What's Stevie's Signature Song?

[WalkAThinLine.]

Seeing that Stevie has had multiple hits, I'm curious what people on this board consider to be her signature song.

[Street_Dreamer]

With Fleetwood Mac: Dreams by a hair over Landslide
Solo: Edge Of Seventeen

[HomerMcvie]

With Fleetwood Mac: Dreams by a hair over Landslide
Solo: Edge Of Seventeen

This. Gypsy is close to Dreams, though.

[FuzzyPlum]

Dreams followed by Landslide, followed by Edge of Seventeen, followed by Rhiannon, followed by Stop Draggin My Heart Around

[Macfan4life]

Rhiannon with the Mac
Edge of 17 or Stand Back solo

IMHO a signature song does not mean biggest hit. Its what defines them in image.

Its funny to think both Stand Back and Edge of 17 Stevie purposely wanted to copy another artist's sound......literally. It shows she does have some uncreative creative juices in drafting some of her songs musically. She apparently sung her songs to other people's music.
The Edge of 17 riff is almost identical to that Police song but she kept her mouth quiet on that one maybe thinking it would not be a hit. For Stand Back I think her conscious got the better of her and she decided to call Prince and give him 50% royalties. Stand Back is barely even noticeable. But the Police easily could of had a lawsuit. Even Waddy said he was furious he was told to copy the Police without knowing he was copying the Police.

[sue]

Solo…Gold and braid
With Fleetwood Mac…Gypsy

[Villavic]

I understand signature song as the most identifying, best-known. So, around here, with Fleetwood Mac definitely it is Dreams. Probably followed by Gypsy, but not so close.

The solo, humm... I guess Stand Back. In the 80s Stop Draggin and Edge of 17 were very popular, but they are not played so much on the classic rock/pop radios today. But Stand Back still is. Thoug not as much as Dreams, or Hotel California for example. Both songs can be listened daily on those radios.

[mitzo]

With FM: Gold Dust Woman

Solo: Beauty and the Beast

[Macfan4life]

I understand signature song as the most identifying, best-known. So, around here, with Fleetwood Mac definitely it is Dreams. Probably followed by Gypsy, but not so close.

The solo, humm... I guess Stand Back. In the 80s Stop Draggin and Edge of 17 were very popular, but they are not played so much on the classic rock/pop radios today. But Stand Back still is. Thoug not as much as Dreams, or Hotel California for example. Both songs can be listened daily on those radios.
We have a different opinion or maybe the translation is mixing things up. Is not a signature song like a signature look? Its something that is unique to your style or trademark. It does not have to be the most popular. For example Talk To Me was a big hit but it was not written by her and I would not consider it a signature song. I would say the same thing about SDMHA. Stevie was considered a fairy witch during her peak with Fleetwood Mac. Would not Rhiannon be her signature song with the band? Its no coincidence she chose it as her encore for her first 3 solo tours. It was her signature song, trademark song. I don't consider trademark song anything remotely being the most "popular."

[Villavic]

We have a different opinion or maybe the translation is mixing things up. Is not a signature song like a signature look? Its something that is unique to your style or trademark.

Google gave me those "identifying, best known for" words, though now IA gave me a more similar to your description. Anyway for some artists like Billy Joel or Madonna who have changed with the time (in different aspects), finding a signature song is difficult. And in many cases if the song wasn't written by the singer, should not be an impediment.

But yes, from your point of view probably Rhiannon is the song that best fits to her fairy witch look, and though she changed during the 80s to stay cool, she wasn't as iconic as she was in the late 70s.

[reebokandlace]

Rhiannon.

That song, that Goddess, launched her career and her image - carried her throughout her entire career. Rhiannon made Stevie Nicks “Stevie Nicks”.

I remember that moment in history. I lived it. The video is out there.

[Macfan4life]

Rhiannon.

That song, that Goddess, launched her career and her image - carried her throughout her entire career. Rhiannon made Stevie Nicks “Stevie Nicks”.

I remember that moment in history. I lived it. The video is out there.
Yes. It was her staple. As Mick wrote in his book she would throw her voice out every night performing that song. Not only was it her signature song but it meshed with her signature look and signature singing style.

