Would There Be Lady Gaga Without Stevie Nicks?
 

September 09, 2009 by Chris McLeod


When rock star Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975, she was not exactly on the "Edge of Seventeen" (if you know Nicks' music, you'll get the reference). In fact, Stevie Nicks was 27 years old when she got her big break. Sure there were other female rock stars before Stevie Nicks. Who can forget Janis Joplin and Grace Slick (both influenced Nicks)? But few have had the lasting impact of Stevie Nicks. Nicks' music affected and continues to affect people in a way that truly cannot be described in a short article. Her lyrics were mystical, yet they still hit home with the average Joe's and Jane's of the world. Let's face it, who cannot relate to "Landslide" in some way? We've all "been afraid of changing" at some point, right?

However, Stevie Nicks' impact didn't only reach those searching for an attractive, cool, eccentric woman in rock whose instantly recognizable voice could hold up with the best of the rock guys. In fact, Fleetwood Mac's impact is probably considered more of a "pop" impact than a rock impact; although those who have seen Fleetwood Mac live know that they can bring down the house like Led Zeppelin. Stevie Nicks' influence, whether with Fleetwood Mac or as a solo artist, is also very prevalent in fashion. She was really the first female pop/rock star to literally create her own unique stage attire.

In 1995, Stevie Nicks told 96.1 WSRS that she sought out designer Margie Kent (who she still uses to this day) and said "I need to have a uniform...we can make three skirts, three tops, and have your shoes...a couple of wraps and jackets and you're ready to go." And Stevie has basically stuck to this "uniform," although she has tweaked it and played with throughout her entire career. The platform boots have gone in and out of style numerous times during her lengthy and successful career, but Nicks never wavers. She knew what she wanted, she made it happen; musically and stylistically. Stevie Nicks made it OK for women in rock and pop (yes Madonna, even you owe a little credit to Stevie) to wear something different than the guys, and definitely something different than anything one might see on someone in the grocery store.

Lady Gaga, just starting her career (it has been a very successful start), has explored fashion in a way that no other female artist has done since Madonna. Sometimes she looks like she's wearing lingerie, sometimes she looks like a biker or a plant. But she never looks average. You wouldn't see her outfits on someone in a grocery store, or a bank. But would she really look that crazy standing next to a 61 year old Stevie Nicks (yeah, hard to believe isn't it?) who would probably be wearing a top hat with 24" feathers, a black chiffon skirt, top with bat wings, and platform boots? More importantly, if artists like Stevie Nicks had not decided a long time ago that it was ok to look different as long as you own it, would Lady Gaga's look be as accepted as it is today? I tend to think not.

Miley Cyrus is a good example of the anti-Stevie Nicks/Lady Gaga. Sure, "Party in the USA" is catchy, and her voice isn't that bad. But she doesn't have her own unique style to go with it. Her stage presence consists of bobbing up and down out, peace signs, and cutesy winks and nods. Her style is weathered jeans, layered tank tops, and tennis shoes. Wow, remind you of Middle Schools all over America? Her clothing line is being sold exclusively at Wal-Mart of all places. Anyone check Wal-Mart lately for a chiffon skirt with matching wings and cape? Ok, maybe during Halloween, but that's about it!

Stevie Nicks is often remembered for her style of clothing well before she is remembered for her vast array of hits. She's been a hit in the music industry for over 34 years. Will Miley Cyrus be remembered and loved in 34 years? I doubt it. Would Nicks' hits like "Landslide," "Gold Dust Woman," "Rhiannon," "Gypsy," and "Edge of Seventeen" be the same without the stage persona and style that Stevie Nicks presents with each tune? I can't imagine "Gold Dust Woman" without thinking of Stevie Nicks in her shimmering gold cape delicately draped over her small frame. Sure, Lady Gaga's style is sporadic, and maybe one doesn't associate a particular outfit with "Poker Face," but her style has definitely become an important part of her career. Lady Gaga should send a "Thank You" note to Stevie Nicks for making paving the way.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ut_stevie.html

I want to punch Miley in her bloated inbred face.

I don't get why all these articles say that Stevie was 27 when she joined Fleetwood Mac, she was in fact 26.Although Stevie herself thinks she was 28..strange.As for Lady GaGa ..a definite flash in the pan although I did say that 25 years ago about Madonna .I wish I had been right about that.

Lady Gaga ripped off Grace Jones. That's who she is indebted to.

