Like or Dislike: Rose Garden

[mitzo]

I detest this song. It is dreary, flat, and lacks any magic at all. The melody grates, the lyrics are doggerel, the vocals a bagpipe drone, the arrangement pure tedium. The only thing that comes close to this bottom-of-the-barrel Stevie is For What It's Worth. I mean, Jesus, don't get me started....

[wheart]

I've always loved this song...such a pretty melody. In fact, I'm considering adding it to my Stevie solo playlist.

[Rod~A~Little]

Very well written song, good storyline, but not my cup of tea!

[Macfanforever]

Thanks Travis for bumping this thread up. I love this tune. I wish it hit the airwaves.I'm glad it was a part of the Enchanted tour setlist.Also its part of my Stevie's country mix too.

[Christopher]

I love Rose Garden. The songs simplicity & sincerity is it's shimmering & endearing beauty. Same goes for "For What It's Worth. There is an art to being this effortless & magnificent.

[mikephxaz]

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

My least favorite released Stevie song.

I agree. It's a weak country song.

[NoFear♥OnlyLove]

LOVE it

[PolishStevieFan]

There are many people who seem to dismiss "Rose Garden" just because it's part of despised "Street Angel" album. As a long time fan of "Street Angel" I find "Rose Garden" to be one of the prettiest songs in Stevie's career. Of course, it's country song but there's nothing wrong about this fact. I can't imagine this song being wrapped in synth arrangements. It's just beautiful, straightforward love song that communicates its messages through simplistic yet affective musical and lyrical aspects. I've always thought that Stevie should record all-country album. Simple acoustic arrangements (which usually are tied with country music) help to enhance the beauty of the lyrical content and make it more accessible for the listners.

[On Ice]

I like Rose Garden, it's simple, well-written and yearning. There is a short demo that is sung in her younger voice that makes me think Rose Garden would've been a good song for that never to be second Buckingham Nicks album. It is a little flat on Street Angel (although I like that album a lot). I can't help but think of "so to the red rose grows the passion" on the Wild Heart and how wonderful her singing is on that particular tune.

[David]

I've always kinda liked this song on the album, but if I ever heard a demo with a vocal from the early or mid '70s--with a young, earnest vocal--I'd probably prefer the song that way.

[Richard B]

The demo of Rose Garden from a Rock-A-Little outtake version is so good. I love the way she sings it, leaps and bound more poignant than the Street Angel version.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by Richard B

The demo of Rose Garden from a Rock-A-Little outtake version is so good. I love the way she sings it, leaps and bound more poignant than the Street Angel version.

I love both versions.

[Kena]

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

I love Rose Garden. I can relate to the words . . . being 32 and unmarried

Same here!

I used to skip over this song until I watched some Woodstock clips on youtube and also the storytellers show...and when I listened to Rose Garden I couldn't believe I had skipped over it so many times...I never took the time to realize what a great song it is.

My favorite part, during live versions at least, is this verse;

And it's got roses dangling down to the ground


The way her voice kind of changes and goes up and down and Sharon's harmony - especially on to the ground (sorry yall, wish I could explain this in fancy music people language) makes me melt. There's just something about her voice there...makes it extra special to me.

[Silver Springs]

This is one of those songs of hers that, no matter how many times I've heard it, I still need to go back and listen to it just to remember what the hell it sounds like. It just doesn't stick out for me.

[skcin]

Wow - these threads are some real blasts from the past. Thanks for bumping - it's interesting to see if people's opinions have changed much over the years. I personally still feel pretty much the same about this tune as I did when I started the thread 7 (?!?!) years ago.