[FuzzyPlum]

Google gave me those "identifying, best known for" words, though now IA gave me a more similar to your description. Anyway for some artists like Billy Joel or Madonna who have changed with the time (in different aspects), finding a signature song is difficult. And in many cases if the song wasn't written by the singer, should not be an impediment.

But yes, from your point of view probably Rhiannon is the song that best fits to her fairy witch look, and though she changed during the 80s to stay cool, she wasn't as iconic as she was in the late 70s.

Well, for Billy Joel it will ALWAYS be Piano Man!

[FuzzyPlum]

I’d argue it’s the song you most associate with that particular artist. I think if you stopped 100 people on any street to name one song Stevie Nicks sings, the most common response would be Dreams. The second most common would be Landslide.

[Villavic]

I’d argue it’s the song you most associate with that particular artist. I think if you stopped 100 people on any street to name one song Stevie Nicks sings, the most common response would be Dreams. The second most common would be Landslide.

In that case if I stop 100 (my generation) people to name a Billy Joel song, around here, pretty sure it would be Just The Way You Are. Though I wish it were Piano Man.

[GypsySorcerer]

I think Rhiannon is most associated with her signature image. Among the younger/Tiktok crowd, though, it's probably Dreams or Silver Springs (Dance). Snippets from that video performance seem to go viral every 6 months.

Solo, I'd say Edge of Seventeen.

[cbBen]

"Rhiannon" and "Stand Back"

Those are the songs the public knows her for.

[WalkAThinLine.]

There are certain songs in her discography that were much bigger several years ago but have since waned in popularity. "Sara" is a prime example of this where it scored Stevie one of her highest positions on the Hot 100 yet is far less known now. "Dreams" maintained a degree of relevance even before the 2020 viral TikTok clip, but the song has solidified its place in the musical zeitgeist since then because of this moment. When discussing her solo material, "Edge of Seventeen" arguably has the most universal appeal and is also easily her most played song on Spotify.

[bombaysaffires]

'signature song' is like, what is the song all the news shows will play when the artist dies....for that I'm going with Landslide.

However Rhiannon honestly is THE song that made her whole image and popularity back in the beginning and set the course and drew the attention.
Then of course Dreams being the first#1. Solo... Edge or Stand Back were big...given Edge getting new life with Destiny's Child and now Miley I might have to go with that. Stop Draggin' is pretty consistently popular and really blew the BD album wide open and made Edge and then later Stand Back possible.

So on the basis of all that I'd say the songs that truly MADE her were Rhiannon (FM) and Stop Draggin' (solo).

But when the inevitable sad day comes, I am betting everyone plays Landslide because it'll be the most fitting for the occasion.:sorry:

[cbBen]

What prevents "Dreams" from being her signature song (and it probably wouldn't be anyway) is that the title is too disconnected from the song.

Yes the word "dreams" appears in the song, but if you were to ask the public to sing the song "Dreams" by FM few would be able to. It would be different were the song called "Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining."

[Villavic]

What prevents "Dreams" from being her signature song (and it probably wouldn't be anyway) is that the title is too disconnected from the song.

Yes the word "dreams" appears in the song, but if you were to ask the public to sing the song "Dreams" by FM few would be able to. It would be different were the song called "Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining."

In my case I see Dreams as her definitive signature (FM) song cause when I listened for the first time, and it was a hit, I loved the music even though I didn't understand English very well, then the songs lyrics weren't as relevant as the music. So the Dreams "positioning" in my mind was already very strong when my english skills got better.

That makes me think that worldwide, Dreams must be the signature songs. English is a good tool for business, tourism, IT, etc. professionals but not everyone speaks or reads english outside english speaking countries, maybe except in countries like India or Malaysia where I found everybody speak it as a second language, I guess because they are members of the Commonwealth and there are good education deals, benefits with UK.

[cbBen]

Where above I say "sing" I mean "identify."

[Storms123]

"Rhiannon" cultivated the "Image" and where the notion she is a witch came from. "Landslide" and "Dreams" probably more associate with her. I bet Rhiannon could be dropped from a set list before "Landslide" or "Dreams". I would say this is the case for solo or FM, but solo specific toss up between Eof17 or "Standback".

