What's up with all the Sheryl Crow hating?
 

I just have to ask about this...

Ever since TISL was released, I have rarely heard anyone say anything complimentary about Miss Crow, as far as her work with Miss Nicks is concerned. No one has really ever given any reasons why they detest her work on TISL as much as they do. I see lots of snark....but nothing specific, or rather, nothing that can be considered factual or accurate.

Now, please understand, I am not a big fan of Miss Crow. I own none of her albums, 'cept the Live in Central Park one, which I bought purely for Stevie's performance of Gold Dust Woman. So I am not approaching this from the angle of the slighted Sheryl Crow fan....far from it.

I find it curious that so many people are always dissing the TISL versions of Candlebright, Sorcerer, in addition to If You Ever Did Believe. All three produced by Sheryl, and feature her guitar work and backing vocals. People say they cringe when they hear Sheryl's backing vocals. Why? Does she REALLY sound THAT horrible? Did she really do such an injustice to these songs?

I think all three are great. They sound more like Stevie's original demos than almost all of her other songs that she has ever released. Stevie seems pleased by this....so why is it so bad?

The only valid, honest excuse I have ever heard for the dislike of Sheryl's work on these songs is that 'they should have been done with Lindsey.' Usually, this opinion is expressed when discussing Sorcerer. However, I have to counter that with my own statement that Lindsey had 26 years to do these songs with Stevie. It never happened, and was never likely to happen anyway. So what's the problem with Sheryl working on them? Sheryl idolizes Stevie, and did some damn good work, keeping true to Stevie's originality.

I think the vocal on Sorcerer is incredible. Stevie sounds fresh and lively, and no other producer between 1979 and 2001 was able to coax that lovely falsetto out of Stevie....I'm referring to the high notes at the end of the lines in Sorcerer. Sheryl did it! And she seems universally despised for it, from one end of Stevie fandom, all the way to the other end...

Lastly, there's the song "It's Only Love". Alot of people dislike it for it's sappy lyrics....other people detest it because Sheryl wrote it. Is it really worse than any other songs that Stevie sang, yet which were written by someone else....like Cry Wolf....or Docklands?

The reason I'm starting this topic is not to criticize anyone's opinion of Sheryl. After all, you're entitled to it. I just want to understand the truth behind the intense dislike of Sheryl's involvement with TISL and the Practical Magic soundtrack. Someone, please explain it to me. Did she knock you down when crossing the street? Did she tip over your cradle when you were a baby? Did she say something about you that was hurtful, and untrue? Did she steal from you? And please don't offer reasons like "Sheryl sucks", because there really is no truth to that - except in your own mind. Her record sales and ever increasing popularity clearly render that argument invalid.

So what is it? Enlighten me....

Well, let me be the first to say it:

I LOVE AND ADORE SHERYL CROW.

She's one of very few artists from the last 15 years who has proven to be truly talented and remarkable. She writes killer songs with great observations of society and biting lyrics, she's got a laid back attitude that is incredibly alluring, and she harkens back to the days when rock and roll was worth listening to.

I have no idea why people don't like her around here. Maybe they see her as stepping on Stevie's toes and taking some of the spotlight away from her, I don't know, but seeing her on the TISL was one of the biggest highlights for me. It's Only Love is also one of the best cuts on TISL and I like her production the album, especially in contrast to Shanks and the awful Marchand. I love her.

I actually like Sheryl. However, I never liked her until I saw her perform with Stevie on the TISL tour. After that, I bought her albums and generally enjoy the music on them. I even saw her in concert but I thought her show was quite boring. I don't mind Sheryl's collaborations with Stevie and I think it perhaps helped Stevie's TISL album because Sheryl was pretty popular at the time so I think it made Stevie seem a little more hip and in.

Strangley enough, I was/am a Sheryl Crow fan. I've got all her CDs and I've seen her live a couple of times. I think she's really talented - when she plays and sings and produces her own damned stuff. I loved her first album, and then got through a horribly sad break up only by listening to "Gotta Get Over You" and a couple other tracks on her most recent CD.

