Stevie Stale and Stagnant

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by Serrart

Well, maybe you can simply stock your FM and Stevie LPs in a box, sit on a couch and remember the old times when the world was exactly as you wanted it to be?

It's not easy, especially for a woman, to be a rockstar at almost 60 and she does it in her own way, beautifully and gracefully. The least we can do is to respect her artistic choices, IMO.

Besides, your analysis isn't critical but emotional since you speak as a fan or ex-fan, that is legitimate anyway. It's always a matter of taste.

Romy

I totally agree with you. Money wise she doesn't have to do this, she doesn't have to go on tour but she wants to. Old setlist or not, she rules.... just cuz.

[foxyluva]

I think once Stevie releases a new album, this kind of discussion will be all over. I don't blame the fans on their frustration, but give the woman a chance...

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by The Catdancer

Just for the sake of arguement, what IF somebody in her camp reads this forum and reports back to her what is said??? Than all she hears are complaints. The majority of this Stevie forum is complaining one way or another (and on another board too). If I were her I wouldn't release any new music because people are complaining anyway so what's the point???

Let's be realistic La Nicks isn't catering to her hard core fan base these days but rather the baby boom nostalgia people who will go see her in concert anyway and could care less about any new material.I think she does what she wants to and no internet chat is going to cause her to not make a new album if she felt like making one.

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

Let's be realistic La Nicks isn't catering to her hard core fan base these days but rather the baby boom nostalgia people who will go see her in concert anyway and could care less about any new material.I think she does what she wants to and no internet chat is going to cause her to not make a new album if she felt like making one.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I think she is catering to her hardcore fans simply by releasing the CV dvd. The commentaries don't mean anything to the average fan. I bet the average fan won't even listen to it. They hear:"And there's my sister in-law Lori Nicks and my dear friend Sharon Celani" and "There's my friend Sandy Stewart". They don't care who's in the video. They think:"That's nice, Stevie now shut & sing".
I agree that no internet chat will make her go back into the studio to do new stuff which is why I said "Just for the sake of arguement".

[wheart]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Stevie is high up on my long list of artists I love and have followed dillegently since 1977. And I'm glad she's still performing, yet I'm very dissapointed in her lack of creativity and inspiration.

I'm sick of the fact that all she talks about are the same things she's talked about for years and years now -- Fleewood Mac's long-past dramas, her cocaine and kolonopin days etc...ad nausuem. She panders to it, the media panders to it, and alot of fans pander to it. Move on!

Her shows haven't really changed that much since she went solo. The main content is "all the same....all the same...Rhiannon." Yeah, she adds a few new songs here and there, then drops them, and switches some songs around. Oh wow...ehh! Her incessant touring only drives home the fact that she is dead in the water, completely stagnant, and living on past glories.

So, as fans, we have to settle for and be happy for the "new" stuff on her third compilation album -- more live versions of Landslide and Rhiannon, and, albeit, a great, unexpected cover version of a Led Zeppelin cover.

I'm reading a book about another artist I love, Elvis Costello. Yes, they are two completely different artists, so it's a little unfair to compare the two. But Elvis fans have it so much better than Stevie fans. Granted, he's in another realm -- prolific beyond belief...nearly 30 albums since 1977, plus another ton of random songs. And no signs of stopping.

He's a master artist, musician and lyricist. Stevie is none of those -never has been, never will be, nor do I expect her to be. I love her for who she is and what she's done, regardless of her limitations. But reading about him -- how impromptu his shows can be, and how he completely changes his shows each tour, sometimes show to show, makes me realize just how redundant she's become. I find fault with her...and so-called fans who expect/demand the same old songs...the songs they know and have heard a million times over. It just re-enforces the redundancy.

Elvis's vast cannon of songs allows him to perform shows that are fresh and unexpected. He's not beholden to play his hits or other well-known songs all the time. His audiences enjoy the show for what it is...and rarely complain that he didn't play this or that song. They can never predict what song he'll open with or what song he'll close with.

Yet, with Stevie, it's all very rote, tour after tour after tour....like the "Edge walk." It's not so much a show anymore, it's more like a church service. All we can hope for is one new song --new meaning one she hasn't performed for a while. Even without new material, she has many other songs she could perform, including more covers, which she is very good at.

I don't think it's much to ask for. But do I think Stevie has some serious psychological barriers that have kept her from moving forward, thus we have to settle for the stale and suffer for the stagnancy. It's completely befitting that she gravitates to Vegas...city of canned entertainment. It's all the same. All the same. All the same.

Your thoughts and observations echo mine own, and I applaud you for presenting them in such an eloquent and in my opinion, accurate way. I haven't read many of the responses but I'm sure you've opened up a hornet's nest as many fans take these statements/opinions as personal attacks on themselves and their love of Stevie.

I guess I've grown used to Stevie's staleness as this point but it does sadden me. She talks all the time in interviews about not wanting to get married/have children because she didn't want to compromise her art. Frankly, there's not much "art" left. I will always love, admire and follow her, but I feel she has so much more to offer.

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by wheart

Your thoughts and observations echo mine own, and I applaud you for presenting them in such an eloquent and in my opinion, accurate way. I haven't read many of the responses but I'm sure you've opened up a hornet's nest as many fans take these statements/opinions as personal attacks on themselves and their love of Stevie.

