Stand Back Civilwar version appreciation thread
 

Hi I like to have everyones opinion on this classic version of Stand Back.
How come it was not released. :shrug: a good question. I personaly love this version,as the same as the Wildheart dressing room video.I love seeing Stevie and the girls riding the horse. here again I hope somebody out there has a better copy then that crummy windows media player copy floating around on the web. please PM me if you have a good copy. Thanks :D

I just watched this today. I only have VHS copy. One of my suspicions is that "they" said - "this video isn't hip enough". But also I've heard that Stevie herself didn't like it. I think it's great, but I love both of them. :shrug:

i love it, but only have the crap quality version. it's a little distracting at times, stevie rushing around everywhere in her big poofy dress... love it. i can see why a civil war themed video didn't make it, at least we have it ;)

Of course I love it because Stevie and the girls are horseback riding. It's kinda interesting too because it tells a story whereas the other video just has some lame dancing and Stevie on a treadmill. It was the early 80's so I can see where the treadmill video might fit into what was popular back then.

I've never seen it. :(

..
Me neither. I really want to, since I love Stevie and I also really like the Civil War (possibly my favorite historic period) Just out of curiosity is the video historically acurate :laugh:

Civil War Stand Back pawns Gay Background Dancer/Cheesy Eighties Setpieces/Lack of Story Stand Back

well.. i've already spoken about this numerous times.. but, yeah, the Civil War version is sooo much better than what was released.... That video could have stood the test of time, but instead, we are left with early 80's cheese..

Sadly ive never seen this. Ive seen it for download but never bothered.

lame dancing? C'mon. Did you see the way she snapped and shook her shoulders all around that treadmill?! :laugh: Hey, you try to have rhythm, lip sync, and have a fan that blows in your face on a treadmill that goes nowhere!
And the ballet spins of those mulletdancers was sublime!
*I love the horse one, too. Stevie "acting" slays me every time*

This video is too good for people not to have. It is second only to Gypsy as best video, I think. Due to its quality, its size is small enough that I can send it through e-mail. If anybody wants it, send me a message with your e-mail address in it. I'll send it to the first five people who contact me.

I think it's a pretty interesting video... It looks really good.. I think everyone in it looks great and it looks like they spent some cash on it... But I don't think it fit the song what so ever... So in my mind it was the right choice to scape it for something more contemporary and "hip".

but really, looking back at it now, is it really that "hip"? :shrug:

The Civil War version at least tells a timeless story... i hardly think a treadmill and some gay background dancers depict the meaning behind "Stand Back" better than the Civil War version could :rolleyes:

When I sit down and watch it, I'm like "Stand Back and Civil War don't mix." I think it's an aawesome video, but not for an 80s dance song. I don't get it.

The released version is cheesy and hella gay, but I think it fits the mood of the song better and the time that the song was released.

Word.

I love this and it is second only to Gypsy as my all time favorite video. The story continues with the Rooms on Fire video too......

Ohhhhnoooo.

I guess I shouldn't post since I don't appreciate the video, but why appreciate it? I don't get it:( That beautiful woman was so far superior in the main video, treadmill and all.

I don't know where I read this, but it was a reputable source. Stevie thought she LOOKED FAT and the video was shelved. I have known this for years and just thought everyone knew this too.

Yea, I heard that years ago too but I never bought that was the real reason the video was never aired.

I know Stevie takes issue with the video citing she "looks fat" etc. but to me, it's perhaps one of the best videos she's ever done because of the story that goes along with it. How in the hell do you go from an amazing Gone With The Wind-esque video to her walking on an elevated treadmill? I think the Civil War version packs more of a punch as opposed to the finished version. Content over the current trend anyday. JMO.

No, it's not hip... But I think for it's time it may have been.... Maybe the Civil War version was too literal and told the whole story. Or maybe they had one of those focus groups preview the clip like they do with movies and give opinions on it.... Or maybe the image it gave of Stevie wasn't the direction she wanted to go in... I don't know... I like the civil war version, I just don't think it really fit too well with the song... Maybe if I'd had seen it back then, I would think the other way around... who knows.

About the treadmill......I always thought it was suppose to be like a catwalk, a model's runway....??? Didn't it have lights on the sides? Silly that they used a treadmill (was it a real treadmill, regular ol' treadmill???). But am I the only one who saw the similarity to it being like a fashion show runway? Not that it really seemed to fit in.... I dunno.... :p

i love the treadmill, it's the only part of that video that i've ever paid attention to. also, whenever i find myself on moving walkways i must put my arms out and flap... i must...

To me, it always looked a little scrappy. But then most videos in 1983 looked a little scrappy.

I totally buy the reason generally given back in the day as to why it wasn't kept: Stevie didn't like the way she looked in those period costumes. I don't, either. It doesn't remind me of GWTW, either, except of course for the antebellum setting (actually, it seems to be during the war). Other than that, it isn't treated filmically like GWTW -- it's treated like a scrappy MTV video in the network's youth: videos in those days were straitjacketed by their storyboards, & the camera was always moving in for a closeup in order to emphasize the features of the rock star's face, however unsuitable that face was for such close scrutiny. GWTW is masterly, if impersonal, camerawork: long shots, medium shots, dolly shots, crane shots. But this Stevie video is no GWTW: it's barely even a pallid TV imitation, like "North & South."