That being said... I hate what she did to all the tracks she produced on TISL. Too glossy, too poppy, too fabricated. It hurts my heart to think of what Lindsey could have done with those songs... :distress:

I really like about 3/4 of Sheryl's music. I can pass on a couple of her most popular songs. I own the greatest hits album, Central Park, & C'mon C'mon.
I think Stevie gives a great vocal on It's Only Love. That's what makes the song for me.
As for songs that Sheryl has produced for Stevie, I really like them, but there is a missing element. It's most noticeable on Sorcerer and If You Ever Did Believe. It's like the songs are missing a beat or something. I like them, but like I said, something small is missing from the final product, something with the pacing, for lack of a better word, IMO.
Also, I think Somebody Stand By Me is pretty flawless.

- Jake

I agree. You can tell she has a love of music, the process. She's everywhere. She makes me think a bit of how Stevie was 25-plus years ago, popping up on others' albums and concerts, just loving the connections between artists that music & fame foster.

- Jake

I love Sheryl Crow and don't understand why so many hate her also--now the Dixie Chicks--that's another story!! Although I do have to admit I love Too Far From Texas--go figure :p

Amy

How would an opinion be deemed factual or accurate?
"Sorcerer" is okay, but I don't really dig it. I think Stevie's lead vocal is monotonous & a little toneless, but I prefer the sound of her voice in times past, so that's inevitable. Also, that repeating guitar motif has always struck my ear as unmusical or dissonant. Unfortunately, that thing runs all the way through the song & really sets the tone & creates the atmosphere. It generates some sort of harmonic pandemonium in my head. I've never been able to lock in to it.
Fair enough. Different strokes for different folks & all that.
Oh, come now. First of all, it's illogical to attribute that to a producer's coaxing. It's the way the song goes -- why wouldn't Stevie have sung it that way? Secondly, Stevie has recorded equally pretty falsetto parts elsewhere for different producers. The tag out on "Wild Heart" produced by J. Iovine comes to mind.
Well, I love that one. A great song that's subdued, that gives Stevie a chance to put a little head voice in (these days, she's usually all chest, which is why you hear so much snot rattling around in that cavity), & somebody added some great Claptonesque electric guitar.
Sheryl's da bomb! She's pretty & talented, plays well, sings well & writes well. I love the job she did with "If You Ever Did Believe" & "Crystal." The latter features one of Benmont Tench's most beautiful B3 parts -- & that's saying something about this man's lengthy & extraordinary career.

Nothing but love for Sheryl from me. Jake has a point about those songs - there seems a bit of bass or meat missing from them. BUT, I think Stevie was lucky Sheryl had time to work with her. It's Only Love is one of my favorite songs on TISL, and one of Sheryl's best when she did it on C'mon C'mon. The strings at the end are genius and heartbreaking. I think Sheryl is the cat's pajamas. And she's hot.

Perfectly stated. Exactly what he said. I love Sheryl, thanks in large part to her collaborations with Stevie... that's really what introduced me to her and compelled me to check out her work.

That's pretty damn funny, that part about the snot, and all. :D :D

It's great to read everyone's comments, and thank you for your responses. I guess the people who don't like her will post later - 'cause they're around here somewhere. :p

Well I do not like any of Sheryl's collaborations with Stevie other than "If You Ever Did Beleive". The mix of Sorcerer(as much as i like the song) on TISL was weak, as were most of Sheryl's songs. Just not my style. But as far as Sheryl as performer- she is fantastic. Quite honestly, she had a great time in the Mansfield, Ma show in 2001, and was GREAT with the audience. I found a new respect for her as a performer that night. Especially since Stevie was not of particularly fine voice or mood that night. Pretty weak show that Sheryl saved in my opinion. I just don't like her production on TISL.

I love all the songs Sheryl has produced for Stevie (and If You Ever Did Believe is actually one of my favourite Stevie tunes). I wish she had produced all of TISL. I'm not really a big fan of John Shanks work.

Writer-yes....Singer-no....