I guess I've grown used to Stevie's staleness as this point but it does sadden me. She talks all the time in interviews about not wanting to get married/have children because she didn't want to compromise her art. Frankly, there's not much "art" left. I will always love, admire and follow her, but I feel she has so much more to offer.

There's a lot of art left just in a different way everyone expects her to do. You say it saddens you but try to look at her from a positive angle: she's still alive and kicking!!!!

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

I can definitely see all sides to this discussion..I really can.
However - she is stagnant and stale. I am also glad she is alive and still doing her thing.Good for her. I however am quite bored with it all.

Thank you! One can be a long time devoted fan, who is thankful she is still alive and performing, but also be sick of the stagnant sets. Raving about everything she does borders on stalkeresque.

[JazmenFlowers]

I am so sick of these ****ing threads. I don't give a **** one way or the other, but dear god, I'd rather the Stevie forum be dead (wait, it is) than have to see one more thread about how disappointed or annoyed or frustrated or upset or let down or disenchanted or unhappy or unsatisfied or heartbroken or disillusioned you are; it's been discussed ad nauseam. use the search feature. it's your friend. that said...yeah, we're all a bit pissy over it, myself included. I think we can all agree that Stevie is in a state of stagnation. her setlists, attitude towards promotion and lack of new material stinks worse than a pig farm in the middle of the ****ing summer. Stevie's doing what the hell she wants. I ain't happy with the fact that she regurgitates her setlists or that she wears Frankenboks or that she no longer even attempts certain notes or that she promises things that aren't delivered, but the bitch is still truckin' - so, chill.

[Rickypt]

Last year's Stevie (performing at Tom Petty shows) was in no way stale or stagnant. In fact, it was the best Stevie I've seen since the early/mid 80's. I'm a little disappointed with the whole CV thing so far (boring interviews, regurgitated Landslide, etc.), but it's a greatest hits, nostalgia CD so that is going to lead to greatest hits/nostalgia interviews and performances.

Had this Tom Petty tour not happened, I would have agreed with this thread. I am hoping that touring with Eye Sack will bring out more of what we saw last year.

[JazmenFlowers]

^^^
yeah. you'd think that'd pacify some, or at least show that she isn't completely a sellout.

[DESTINYRU!ES]

First, I should start by saying that I consider myself a casual fan of Stevie's.
I think it's quite ridiculous that people expect her to make them new music with only a few year lapse since her last release. Trouble in Shangri-La 2002-2007. Only five years people

Try being a fan of Annie Lennox. At the longest it took her a decade in between Diva and Medusa. She even moved away from her career to have children and raise them. Only recently now that her daughters are older, did she have the chance to tour with Sting in 2004. She just released Bare in 2003 and fans on her site are still discussing that release. This year Annie has mentioned that she has a release coming this fall. And the reaction of her fans was not, FINALLY but aren't we so lucky! Now, I'm in no way judging Stevie's decisions, but she decidedly gave up having children for the prolificness of her career. Who knows what other sacrifices she gave up so that The Wild Heart followed Bella Donna by essentially, a year! Ms. Nick's prolificness and dedication has her fans spoiled!
If you think she owes you anything, THINK AGAIN!


On top of it, Ms. Nicks has inspired generations of artists.
Here's a good lead; go check out Patty Griffin's cataloge as in the past she's mentioned that Nicks is an inspiration. Her song writing is on par to Nicks in her ability to invoke emotive imagery. Expand your horizons and discover new talents!

Perhaps it would also be wise to delve back into the plethora of albums that Ms. Nicks has already created as well. I went back through LB's cataloge in the lean years of no new music and rediscovered the greatness.

No offense to anyone. Back to the LB forum.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

I am so sick of these ****ing threads.

****, and i was just going to start "dream setlist thread #62362"

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

^^^
yeah. you'd think that'd pacify some, or at least show that she isn't completely a sellout.

It certainly shut me for a long time!

[sparky]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I expected discourse, not disdain.

Fat chance, buddy.

I agree with almost all of your post.
The church service line was especially funny.

Going to see Stevie is a habit I have, but one I am cutting down on severely.
It is like watching the same movie over and over again. I guess it could be considered comforting, in a way. You know you can depend on her to go through the same motions. I'm glad I do like at least about 35 minutes of her schtick.
The bar must be set very low in terms of surprises or growth. That bar being: at least she is still alive and singing. I have been bummed by her artistic development since RAL, to be honest. There hasn't been any. But she is what she is. I almost enjoy her more as a personality than as an artist. She is an entertaining and engaging personality. Her voiceovers were the most entertainment I have gotten out of her in years.
Being a Stevie fan in terms of music is being part of a cycle of diminishing returns. I do appreciate her for being there, kinda like my favorite pair of pants. I am still evolving, in terms of taste and interests. Neither my pants nor Stevie really is. But I still return to both from time to time.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Somajoseph

None of you have to like ANYTHING Stevie's doing or hasnt done, but if it's no longer your thing, just F*ck off....this is a FAN forum, so ir youre no longer one...LEAVE

Excuse me...but that assertion is all yours. And please excuse yourself for being so sanctamonious in feeling that you can get away with telling me to F-off. I'm being reasonable -- you're not. Speaking as a long-time fan and poster here, are you suggesting censorship so to avoid your sickness when you read something you don't like or agree with? Will that solve your "problem?"