Stevie Retirement Alternatives
 

So, based on some poeple's opinions of last night's show, it's time for Stevie to retire. I don't agree. I think performers can keep doing what they do, and we can choose whether or not we go see them. Yes, it's true that Stevie can no longer do some things she used to, be it physically, vocally, etc. That's becasue she's on an inevitable path we're ALL on, called aging. I do think, though, that many performers who opt to stick around can greatly benefit from a bit of a reinvention. Not to be full of myself;), but I am starting this thread with a Reply I posted in another one. After I thought about it, I realized that I am interested in hearing many more opinions on the issue and did not want it to just get buried elsewhere.

So I'm thinking this is the path I would like to see Stevie's career take, so she can age as a performer with as much grace as possible. I'm not saying I think she's quite to this point yet, but maybe in the next five years or more.

(From other thread.....)
Stevie does not have to retire just because she will inevitably NOT be able to do things she used to. There are other, more mellow options of performing, which have proven to be very successful for many artists recently. I think it would be great if Stevie eventually did tours of quieter, acoustic-based shows. Maybe something where the band consists only of Waddy on acoustic guitar, Benmont Tench on piano, and Sharon & Lori on vocals. They could play theaters, and have a fabulous, Stevie'd-out set with fabulous rugs and candles and shawls draped everywhere, and they would sit on stools (or stand) family-style in a group. 'TWOULD BE FANTASTIC!!!

This would also be a great way for her to explore songs such as the ones we've come up with in the 'Covers' thread, even if she never actually made an album of them.

Even though she does songs this way (Landslide), of course, my biggest concern would be that Stevie would be too nervous about doing an entire show like this night after night.

Couldn't agree more. Though I might add a small string section. I tried to make this as realistic as possible but I made a set list. I mean she could totally even bill this as Stevie Nicks Unplugged:

At Last (Stevie walks out and kicks it on this song)
Rhiannon (like the piano intro but all the way through with some orchestation and harmonies)
Dreams (almost how Lindsey stripped down Trouble on GOS tour)
Candlebright
Leather and Lace
Sorcerer
Garbo
Rose Garden
Sleeping Angel
Gold Dust Woman (with those creepy strings all the way through)
It's Late
Gyspy (AHI version)
Landslide
Storms
Bella Donna
Beauty and The Beast

I think she should do whatever she wants to do and everybody should leave her alone. It's gotta be hard to have every off night scrutinized publicly. Personally, I think she has many creative outlets that she enjoys and probably doesn't share with the world.

You can't have another version of FM without another key member, and she's in her sixties now :rolleyes:

Who should replace her, Pink? You'll get some circus then, that I can guarantee :shrug:

The problem isn't just that she can't run around the stage like a crazy coke addict anymore, or she can't hit the high notes like she used to. The problem is that her voice is flat, nasally, and pitchy; and she's a disconnected zombie on stage with the Mac to boot; and she's refusing to record new material and is starting to do many covers live (something I thought I'd NEVER live to see). I just don't think want her to go out on a bad note. I'd rather her have some grace and dignity left. I'm not trying to be mean, nasty, or denigrating at all. I love Stevie just as much as everyone else around here. I've been following her for nearly 20 years, been on these message boards for nearly 10... I'm a true Fleetwood Mac/Stevie fanatic. But I'm not so star struck that I can't see her deterioration. She's started becoming a caricature of herself, and I just don't like it. I think it's ok that some of us feel it's time for her to step down. Shouldn't we as fans, of ANYONE, want to protect her legacy?

Im sick of this retirement talk, I thought she was amazing last summer when i saw her...MUUUUUCH better than in 2001! I was also impressed with Soundstage, when she tours with the mac she tends to be more nervous in the beginning, give her some time to get into her groove. I just think its ridiculous to have this talk based on an opening night performance!

