I am looking forward to tonight's DWTS appearance with great anticipation. Not only because, hullo, it's Stevie frickin' Nicks! More than anything, it's because this is the make-or-break point for Stevie and this new album. There isn't a larger public platform in the entire country, perhaps the world, for presenting one's music. This is it. This appearance will either resonate strongly with the world and IYD will surge in popularity, or it will do absolutely nothing to stanch the loss of sales over time. And if it really does nothing, then it's game over for this album. And perhaps it may be game over for Stevie's mainstream popularity as well. It is important for people who have not seen/heard from Stevie in many years to be reminded that she is still making terrific music and that she is still an engaging, charismatic vocalist. Given her recent health issues and her erratic live television performance as of late, as much as I hate to admit this, I wish there was a way her performance could be pre-taped or lip synched. There is absolutely too much to lose and everything to gain with this performance. I honestly believe that "Secret Love" does have mainstream hit potential and that if she can sound at least as good as she does on the CD, then it will go over very, very well. I am hoping that Dave Stewart is being called in to help tweak the live arrangement; I have always thought it sounded a little dissonant and flat to me.
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