Wow! Thank you to whoever created You Tube!

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

Is their onstage shtick choreographed? You betcha. Are there some minor variations over the course a tour based on fan reactions? Yep. Are they REALLLLY gonna play out their true personal lives onstage? Don't count on it. Does that mean everything is inauthentic, not necessarily. But it ain't literal. Just compelling to watch for some reason.

Agreed. But, I think there is a literal symbolism onstage that parallels their personal relationship - past, present, whatever.

Originally Posted by michelej1

It was the L. A. Times interview Lindsey did. He said:

"We're not one of those bands that throws the names of all their songs in a hat and pulls them out right before they go on stage," guitarist, songwriter and singer Lindsey Buckingham said last week from a tour stop in Charlotte, N.C. "Years ago I was hanging out with Peter Buck and went to several shows R.E.M. did and they literally did just that. That's one end of the spectrum.

"We've always had the sensibility that you work on the set and you structure it, much like a play, where once you've got the lines down and blocking right, you freeze it, and then you go out and do what you're doing night after night," he said. "You want to structure something that has form and that builds the right dynamic from start to finish."

Yeah, you can tell Stevie likes to stay really close to that too. Remember how freaked she was because Rod Stewart wouldn't spend hours and hours in rehearsal for the two duets they were gonna do on tour? I've seen her either steer Lindsey away from or back to the choreography a few times. She tells him "go back to your place", "come here" or she has waited for him walk in the GYOW circle. It's been a little looser but she must be very comfortable with structure - I can see how she would really easily loose her place if they veered too far off course. That's why those monitors tell her exactly what to do.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by CADreaming

She tells him "go back to your place", "come here" or she has waited for him walk in the GYOW circle.

Stevie always watches Lindsey very closely. You know when they switch stage sides during GYOW she looks at him like a hawk waiting for him to cross over to her side and as soon as he starts walking, she starts walking over to his. She's like staring at him, "When is he going to move."

It could be just because she doesn't want to trip over any cords, so she doesn't want his guitar cord to be under her foot, but I always think it's funny how intent she is.

For BTM, when he came out, she expected him to cross the stage during GYOW and she was going to cross the stage with him, but his microphone was too short and he couldn't move across the stage and it stopped him short. It was kind of funny, because she was going to go right into the old choreography they used to have when he was in the band. Muscle memory. A little heartbreaking too.

But that was one of the highpoints of Angel. Stevie was obsessed about where Lindsey was on the stage, waiting for him to come and share her mic. She must have looked over her shoulder 5 times waiting for him. It's like she was always afraid he wasn't going to get there in time. It's a wonder it didn't cause her a nervous breakdown. Then, she runs to his mic and runs away really fast, like she's on a time clock. Really hysterical.

What's kind of cute is that sometimes John is looking at Lindsey waiting for him to jump off of the drum kit too. So, he'll crane his neck occasionally to see it, to get the cue. Interesting to think what they are paying attention to that the audience is not aware of.

Michele

[michelej1]

I'm thinking of when they were in NY for SYW, Lindsey told that columnist (Liz Adams, maybe) that Stevie needed 2 hours before the show. He didn't know what she needed it for, but she just needed 2 hours. Maybe she gets a massage, maybe she does her singing exercises, who knows. But clearly there is a set routine.

And it makes sense. When it's set you don't have to think about it. You do it instinctively and there's less chance for error and you're much less likely to forget something. Michele

[UndoingTheLaces]

Something else to remember is that in addition to having set moves and rehearsed theatrics is the real emotion that comes through in the songs. I'm not a professional singer but I used to write songs all the time back in the 90's in hopes of becoming a songwriter and I used to sing my songs in a few bands. All these years later I have recordings of them on my iPod and I happily sing along when they come on. And I have to tell you, I have songs about lost loves that will still bring me to tears when I'm in the right kind of mood. When you write a good song it's like you pack in emotion in there and no matter where you are or what you're doing when you sing that song again that little bit of emotion comes out. So does it fire an untamed passion between these two people after all these years? Probably not. But does it bring out a certain feeling, a fondness, a tiny spark of love for who they used to be, themselves and to each other? I think so. That clip where she's singing Sara and puts her arms around him, that smile isn't fake. It's the smile of someone holding a life long friend who wasn't always in her life. It's the smile of someone who's remembering all the years they've had together creating some of the most memorable music in the planet. And it's the smile of someone who's so happy that they're both still here and able to do what they love doing.

And when they're singing Without You and looking at each other, there's probably a moment there where the world falls away and they are transported back in time, two young crazy kids playing a Buckingham Nicks gig, praying that this record will sell so they can stop with the Hamburger Helper and the cleaning houses and wondering where the next bit of change is coming from. And it has nothing to do with his wife and kids or her many lovers. It's about that little bit of magic that hides inside of songs. And it's a beautiful thing.

[michelej1]

I think that it's only natural to have a certain pride in the creation. Like parents do. You look at a child, then at each other and get a little googly-eyed thinking, "we made this together." And it has to be like that with the songs and the great success of FM, this thing that you conceived and built together out of nothing. When you look at the other people who formed it with you, you see all of that in their eyes. The pride of joint ownership and struggle. Not every night, but certainly some special nights, you're still overcome with the amazing reality and portent of it all.

Michele

[vivfox]

Post #33 by UndoingTheLaces & post #34 by Michele; both of you said things that I found very touching. Thank you both for your thoughts and definitions.

[windbecame]

Originally Posted by vivfox

Post #33 by UndoingTheLaces & post #34 by Michele; both of you said things that I found very touching. Thank you both for your thoughts and definitions.

Totally agree Viv! where's the "like" button?