sorry but say you will suck.

tommer · #1 07-19-2003, 01:41 PM

today was the 1st time i heard Say You Will on the radio here, it was SO out of tune from what radio sounds like here these days, i felt as if the music editor is just doing a favour to the band and some very few fans, reminded me of the times when i was on the radio myself, playing Reconsider Me as if i could make it a hit with my own bare hands

shoot me, but i don't like this song. i usually skip it when i play the album, and it doesn't sound any better on the radio.
yeah, sure it's catchy, but it's catchy in the cheapest way (being over-repetative).
to me, stevie is the greatest writer ever. i admire her complexed writing structures and touching lyrics, SYW includes some of her best work ever, and an inspired production by lindsey to make it into some of the best songs i listened to in my lifetime. but this particular song lacks all those qualities.
so why oh why did they have to release such a simplistic, uninspired old fashion cliche' song as a single? this song's not what fleetwood mac stands for, and surely not what stevie nicks stands for.

wondergirl9847 · #2 07-19-2003, 01:56 PM

It's one of my least faves on the album too, it's WAY too repetitive, and when it came up at the concert, I groaned audibly. LOL It's just, I don't know....it's too sugary or something, too not Stevie. LOL Does that make ANY sense? I just don't care for it that much, YES, it's EXTREMELY catchy, but like you say, TOO catchy.

SmthngOfADreamr · #3 07-19-2003, 02:07 PM

It's just a simple and fun song, and that's what I love about it. It's not at all bogged down by werid imagery, heavy lyrics or contrived melodies like some Stevie's songs are sometimes, thus rendering them less radio friendly. SYW is lighthearted and entertaining, and that's really what makes a good pop song.

But I understand where you're coming from too. Just out of curiosity, which of her contributions would you have selected as a single instead? The only one I can think of is Thrown Down.

wondergirl9847 · #4 07-19-2003, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SmthngOfADreamr
It's just a simple and fun song, and that's what I love about it. It's not at all bogged down by werid imagery, heavy lyrics or contrived melodies like some Stevie's songs are sometimes, thus rendering them less radio friendly.

Well, IMO, her wierd, freaky songs are her BEST songs, not the "pop fluff" like SYW. GDW, Rhiannon are two that pop into my head as being two of the most played SN songs on the radio, and they have wierd imagery and lyrics. I like Stevie more when she's darker, I guess.

Illume springs to mind, I LOVE that song!!

SmthngOfADreamr · #5 07-19-2003, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
Well, IMO, her wierd, freaky songs are her BEST songs, not the "pop fluff" like SYW.

I'm with you there! That's what most Stevie fans like too, I'd say. I'm just saying, for the radio market the way it is today, I think SYW was an OK choice. (Illume is my one of my favorite Stevie songs from the album too!)

dissention · #6 07-19-2003, 02:54 PM

I think SYW is one of the more commercial songs on the album and I think it sounds grat on the readio, whereas Thrown Down would be so out of place. TD isn't a good candidate for radio, IMO. I love SYW; very good song compared to what's out these days! EFO would be great choice for a single...

tommer · #7 07-19-2003, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SmthngOfADreamr
Just out of curiosity, which of her contributions would you have selected as a single instead? The only one I can think of is Thrown Down.

both Thrown Down and Destiny Rules are catchy, inspired and "stevie" enough, frankly, i don't believe the band can make a significant chart entry these days, their main goal should be to sound innovative and respectable. get those who can appreciate good music buy the album, the others would sattle for shania anyway.

Quote:

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
WAY too repetitive, and when it came up at the concert, I groaned audibly. LOL It's just, I don't know....it's too sugary or something, too not Stevie. LOL Does that make ANY sense?

you make perfect sense.
imagine for a minute some stupid boy band doing Silver Springs... too strange... now imagine that same lame boy band doing Say You Will. way too belivable.

PenguinHead · #8 07-19-2003, 03:17 PM

Hey! No need to say your sorry! Thanks for speaking your mind. Hold your apologies for something else. I respect that you can come out and bluntly state how you feel.

If anyone has the authority to criticize the band, better it be someone who is a fan and has a substantial knowledge of the band. That makes the criticism more credible.

Say You Will, aside from being one of most insipid album titles in the history of the band, is indeed an extremely light-weight "please the masses" type of song. It's a song that will quickly be forgotten because it's lighter than air...I bet we won't see them performing it in future tours.

