2 Perfect, Not Obvious...
 

An easy thread?
Name TWO Perfect Stevie Nicks moments to you- be it a song, a lyric, concert moment, anything- except, maybe nothing too obvious, that we all know that we all love , such as the 'Sisters of the Moon' Mirage video performance, as perfect as it is.
Just 2 perfect moments from Stevie's career that have always been special to you that you enjoy revisiting. And, you can add another 2 anytime you think of another two, so it doesn't even have to be your 'ultimate' 2, just the first 2 you think of .
My first 2:
1. 'Sleeping Angel', from the 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' soundtrack.
The first time I heard this, I knew it would be a song I would love forever, and I have, it has never diminished as a favorite of mine, for 27 years now. I think this may be the best overall song ever written and performed by Stevie Nicks. If she'd never sung or written any song besides this one, it would still be proof that she possesses genius as a singer and writer. Love it.
2. Her harmony vocals on 'Insider', all versions are perfect, to me- the 2 Tom Petty album versions, and the filmed version in Peter Bogdonovich's "Runnin' Down A Dream" film.

Okay, I'll bite...

1. Stevie's version of "At Last" at the Walden Woods benefit. Stevie's more of a singer/songwriter than an interpreter of other people's material, so this could have been a disaster. But she is so present and so in synch with this song that it's hard to imagine a better version- even better than Etta James, IMHO!

2. "Gold and Braid" from the White Wing Dove concert. It's all there- a great, passionate vocal, incredible piano from Roy Bittan, wild tambo, high kicks, mad booty shaking, a killer guitar solo from Waddy- in my opinion it is the quintessential Stevie moment.

Oh, thanks for the reply, and I totally agree about 'At Last'. So stunning. That's why I hoped people would 'bite', I want to 'revisit' some of the replies that show up. 'At Last' now playing :)
And I also totally agree with your "quintessential Stevie Nicks" 'Gold And Braid' comment. Two excellent choices, thank you!

2 more:
1. Imperial Hotel from 'Rock A Little'
2. Doing The Best That I Can from 'Other Side of the Mirror'

Some 20 years later, both of these songs still have the same impact they did on me the day that I heard them for the first time. The first, just a simple, underrated rocker with high notes for days, to love. Just fun and nothing more :)
The second is a haunting, stark musical opus that resonates with truth, self-awareness, bitterness, sadness, resignation, and ultimately, survival. It really could be the theme song for recovery from any emotional or chemical nightmare, and those with post traumatic stress disorder (anyone? :wavey:
might find some comfort in it.

1. I think lyrically Angel is perfect, all the way through the song.

2. Background vocals on Over My Head

There are so many but these are the first two that came to mind:

1. "Beauty and the Beast" from The Soundstage Sessions. Such beauty and power. It does give me goosebumps. I'm still trying to accept the fact that this song was left off the DVD...:distress:

2. "Nightbird". This songs never ceases to affect me, even after all these years.

I looove the "Gold and Braid" high kicks from that show. Have you seen this video? :lol:



I'll be back with my two!

1) The "Sisters of the Moon" performance in the Tusk Doc outtakes. Not quite the "hot mess" of Mirage, but still gives me chills. Especially the part when she throws her fist in the air and the audience jumps to their feet. (Yes, I know the screaming fans are supposedly dubbed in, but whatevs.)

2) The "Goodbye Baby" segment in the Destiny Rules documentary. She just looks flawless, and her vocals are spot-on.

Oh, I had forgotten about that! Paula and Curt. :xoxo:

Kay so these aren't super obvious, like Rosebud "Rhiannon" or Mirage tour SOTM or working on "Angel" in the Tusk doc...

1) Stevie's singing "Your mood is like a circus wheel, you're changing all the time. Sometimes I can't help but feel that I'm wasting all of my time"/harmonizing/enthusiasm/hand gestures in this video from 2:16 - 2:43


2) "Outside the Rain" from the HBO concert. Stevie's sooo young and looks so pretty! To me, this song's whole performance (and the whole show) is perfection.

You stole one of mine! :)


But yes, I'm with Alexa.... some of my top Stevie moments ever ("Rhiannon" Rosebud, Sisters of the Moon from Mirage and that chilling acapella portion of "Angel"+ the live performance of it from the Tusk Doc) are too obvious.

First two that come to mind:

1. "Rhiannon" from Mobile, AL 8/11/1980: If someone magically conjured video footage of this performance, I would pass out and die of happiness. Really. It isn't a typical Rhiannon exorcism like from 1975-1978, but it is just as haunting as those, and in a totally different way. This recording is, to me, the first example of how "Rhiannon" would change to fit Stevie's life at that time, in some way. That wail at 6:11 and everything from then.... perfection. "Dreams unwind... is that what you want?" I considered to put that line in my tattoo instead of "dreams unwind, love's a state of mind" for a split second... That's how much I love Mobile.
2. "Planets of the Universe" piano demo: The single most heartbreaking thing I've ever heard, ever. It has that quintessential vulnerable power that I give all credit for my love of Stevie... but the power is only there in that she is making the vulnerable decisions, the hard ones. Again, perfection.

1. Sara from the Hollywood Bowl 1/9/80. I love all performances of Sara that I've heard from the Tusk tour, but this one for me is the best. The high 'Saraaaaaaaaaaaa' at the end, how delicate her voice sounds at the beginning, and just the sheer melancholy waiting to be scratched at throughout the performance.

2. Midnight Wind backing vocals, the ending in particular. Someone said in another thread that the song fades out too quickly, and I agree. Stevie tears it apart!

1) ANY live "Rhiannon" performance from 1975

2) "HAEWAFY" from 1987 tour...just Christine & Stevie onstage. CHILLING!!!

This is deffinatley a hard one...
When she was on Storytellers and she was telling the story of Joe Walsh and his little girl, and when she was ending the song of "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You" she says, "And when they ask her about the men in her life, and they do ask her, she says they were poets and they were priests..." That whole set was classic.
My 2nd would be when she showed alot of emotion throughout the end of her 1981 WWDove concert. I don't know why, I guess it had something to do with the fact that we all had a taste of a real emotional side to her that we've never seen on film before. It is hard to sing and cry and she pulled it off beautifully. I have done it and believe me it's not easy when your throat closes up.