Songs that are horrible live

[FierySequences]

Of course there are some songs form the 80's (Hold Me, Gypsy-on Mirage tour) that tanked. Gypsy was resurrected and finally found a good translation into the set in 97. Hold Me can do the same, today

There isn't many "live" tunes I despise (perhaps, that is too strong a word). But SS has lost it's luster since 97, but then again that could be just the delivery from Nicks whom was not all present at the last Mac show I saw in 09.

[elle]

Originally Posted by On Ice

I would have to say that Dreams doesn't work well live, it loses its intimacy and with Stevie unable or unwilling to reach those high notes, the song loses much of its power. The real problem with the song live is that it always, always sounds rushed, like lets just get through Dreams and move on. This classic deserves better and if she won't sing it properly, shelve it.

yeah i get that feeling with a good number of songs - Dreams, Sara, even GDW (although i love that song), Rhiannon, regular version Gypsy - all these songs these days seem to be performed monotonally, rushed, just because they were big hits and they "have" to be done.

i also agree that Second Hand News was never as good live as it was on Rumours, although faster versions like the Rumours tour one and especially SYW one (which sounded almost like a march) were much better. only during SWS tour did Lindsey and the guys finally do justice to SHN - same with Tusk. both finally sounded good and really rocking during SWS tour so i hope he keeps those versions.

[FierySequences]

Originally Posted by elle

it would be a huge mistake to drop it or change it, although if he did i trust LB that he would do an extraordinary job and make something different from a studio version. i've seen him change enough songs around into something different and unexpected. but there's no need to do that with acoustic BL considering it's perfect as is.

I would be A-ok with LB keeping BL the way it is...ahem as long as we can finally hear the masterpiece TITN! (even the ordinary studio version would do the trick)

[KindOfWoman90]

Originally Posted by On Ice

I would have to say that Dreams doesn't work well live, it loses its intimacy and with Stevie unable or unwilling to reach those high notes, the song loses much of its power. The real problem with the song live is that it always, always sounds rushed, like lets just get through Dreams and move on. This classic deserves better and if she won't sing it properly, shelve it.

You know, I've been listening to IYD lately, trying to decide whether she can hit these notes that no longer exist in live performances - it made me think, wasn't there a bit in the IYD documentary where she sang Rhiannon or Dreams with the high notes? I haven't seen it yet, but I remember someone saying something to that effect... Is she just trying to save her voice? If she can hit those high notes I'd love to hear them...especially for Dreams and Rhiannon. Those two songs are in desperate need of some new life.

[wheart]

Originally Posted by KindOfWoman90

You know, I've been listening to IYD lately, trying to decide whether she can hit these notes that no longer exist in live performances - it made me think, wasn't there a bit in the IYD documentary where she sang Rhiannon or Dreams with the high notes? I haven't seen it yet, but I remember someone saying something to that effect... Is she just trying to save her voice? If she can hit those high notes I'd love to hear them...especially for Dreams and Rhiannon. Those two songs are in desperate need of some new life.

Not sure about the notes but I agree that these songs need new life...especially Rhiannon. They've been doing the same arrangement of this song on stage forever. I know Rhiannon will never be what it once was on stage; however, if they did stretched out the middle instrumental part like they used to, and give Stevie a chance to do some full on chiffon waving drama, it would really revitalize the song.

As far as on stage clunkers, Gypsy is the first song that comes to mind. It never sounds as good as the recorded version...not even close.

[moon]

Come on, Say Goodbye is amazing live!!!!!!!

Songs that sound horrible live for me:

- Second Hand News (too fast)
- World Turning (too long!!!!)
- Big Love and Go Insane (only becuse I want to hear something new)
- I'm So Afraid and Rhiannon before 1979.
- Sisters of the Moon (I love this song, but I can't feel the power of the studio version)
- the last Gypsies (empty versions. The Dance version is beautiful, but then...)
- And all the Mirage songs that were performed at least once live.

