Not Make Believe

blinker12 · #1 03-11-2005, 11:39 PM

I just wanted to share with you all that I've been having a little love affair with "Not Make Believe" lately.
It all started the other week, when I had some friends over for dinner at my apartment. I had my I-Pod plugged into the stereo on "Shuffle," and NMB came on. One of my friends (a casual FM listener who doesn't have SYW) was like, "Wow, this is a good song." That kind of got me thinking about it again.
I think the melody is one of Stevie's catchiest of recent years, and Lindsey's production is interesting -- I like the bongo/drum fills. The only thing that keeps it from being classic are the lyrics, most of which are cliches or simply boring. Still, it's hard to believe this tune was left off the main album.
Anyone else have thoughts?

dissention · #2 03-11-2005, 11:41 PM

Oh, Joe will tell you all about my relationship with that song.

I absolutely *despised* it for months and months and months, but then one day it came on my car stereo, I started singing along, and fell in love with it. The lyrics are pretty wretched, but I could care less.

Should have replaced Silver Girl or Thrown Down or Say You Will.

golden braid · #3 03-11-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Oh, Joe will tell you all about my relationship with that song.

I absolutely *despised* it for months and months and months, but then one day it came on my car stereo, I started singing along, and fell in love with it.

Me too. I used to just listen to the first few seconds of the song and would cringe at the sound of Stevie's voice and then skip the rest of the song. Finally one day I decided to listen to the whole thing and the song has now actually grown on me and I like it.

dissention · #4 03-11-2005, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden braid

Me too. I used to just listen to the first few seconds of the song and would cringe at the sound of Stevie's voice and then skip the rest of the song. Finally one day I decided to listen to the whole thing and the song has now actually grown on me and I like it.

I hear ya. She sounds so Fran Drescher-ish on many of the lines, but that song grew on me like a fungus grows on rotten fruit.

blinker12 · #5 03-12-2005, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden braid

Me too. I used to just listen to the first few seconds of the song and would cringe at the sound of Stevie's voice and then skip the rest of the song.

Really? I actually think it's one of Stevie's best recent vocals! Her voice has such a nice feathery quality in the first verse -- it reminds me of her 70s vocals. I forgot to mention that as another of the song's selling points for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sodascouts

Sorry, I can't get over the line "Sometimes it was too heavy." Yikes.

I can live with that -- what I'm not so fond of is the stuff she stole from other people, especially the Dickens quote and the song's title.

skcin · #6 03-11-2005, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Oh, Joe will tell you all about my relationship with that song.

I absolutely *despised* it for months and months and months, but then one day it came on my car stereo, I started singing along, and fell in love with it. The lyrics are pretty wretched, but I could care less.

Should have replaced Silver Girl or Thrown Down or Say You Will.

Replace Thrown Down? With NMB? Surely you jest.

Behold, the wrath of La Paula - again.

I like NMB. But I ADORE TD!

dissention · #7 03-11-2005, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Replace Thrown Down? With NMB? Surely you jest.

Behold, the wrath of La Paula - again.

I like NMB. But I ADORE TD!

Surely YOU jest, La Paula! My disdain for Thrown Down is the stuff of legends.

CreepingDeath · #8 03-12-2005, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Surely YOU jest, La Paula! My disdain for Thrown Down is the stuff of legends.

Even more then your disdain for When I See You Again?

Oh, and I love Thrown Down and Not Make Believe.

dissention · #9 03-12-2005, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

Even more then your disdain for When I See You Again?

Hmmmm, I don't know. Both make me want to stick my head in a gas oven, so...

But I do love the "wall of sound" version of Thrown Down.

PenguinHead · #10 03-14-2005, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Surely YOU jest, La Paula! My disdain for Thrown Down is the stuff of legends.

Love your dramatic elocution! "It's what legends are made of."

dissention · #11 03-14-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Love your dramatic elocution! "It's what legends are made of."

I must get it from Stevie.

Serrart · #12 03-12-2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinker12

I just wanted to share with you all that I've been having a little love affair with "Not Make Believe" lately.
It all started the other week, when I had some friends over for dinner at my apartment. I had my I-Pod plugged into the stereo on "Shuffle," and NMB came on. One of my friends (a casual FM listener who doesn't have SYW) was like, "Wow, this is a good song." That kind of got me thinking about it again.
I think the melody is one of Stevie's catchiest of recent years, and Lindsey's production is interesting -- I like the bongo/drum fills. The only thing that keeps it from being classic are the lyrics, most of which are cliches or simply boring. Still, it's hard to believe this tune was left off the main album.
Anyone else have thoughts?

It's a truly beautiful song. The melody is so intriguing and the lyrics contain in the conciliating tones, a turmoil of feelings IMO.

Romy

catinthedark · #13 03-12-2005, 10:19 PM

Was there a FM demo of this song? I only have versions marked as TISL demos. Did Lindsey play and produce on that one?

This thread made me haul it out and have another listen.

Still not a fave. It has a couple of lines I like - but overall doesn't do it for me. But would I pick it over Silver Girl??? In a heartbeat, baby.

CrystalVisions · #14 03-14-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinker12

I just wanted to share with you all that I've been having a little love affair with "Not Make Believe" lately.
It all started the other week, when I had some friends over for dinner at my apartment. I had my I-Pod plugged into the stereo on "Shuffle," and NMB came on. One of my friends (a casual FM listener who doesn't have SYW) was like, "Wow, this is a good song." That kind of got me thinking about it again.
I think the melody is one of Stevie's catchiest of recent years, and Lindsey's production is interesting -- I like the bongo/drum fills. The only thing that keeps it from being classic are the lyrics, most of which are cliches or simply boring. Still, it's hard to believe this tune was left off the main album.
Anyone else have thoughts?

I actually liked this song more than some others she had on 'Say You Will.' I love the music and Stevie's voice on this song. It sounds totally different than anything I've heard from Stevie...I love it.