The thing is, I don't really get the purpose of the way Lady Gaga dresses...other than to call attention to herself. The way Stevie dressed on stage helped her to create the "Stevie Nicks" persona...mystical and ethereal. I'm not sure what persona LG is trying to create...unless she's going for some sort of fashion schizophrenia look. You can't even draw a comparison to the way Stevie has dressed and the way LG does. Besides, I don't think I've ever seen Stevie at the airport in her Rhiannon wings...LG can't seem to go anywhere without doing everything she can to draw attention to herself. I think its kind of sad.

Wow, good article. At least Stevie gets a :nod: for being the fashion/music icon she has become. Not too many female artists have that level of iconic status.

There is just something completely unholy about comparing Lady Gaga to Stevie in any form or fashion :eek: And how the hell is LG's 'fashion statement' any different from Christina Aguilara's, Lohan's, Britney's, etc? They're all just underdressed, over make-upped, non-talented wh*re$. :sorry: Stevie may have been a ho back in the day, but at least she had the musical merit to back up her stardom.

"Would There Be Lady Gaga Without Stevie Nicks?"

I think the real question is... Who gives a rat's a$$?
I call her Lady Gag-Me. Can't stand that woman.

Who's this Miley Cyrus you speak of?

I really don't get the comparisons between Ga Ga and Stevie.... I really just don't!! :shrug:

Is Lady Gaga's music good? I was reading about her having had numerous number one singles and the 2 best-selling downloads in UK music history. Yet, I don't know one song by her (feeling ancient) and haven't been inspired much to check out youtube. Is her cd worth buying?

Well I seem to be the only one here who enjoys her music.
Bryson, I bet you like her music, don't cha?

I think she's really good. However, I don't see the link to Stevie with her. Far more to Madonna.

I want to watch. While eating a huge bucket of popcorn.

I can see the link between Lady Gaga and Stevie, in that Stevie is a very theatrical performer and her costume is integral to her stage persona (though, I guess far more in her younger days), I'm sure she's said herself Janis was a huge inspiration in that respect. I agree that, musically, there is far more of a Madonna influence; she's also pretty provocative and daring in what she wears, on-stage, and in interviews, a clever trick Madonna made use of.

I don't think Lady Gaga has ripped anyone off, you could probably put the same spin on Janis and Stevie, she's just been inspired by them and presenting her take on what she loved about her music idols. Nothing is ever really 'original'.

Um...

http://idolator.com/5263432/roisin-m...-fact-flattery

I was counting down until someone posted something like that. I really askef for it. :p I'd say that's probably just coincidence, you could probably find lots of artists of a similar genre wearing similar things. As an aside, I used to love Moloko and still love Roisin.

I don't really see the link between Stevie and Lady GaGa other than the fact they are both women and have recognisable styles, but you could say that about a whole host of female icons in the pop world. I'd say LG would be better off writing a thank you note to Deborah Harry or Madonna for paving the way to her look rather than Stevie.
Also Lady GaGa has been around all of five minutes, for the next album she may change her style completely (something Stevie never really did, she even calls her clothes a "uniform"), in fact I'd bet on it.

I have to add-

"Poker Face"- quite possibly THE worst "mainstream" even remotely-commercially successful song I've ever heard in my entire life. The music video for the song ranks amongst the highest of the high on the unintentional comedy scale- off the charts.

Totally agree with you 100%.:nod:

I don't compare Lady Ga Ga and Stevie Nicks together
saw a performance of lady GaGa on Ellen a few days ago and was not impressed i thought she sucked to tell you the truth she is in the same category as britney and christina more than Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks is a well rounded true artist and she sings live when she is on shows and and to me Stevie Nicks is a Rock or Classic Rock performer not a pop dance artists and in my opinion stevie nicks has more talent in her pinky than lady gaga has in her whole body she dresses trashy lady gaga should be a stripper on the las vegas strip thats what she looked like on ellen and her performace was terrible i though no vocal either another rap singer why dont people sing i am sure she has singing voice if you do use it. Everyone I hear says oh how great lady gaga is and found her not to be all the hype people are talking about but I am old school at heart love my classic rock and stuff from the 50's.60's,70's,80's i do love madonna and chaka khan if you want to get were its dance and r&b funk.

i dont know why are we comparing lady gaga with Stevie Nicks Stevie is a rock legend Icon and lady gaga is another dance pop star dressing like pole dancer. there is a big difference between the two singers.

I can't believe someone found a tie between Lady GaGa and Stevie Nicks...ridiculous...they had to REALLY stretch to find that link.

Anyone remember Dale Bozio of Missing Persons? I think GaGa definitely ripped her off.

