Family Man Discussion

[Fleetwood Jack]

So, I have a discussion topic for you guys.

What do you think of Family Man?

Like do you think it's O.K., is it really Lindsey's worst song, and what dod you think of it being used as a single from "Tango In The Night"?

Stuff like that and any other comments you want to add.

Me personally, I really enjoy Family Man. I don't think the lyrics are particularly deep but I really love how it sounds. I also think the chorus is interesting and I love how it goes all flamenco for no reason. I don't think it's a bad choice as a single, I mean when compared to the other Lindsey songs on the album it is the most single sounding after "Big Love". It always bugged me how the video is just the "Seven Wonders: video but slightly reedited.

I know Lindsey and Stevie had left already but at least attempt to do something knew. I've always thought it would have been kinda cool if it was like a camera gong through an animated version of the artwork on the "Tango" album.

Also, if you go on Youtube there's a demo of it, when he was still making the follow up to "Go Insane", and it has a verse that's not on the album.

[ryan4136]

I'm an LB fan.

Family Man is one of his songs that I loathe.

[James89]

It's definitely one of the weaker songs on the album but it is such a typical single choice. It has a good beat and simple lyrics so it's obvious that it was always going to be one of the many singles from the album. For me though, I would give it a 6 out of 10 and I think all of the other singles released from the album are stronger than this one. I still like it though. :)

[HomerMcvie]

The Popeye song has crappy lyrics, although I love the classical guitar solo.

[FuzzyPlum]

It's quite nice. It's not as bad as people make out. It's not his worst.

[pattyfan]

I'm an LB fan.

Family Man is one of his songs that I loathe.


Word.

Kevin

[Roxy]

This song has always been one of my favorite LB songs. Aside from the lyrics, I've never really understood why it's always bashed on so much.

[Macfan4life]

I am not a huge fan of the album Tango in the Night. Half the album is good while the other part is blah IMHO.
Family Man is one of the stronger songs on Tango. Is that actually a real guitar we hear? For REAL! I love the latin flare and I remember on a radio interivew show if the band had planned this latin flare and Christine said no, it was just Lindsey's creation.
Most of Lindsey's songs have crappy lyrics. I think Big Love has way far cheezy and crappy lyrics than Family Man. The Stevie layered part is so freaking bad that its good if you know what I mean. Family Man is not a song I play but then again other than Isn't It Midnight I dont care that much for Tango. Its too 80's synth pop with shallow lyrics. Musically Family Man is one of the better songs on the album and really demonstrates Lindsey's guitar playing.

[BaronVonBielski]

It has weak points. The positive points are the melody and the guitar is amazing. Referring to the solo breaks between chorus and verse 2 as well as after chorus 2 and especially the outro. It deserves to be on the album for that alone. It's definitely not his nor Fleetwood Mac's worst song. When I make an FM greatest hits it's always included. I will admit I'm not fond of all the vocal effects and the lyrics aren't too strong.

[bwboy]

I'm an LB fan.

Family Man is one of his songs that I loathe.

Word, indeed.

I've always hated this song, it just gets on my nerves. I think the echoing effect put the final nail in the coffin. It's annoying to me. People seem to love it or hate it, but the fact that it was a bomb tends to suggest more people disliked it than liked it.

Family Man is one of the few FM songs I hate. Not That Funny, Come, and Oh Daddy are probably the only other FM songs I hate.

[KenB]

I wouldn't say I hate it, but it's not very good either as a song or as a single. I think Welcome to the Room Sara would have been a SLIGHTLY better choice as the fifth single, even though it's not much better than FM.

[SteveMacD]

I wouldn't say I hate it, but it's not very good either as a song or as a single. I think Welcome to the Room Sara would have been a SLIGHTLY better choice as the fifth single, even though it's not much better than FM.
My choice for 5th single would have been "Isn't It Midnight," one of the few songs from TITN that doesn't sound too dated.

[Macfanforever]

It never clicked with me.Just a filler tune to me.

[24karatstevie]

I love Isn't it Midnght. I think it would have been a hit single!

[KenB]

My choice for 5th single would have been "Isn't It Midnight," one of the few songs from TITN that doesn't sound too dated.

I kind of like -- not love -- Isn't It Midnight, and I agree it would have been the only other possible choice for a single. But for me it's one of the most dated sounding songs on Tango: the drums sound more synthetic than on any other track, Christine's voice is at its most electronically enhanced, and there's a keyboard texture in chorus that places the song squarely in the '80s.

[James89]

I love Isn't it Midnght. I think it would have been a hit single!

Yeah, IIM was the 6th single released here in the UK and only reached #60. It would've done much better if it was released earlier when the album was still riding high in the charts.

[ViscountViktor]

Family Man is awful :thumbsup: Although, it's not the worst filler on TITN. At least it has a catchy tune (I'm looking at you Mystified :nod:)

Stupid lyrics with no meaning, awful effects, chords sound like a bad Christmas song. :distress:

[seekerj]

Family Man and Everywhere are the very defintion of "cheese".

[James89]

Oh god, Mystified is dreadful.

[shackin'up]

Family Man and Everywhere are the very defintion of "cheese".
Edit: swap Everywhere for Little Lies.

[shackin'up]

The fabulous acoustic Guitarpart should have been used for a real song, not for this dreadful piece of elevator-light drizzle called family man.

[HomerMcvie]

The fabulous acoustic Guitarpart should have been used for a real song, not for this dreadful piece of elevator-light drizzle called family man.

