The Story of Silver Springs - The Best Song I've Ever Written

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by sue

While I agree with most of what you say.
I find your statement about older people a bit sweeping…I am a mature person and I think I’ve improved with age like fine wine, mellowed and well rounded.

However, what you think of Stevie is pretty much my opinion.
A spoilt little girl, who was used to getting her own way.
And when she doesn’t she takes her ball and bat home.

I concur that some people improve with age, that their perspectives are enriched by experience and self stock-taking, though only those willing to grow will grow.

Regarding Stevie, I’m assuming she grew up with a good deal privilege, though her tireless work ethic, which admittedly persists today as self-promotion and touring, had to have been instilled in her from a very young age. Her parents wouldn’t financially support her when she dropped out of school to pursue music. But she persisted. She could have crumbled but did not. So, while I consider her a spoiled, delusional, and self-centered woman whose lost perspective, there was a set of core values around hard work that she never abandoned. If she wants something, she angles for it—and not always in above-board ways. But she still angles, plays the game, works to stay on top.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I concur that some people improve with age, that their perspectives are enriched by experience and self stock-taking, though only those willing to grow will grow.

Regarding Stevie, I’m assuming she grew up with a good deal privilege, though her tireless work ethic, which admittedly persists today as self-promotion and touring, had to have been instilled in her from a very young age. Her parents wouldn’t financially support her when she dropped out of school to pursue music. But she persisted. She could have crumbled but did not. So, while I consider her a spoiled, delusional, and self-centered woman whose lost perspective, there was a set of core values around hard work that she never abandoned. If she wants something, she angles for it—and not always in above-board ways. But she still angles, plays the game, works to stay on top.

And THAT’S why she became the power broker in Fleetwood Mac. Lindsey did 88 tour dates in 21 years. Aside from the nine months for The Dance and the Inauguration and Super Bowl, Christine was largely out of the public eye for 23 years.

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Aside from the nine months for The Dance and the Inauguration and Super Bowl, Christine was largely out of the public eye for 23 years.

But not out of the public ear.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by DownOnRodeo

But not out of the public ear.

Doesn’t matter. Out of sight, out of mind. I’m going to be 50. My mom though I was slightly too young to go to a big concert in 1987, so I only got to see her twice in the first 27 years of fandom.

I was never into Stevie (only went to see her solo in 2001), but I could have seen her fifteen times going to one show per tour in that same timeframe.

There were generations really didn’t get the opportunity to know Christine McVie the way they did Stevie because she was retired. Sure, her songs got played on classic rock and lite rock stations.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Doesn’t matter. Out of sight, out of mind. I’m going to be 50. My mom though I was slightly too young to go to a big concert in 1987, so I only got to see her twice in the first 27 years of fandom.

I was never into Stevie (only went to see her solo in 2001), but I could have seen her fifteen times going to one show per tour in that same timeframe.

There were generations really didn’t get the opportunity to know Christine McVie the way they did Stevie because she was retired. Sure, her songs got played on classic rock and lite rock stations.

Of course, it's not a secret who's put in the most work for her career. Perhaps, that's why she turned into such an awful person. It's a lot of work. Fame is something not everyone can handle graciously.

[David]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Of course, it's not a secret who's put in the most work for her career.

A certain type of work, I would agree. She spends all her energies mounting big tours, interacting flashily with other acts in the studio and onstage (it’s always an “event” that seems designed for paparazzi), presenting herself in a certain light and look, and getting her name in the newspapers. She’s great at all that. The public definitely responds.

I just wish she had put half that energy into honing her craft: writing better and more varied songs, stretching herself artistically, improving her piano and guitar, incorporating more of a vision into her work besides just the chiffon faerie girl. As an artist, she is a reactionary.

I also wish she’d be more honest about her artistry. She doesn’t follow her muse so much as cater to a rather shallow audience. The only other explanation is that her muse just isn’t worth following.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by David

A certain type of work, I would agree. She spends all her energies mounting big tours, interacting flashily with other acts in the studio and onstage (it’s always an “event” that seems designed for paparazzi), presenting herself in a certain light and look, and getting her name in the newspapers. She’s great at all that. The public definitely responds.

I just wish she had put half that energy into honing her craft: writing better and more varied songs, stretching herself artistically, improving her piano and guitar, incorporating more of a vision into her work besides just the chiffon faerie girl. As an artist, she is a reactionary.

I also wish she’d be more honest about her artistry. She doesn’t follow her muse so much as cater to a rather shallow audience. The only other explanation is that her muse just isn’t worth following.

God, the lucidity of this post really moves me. I feel so much the same way. We are in complete agreement. Especially, the craft part. After Wild Heart, I dreamed of getting more albums that evolved from there. Not de-volved.

[BigAl84]

Originally Posted by David

A certain type of work, I would agree. She spends all her energies mounting big tours, interacting flashily with other acts in the studio and onstage (it’s always an “event” that seems designed for paparazzi), presenting herself in a certain light and look, and getting her name in the newspapers. She’s great at all that. The public definitely responds.

I just wish she had put half that energy into honing her craft: writing better and more varied songs, stretching herself artistically, improving her piano and guitar, incorporating more of a vision into her work besides just the chiffon faerie girl. As an artist, she is a reactionary.

I also wish she’d be more honest about her artistry. She doesn’t follow her muse so much as cater to a rather shallow audience. The only other explanation is that her muse just isn’t worth following.

She does a lot of work that create nice headlines...clickbait. A Gorillaz song, a duet with Dolly, sang with Lana Del Rey when she was all over the place, a song with Elton during his last tour/album hype, a song with Don Henley. She completely distanced herself from Sheryl Crow when she was no longer all over the radio. One might ask why invest all the energy in these one-off collaborations, it's done strictly for the press. Has nothing to do with the actual music or collaboration. Additionally, when you clearly have nothing left to offer as a writer, it's a win-win because the material is already provided for her. Even going back to 24K Gold - the polaroids made a bigger splash than the album.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by David

A certain type of work, I would agree. She spends all her energies mounting big tours, interacting flashily with other acts in the studio and onstage (it’s always an “event” that seems designed for paparazzi), presenting herself in a certain light and look, and getting her name in the newspapers. She’s great at all that. The public definitely responds.

I just wish she had put half that energy into honing her craft: writing better and more varied songs, stretching herself artistically, improving her piano and guitar, incorporating more of a vision into her work besides just the chiffon faerie girl. As an artist, she is a reactionary.

I also wish she’d be more honest about her artistry. She doesn’t follow her muse so much as cater to a rather shallow audience. The only other explanation is that her muse just isn’t worth following.

Joni Mitchell. You want her to be like Joni Mitchell.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

(only went to see her solo in 2001)

I see her in 1985. Horrible shape she was in! But I had tickets to see her in her renaissance in 2001–on September 12. So, that never happened. She got stuck in NYC for a few weeks, canceled the tour, and wrote Illume.

[BigAl84]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I see her in 1985. Horrible shape she was in! But I had tickets to see her in her renaissance in 2001–on September 12. So, that never happened. She got stuck in NYC for a few weeks, canceled the tour, and wrote Illume.

Blue Cross Arena 9/12 in Rochester, NY? I had third row seats for that! Still have my unused ticket stubs.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by BigAl84

Blue Cross Arena 9/12 in Rochester, NY? I had third row seats for that! Still have my unused ticket stubs.

I had row 5!!!!!! I no longer have my stub.