Worst Stevie Mac song

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

When I see you again
and
Welcome to the room sara

These songs seem like they were written in 5 minutes. Little time was spent on them lyrically and musically and it shows. When I see you again was mailed to the Mac when Stevie was high as a kite on the Rock A Little tour. Welcome to the room Sara seems like a rushed demo song about Stevie's short rehab stint. The song is weak lyrically and does not have much to offer musically. The album cut is not far from the demo. And that is not a good thing.

I disagree about WTTRS being weak lyrically. It's actually a pretty literal and compelling telling of what went on with the intervention (which she always leaves out of her version of the story since) and trip to rehab... But I agree musically it's just a mess. The calypso-ish music just doesn't fit.

[bombaysaffires]

Love about all her Mac stuff.....ok, Wassamatta Baby probably the worst.

She saves her best worst stuff for her solo work.


Jane.

I'd listen to "Wassamatta baby" a hundred times over than the damn chimp song.

Blue Lamp.

Lyrically-- Mabel Normand. Love what Waddy and Dave did with the arrangement on 24k and it's quite listenable there, but the words are a total drugged hallucination of random thought fragments.

I Don't Care. She's right, I really don't.

[elle]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

I disagree about WTTRS being weak lyrically. It's actually a pretty literal and compelling telling of what went on with the intervention (which she always leaves out of her version of the story since) and trip to rehab... But I agree musically it's just a mess. The calypso-ish music just doesn't fit.

after reading SN's explanation of her Beautiful Child lyrics and i think LB's of her Storms or one of the other Tusk song lyrics, i am now enjoying seeing people deciphering that completely literal re-telling of some conversations from her life in some of her songs.

i think if you have interest in SN as a person, those kinds of lyrics and knowing how they came about / what events or conversations they transmit, those have to be a treasure trove.

[elle]

... and i won't be picking "the worst song" from any of the 3 writers, since i simply don't listen to the songs that i consider bad, and i think all 3 rumours-era mac songwriters probably have plenty of those.

i do have to say that looking at people's choices, the titles of these threads really should't be necessarily "the worst" since while some people list really bad songs, others list spectacular and objectively boundary-pushing songs that they personally just don't like.

that said, my problem or disinterest with a lot of SN's songs is what i perceive as non-interesting, boring, not melodic enough or repetitive music, and in many cases basically reciting lyrics to some background music. in all Bowie's quotes that have been floating around this week, this one from 1980 kinda encapsulates my issue:

“It makes me so angry that people concentrate on lyrics. It implies there’s no message in the music itself.”

to me, when i listen to the song, my focus is on music, not lyrics.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by elle

... and i won't be picking "the worst song" from any of the 3 writers, since i simply don't listen to the songs that i consider bad, and i think all 3 rumours-era mac songwriters probably have plenty of those.

Sometimes, it's hard to skip songs when they insist on playing them in concert. And sometimes, even when you think you've been spared and it's not going to be played in concert, they surprise you and drop OMH to stick Oh Daddy in there instead and you're like, "What?? I thought I dodged that bullet!"

Michele

[elle]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Sometimes, it's hard to skip songs when they insist on playing them in concert. And sometimes, even when you think you've been spared and it's not going to be played in concert, they surprise you and drop OMH to stick Oh Daddy in there instead and you're like, "What?? I thought I dodged that bullet!"

Michele

ah, true. i'm so happy i dodged Sara on the last tour since it was only played during AUS/NZ leg. but i heard it way way more than enough during 2013 tour. i tried not to listen to it though - i'd chat, take pics of audience and arena behind me, or find some other way to occupy my time.

since so many people love that song though, i'm guessing it must not be as bad, boring, or dirge-y of a song as it sounds to me.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by elle

ah, true. i'm so happy i dodged Sara on the last tour since it was only played during AUS/NZ leg. but i heard it way way more than enough during 2013 tour. i tried not to listen to it though - i'd chat, take pics of audience and arena behind me, or find some other way to occupy my time.

since so many people love that song though, i'm guessing it must not be as bad, boring, or dirge-y of a song as it sounds to me.

Oh elle, elle, elle............

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by elle

ah, true. i'm so happy i dodged Sara on the last tour since it was only played during AUS/NZ leg. but i heard it way way more than enough during 2013 tour. i tried not to listen to it though - i'd chat, take pics of audience and arena behind me, or find some other way to occupy my time.

since so many people love that song though, i'm guessing it must not be as bad, boring, or dirge-y of a song as it sounds to me.

I'm a Stevie fanatic, and I totally agree with you. Sara, live, is a snoozer. It just goes on, and on, and on, and never changes pace. It's like a droning awfulness.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

I disagree about WTTRS being weak lyrically. It's actually a pretty literal and compelling telling of what went on with the intervention (which she always leaves out of her version of the story since) and trip to rehab... But I agree musically it's just a mess. The calypso-ish music just doesn't fit.

I used the wrong words. Its more of a journal entry than a song. While I appreciate her openness in the song....its more of a journal entry than a song. Its just impossible to sing those lines. Doing the best that I can is the perfect rehab song from Stevie. Its subtle and has a great chorus. Welcome to the room Sara is clever writing but does not transform into a song or anything that can be sung except the short chorus LOL I do believe with some time and maybe some help there could have been a better way to transform the lyrics into a better song.
Its not home
And its not Tara
Do I know you
Have I've been here before
This is a dream, right?

