I definitely liked the coked up Stevie better than the klonopin Stevie. She had some great performances during her cocaine period.
With regard to songwriting, I don't think coke or booze really affected her writing one way or another. She was quite a vibrant songwriter until about '85. I think her songwriting degraded because she ran out of things to write about. Up until '85 almost all of the songs she recorded were written only by her. Afterwards, she started adding lyrics to others' music and doing songs that she had no involvement with as a writer at all. I don't really count her collaberation with Sandy Stewart as a big departure for her.
On the other hand, I think klonopin REALLY affected her songwriting. Whereas coke and booze have a time-limited effect, prescription drugs affect one's whole body all the time. She may have partied hard with coke and booze, but would have had lucid times in which to write. With klonopin, the drug is deadening all the time. You can really notice the difference, especially with Street Angel.
I think it's cool that Stevie chewed out security, with or without profanity. I think concert security in general sucks ass. Anyone in charge that marginalizes security is doing well in my book.
I've heard a smoky-voiced demo of "Castaway" where at the beginning Stevie is cussing out someone (the engineer?? the producer???). I think she sez something about how great her and Sharon were doing and how the person in question was bringing them down. Hmmmm...
Oh well, Stevie is a human being just like the rest of us- profanity and all.
|