Has anyone here NEVER heard the demo of Smile At You?

[markolas]

The "angry" demo is a fiery performance for sure, but I honestly don't think the song itself is that great. I mean, I can't help but laugh every time I hear Stevie sing about her "flaming walls."

I need to listen to this album again - I haven't heard it in forever, but apparently there is a whole group of new Ledgies who were in kindergarten when it came out, and there's more conversation on here about it now than in 2003.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by markolas

The "angry" demo is a fiery performance for sure, but I honestly don't think the song itself is that great. I mean, I can't help but laugh every time I hear Stevie sing about her "flaming walls."

I'd have to agree that the song itself, any version, is not really exceptional in my book. I mean, I think I like the idea of it, but nothing about the actual song itself ever floored me. I like it well enough though. It just wouldn't make a list of favorites.

Michele

[David]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I'd have to agree that the song itself, any version, is not really exceptional in my book. I mean, I think I like the idea of it, but nothing about the actual song itself ever floored me.

The opening couplet --

Go on, save yourself
Leave the key here

-- is the best two lines Nicks ever wrote, by light years. You & I could spend hours analyzing it stylistically & thematically, but that would be boring. Suffice it to say that it's the most devastatingly succinct expression Nicks ever put into words. It's so unlike her. In fact, I'm inclined to believe she stole it from something or other.

The twiddly orchestration of this work on the Fleetwood Mac album is grotesque. It's nux vomica. It probably spreads swine flu, too. The lead vocal is worse than anything on the Mirror album, as well.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by David

The opening couplet --

Go on, save yourself
Leave the key here

Except that it doesn't make sense within the context of the next two lines:

You love someone else
I shouldn't be here

Oh, I just listened to the SYW version and remembered what irked the hell out of me about this song (besides the above). It's the lyrics "I should have turned away and ran as fast as I can." I should have been an English teacher, I think.

Stevie's vocal is a bit strained, but I like the song otherwise. Except for the fact that I can't help thinking she's singing about a UTI.

[Black_Moon]

Originally Posted by markolas

Except that it doesn't make sense within the context of the next two lines:

You love someone else
I shouldn't be here
Oh, I just listened to the SYW version and remembered what irked the hell out of me about this song (besides the above). It's the lyrics "I should have turned away and ran as fast as I can." I should have been an English teacher, I think.

Stevie's vocal is a bit strained, but I like the song otherwise. Except for the fact that I can't help thinking she's singing about a UTI.

I know what you mean, she should have said --

'You love someone else,
You shouldn't be here'

Who are we to question Stevie's warped logic though?

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by Black_Moon

I know what you mean, she should have said --

'You love someone else,
You shouldn't be here'

You couldn't say that to Bob Dylan!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by markolas

Except that it doesn't make sense within the context of the next two lines:

You love someone else
I shouldn't be here

Well, what if it was the key to a motel that you rent by the hour?

Or, what if they rented themselves a secret little love shack on the bad side of town where they could meet for their rendezvous. In that case, maybe neither of them should be there. He should leave the key, so she can end the lease and trot back to her own home.

As for turned and ran -- there's no way out of that!

Michele

[APerfectLie]

Originally Posted by markolas

Except that it doesn't make sense within the context of the next two lines:

You love someone else
I shouldn't be here

Oh, I just listened to the SYW version and remembered what irked the hell out of me about this song (besides the above). It's the lyrics "I should have turned away and ran as fast as I can." I should have been an English teacher, I think.

Stevie's vocal is a bit strained, but I like the song otherwise. Except for the fact that I can't help thinking she's singing about a UTI.

Somebody said something about them maybe being in a hotel and that Stevie is saying for him to leave his key there and that she shouldn't be there to begin with, which I think makes a lot of sense. Also, knowing how Stevie likes to change person I think she could be saying the "Go on save yourself, leave the key here" to herself and then the "you love someone else, I shouldn't be here" to whoever she was talking to. I think stevie is pissed that he is cheating, but deep down she doesn't want it to end so she is having to tell herself to "save yourself" and "leave the key there" before she gets hurt even more.

And about "I should have turned away and ran as fast as I can" it isn't grammatically correct, but for some reason I always thought it was "fast as I CAME" instead of "fast as I CAN" but I am pretty sure it says "can" in the lyrics, so I don't know.

I think the demo is great for us Stevie fans and I really love it, but I think the SYW version is just as good, and much better as a song. It has unique music and you can still hear some anger in Stevie's voice at some parts. However, the SYW version doesn't have some of the lyrics the demo has, which is something I don't like about it. But I like them both so I can't say really which one I personally prefer, it just depends on my mood.

[David]

Does anyone else get as great a joy as I get out of the playing on the demo? I don't care about anger issues in the singers, but I sure love that playing: that walloping Mick Fleetwood drumming & that jagged Lindsey Buckingham electric guitar, slashing across the song like a machete.

They're a band here. They're fierce and funky.

On the 2003 track, there's no there there. It's ****. It's elevator music.

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by David

Does anyone else get as great a joy as I get out of the playing on the demo? I don't care about anger issues in the singers, but I sure love that playing: that walloping Mick Fleetwood drumming & that jagged Lindsey Buckingham electric guitar, slashing across the song like a machete.

They're a band here. They're fierce and funky.

On the 2003 track, there's no there there. It's ****. It's elevator music.

So, you're saying that Fleetwood Mac as a band has gotten progressively worse?