Regards!

[Josh2003]

I'm not a fan of how LB has been doing "Never Going Back Again" over the past decade. The studio version is poppy and upbeat, but the live versions of late have been slowed down considerably, quite a bit "darker," and, while he puts a great deal of emotion into the lyrics, I think this takes away from the fun of the studio version.

Just my opinion though, as I'm sure others love the newer take.

[elle]

Originally Posted by KindOfWoman90

I really don't like Second Hand News live - I love the studio version, but live I feel as if it's slower (may very well be the case). Also, the repetition of the bow bow bit just...no, it makes me cringe for some reason (only live of course).

aww, how can you not like bam bam bam - that part i think it's good even in the worst live SHN versions (and i agree with you there are a number of those). but look here:

[elle]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

I'm not a fan of how LB has been doing "Never Going Back Again" over the past decade. The studio version is poppy and upbeat, but the live versions of late have been slowed down considerably, quite a bit "darker," and, while he puts a great deal of emotion into the lyrics, I think this takes away from the fun of the studio version.

Just my opinion though, as I'm sure others love the newer take.

agree with you. he sped it up a little on OMS tour compared to the SWS tour when it was just dreadfully slow, but it needs to be sped up more, at least to the Soundstage version.

[elle]

Originally Posted by moon

Come on, Say Goodbye is amazing live!!!!!!!

i know everybody thinks that but may opinion of SG live is somewhere en par with what i wrote in SN forum about Italian Summer. can't stand either song.

imo, one can love SG live only if at least one of the following is true:

• you have shipper inclinations and that overrides other considerations when listening to the song for you; or
• you love the music of Sinatra, Aznavour, or Julio Iglesias.

neither applies to me so i have to repeat that i think that song is just dreadful and even amazing guitar parts cannot save it. but tastes are different of course.

Originally Posted by moon

- Second Hand News (too fast)

ha, someone else just commented that it's too slow live. i don't mind the too fast versions, but i agree there are many bad live versions of SHN, interspersed with some great ones.

[rhiannondontgo]

Originally Posted by On Ice

I would have to say that Dreams doesn't work well live, it loses its intimacy and with Stevie unable or unwilling to reach those high notes, the song loses much of its power. The real problem with the song live is that it always, always sounds rushed, like lets just get through Dreams and move on. This classic deserves better and if she won't sing it properly, shelve it.

I actually enjoyed Dreams at the Stevie solo shows I went to. I really think she's just way subdued and seems bored at FM shows. But her 'wildness' - for lack of a better word - really make her solo shows awesome. The tambourine crashing and twirling and silly rambling and funny little Stevie-dancing are what make the show amazing. I think she should put the passion she puts in her solo shows into FM shows. Lindsey certainly does. All these songs that everybody finds boring in FM shows would be way better if Stevie had a quarter of the passion and fun in it that she does when she's on her own. Just my opinion

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by elle

WRONG!

Big Love acoustic is a masterpiece and a showpiece for LB. maybe "fans" don't like it, but everybody from the street and causal listeners who hear it are blown away by it every time.

it would be a huge mistake to drop it or change it, although if he did i trust LB that he would do an extraordinary job and make something different from a studio version. i've seen him change enough songs around into something different and unexpected. but there's no need to do that with acoustic BL considering it's perfect as is.

full studio version is just an ordinary dated song.

I have this same thought...it's a huge WOW moment for the non-fanatics when they see him do Big Love the way he has done it since '92. The fanatics in a lot of cases are now sick of it because he's been doing it this way for 20 years (15 since it really became huge with The Dance). But when I think more about it, is it the actual song Big Love that causes people to love it, or is it the fact that one man, a guitar, and a microphone on stage are capable of doing what Lindsey does with Big Love? I mean, Big Love was a hit, but it's not THAT huge of a hit...what if Lindsey plucked another song out of obscurity and rearranged it so that it was a one voice/one guitar masterpiece, would it have the same impact? I don't have the answer but I've definitely thought about this before.

