Illume

So, I found myself listening to Illume off the "Say You Will" cd recently. I just wanted to get opinions about this song. I was searching the web and many folks said that the song was terrible. I persoanlly think it was great that Stevie decided to write a song about the tragic events which took place on 9/11; The melody of this song really coincides with the somber feeling of that day. I think it was great that so many songs popped up from various artists therefter reflecting on what happened that terrible day. Does anyone else really enjoy this song?



Here are Stevie's words from the website inherownwords.com....

One of my favorite songs on the record is called Illume. I wrote it about what happened on 9-11.
~Stevie Nicks, Ask Stevie, www.nicksfix.com, 2003

Illume is a very interesting song actually. I wrote it after September 11th, you know, so it was one of the first I wrote after those tragedies. It’s just about making it, you know. I was sitting there, thinking about those horrible tragedies in October of 2001, and I was sitting there with just me in the room, and the candle was lit. I love candles, you know. And my heart was still so heavy from everything, and I didn’t know quite what would happen, and we were all like that, confused.

I didn’t set out to write a September 11th song, it just happened. It goes “Illume, says the candle that I burn, a reflection in the window,” and that’s just about the inspiration for the song. And I tell you, my heart was so very heavy and full at this time, I was so confused. And then there are some other parts…( Pause)

“And I am alone with my thoughts, And how we could make it – And what we have been through, all of the trauma.” I also wrote one called “Get Back on the Plane,” and a song called “The Towers Touched the Sky,” but it was just too depressing.
~Stevie Nicks, Queen of Rock Interview, 2003

I was in New York on 9/11 during my tour. I've never been a political person, but suddenly I felt like I was in the middle of history. We were at the Waldorf with all these foreign diplomats. It was very scary. I watched people jumping (from the twin towers) on a Mexican TV channel. We put wet towels in the windows to keep out the burning iron smell. Illume is a poem about 9/11 and about getting through it and getting back home.

Part of me wanted to pack my bags and cancel the tour. But my parents and friends like Tom Petty and Don Henley kept saying, 'People paid to see your show, and if they're willing to go out in this frightening world, don't you dare come home.' It was hard to walk on stage and not burst into tears. I was almost hysterical. All my songs suddenly seemed to be about 9/11.
~Stevie Nicks, USA Today, April 28, 2003

[Katherine~]

I think that it's a great song... It really depicts the whole event and gives an insight about how horrible it must have been for the people who weren't physically injured but had to witness the whole ordeal. I think it was really brave of Stevie to get up and sing that song when so many other artists were criticised for 'cashing in' on the whole 911 tragedy.
i think that the music and the lyrics definately create the appropriate mood which was obviously was quite sombre given the experience.

[Musicman408]

I do like Illume. The ending when she is singing the chorus and she is singing higher, I love that. It's so intense, and whenever Stevie does that, it gives me goosebumps.

[jannieC]

I took me a long time to like this song. Someone on this board (I think) said something about playing it really loud in the car. I did that, and it kind of changed the whole song for me (for the better).

[danax6]

^Same thing for me. When I first heard it, my reaction was 'meh'. But I fell in love with it after listening to it a few times.

[MacMan]

I like the song.... The words are all right... but I like the music and the bass line..

[SuzeQuze]

I like it and I liked the fact that it was very different from what she normally does.

[louielouie2000]

It took me YEARS to appreciate that song. The first time I heard Illume I was like WTF is up with this hip hop/rap base line? I thought the way she sung the song was very monotone and almost tribal lol. I just didn't like anything about it.

But a few months ago it just clicked with me and I finally got it. I think I had to picture myself as Stevie sitting in her coastal home in California... and watching that candle flicker in the window and the smell of the Nag Champa totally transporting her back to 9/11 when she was burning scented candles to cover up the smell of burning death outside. Where she was basically trapped in NYC with wet blankets over her windows... not knowing what in the world is really happening outside, just a matter of blocks away from where you are. Because if y'all remember... we weren't really entirely sure who was attacking us at first, if it was an accident, if it was on purpose, etc. Once the song clicked in my mind... I've loved it ever since. It totally blows away those stupid ass country songs I've heard about 9/11. I think mainly because Stevie really was there... and it's not such a blantant 9/11 song either.

[eclipse]

List me as an Illume lover too- I just have to be in the right mood to listen to it...

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

It took me YEARS to appreciate that song. The first time I heard Illume I was like WTF is up with this hip hop/rap base line? I thought the way she sung the song was very monotone and almost tribal lol. I just didn't like anything about it.

That's quite funny that you think the bassline is a hip hop/rap-style because it's actually a little more than similar to a bassline on a rock song by Richard Ashcroft:

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=25776&

[SpyNote]

The first part of the song is very rough. Her vocal doesn't hold up in the production, and just gets buried. The phrasing of the song could be better; it sounds like she's rambling. But she finishes strong at the end. Kind of how most of the American Idol contestants fared with their songs.

[goldie]

I've loved this song from the first time I heard it.

[GarboSpeaks!]

Honestly...and I feel like a heel for saying this. When I first heard it on the aol preview, I thought it was lifted off a warped record. That song and RTG. I thought what in the name of God is up w/ her vocal? After getting the album, I liked it. I don't consider it a 9/11 song, though I guess it is. And GG mentioning that you liked all the artists that came out w/ songs remembering 9/11...for me it just seemed a commercial gravy train after a while. "Oh man...lets do a song about 9/11...everyone else is." Stevie's, though late in realease (so long after 9/11 I mean) & seemingly a part of that commercial gravy train from outsiders that called it aweful; instead for me reflects her poet side, and came off rather tactful. If I thought of it as a 9/11 song always, I'd prolly not like it so much. As a Stevie song, it endures.

[BombaySapphire3]

I liked it upon hearing..it is different than anything she had done and I was hoping it might signal a new willingness to experiment and push the envelope a bit..but considering how she now considers the SYW sessions I guess it will never be.

[SpyNote]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

I liked it upon hearing..it is different than anything she had done and I was hoping it might signal a new willingness to experiment and push the envelope a bit..but considering how she now considers the SYW sessions I guess it will never be.

I think Stevie's envelope is best left on the table, that same glass table.