I was like "Okay" and I stared at the TWH cover for a bit while she was looking at other records.I remember thinking; "She has a black cape on.IS she a witch?" Because that's when rumors were still going around that she was a witch.

My mom always played SDMHA, LAL,BD,and EoS.Which got old and tiring over the years because my mom loved that album and she didn't buy any other Stevie album.
I couldn't stand to listen to LAL because the melody and lyrics would make me cry.Don't get wrong though, it's a really good song.

I used to pull out the BD record and look at the cover alot.I remember thinking how cool and pretty she looked with those really long sleeves and boots (that I wanted and still want lol). My mom made two remarks about the cover; 1) When I asked her why Stevie wore such big high heels, my mom said "Probably because she's short so she wears them to be taller" and 2) "She sings 'just like the white winged dove' in EoS but she's not holding a dove, she's holding a parrot." lol
And then for some reason I thought Stevie was kind of a slut because she wore those platform boots. I think it was because of the old adage that girls that wear really high, high heels was considered to be easy/skanky. I don't know.I was a dumb kid! lol

Around that same time, my older cousin that lived next door had a cassette of TWH and she let my mom borrow it to listen to it.I I liked Stand Back and Nightbird.
Then there was my uncle (my mom's brother) who loved Stevie.He thought her and Christine were hot.lol So he had all the Fleetwood Mac and Stevie albums.
I, too thought Stevie and Christine were pretty.But not in THAT way.hehe
I remember my uncle had an 8-track of Rumours and I didn't know that Stevie was in Fleetwood Mac until he told me.I used to look at that picture of Stevie and Mick alot too because I like that cover even to this day.It's so iconic and there's something that screams 'timeless' about the way they're dressed like medieval times and then Mick is holding a crystal ball.And the pose they're in is like as if they're lovers (which I didn't know about until years later lol) and yet they're friends but they give off this vibe like they're depicting the three muses from greek mythology.Being playful and whimsical but watching from another place while they influence the humans.
But I digress.

My uncle used to play the Mirage album constantly.I liked "Gyspy" alot around this time also.

I admired Stevie not only because of her appearance but because she came off as a powerful and successful woman.I kinda looked to her (besides family members) of how a woman should be.


When RAL came out, my uncle said he was going to pick it up. I think he bought a cassette of it because when he came back, he said "It's not as good as her other stuff" so he obviously played it in his car, and I said "Really? It's not good?" and he said "No." So I didn't bother to listen to it because I trusted his opinion.He also said it sounded like she was coked up alot on that album which made me sad and I began to have a low opinion of her.It also made me scared because by that time everybody knew that cocaine could kill you.
Around this time was when TTM was all over the radio and I liked it but I didn't care too much about Stevie's music at that point.

Two years later was when TITN came out and I liked that album.Stevie was back with Seven Wonders and she looked different.She looked good.I remember hearing about how she kicked the habit. I thought that was great.I was happy for her.My idol was not going to die. Yay!

But then in '89, TOSOTM debuted. My uncle bought this album as well but he didn't mention it until I saw it buried along with all his other records in a cardboard box.I was like "Ooo she came out with another album? D=?" and he said "Yeah.But she looks fat and that album isn't good.I think she might be off the wagon again.Doing coke or something." I was like " :/ Nooooo!" So I asked him if I could listen to it and he played it.The only songs I liked off that album were ROF and FB.I liked the cover of the album but I got the impression that she was going the hard edge route.Like she was changing her style of music and appearance.Which was okay.You gotta switch it up sometimes.But I didn't like most of her songs on TOSOTM.I usually tried/try to listen to her lyrics to hear what story she's trying to tell and what feelings she's conveying. And the message I got from TOSOTM was a woman in her 40's trying to fight against the old bitty stereotype and revamp herself.

Which gave way to; Street Angel.
I didn't care about this album because 'Maybe Love' didn't sound like Stevie's usual songs.It was like she had given up.Therefore, I gave up on her new music...
Until one day in the summer of 1997 when PBS aired The Dance.

When I saw Stevie I was like "O.O she's back!" She sounded good.She looked good (although she didn't move around like she used to but that's understandable because she's older.) I thought that Stevie or FM might come out with another album. But they didn't. So I just taped The Dance and watched it every now and then.I also remember when Bootylicious came out and I heard them use EoS sample. I kinda got mad that Destiny's Child used it and a little mad at Stevie for letting them use it because I saw Destiny's Child as just another R&B pop act that wouldn't last and for them to use a sample of one of Stevie's greatest songs for a song titled "Bootylicious"... was an atrocity.A bastardization if you will.

Then a couple years passed. TISL and Say You Will You was released. I didn't care much.The songs on TISL are decent but they're not great in my opinion.The only song of Stevie's I like off of SYW is EFO.I like SAY but only the 'angry demo'.

About four years ago, I decided to read up on Stevie. I wanted to learn more about her.And now I feel bad about the way I viewed her as a person and her career (the negatives) when I was a kid because now that I am older and wiser, I understand her better.I can relate a little more. I appreciate her.