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

I'm not a fan of how LB has been doing "Never Going Back Again" over the past decade. The studio version is poppy and upbeat, but the live versions of late have been slowed down considerably, quite a bit "darker," and, while he puts a great deal of emotion into the lyrics, I think this takes away from the fun of the studio version.

Just my opinion though, as I'm sure others love the newer take.

Well I kinda thought in 2003-04 they went back to more of a poppy upbeat NGBA. It seemed in 2009 Lindsey went back to how he performed it back in the Rumours/Tusk/Mirage Tour days...slow, darker, etc.

[KindOfWoman90]

Originally Posted by rhiannondontgo

I actually enjoyed Dreams at the Stevie solo shows I went to. I really think she's just way subdued and seems bored at FM shows. But her 'wildness' - for lack of a better word - really make her solo shows awesome. The tambourine crashing and twirling and silly rambling and funny little Stevie-dancing are what make the show amazing. I think she should put the passion she puts in her solo shows into FM shows. Lindsey certainly does. All these songs that everybody finds boring in FM shows would be way better if Stevie had a quarter of the passion and fun in it that she does when she's on her own. Just my opinion

I agree, I'm not sure what is it? I think LB has the same passion and energy in both his solo and FM concerts - Even if she isn't having a great time, fake it.

Originally Posted by elle

aww, how can you not like bam bam bam - that part i think it's good even in the worst live SHN versions (and i agree with you there are a number of those). but look here:

I know, but that's exactly what I mean lol - it's that performance I always think of and it drives me nuts Especially with Stevie's adorable hand motions, I feel as if I've walked into some children's song, if that makes sense lol - I think it's the repetition of the bams or bows what have you

Originally Posted by elle

i know everybody thinks that but may opinion of SG live is somewhere en par with what i wrote in SN forum about Italian Summer. can't stand either song.

imo, one can love SG live only if at least one of the following is true:

• you have shipper inclinations and that overrides other considerations when listening to the song for you; or
• you love the music of Sinatra, Aznavour, or Julio Iglesias.

neither applies to me so i have to repeat that i think that song is just dreadful and even amazing guitar parts cannot save it. but tastes are different of course.

I admit shipper inclinations, but only in that I appreciate their ever evolving relationship. I find it fascinating and romantic. However, with all that aside, when I first heard this song I wasn't aware of all that baggage and I still thought it was beautiful. I don't think it's reminiscent of Sinatra, but I do love him (I don't know any songs by the other two, only know Julio's son, and Say Goodbye is definitely not as saccharine as Hero...).

I know Stevie has referred to Soldier's Angel as a BN-esque song lately, but honestly I feel like Say Goodbye sounds more like BN than SA. The harmonies are beautiful, and I love how the tempo changes; it gives the song such lift and emotion - for me it isn't schmaltzy at all. It's still so fascinating to me how FM fans can have such different tastes! But I think it's great, must be one of the reasons why they've been so successful all these years

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by wheart

Not sure about the notes but I agree that these songs need new life...especially Rhiannon. They've been doing the same arrangement of this song on stage forever. I know Rhiannon will never be what it once was on stage; however, if they did stretched out the middle instrumental part like they used to, and give Stevie a chance to do some full on chiffon waving drama, it would really revitalize the song.

As far as on stage clunkers, Gypsy is the first song that comes to mind. It never sounds as good as the recorded version...not even close.

Rhiannon's current arrangement has been played to death and needs something refreshed. Stevie's never going to be wailing like it's 1976 again, but I agree, a longer instrumental part with a solo from Lindsey would do wonders for the song.

Gypsy is such a clunker on stage, that's always what I think when I hear it! Save for the acoustic version in 2000, ever since '82 it's fell flat live. The Dance DVD is a nice version, but the Dance Tour versions are clunkers like always.

World Turning, Not That Funny, and Don't Stop also are on the top of my live stinkers list.