Call On Me For Magic

[Phoenix]

I am thrilled about this, and that MOST everyone agrees this is refreshing and cool
!

[Phoenix]

The more i listen to this the better it gets!


I am going to put this on my "Show Stevie's Versatility compilation"

Its Late
Dreams remix
Edge of seventeen live
At last
After the glitter fades
Beautiful Child

Stevie really can do different styles, Rock, Country, Ballads, Techno, and now this, but somehow they are all uniquely Her. I love it.

[Phil]

I was wondering if someone could repost an MP3 of this track as I am not able to download the existing one?

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I don't think Mama has ever had control over her vibrato, but I think that is part of her charm and makes her so distinct- it's her trademark. Nobody sings like her. Usually, as singers age, the vibrato starts to slow down and wobble. But Mama still warbles like a canary- it's amazing, actually. If anything, I think it would be rather unfortunate if she controlled her vibrato too well- it would make her so conventional and indistinct, IMHO.

i get what you're saying. it don't dislike her vibrato categorically, there are just a few places it didn't sound right to me.

Agreed. But it would have stuck out on TISL like a sore thumb.

oh, it wouldn't have fit at all on TISL, nor would it have fit on SYW. but i think it could have worked great at a benefit or on a movie soundtrack. i just think it's rare that we get a vocal from her that is this controlled & vulnerable, so strong & understated.

edit: here's the track for those who can't get the megaupload link to work:

http://www.mediafire.com/?y3q4oyjidmz

[fleetwoodtrick]

This is totally awesome! Stevie kicks ass! And thanks for the original and reposted download links. It's so awesome to find a new demo, and one that almost everyone likes, too!

[Christopher]

OMGWTF!!!! Whether or not you like this Torch style, Standards etc. There is no denying this is one of Stevie's best vocals since the mid 80's i.e. HAEWAFY!!! or anything before RAL! I love her nuanced, controlled vocal..and her falsetto is simply irresistible (comparable to "Whenever I call you Friend"). It's been what we have been missing from Miss Nicks since her heyday!!! (except when S. Crow coaxed it out of her for "Sorcerer") I cannot believe my ears!!!

I personally love the song, and am of the opinion that Stevie should go this route on her next solo outing, ever since she mentioned that she would love to work with David Foster on a Standards recording, back when she was on the Today Show promoting CV.

I believe it would be a critical and commercial triumph for Stevie (along the lines of Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable", Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, KD Lang's "Hymns on 49th" etc. And finally put to rest the nay Sayers who say that Stevie is not a capable or relevant vocalist, who is able to sing practically any genre (country, blues, standards, pop, rock, r&b, dance.)

[Nikolaj]

Blown away. I think it is nearly magnificent. I'm so thrilled that Stevie stretched herself; really in an entirely unexpected direction, and that she can still create something so striking. I even like the dreamy movieland orchestration sound to the music, and I really like that she did such an exquisite job singing it. I think it ranks as a superior effort to much of what we have heard from her in some time, which i don't mean to sound as a left-handed compliment. To be fair to SN, we really haven't heard much new in quite some time, if not a long time. It makes me remember why I loved her as an artisan, and even though I've long hoped for her to deliver a new, totally rocking classic, I am very, very impressed by how she delivered the goods on this track. She has to keep singing new material, it will revitalize her as much as it would us.
The one thing i think would make this song become a standard has to do with a choice the songwriter made, though it's a darn good song- But my choice would be to change it to "Call On You For Magic" or "Calling You For Magic" --- odd?
Here's why- In the first verse, we learn that "some sorceror broke your heart"--so to get over the bad love affair, 'call on me for magic'...
I think it would be way more beautiful and MUCH more of a love song to remind the broken-hearted one that there is still magic within him, despite of the sorceror; and to say to someone "i need your magic" strikes me as far more romantic than "you need my magic" and to essentially say "I see the magic you possess, no matter how badly you were hurt, it's something no sorceror could take away" is irresistable, whereas "see, the magic I can give you?" somehow less acknowledges the treasure that this person's love would mean. I think this would give the song the correct emotional impact, they are so close to having something great...
I still think it's excellent, though. The rest of the lyric could remain as is, it still would 'make sense.'
"Calling You For Magic"--
-plus, the romanticism of Stevie Nicks singing that someone else, rather than herself, is magic, would make the song perfect.

[jrpjr]

this is absolutely beautiful...i think if she did an entire album of music like this she would gain an entirely new audience and very much satisfy her existing fans...this blew me away!!! i heard the first line and thought: "oh God..this is aweful.." then i listened to the whole thing and REALLY enjoyed it once I opened up MY mind..BRAVO Stevie Nicks...now i wish someone on her "management team" would encourage her to take a %$^&ing risk and record it and release it!! Beauty And The Beast would have been a a HUGE hit as well as a beautiful video..."Sister Honey" would have been a top 10 "disco hit" in it's day..."Ooh My Love" ..another potential HUGE hit..her advisors stink...they keep her sooooo conservative that her fullest potential as an artist has not even been fully exposed to the public. Only her die hard fans REALLY know what she is capable of...Stevie Nicks..if u r reading this...hire me..i will have u back on top 10 billboard hits in 3 months....1/2 kidding..but come on...take the risk..what have u got to lose?? I say this w/extreme respect and love for her music and her personally!!

