The Nightmare

[bwboy]

Wow, interesting theories here about the Nightmare. I do not have any passionate thoughts about this song, I don’t love it but I certainly don’t hate it, either. Listening to the radio this morning, I heard We Don’t Need Another Hero by Tina Turner from the Mad Max sequel, and it kind of brought to mind the Nightmare a little bit. The radio said We Don’t Need Another Hero came out in 1985, the same year Rock a Little came out. I could imagine Stevie singing it. I think These Dreams by Heart also came out in 1985. Between Some Become Strangers, Talk to Me, and Reconsider Me, it seems like Stevie or her people were actively seeking out songs from other songwriters for the album.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bwboy

Wow, interesting theories here about the Nightmare. I do not have any passionate thoughts about this song, I don’t love it but I certainly don’t hate it, either. Listening to the radio this morning, I heard We Don’t Need Another Hero by Tina Turner from the Mad Max sequel, and it kind of brought to mind the Nightmare a little bit. The radio said We Don’t Need Another Hero came out in 1985, the same year Rock a Little came out. I could imagine Stevie singing it. I think These Dreams by Heart also came out in 1985. Between Some Become Strangers, Talk to Me, and Reconsider Me, it seems like Stevie or her people were actively seeking out songs from other songwriters for the album.

I think that was out of necessity. Lindsey and Jimmy were not around to craft her songs and the songs were not great. Also in the age of Madonna they were moving her to be more pop and Prince like which was not authentic IMHO.
I know you love RAL but there is a reason Stevie pretty much ignores the album. But considering everything it's a miracle an album came out.

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally Posted by Villavic

At first I was going to post Yeah! I really like that song! But then I realize... Oh, The Nightmare, not Nightbird. That shows how "much" of a fan I am of Stevie's solo works.

"It's my favourite track on The Wild Horse!"

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I think that was out of necessity. Lindsey and Jimmy were not around to craft her songs and the songs were not great. Also in the age of Madonna they were moving her to be more pop and Prince like which was not authentic IMHO.
I know you love RAL but there is a reason Stevie pretty much ignores the album. But considering everything it's a miracle an album came out.

Totally! her output wasn't great in those years...she was drugged out, and she was exhausted with no breaks between FM work and solo work. The well of creativity never had a chance to refill itself. And as both Jimmy and she have said numerous times, he was always actively looking for a hit for her. She wasn't writing any then so they were going to other writers.

and let's face it, her most productive writing period was from the BN days up through the release of Rumours. She's been living off that backlog since... when she was an unknown and trying to prove herself as a writer she really put the effort in. Once she got famous it all went to her head, and she became convinced any turd she pooped out would be beloved.....

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

Totally! her output wasn't great in those years...she was drugged out, and she was exhausted with no breaks between FM work and solo work. The well of creativity never had a chance to refill itself. And as both Jimmy and she have said numerous times, he was always actively looking for a hit for her. She wasn't writing any then so they were going to other writers.

and let's face it, her most productive writing period was from the BN days up through the release of Rumours. She's been living off that backlog since... when she was an unknown and trying to prove herself as a writer she really put the effort in. Once she got famous it all went to her head, and she became convinced any turd she pooped out would be beloved.....

My favorite Stevie interview was the one she did right before RAL was released. Its rare in the sense her management did not allow her to do such long sit down interviews from 1984-1986. But she talks about RAL and the delays and the state of her life in mid 1985. But the reason I bring this up is she seems rather annoyed doing the interview until the interviewer brings up that she believes Stevie has influenced Madonna and Prince. Stevie's face lights up like someone said Chef Boyardee. She nods in approval while she is literally showing off her Madonna inspired lace gloves. You cant make this up. Another great thing about the interview is her comments on Cindi Lauper going over the audience in a trash can (Money Changes Everything video). During this time Stevie would stay up all night and watch MTV and take polaroid photos of herself in her bathroom. She was a MTV junkie and knew videos. Later in the interview she even comments on Chris's Love Will Show Us How video on how the guitar explodes on the piano. Anyway, this segment starts right away with the Madonna comparisons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeyZmD2ts08

[Villavic]

I find it hard to believe that Stevie influenced Madonna in the mid 80s, despite the gloves (a single detail, nothing more). The interviewer probably said it to please her and improve her mood. However I must admit that when I watched some of the Ray of Light (1998) video clips, I thought of Stevie, whether because of Madonna's look or a slight mystical touch in the songs, specially in Frozen, maybe Nothing Really Matters too, though updated. Not the title track of course.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I find it hard to believe that Stevie influenced Madonna in the mid 80s, despite the gloves (a single detail, nothing more). The interviewer probably said it to please her and improve her mood. However I must admit that when I watched some of the Ray of Light (1998) video clips, I thought of Stevie, whether because of Madonna's look or a slight mystical touch in the songs, specially in Frozen, maybe Nothing Really Matters too, though updated. Not the title track of course.

Stevie never wore lace gloves until 1985's Madonna craze when all teenage girls and Madonna wore lace gloves. I just found the clip full of irony of Stevie and this interviewer alleging that Stevie influenced the fashion of Madonna. Madonna wore all sorts of neon and dressed like a hooker during this era. I see their styles in total opposite directions. Stevie wore long skirts with high top boots. Madonna wore a wedding dress and rolled around on the stage.
I am glad someone finally told her "your not living in the real world"


Biggest cringe moment of the 1980s was at the end of the Talk To Me video Stevie purposely raises one of her hands to her face so we could see she was wearing one neon glove. I was at peak worship in 1985 but still cringed when I saw it and asked myself: why Stevie, Why? But Stevie influenced Madonna

[bombaysaffires]

Stevie really lost her way in the 80s. Everyone sees her now in her outfits that are updates to her 70s stage fashion but....after the early 80s she seemed to think she needed to change her look with the times. All that big hair and overdone makeup and shoulder pads and headbands and sh&t. It wasn't "her".... her early years in FM she had a real fresh-faced sorta girl next door look especially offstage-- she took the chiffon wings off and you'd see all sorts of pics of her with little to no makeup, wearing jeans, tee shirts, or hippie dresses and skirts with her boots. After Bella Donna....maybe up thru Wild Heart her stage outfits were clearly related to her 70s stage look, but then things got weird. And stayed weird through both bouts of rehab. It was quite a surprise to see her at whatever county fair that was in the 90s wearing a floral print dress and with toned down makeup, getting back closer to who she was. The gloves, the hats, the headbands, the huge clanky earrings, heavy makeup and various HUGE hairdos were....I dunno what.... Seems like it was her chasing trends rather than being true to herself. Tom Petty was right.