[bombaysaffires]

"Rhiannon" cultivated the "Image" and where the notion she is a witch came from. "Landslide" and "Dreams" probably more associate with her. I bet Rhiannon could be dropped from a set list before "Landslide" or "Dreams". I would say this is the case for solo or FM, but solo specific toss up between Eof17 or "Standback".

agree, she'll never drop Dreams because it was the band's first and only #1 and don't you forget it LOL

Landslide has become such an emotional high point in her shows and everyone sings along and other people had hits with it... it has really earned a place in the top tier signature Stevie songs. It has a timelessness to it that doesn't lock it into just one era of musical styles like some of the others (thinking Stand Back which is very of its time with the synths etc and even Edge)

Current Rhiannon is a slow shadow of its former self. This is the thing with a long career.. different generations come into it at different times so "signature" all depends on who is doing the choosing.

[Macfan4life]

agree, she'll never drop Dreams because it was the band's first and only #1 and don't you forget it LOL

Landslide has become such an emotional high point in her shows and everyone sings along and other people had hits with it... it has really earned a place in the top tier signature Stevie songs. It has a timelessness to it that doesn't lock it into just one era of musical styles like some of the others (thinking Stand Back which is very of its time with the synths etc and even Edge)

Current Rhiannon is a slow shadow of its former self. This is the thing with a long career.. different generations come into it at different times so "signature" all depends on who is doing the choosing.
She did drop Dreams for lots of the 24K Gold Tour. I can say I've seen a Stevie show where she did not play Dreams. She also dropped Rhiannon for a bit. She did not perform it most of her 1989 solo tour.
She even dropped Rhiannon for most of the Shake The Cage tour in 1987. When I read in Mick's book that she does not let the band play Rhiannon anymore I was confused since I saw them play it in 1987. It was only in the set about the first 10 shows and dropped along with Gypsy.
But I do agree. She will never drop Stand Back or Edge of 17. Both songs have been cemented in her set. Stand Back in the middle and Edge of 17 closing number. Nothing ever changes.

[Villavic]

When I read in Mick's book that she does not let the band play Rhiannon anymore I was confused since I saw them play it in 1987. It was only in the set about the first 10 shows and dropped along with Gypsy.
.

And they played it in the BTM tour, too. :shrug: I think I read Mick said there were many confusions during the time he wrote the book because of the drugs. But what follows that Rhiannon phrase in his book looks more like one of those transcendental but actually senseless reflections from Stevie.

Stevie Nicks? Better than ever, in my opinion. (Although she doesn't let us play "Rhiannon" in concert anymore.) Not long ago, she told me: "Sometimes I think I should go back to being a waitress; maybe I would enjoy life more. " She's still writing great songs, one of the major stars of our era.

[HomerMcvie]

She's still writing great songs, one of the major stars of our era.

That old fool has been sucking up to his meal ticket for a LONG time.

[Villavic]

It's no surprise that the authors close their story with kind words about their friends, but the truth is that Stevie was perhaps at the lowest point in her career. She definitely wasn't better than ever.

Something closer to the truth was what he wrote about Christine, although I think that at that time no one was sufficiently inspired.

Christine McVie is as great as ever. Right now she's working on her songs for our next record, Behind the, Mask, and thinking up blissful new ways to say she loves us. The healer's daughter will always be my sister and inspiration.

[David]

Seeing that Stevie has had multiple hits, I'm curious what people on this board consider to be her signature song.

“Rhiannon” is her sig. It’s so much more than her epochal song. It’s a blueprint for her clothes, her image, and even her cosmology. It’s her philosophy: the woman who cannot be held down and who charts her own course across weird landscapes.

[HomerMcvie]

“Rhiannon” is her sig. It’s so much more than her epochal song. It’s a blueprint for her clothes, her image, and even her cosmology. It’s her philosophy: the woman who cannot be held down and who charts her own course across weird landscapes.

While being nutty as a fruit cake, the entire time. That, in and of itself, is quite the feat.