I totally agree. I think she has the right to do what she pleases. She's given us.. her fans so much already. Her music has gotten me through so much, and still continues to. For that... I am blessed. She's very unique, and I love her for that. She has a life too, and what she does in her private life.. is her business. I think she rocks, and I love seeing her perform live.

I saw her last summer too (spring actually), and it was a great show. I got closer than I've ever been, and she looked beautiful and sounded great. I want to go see her and The Mac, but I don't think I'll get to, as we just don't have the money now. There's no dates for where I live either :( . I was quite impressed with Soundstage too.

What retirement??? People base this on one show and it was opening night. She has no reason to retire. I'm still hoping against hope that she'll do an album of standards like At Last and Sunday kind of Love. She kicked ass on those songs.

I wasn't going to see this tour because it's a hits tour and being a fan for 30+ years I felt like "Been there, done that and heard it". But after seeing the vid of Storms, I'm reconsidering. I thought she did a great job.

I completely agree with you, and I do think people suggesting retirement over one night's performance is totally over-the-top. I'm saying that I think she would absolutely kick a*s at my idea. This thread is not meant to be critical in any way........

This was intended to be an ANTI-RETIREMENT thread! I am curious about what people would like to see Stevie do in the future musically, and I'm not saying she's even there yet. And I agree with you...her performances I saw in 2006 knocked the socks off 2001.

Love that!!!

I picture the whole show having the feel of the 'Glitter Fades/Garbo/Rose Garden' trilogy from the Enchanted Tour. That was fantastic! And wouldn't we die to hear Garbo again?!

I don't disrespect this opinion, and understand that you are coming from a positive, protective place with these comments. And of course I wish Stevie would make another record. I'm not star struck either. I just think there are alternatives to retirement that could be effective, graceful, dignified, and very creatively rewarding.

Well, for me, she's already there with her upcoming Soundstage release. I've been waiting for years for her to do something like the Mac did with "The Dance", and she's finally releasing something that is of the same quality and passion. I love the covers that she's including, because they mean so much to her, and within each song is a piece of her, and it shows in her performance. If a song like "Crash" means as much to her as a song that she wrote herself, then by all means, include it and make it your own, which is exactly what she did with each song; she made them her own. I also heard Dave Matthews was thoroughly impressed with Stevie's interpretation and he was very grateful for her dedicating the song to him.

If you really think about it, considering how long she has been around, she has maintained an astonishing amount of integrity- something her peers would envy. Could she do worse? Certainly...

-She could have lent her songs as commercial jingles.
-She could have actually appeared in said commercials.
-She could have had a sucky acting career.
-She could have totally reinvented herself as a dance-pop diva and toured with a dancing troupe.
-She could have had a reality show on Bravo TV.
-She could have gone Nashville and recorded every piece of crap song retrieved from the Carrie Underwood reject pile.

Instead, Stevie is an artist who has waivered little throughout the years, and has merely reacted to trends, rather than adopting them steadfastly. If anything, she has crafted a body of work and a persona that is so unique and rich that now, at the age of 60, she is probably afraid to do anything drastic to tarnish everything she has worked so hard to cultivate, even if it means constantly re-hashing old material or covering other people's songs. At least with cover songs, if it sucks, it is as much a reflection on the songwriter as it is the performer.

And it's one thing to be critical of one particular Stevie performance (on a rather exceptional night, unfortunately), but to extrapolate it to everything she has done and her integrity as an artist is really pushing it. Yes, it is a shame that Stevie didn't have a spectacular tour debut. Yes, she has had a spotty record as a live performer. Yes, she sings differently than she used to. But I would not say that she is doing anything particularly embarassing or shameful; if you want to talk about embarassing, how 'bout them TOSOTM tour outfits? :eek: This is basically Stevie today as a 60-year-old woman, who is as flawed and/or sublime as she was when she was 30- just in different ways. And I think you would admit that you would still rather see/hear Stevie today 100 times before going to see Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry... or whatever flavor of the month happens to be popular these days.