Agreed. The guitar part is the only good thing about the song. And it's unfortunately fantastic(because it's paired with a lemon of a song)!

[Justin Reach]

Oh god, Mystified is dreadful.

Mystified is my favourite track on Tango, my least favourite is probably Welcome To The Room Sara.

[HomerMcvie]

Mystified is my favourite track on Tango, my least favourite is probably Welcome To The Room Sara.

I didn't used to appreciate her sleepers:
Oh Daddy
Mystified
Honey Hi
Only Over You
Warm Ways

But I've grown to like them over the years. Except Warm Ways. It sounds so dated! It's a dud, IMO.

[AncientQueen]

I HATE Mystified!

It is not only the worst FM song of all times but also one of the worst song of the 80s. Unbelievable that this boring, diabetis-inducing piece of... well... fluff could end up on the already weak Tango album. Waste of space and time.

Family Man is stupid, dated and forgetable, but at least it is kinda catchy.

[AncientQueen]

I HATE Mystified!

It is not only the worst FM song of all times but also one of the worst song of the 80s. Unbelievable that this boring, diabetis-inducing piece of... well... fluff could end up on the already weak Tango album. Waste of space and time.

Family Man is stupid, dated and forgettable, but at least it is kinda catchy.

[FuzzyPlum]

I HATE Mystified!

It is not only the worst FM song of all times but also one of the worst song of the 80s. Unbelievable that this boring, diabetis-inducing piece of... well... fluff could end up on the already weak Tango album. Waste of space and time.

Family Man is stupid, dated and forgettable, but at least it is kinda catchy.

So , just to be clear... you don't like mystified then!

[jbrownsjr]

I love Mystified... I was just blasting it the other day.

[Macfan4life]

One thing that fascinates me is I see many times on this board praising Caroline from Tango but bashing Family man. Each are not great songs but Caroline is my vote for the worst Fleetwood Mac song in history. Its not really a FM song because it has no FM sound and is only Lindsey playing with a computer with the most worst lyrics of any song ever. I would listen to Family Man a million times over before I would listen to Caroline once.
I waited for Tango for 5 years to be released. I remember the day I bought the cassette and played it in the car on the way home from the mall. When Caroline came on it depressed me so much. Even for a Lindsey solo song....there is just so much that is wrong with the song.

[BLY]

I still find it so interesting how us Mac fans are all over the board with what we like and dislike. I can honestly say I don't HATE anything off of Tango. I also waited 5 years for the release and was thrilled with the album. Family Man has some great guitar and a cool grove. I love Mystified from the first time I heard it. I always have my favorites on all the albums to my least but I appreciate all of it. 30 years later this would be my order.

Seven Wonders
Big Love
Little Lies
Everywhere
Tango in the Night
Isn't it Midnight
Mystified
Welcome to the Room Sara
Family Man
Caroline
When I see You Again
You and I Pt 2

[bombaysaffires]

I HATE Mystified!

It is not only the worst FM song of all times but also one of the worst song of the 80s. Unbelievable that this boring, diabetis-inducing piece of... well... fluff could end up on the already weak Tango album. Waste of space and time.

Family Man is stupid, dated and forgettable, but at least it is kinda catchy.

mostly agree; though I don't really HATE Mystified. But it's boring for sure.

[SteveMacD]

I don't mind "Mystified." At its worst, it's benign filler. It's certainly better than "Only Over You."

[Macfan4life]

I don't mind "Mystified." At its worst, it's benign filler. It's certainly better than "Only Over You."
On no! You just didn't
Now this is war!
:eek:

Only Over You is a heart felt ballad with amazing guitar at the end. Please take another listen :) Its a classic Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac song. She sings from the heart and just the music is arranged to perfection. It also feels a bit bluesy almost back to the early days.


Back to Tango....not sure why Family Man is mostly the target of a bad song on Tango. Aren't most of the songs very similar in creation to Family Man (especially the Lindsey ones). I think Family Man is the perfect example of the sound of Tango in the Night.

[ViscountViktor]

I don't mind "Mystified." At its worst, it's benign filler. It's certainly better than "Only Over You."

Both awful songs. The lyrics are so simple they could have been written by a 16 year old music student.

I can't see how there's anything to like about them. Pure filler. :sorry:

I like Warm Ways :cool:

[Justin Reach]

I don't mind "Mystified." At its worst, it's benign filler. It's certainly better than "Only Over You."

Only Over You is my favourite FM track of all time,there's just something dreamy about it.

[lennonfan]

I love side 1 of Tango but Christine is the only thing that saves side 2 being rubbish IMO.
I like the concept but hate the execution of Family Man. Sure, nice guitar as always from Linds, but it seems so trite to me. Stevie's songs on side 2 sound like she's coked into a coma. Wassamatta baby indeed.

[Macfan4life]

Only Over You is my favourite FM track of all time,there's just something dreamy about it.
Besides being dreamy, its written and sung from the heart. Its probably about Dennis Wilson too. Someone must have never been in head over heals love if they cannot appreciate the song. It sounds just like Fleetwood Mac and has a bit of the blues to it. But Lindsey's guitar at the end is hypnotic and is a solid song musically too. To compare it to Mystified which is a pre-set computer generated synth pop song blows my mind. If I were a computer, I would explode right now :eek:
You don't get into Chris passionately singing about being in love with some great music and musicians?
Some of you guys are lucky I don't know where you live ;)
I would sing Only Over You outside your door ;)