Of course it was a problem Frontine

Hard to put those lines into a workable song IMHO.
However, according to Mick's first book this was NOT Stevie's pick for Tango. She turned over What has rock n roll ever done for you but for some reason the Mac passed on the song. Too bad because I bet Lindsey could have tweeked that into perfection if he wanted. Plus Tango could have used another rocking song.
In any event, I am actually glad the song surfaced. But musically the song is horrible. When I first heard it , I was shocked that Lindsey was involved with such a crappy song musically. Then I heard the demo and its almost the same. My hunch is that Stevie's songs were last for Tango since she was on tour and in rehab. Not much time was spent on them and it shows.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I used the wrong words. Its more of a journal entry than a song. While I appreciate her openness in the song....its more of a journal entry than a song. Its just impossible to sing those lines. Doing the best that I can is the perfect rehab song from Stevie. Its subtle and has a great chorus. Welcome to the room Sara is clever writing but does not transform into a song or anything that can be sung except the short chorus LOL I do believe with some time and maybe some help there could have been a better way to transform the lyrics into a better song.
Its not home
And its not Tara
Do I know you
Have I've been here before
This is a dream, right?

Of course it was a problem Frontine

Hard to put those lines into a workable song IMHO.
However, according to Mick's first book this was NOT Stevie's pick for Tango. She turned over What has rock n roll ever done for you but for some reason the Mac passed on the song. Too bad because I bet Lindsey could have tweeked that into perfection if he wanted. Plus Tango could have used another rocking song.
In any event, I am actually glad the song surfaced. But musically the song is horrible. When I first heard it , I was shocked that Lindsey was involved with such a crappy song musically. Then I heard the demo and its almost the same. My hunch is that Stevie's songs were last for Tango since she was on tour and in rehab. Not much time was spent on them and it shows.

Yes, WTRS is a clunky mix of the lyrics with that music. Lost potential.

Lindsey frankly didn't have much to work with from her on that album. 'What has R&R' is awful. Musically of course he could have worked on it but lyrically it really says nothing, tells no story, and is boring and repetitive. If she's not gonna beef up the lyrics it's still gonna be lacking. You know, the whole polishing a turd thing.

The band didn't seem particularly sympathetic to the whole rehab thing and had taken this stance about "we're recording and you need to be here and you're late" and all that. So, unlike for instance during SYW where she had the clout to insist on a month off [after she stopped her tour with Sheryl and before she went into the studio with FM] to crank out 4 new songs that were up to the right standard to bring the band, she had no such clout during that rehab period and just gave them what she had.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

Yes, WTRS is a clunky mix of the lyrics with that music. Lost potential.

Lindsey frankly didn't have much to work with from her on that album. 'What has R&R' is awful. Musically of course he could have worked on it but lyrically it really says nothing, tells no story, and is boring and repetitive. If she's not gonna beef up the lyrics it's still gonna be lacking. You know, the whole polishing a turd thing.

The band didn't seem particularly sympathetic to the whole rehab thing and had taken this stance about "we're recording and you need to be here and you're late" and all that.

I'm sort of mystified about why Stevie didn't reach back to some of the material not used for Rock A Little. Perhaps she was saving it for future solo efforts, perhaps she distanced herself from it because the songs reminded her of drugs and partying, or perhaps she just wanted to offer something brand new.

Stevie was so different post-rehab, it's hard to even speculate on what was going through her mind. WTTRS is, for me, the first indication that Stevie Nicks did not come out of rehab as the same person who went in. Nearly every song on The Other Side of the Mirror reflects the same muddled mind that wrote WTTRS. The fact that Timespace relied on other writers for the two new singles really demonstrates her lack of confidence.

It's really quite remarkable that she did eventually emerge from that Klonopin haze. How disappointing would the past two decades have been for her fans otherwise? Street Angel could have been the end of it all.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I'm sort of mystified about why Stevie didn't reach back to some of the material not used for Rock A Little. Perhaps she was saving it for future solo efforts, perhaps she distanced herself from it because the songs reminded her of drugs and partying, or perhaps she just wanted to offer something brand new.

Stevie was so different post-rehab, it's hard to even speculate on what was going through her mind. WTTRS is, for me, the first indication that Stevie Nicks did not come out of rehab as the same person who went in. Nearly every song on The Other Side of the Mirror reflects the same muddled mind that wrote WTTRS. The fact that Timespace relied on other writers for the two new singles really demonstrates her lack of confidence.

It's really quite remarkable that she did eventually emerge from that Klonopin haze. How disappointing would the past two decades have been for her fans otherwise? Street Angel could have been the end of it all.

Her 3 songs on Tango are simple and rushed and I am sure its because she was there a total of 3 weeks during the year or so they took to record it. But Seven Wonders was written by someone else so really she contributed 2 songs. I agree with your curiousity why RAL demos were not used like Running through the Garden, etc.
But if you breakdown Stevie's Tango songs musically...Seven Wonders, Welcome to the room Sara, and When I see you again.......they are very simple and basic. Nothing fancy and no risks. Its a shame because Running through the Garden or Mirror Mirror could have really added depth to Tango in the Night. I love the youtube video from backstage RAL tour where Stevie is asked if she is contributing to the new Mac record. She says she sent them a nice acoustic song which was When I see you again. I picture a Fed Ex package being delivered to Lindsey LMAO Here, I am busy on tour making millions....see what you can do with this LOL
One of the reasons Tango is my least favorite Mac album is the musical weakness of Stevie songs and it also sounds like a Lindsey solo album.
I actually really like What has rock n roll ever done for you. But the song has an arrogance streak IMHO and that is why Lindsey may have not wanted to use it. The song is clever is asking a question but then Stevie goes "French champagne " Its a fun song but sometimes it does sound like she is rubbing the fame and wealth of a rock star in your face (even though that may not be her intent).

[Wdm6789]

Anything from Stevie on Tango in The Night.