Yes I was just going to right that in out of anyone comparing her to yes Dale Bozio I love Dale Bozio better than lady gaga she acts like she is something new and Dale has already done that. Stevie Nicks used on crystal visions tour right before she came on she would play "Destination Unknown"by The Missing Persons love the song and group as well yes Lady GaGa is ripping off Dale Bozio totally.

Ugh. I totally don't get the appeal of Lady GaGa. I would have never in a million years thought to compare her to Stevie.

sadly with LG, it has become more about being famous than the actual music.
and with Stevie, music always came first.

IMO that is why there can never be any comparison between the two

will people be listening to lady gaga in the year 2040-odd
i should think not.

nuff said.

2040?!?

She'll be a near-unanimous laughingstock by 2014 (and that's being generous)

Lady Gaga makes me gag gag. She is so over-hyped by the media. I believe the reason she's popular/interesting is soley because of the silly name she gave herself. I've seen her many times on TV. She's a just a character, and hosts/reporters love say her name. It's a completely subjective opinion, but there is nothing appealing about her - not her voice, not her music, not her appearance or demeanor. Her novelty can only be sustained for so long. Representing worst of what proposes to be talent, I hope she disappears as quickly as she appeared.

I also dislike lady gaga,

Although i believe she wrote some of the songs on her album
So, i'm willing to give her credit for that,
There are too many phonies in the music industry these days who don't even write their own songs...:mad:
So although she's tacky and just plain crap, at least she can write a song, unlike your average lindsay's, britney's and paris' :lol:

I was never more convinced than I was last night watching the VMA's how completely WRONG it is to make any sort of comparison between Stevie to LG. I was looking at her last night in her various "costumes" thinking how grossed out I was that anyone could even mention her in the same breath as Stevie...that is just wrong, wrong, wrong! Of course, then LG got on stage to accept an award and thanked Jimmy Iovine which I thought brought it all a little too close to home :lol:

LG looks pretty mugly to me.

GaGa is fine for what she is but she ain't no Stevie Nicks. She's nothing more than social music for the 12-25 crowd, I think.

Well I'm a bit older than that and I haven't heard a bad song outta her yet. I don't understand all the bashing she is getting in this thread?

You also love Luda and other "younger" music, so maybe you're a special case :) I happen to love some GaGa buuuuuuuut she does typically appeal to a younger, specific crowd.

I'm his age as well and I do listen to alot of younger artists that actually have talent which these days seem to be indie bands like the Fleet Foxes ,The Great Lake Swimmers ,Midlake and Neko Case(I know she's somewhat older than the others but so damned talented )I think Lady Gaga is a flavor of the month and totally disposable.I agree with Luke A when he says that "Poker Face " is one of the worst songs to become a hit ever..just terrible.

I think people just aren't pleased with the comparison to Stevie. I see it more as a compliment, Stevie and various other female artists of her era did open doors for future female artists.

Lady Gaga's music isn't really my kind of thing but she's definately a good entertainer and damn it, her songs are catchy. She's good at what she does. People are so quick to write artists off these days, I'm sure people said Madonna was just a flash in the pan when she first appeared in the 80s. That said, time will tell if Lady Gaga has the savvy to re-invent herself and stick around.

Hey folks. I wrote that article, by the way. Leave some of your comments here:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...vie.html?cat=7

By the way: the idea wasn't to compare the two artists, but really to shine some light on the fact that Stevie paved the way in a lot of ways for female artists to dress differently and create their own styles. Lady GaGa is just an example of someone today's music listeners can relate to. She was really just used in the article as an example.

Given the level of artistic talent involved or lack thereof Madonna should have been a flash in the pan..but no one really quite knew back then the areas where she was so talented :her supreme ability to manipulate the media and be one beat ahead of the curve of pop culture ..It is doubtful that Lady Gaga or anyone else for that matter has those skills to the degree that Madonna had.

I definately see your point, however, I actually think she's very good at writing hit pop songs, which might not be my cup of tea but it's definately a valuable skill. She's done some writing for Britney, The Pussycat Dolls and Fergie. She's also a very exciting live performer, like Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Fergie etc, who have clung onto the spotlight longer than most mainstream pop artists.

I have no idea why I'm defending her, I'm not even a huge fan. :lol:

God, I love Midlake. "Head Home" is perfection. You seem to like similar music to me, such as the more folk-y style music of today, who also seem to be somewhat influenced by Fleetwood Mac.

Lady GaGa has talent, she just hasn't channeled it into something "serious", or withstanding of time. She got early admission into a prestigious New York Arts' School, I'm sure the acceptance rate is something like 5%. She's a gifted pianist. It just depends on whether she can keep public interest.