Stevie & her crew should have just gone to a soundstage with the Wild Heart flooring & synched a "performance" of the song. Stevie & Waddy & Wizard & sexy Sharon & Benmont & Roy, all circa 1983: that's all the drama you need right there.

The only problem I have with the aired video is the treadmill. They could have at least covered most of it with the fog so she would like she was soaring through the clouds or something. Instead she looks like a gypsy, welsh witch working out at the gym. I wonder what that would have looked like if that video was shot during her "heavier" days? :laugh:

Do you remember David Letterman making fun of her all of the time in the 80's? That was one of the shots he would use. He also used portions of the "I Can't Wait" video when she was beating her fists against the walls.

lol! I heard about him doing that but never say any shows where he did. I like when Stevie goes on his show. They make such a cute couple. Well, although he's married, I think.

Wasn't the "treadmill" in If Anyone Falls, not Stand Back?

I don't like the Civil War version either. I mean, I like how we all get to see it *now*, any little extra Stevie footage is fun. But I am glad they did not use it as the actual video. I am not much into "the dance scene" but it did atleast look better for a dance kind of song and for the 80's. I also liked how different types of dancers were used. But your idea of them doing a a concert stage setting for the video would have been awesome! I think you hit the nail on the head on that one. That would have been great!

One thing that bugged me seeing the Civil War one is that their hair and makeup is so 80's-ish. It made it look very off when they were in those big old-style dresses. If they wanted to do that theme, I think they should have hired someone to make it look very authentic for the time, and then shoot it in black and white or sepia-tone or something. Or black and white, then colorize it. *Something.*

I too heard Stevie hated the way she looked in it. In that book, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Stevie Nicks - I think there is something in there where someone said she hated how she looked and thought she looked fat in that outfit, and everyone was very upset that she spent more money to make another whole video because she looked fat. If it were me and I was famouse and knew the whole world would be watching this video for years and years to come, I'd want one also that made me look okay. To heck with the money. Look at all the money wasted on drugs, right? Atleast on a video it's worth it. :p

I agree. Stand Back the song just doesn't "fit" the video.

Dear Christopher Nicks,
 

Rather than editing photos (and doing graphic design), Chris, here is something productive for you to do: start compiling a Stevie video compilation DVD! It will practically cost nothing to produce (since it's mostly existing footage). It will sell like gangbusters, especially if you include rare/outtake footage. A suggested track list:

-Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
-Edge of Seventeen (previously unreleased soundstage video)
-Leather and Lace (HBO Special)
-Insider
-Wild Heart (dressing room footage)
-Stand Back
-If Anyone Falls
-Nightbird (Solid Gold or SNL)
-Beauty and the Beast (2005 version)
-Talk to Me
-I Can't Wait
-Rooms on Fire
-Doing the Best I Can (piano version aired in Europe)
-Whole Lotta Trouble
-Sometimes it's a Bitch
-Blue Denim
-Every Day
-Sorcerer
-Fall from Grace (Blockbuster Awards)
-Dreams (new Deep Dish video??)

BONUS

-Stand Back (Civil War version)

Chris, if not for Stevie, then, do it for the world!!

Sincerely,

HejiraNYC

ok, i've decided i'm starting another poll.... :nod:

Don't forget If You Ever Did Believe..........

Amy

I too heard Stevie hated the way she looked in it. In that book, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Stevie Nicks - I think there is something in there where someone said she hated how she looked and thought she looked fat in that outfit, and everyone was very upset that she spent more money to make another whole video because she looked fat. If it were me and I was famouse and knew the whole world would be watching this video for years and years to come, I'd want one also that made me look okay. To heck with the money. Look at all the money wasted on drugs, right? Atleast on a video it's worth it. :p[/QUOTE]

I have to agree with Stevie's concerns. First, her short stature is quite evident is the video. The outfit did make her look a little heavier (not fat). It's obvious that Stevie has been quite concerned with her weight. Why else would she continue to wear the "black outfit" almost constantly on stage? That strikes me as boarderline neurotic. :D

Thats a great idea

you forgot the "If You Ever Did Believe" video :xoxo:

I consider there to be a video for HAEWAFY, too. It's not really a video...it's that dedication she did for something or other. It's her walking through the house while the song is playing. I have to dig that out to see what it was for. I forget.

How bout a complete DVD box set professionally done of Stevie's commercial released videos including her Fleetwood Mac Videos also the videos mention here, plus TV show apperences clips, WOW I'm dreaming again.

i don't think Mick would let her do that with her FM videos...

let's not forget the "Silver Springs" ordeal of 1991

I said that earlier also--great minds........ :lol:

Amy

I prefer the Civil War version. It's funnier and less outdated, IMO. Even if she needed someone better to play her love interest. :nod:

Romy

It might be too much expense having to license footage from "Practical Magic." Unless they could somehow cobble together a 100% performance video from Stevie and Sheryl from existing footage of the video shoot. :thumbsup:

I like the treadmill thing, It reminds me of Olivia Newton-Johns Physical video in the same era couple years later.