I like the song. It offends no one. Appeals to cross-generations (intended for broader market appeal). The elementary school-like redundancy and simplicity of the chorus is extremely (and annoyingly) infectious. Yet, for Stevie, it seems somewhat contrived. Thankfully some of her other Say You Will songs carry a bit more weight.

darklinensuit · #9 07-19-2003, 03:33 PM

I like the song, but I'm with Christy in that my favorite Stevie songs are her darker songs. I find this song bouncier than Stevie's typical songs in a Paper Doll sort of way. I know I'll be accused of defending Stevie to the extreme, which is not my purpose, but I think the bounciness comes mostly from the production. I doubt Stevie wrote the song with this much bounce, if the original version had her typical alone at the piano sound. That doesn't mean I'm blaming Lindsey for the commercial sound of the production; for all I know Stevie could have pushed for this sound. Hope this makes sense.
One thing I will give Stevie credit for is that this song works well with her mature voice. As commercial as the final version of this song might sound, I'm glad she's not attempting to go commercial with her vocals, with breathy Mariah/Whitney/Christina/Faith key changes, etc.
One more thing. Thrown Down sounds to me like something off Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time album, which I don't own but got so much acclaim over ten years ago. Again, it's the drums and production. Destiny Rules I can't imagine doing well on the charts. It's grown on me quite a bit, but I still think it's Stevie's worst on the album (yes, including SG).

- Jake

dontlookdown · #10 07-19-2003, 04:04 PM

To me, Say You Will sort of just gives the record execs want they want. Sure it's a catchy unoffensive song. But yeah, there's nothing interesting about it. I have to admit, when I bought the cd and played it in the car for a first listen as I drove around LA, I winced at the repetition of the chorus.
But - I think given, the rest of the material - it was probably Stevie's effort at providing at least one big potential radio hit. Sort of like R.E.M.s "Stand" or some of U2's recent singles.
It actually reminds me of some of Stevie's rather lightweight recent singles like "Everyday" and "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind" or even "Talk to Me".

I wish the band would just bow out of the single efforts and just focus on good albums. Fleetwood Mac, like most great bands has no business being played on today's commercial radio. Radio is corporate fueled and has no interest in bands as artists. The only station I know of in the country these days that still respects musicianship and band artistry is KCRW in Santa Monica. And yes, they have been playing cuts off Say You Will. I've heard "Say Goodbye" as well as several others played often since April.

Forget about the radio, the billboard charts, and just enjoy Fleetwood Mac for their music and the shows. They know their fan base - which by the way - has grown enormously because of The Dance album and tour. We are a small core fan base of about four million. That's nothing to be ashamed of.

Tusk57 · #11 07-19-2003, 04:44 PM

I too like Stevie's darker songs the best. However, that being said, I also like Say You Will as well. I can't really put my finger on exactly why, but I do. It could be the catchy chorus or maybe the Lindsey guitar solo (I like the radio version better), or maybe it's those darn kids at the end! They are playing it out here quite a bit lately which is a good sign. Thrown Down and RTTG are the other two Stevie songs which would make for good radio.

SweetGirl · #12 07-19-2003, 11:50 PM

Quote:

I like the song, but I'm with Christy in that my favorite Stevie songs are her darker songs.

I agree. The darker songs seem to be more emotionally packed. They give the listener something more personal of Stevie and her life experiences.
I love those.

David R · #13 07-20-2003, 06:31 AM

I like the song, the live version more though. To me it seems like Stevie wanted a "fun & simple" kind of like a "Christine" song. You know generally happy and fun...

Cammie · #14 07-20-2003, 06:56 AM

SYW is a sorry album title for an all male band
with one woman singer!!!Twist of Fate sounds
so much more mature!!! SYW the song... is too
wordy and trying too hard to be cutsey! Do Get
on with the dark dramatic stuff Stevie...(JMHO!)

"Running Thru the Garden" is nicely sinister!

Sorcerer386 · #15 07-20-2003, 10:40 AM

The only problem I can see with people saying SYW is too poppy and not very "Fleetwood Mac sounding" is that, I think if Christine were on the album and had written this song, it would be praised more. I mean, nothing's more repetitive than Hold Me. So to say Say You Will isn't Fleetwood Mac sounding isn't quite right to me, considering most reviewers always bring up the fact that they were pioneers of the "California pop sound." And, if Christine were on the album, we would have many more songs like this. I really like Say You Will and it's a great break from the heavy overtones the album has...but I do agree I wouldn't have chosen it as a single. I think FM needed a second single to wow the audience...like Everybody Finds Out. Something with more energy, and more of a build to it. Say You Will may not be very Stevie-like, but it's definitely got that California pop sound. Every time I listen to the opening I picture driving down the road through palm trees in a convertible, the CA sun shining down. In fact, this song reminds me kind of Soak up the Sun by Sheryl Crow. Just my opinions on the song.