Smile at You on AOL

[SmthngOfADreamr]

Originally posted by sodascouts
Hi,

Stevie has made a very common error in that she hasn't kept her verbs consistent.

"I should have turned away and ran" might sound OK at first to some people, but let's take out the "turned away" and see what's left: "I should have ran." Obviously that's wrong. Both verbs have to be in that "have" tense to match up. Correct: "I should have turned away and run."

The other mistake is the "can." Again, tense-related problem here. "Should" matched up with "could," not "can." "I should have turned away and run as fast as I could."

I think the reason no one fixed it is because the mistakes, ran/can, are the words that make up the rhyme. Stevie would have had to make a lyrical change- she couldn't have just replaced the words. I guess it was a case of two wrongs making a right, in their eyes. lol

Thanks!

Maybe it was one of the cases where Stevie refused to change her lyrics, like they discussed in the Mark and Brian show. Who knows.

[SmthngOfADreamr]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
Well, I do.

Hey, guys, I didn't expect too many people to agree with me here. Some couldn't even tell what the problem was.

So the chipping away at the quality of pop culture goes on and the nation dumbs down a little more. So what?

English is not my first language and that is why I sometimes cannot hear the problem, but when it was written by sodascouts, I saw it immediately. It's not that I disagree with you, it's that I don't understand why it has to be such an issue. But I do agree that it at least looks bad. And maybe it will sound bad to me when the audio is of better quality.

And I'm glad you care, good for you. I just hope for your sake that you can listen to songs without always analyzing every last detail. Sometimes it takes the fun away.

[LilyRose]

Originally posted by SmthngOfADreamr
And I'm glad you care, good for you. I just hope for your sake that you can listen to songs without always analyzing every last detail. Sometimes it takes the fun away.

Thank you! I can't believe that grammer has become the topic of this whole thread! This is the type of thing that makes Mick's board look sane. That's sad!!


Susie

[gldstwmn]

I still don't like this version. I keep listening to it but I still don't like it.

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by LilyRose
Thank you! I can't believe that grammer has become the topic of this whole thread! This is the type of thing that makes Mick's board look sane. That's sad!!


Susie

Why are there always people who feel they have to pass judgement on which way a thread goes? Can't you just accept that a thread will take on a life of its own? If it had gone down the route of discussing Stevie's platform boots yet again, would you object?

What's with the thread police?

[EnchantedStorms]

LOL, I don't think ANYthing could make THAT place look sane.





~Angela~

[Somajoseph]

One of the reasons I started to post here and there is because I love Fleetwood Mac's music, and it was great to share my enthusiasm for their music with other fans. Having said that, I've got to say that Carne Vaca is just simply obnoxious.
You dont impress me with any of the bitchy, negative and smarmy comments you make. Music moves people like little else can, so to sit there and dissect something to make yourself sound superior and more intelligent just plain sucks.
I loved "Smile at You" because of the heart that Stevie put into the vocal. I enjoyed it. Simple as that. So lighten up Carne, cause you are a real downer on these boards.

Joseph

[Johnny Stew]

Arguing, debating, and arguing the debating, are all well and good... but don't let this disolve into attacking CarneVaca, or anyone else.

Civility, please.



Johnny Stew

[Janet]

Too bad grammatical errors weren't the only thing wrong with this song.

Stevie and Lindsey seem to be on different paths. She is happy with good solid songs with solid singing...Lindsey wants to weave these strange little ditties all around her songs..and it's not going well together on this one.

I think Christine totally kept that from happening..she was the thread that linked Lindsey and Stevie together sometimes...not all the time. I mean they have a link..but now they are so different musically, I think , that it just sounds like two different styles colliding here....and its overproduced...too slick.

Im not feeling a connection between the two of them on this song, its boring and Im disappointed. I really expected more from such a powerhouse song!

I'll have to listen to this again ...

[BombaySapphire3]

Hey Joesph! Nice to see someone else from our CIVIL and TOLERANT little corner of the world posting on here!

[ERigby818]

I admit, the glaring grammatical error is starting to bug me too. I don't know if it's because I've been reading this thread, because I am often annoyed by bad grammar (Christy, your Backstreet Boys examples are hilarious!!! Those are like nails down a blackboard). But before it was pointed out I didn't notice it in Smile At You because I couldn't make out the words because of the lousy mp3 quality and muffled chorus. Eh, it would have happened sooner or later and I would have fallen out of my chair after hearing it in good quality for the first time . So nothing said here has ruined the song for me. I don't think anything could actually. I still am blown away by how great it is and how much it blew my expactations completely away. I do understand those who miss the "Flyyyyy..." part. But I've been reflecting on this and I love the fact that this song is still so passionate without being enraged. I mean, I LOVE the rage on the angry version, but I don't know if that same young, raw emotion could be re-created now. If you listen to the line "I am older now..." it totally changes the meaning and attitude of the song from that angry version some 20 years ago. And like I said, this one's still got plenty of passion .
I agree, EnchantedStorms, nothing could make THAT madhouse look sane.
-Sonia

[LilyRose]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
Why are there always people who feel they have to pass judgement on which way a thread goes? Can't you just accept that a thread will take on a life of its own? If it had gone down the route of discussing Stevie's platform boots yet again, would you object?

What's with the thread police?

First of all, it was a joke. Second of all, I'm not the freakin thread police...I rarely ever post here. Thirdly, yes, I would object "if it had gone down the route of discussing Stevie's platform boots..."

Susie

[secondhandchain]

Allright, I just heard the demo. You guys who miss the old version can't possibly expect Stevie to do what she did then. I was exhausted for Stevie listening to it. She's in her 50's now. They had to change the song a little. She still does an awesome job on the vocal. It's also been updated. It has a very much today sound. Anyway just my humble opinion.

[BombaySapphire3]

I agree .I'm really glad they did something different with it.Lindsey has always given way more than he has taken when producing and arranging Stevie's songs.The problems on TITN had to do with Stevie's preoccupation with her solo career and a multitude of personal problems and that she was only there for a few days.I think this is the most that they have worked together and cooperated in many ,many years.This song may take some getting used to for some fans but I think after most of the people that don't care for it hear it on a good sound system directly from the CD it will grow on them it sounds like a very intricate production which loses alot in this format.

[PenguinHead]

Originally posted by SmthngOfADreamr
I don't understand those of you who complain that it's not like the Tusk or Mirage version. Who cares? We'll always have those versions, so I'm not sure why you would have wanted a replica to appear on the new album. IMHO this is a fantastic, and more importantly a fresh take on this song. [/B]

AMEN! I concur! Plus remember, some songs need to grow on you. To make such an immediate judgement just because it doesn't hit you on the first listen is silly. Look at Tusk! Many fans were dumbfounded and dissapointed when they first heard it. All these years later, it's considered a masterpiece by many.

Also, unless you're a credible music producer, I prefer not to read such adament dismissive comments on what "you" think would have made the song better for YOU! Everyone has different expectations, or no expectations at all. I have the latter, and full acceptance of what they give us.