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

But my choice would be to change it to "Call On You For Magic" or "Calling You For Magic" --- odd?
Here's why- In the first verse, we learn that "some sorceror broke your heart"--so to get over the bad love affair, 'call on me for magic'...
I think it would be way more beautiful and MUCH more of a love song to remind the broken-hearted one that there is still magic within him, despite of the sorceror; and to say to someone "i need your magic" strikes me as far more romantic than "you need my magic" and to essentially say "I see the magic you possess, no matter how badly you were hurt, it's something no sorceror could take away" is irresistable, whereas "see, the magic I can give you?" somehow less acknowledges the treasure that this person's love would mean. I think this would give the song the correct emotional impact, they are so close to having something great...

oh wow, i don't agree at all. i don't think the song is saying "you need my magic." it's saying you've been hurt, so if you need some strength, you can draw on mine. it's an expression of availability and support, not an implication that the listener is weak. not even the strongest person can function in a vacuum.

besides, most of the best love songs are just a little bit codependent

this is a rare POV for stevie to take, and i like it. she's not playing wounded, and she's not singing about herself. it's a nice change.

[diane_k]

Originally Posted by carrie721

oh wow, i don't agree at all. i don't think the song is saying "you need my magic." it's saying you've been hurt, so if you need some strength, you can draw on mine. it's an expression of availability and support, not an implication that the listener is weak. not even the strongest person can function in a vacuum.

besides, most of the best love songs are just a little bit codependent

this is a rare POV for stevie to take, and i like it. she's not playing wounded, and she's not singing about herself. it's a nice change.

that's a very interesting point! i just can't get over that falsetto. i really hope people take more notice of this overlooked gem.

~DK

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by carrie721

oh wow, i don't agree at all. i don't think the song is saying "you need my magic." it's saying you've been hurt, so if you need some strength, you can draw on mine. it's an expression of availability and support, not an implication that the listener is weak. not even the strongest person can function in a vacuum.

besides, most of the best love songs are just a little bit codependent

this is a rare POV for stevie to take, and i like it. she's not playing wounded, and she's not singing about herself. it's a nice change.

Thats true. It is very comforting in the POV that is being conveyed.

[fleetwoodtrick]

Kay, well here's what I got for lyrics. Let me know whatcha think, and where I should separate them.

Emotions... disappearing
And your dreams all.. vaporize
Another love has come and gone...
But, that's no surprise
Some Sorcerer has touched you...
Placed his hands upon your soul
Stays until your feelings lose control
Oh, a kind of strange enchantment...
Holds you captive in your mind
I can't find the magic, of the ocean to unwind
Call on me for magic
Call on me to break the spell...
That holds your heart away so easily
Call and let me hypnotize your sorrow with my song (Could also be sun...)
Call on me for magic,
Call on me.
Your peace of mind deserts you....
In a place you don't belong...
Don't sit and stare at emptiness till (too?)
Nothing comes along
Let me try and show you...
That your fantasy's not true
That love is not for everyone...
But you...
Oh, what kind of strange enchantment...
Holds you captive, in your mind
I can't find the magic of the ocean to unwind
Call on me on magic
Call on me to break the spell
That holds your heart away so easily
Call and let me hypnotize your sorrow with my song
Call on me for magic...
Call on me
Call on me
Call on me
Call on me...

[Phil]

Thanks Carrie721 for the reposting - I really appreciate it.
As an aside, does anyone remember the story about David Kahne convincing Susanna Hoffs to record a track stark naked during a session with The Bangles, assuring her that the vocal would sound equally bare? Apparently he attempted the same trick with Olivia Newton-John soon afterwards but didn't have as much luck coaxing her into submission. I wonder if this is how he elicited the "vulnerability" in Stevie's delivery with this recording?

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by Phil

Thanks Carrie721 for the reposting - I really appreciate it.
As an aside, does anyone remember the story about David Khane convincing Susanna Hoffs to record a track stark naked during a session with The Bangles, assuring her that the vocal would sound equally bare? Apparently he attempted the same trick with Olivia Newton-John soon afterwards but didn't have as much luck coaxing her into submission. I wonder if this is how he elicited the "vulnerability" in Stevie's delivery with this recording?

Well, considering David Kahne is a douchebag, I wouldn't put anything past him.

[nailatixela]

I e-mailed David Kahne asking if this was the only track (besides Love Changes) that they worked on to make sure there weren't any other hidden gems he had. He said these were the only two, and that stevie sang this song for him as a favor.