Annabel Lee
 

I keep seeing "Annabel Lee" sited by people who've heard the album as one of the stand-out tracks. I've also read that Stevie wrote it when she was about 17.

What I'm wondering is, how is it that this song is so good but yet it was never considered for any Fleetwood Mac album or any previous Stevie Nicks album? Did it just get lost in the shuffle like "Secret Love" did? Any ideas?

I don't know, but I hate the constant comments that Stevie "wrote" it when she was 17. She may have arranged it musically when she was 17, but it was written over 160 years ago. I think that is what bugs me the most about this song. Stevie is known for her writing, yet one of the best songs on her album is an old Poe poem? Why? I know she added a line into the demo, but aside from that, I just don't see what it would be that makes it one of the best things she's done.

Well because of the melody and the "song" that is written from the lyrics or poem in this case. That still takes artistry and she is one of the best at affecting mood and impacting people so if they're saying this about Annabel Lee then it must have all these elements plus a compelling vocal which is half her magic anyway.

Very well stated .I'm reserving my judgement until I hear the album.

Was "Secret Love" just lost in the shuffle? :shrug:

This song has been changed. I guess Dave a middle to it.

Right .I believe Stevie's comment was something like"Added a beautiful middle part with a harpsicord"

Stevie demoed "Annabel Lee" in 1997 for consideration for Trouble In Shangri-la. There's no evidence whether or not it was fully recorded for the album, though.

I agree. Actually, if I remember correctly in the demo version, Stevie doesn't add anything. She takes out a few lines and changes the word "Seraphs " to "Angels". My concern is that there won't be any writing credit for Poe. She lifted a few lines from a poem of his called "Dreamland" for the studio version of Planets, and also borrowed some from Nathaniel Hawthorn's "Rappaccini's Daughter" for Running through the Garden without any mention of either of them. Of course, this is a whole poem, and a pretty famous one at that, so we'll see. I wasn't crazy about the demo, so I do hope that the finished version is as good as people are saying, especially in light of the recent article in which she talks about having trouble whittling away the 500 songs she's written down to 10 for an album.

That was from a 1989 interview where she rambles in all her high Klonopin era grandiose glory.It was not regarding IYD.

Why are you worried? Dave liked Annabelle because of what she did with it. There have been many Annabelle Lee songs but she turned it into a rock song. Those other songs are not rock. What she did was clever. She can't plagerize a song that was never written.

Time frame, not withstanding, She's always spoke of how prolific of a writer she is. I don't mind her not using her own work, it's more about giving the proper credit when she doesn't.

You aren't suggesting that anyone could take a poem by an author, set it to music and not give writing credit to the person who wrote it? I'm sure Stevie wouldn't like it if I took one of her poems or journal entries changed one word, wrote some music to it, recorded it and put my name on it without acknowledging she wrote the words. It's about having integrity as a writer. If she doesn't give writing credit to Poe for the words, it would reflect badly on her in that regards as far as I am concerned.

No need to really worry about it until it happens, because THIS song is different from times before when she’s used an idea for inspiration, or has taken a line here or there. Why wouldn't she give credit to POE? Do you think she thinks that she could fool everyone? ITS A FAMOUS POEM. SOMEONE would know. It sounds to me like with the "TONE" and "MOOD" of this album it seems appropriate that she WOULD do a Poem of his. This album is supposedly in that vein. I appreciate your valiance in looking out for plagiarism, and am in no way saying its ok, i just do not see a reason for people to be up in arms about her singing a melody to this poem and making it into a song. As some one stated before there have been other Annabelle lee songs. besides, EVERYTHING in the world is about 80% borrowed anyway. :lol: Peoples ideas come from the movies and tv they watch, the books they read, the other people they talk to, not that many ideas ARE 100% original, they usually come from SOMETHING. Its what you do with that idea or inspiration that counts, and i believe that stevie WILL use the fact that it IS a Poe poem as something to talk about in interviews about the album ect. She has name dropped Charles Dickens in a song, people who know who Stevie Nicks is casually would EXPECT her to like that sort of thing, but for SOME REASON her closest fans JUST CAN NOT accept that SHE enjoys HIS work and wants to put music to it and sing. I am reserving judgement imtill the song and the album is actually out.

I don't understand why you are concerned. She may or may not give him credit. Does he get the royalties too. Instead of splitting it between Dave and Stevie, will they only get 2/3 of the song, with no one getting the other 3rd. Whatever she does with it, I'm sure it will be the right thing.