It just hit me

[cristochango]

Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie are all musical geniuses.

For the writers, to be able to come up with lyrics that were made into songs that each one can apply to a different situation, is insane

[FMlex]

Originally Posted by cristochango

Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie are all musical geniuses.

For the writers, to be able to come up with lyrics that were made into songs that each one can apply to a different situation, is insane

Wait... you just now figured this out??
Well, welcome to the club, my friend!

It's true.
The rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood is usually very underrated and go unnoticed. They really do a great job.

Christine McVie offered up some great writing, piano/keyboard, etc.

And don't even get me started on Stevie Nicks... her lyrics are WOW, just wow. And I love all of her piano demos.

Lindsey Buckingham... he is a GENIUS. Yes, he is set in his ways and can be nice to you one second and then completely pissed off at you the next, but it doesn't matter. He's still great.

[cristochango]

after listenin for a while ive come to the conclusion that all of stevies songs are pretty much dark and gloomy, a couple exceptions.
christines are usually all happy, a couple exceptions.
and lindseys are inbetween

[daniellaaarisen]

Lindsey goes from fairly content to psychotic in his music. I'm a bigger fan of the psychotic ("Go Insane", "I'm So Afraid", "Big Love").

Stevie.... really, don't get me started on Stevie. I could write a novel on how much I respect her work, specifically from a writer's standpoint. This thread might open a pretty large can of worms out of me if I come across it later tonight while getting sentimental about La Nicks like I frequently do... So beware

And although Christine is generally below the other two in my mind in terms of writing/musical credibility, she shocks me constantly and I remember that she, too, holds her own in Fleetwood Mac. She is constantly turning simplistic into surprising and beautiful.

And you can't forget John. I've recently realized how big of a role John plays in the overall sound of a song. "The Chain" has always been obvious, but I'm seeing his importance in tracks such as "Gold Dust Woman" and innumerous others, too.

And Mick.... I love the man.

[FMlex]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

Lindsey goes from fairly content to psychotic in his music. I'm a bigger fan of the psychotic ("Go Insane", "I'm So Afraid", "Big Love").

Stevie.... really, don't get me started on Stevie. I could write a novel on how much I respect her work, specifically from a writer's standpoint. This thread might open a pretty large can of worms out of me if I come across it later tonight while getting sentimental about La Nicks like I frequently do... So beware

And although Christine is generally below the other two in my mind in terms of writing/musical credibility, she shocks me constantly and I remember that she, too, holds her own in Fleetwood Mac. She is constantly turning simplistic into surprising and beautiful.

And you can't forget John. I've recently realized how big of a role John plays in the overall sound of a song. "The Chain" has always been obvious, but I'm seeing his importance in tracks such as "Gold Dust Woman" and innumerous others, too.

And Mick.... I love the man.

I agree with you on every point you make about each member!
There's too much to even say about Stevie.

I fell in love with FM when Stevie & Lindsey joined but obviously they were successful before then. Christine made some fabulous music before they joined (and after, as well, duh!) - I came across "Why" (pre-BN) fairly recently and fell in love. The lyrics are wonderful. And when performed on Midnight Special in '76, Stevie & Lindsey come in for the harmonies at the end... it's chilling.

Mick... oh, Mick. Haha. He's just a big, friendly giant. Literally. I always think of his line at the end of Classic Albums when he says something to the effect of: "You know, I was listening to Rumours the other day for the first time in a while and thought... damn! That's some pretty good drumming"

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by FMlex

Mick... oh, Mick. Haha. He's just a big, friendly giant.

He really is, and a total gentlemen, too. I've met him and although we were in a group of like 12-15 other people, we somehow squeezed in a little one on one conversation. Such a nice guy, and he was really into what I had to say about the band and its affect on my life, blah blah blah. It was really cool.

[David]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

And although Christine is generally below the other two in my mind in terms of writing/musical credibility

What I've observed is that non-musicians tend to value her less whereas musicians tend to value her more. I remember the Los Angeles critic Robert Hilburn once said that her songs, while less stylized than either Buckingham's or Nicks's more idiosyncratic material, hold up more effectively on repeated listening.

If there's one thing that Chris has made me realize, it's that in pop music, idiosyncrasy isn't necessarily synonymous with personality, or even style. I used to criticize Chris for lacking the quirkiness of her co-members, but I now realize that the stamp of personal style in her vocal phrasing, piano-playing, & part-writing is insidiously stronger than in virtually any other Fleetwood Mac member except Peter Green & Danny Kirwan.

Of all members, she was the least influenced by the rock star myth, but I now consider her the quintessential treasure.

[cristochango]

Originally Posted by David

What I've observed is that non-musicians tend to value her less whereas musicians tend to value her more. I remember the Los Angeles critic Robert Hilburn once said that her songs, while less stylized than either Buckingham's or Nicks's more idiosyncratic material, hold up more effectively on repeated listening.

If there's one thing that Chris has made me realize, it's that in pop music, idiosyncrasy isn't necessarily synonymous with personality, or even style. I used to criticize Chris for lacking the quirkiness of her co-members, but I now realize that the stamp of personal style in her vocal phrasing, piano-playing, & part-writing is insidiously stronger than in virtually any other Fleetwood Mac member except Peter Green & Danny Kirwan.

Of all members, she was the least influenced by the rock star myth, but I now consider her the quintessential treasure.

rock star myth?

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by David

What I've observed is that non-musicians tend to value her less whereas musicians tend to value her more. I remember the Los Angeles critic Robert Hilburn once said that her songs, while less stylized than either Buckingham's or Nicks's more idiosyncratic material, hold up more effectively on repeated listening.

If there's one thing that Chris has made me realize, it's that in pop music, idiosyncrasy isn't necessarily synonymous with personality, or even style. I used to criticize Chris for lacking the quirkiness of her co-members, but I now realize that the stamp of personal style in her vocal phrasing, piano-playing, & part-writing is insidiously stronger than in virtually any other Fleetwood Mac member except Peter Green & Danny Kirwan.

Of all members, she was the least influenced by the rock star myth, but I now consider her the quintessential treasure.

I get where you're coming from-- I'm a musican, too, but I consider myself a writer before that. I have HUGE respect for all three, and I do think that Christine has something detrimental that the other two songwriters don't. That's the great thing about Mac-- there's something TOTALLY different to appreciate in every generation of the band AND every individual member.