In Defense of Stevie Nicks (Cary O'Dell)

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

Am I the only one who does not get any "Renaissance maiden" vibe from the RAL back cover?

I don't either. Medieval maiden on the other hand...

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Christopher

It's kinda sad that this writer/blogger was at times ashamed publicly for her Stevie fandom Poor Thing! Stevie = timeless. Always has, always will. As she has always rocked to the beat of her own drum! Not only is that admirable, but fierce and trailblazing! And now that Stevie is in the elder stateswoman phase of her career, all of a sudden she's heralded as an unwavering original worthy of respect!?? WTF!! Those of us who've never been ashamed of Stevie's eccentric or unconventional stylings both as a performer and singer-songwriter, and have been fans for decades upon decades, not just during the popular years, but all the years, get it! It's the rest of the world thats been playing catch up, including this blogger/so-called *fickle* fan. So while Stevie now nurtures her illustrious legacy as the legend she always was destined to be. She is doing so with dignity, class and of course her enduring & enchanting singular aesthetic! She truly is an American treasure. No Question.

It's a great articulate article, and it's spot on. I don't understand the "sad" comment. There's nothing sad about it. It's very true that there was a time, during the ebbs and flows of her career, Stevie had fallen slightly out of favor in the general public. The appreciation of her was waning for various reasons. Still, her die hard fans stuck with her, as this writer has inferred. It wasn't about being ashamed, but being out of step with popular opinion.

In the past ten or so years, she's regained a huge amount of respect in the industry, and has gained a new generation of fans. Fans can now profess their love of Stevie to people who may not be fans, but now they can understand why!

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

Am I the only one who does not get any "Renaissance maiden" vibe from the RAL back cover?


- Jake

Nope, I don't get it either

[SaidSomething]

II have always made my own parade. I don't like pigeonholing, segregation, exclusive to any community or culture. Unlike some...I didn't have to try to be different.

I remember having a job while in highschool, I was always working with the "adults" and often got the, "who's he"?

I remember a time...gees it seems like yesterday...I actually used to ask people, "other than Stevie Nicks...whose your favorite Rock N Roller"?

...the beautiful, and the sensitive...and the oh, so very young...

[michelej1]

By Marty Salgado The Orion | October 18, 2011 [Stevie mention bolded]
http://theorion.com/opinion/article_...a4bcf6878.html
Social cues separate sexuality

I was upset, to say the least.

I'm a Paul Simon fan and I am not gay - not that there's anything wrong with that.

Ever since elementary school, I've been interested in less macho activities than some of my male peers, and I've been ridiculed for it. When everyone was playing on a Game Boy, I was reading the newspaper. When my friends got excited for Green Day's "American Idiot" tour, I was stoked to see Simon and Garfunkel back together on their "Old Friends" tour.

Because I didn't fit in with the norm, I was labeled as different, and sometimes different meant gay.

Labeling is part of being human. We all have a label, and we belong to a certain group. But we shouldn't be patronized because of it.

In September, 14-year-old James Rodemeyer committed suicide after repeatedly being teased for being gay. On Sept. 9, just a few weeks before killing himself, he posted the following message to his blog, according to the Daily Mail.

"I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens," he wrote. "What do I have to do so people will listen to me?"

Gay teenagers and adults alike are suffering as a result of bullying - but they're not the only ones who have to deal with labels. Anyone, regardless of orientation, can be bullied like I was. We have to stop the bullying by choosing not to use derogatory names to put people down for being different.

This month - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month - is a great opportunity to take a stand against the pejorative labeling and name calling we all see and tolerate every day.

Just last weekend, I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert and held the hand of Stevie Nicks, one of the most offbeat, gifted songwriters in music history - but I was hesitant to tell people who didn't know me, for fear of being labeled as effeminate, or gay.

The unspoken cultural stereotypes we adhere to every day are preventing us from sharing our true identities with the world. Whether you're playing football, video games or practicing your triple lutz while listening to the Village People, you shouldn't be afraid to be yourself.

There's not anything wrong with that. Seriously.

[fringed n fab]

I don't see what the big deal would be. It's not like Stevie/FM only attract gay fans. They have many different fans, all ages.

[tabruns]

Well bullies aren't logical or consistent. Just their perception that someone is different is enough for them.

[SaidSomething]

Originally Posted by tabruns

Well bullies aren't logical or consistent. Just their perception that someone is different is enough for them.

You could not have said it any better. Bless the bullied...and may their star shine bright and beautiful.

Bullies...are the ones in fear. Just look at the American GOP Presidential runners....especially, Michele Bachmann and her less than macho husband, Marcus...he greatly reflects a steroids typical gay man...stereotypes, and I don't like stereotypes but just as a classic example. Michele has let her hair grow, started wearing makeup and dresses...she vamped up her look to fit in as a stereotypical feminine woman. This look is new for her. Her husband Marcus and his crappy internet credentials for the Dr. Title. He is not a doctor...but he studied or payed for the title as a graduate of a doctorate program. I have several articles out on them...I think I mentioned before that I had a bigtime freelance job with a 30 day deadline. I had to rescind on the offer in my 3rd week. Everything I researched is coming out to this day. I was ill...I was barking and nasty to my loved ones...headaches you name it. Just last night I did a piece on Eric Cantor and his rotten mouth spewing hatred over the Americans vs Wall St....I just had to get a Bachmann jab in at the closing. 1 fact is that the district Michel represents has the highest teen suicide rate in US. Michele has been called many times to address this. She has not. Instead she remains a fraud and a bigot...and so do the rest of those in the top race...she has such a fetish though...and just go to youtube and google Marcus Bachmann gay, barbarian...I don't think anyone is old enough to remember Paul Lynde...or Liberace...his mannerisms invite the same bully bad guy backlash. I don't have Gaydar...I didn't know I was gay until my mid 20s...you cannot guess a guys sexuality by his demeanor or mannerisms...My partner can tell...and he's always right! But if I were to guess...I would say, Marcus..

My celebrity crush is a rugby payer from the UK. Ben Cohen. He's big time working on this cruel, sickening bully stuff...it has become his cause and he is a guy, strong enough in his skin to embrace and recognize the gay guys, like myself that...well...swoon over him.

I am working really hard at this topic...and often bring it up when I am a guest on my friends talk show.

Pat benatar sung it best...We Belong. And Debora Iyall of Romeo Void fame. Sings on her new album...Stay Strong...we all belong we all belong...http://youtu.be/CZRmKglxj4c

[SaidSomething]

Originally Posted by SaidSomething

You could not have said it any better. Bless the bullied...and may their star shine bright and beautiful.

Bullies...are the ones in fear. Just look at the American GOP Presidential runners....especially, Michele Bachmann and her less than macho husband, Marcus...he greatly reflects a steroids typical gay man...stereotypes, and I don't like stereotypes but just as a classic example. Michele has let her hair grow, started wearing makeup and dresses...she vamped up her look to fit in as a stereotypical feminine woman. This look is new for her. Her husband Marcus and his crappy internet credentials for the Dr. Title. He is not a doctor...but he studied or payed for the title as a graduate of a doctorate program. I have several articles out on them...I think I mentioned before that I had a bigtime freelance job with a 30 day deadline. I had to rescind on the offer in my 3rd week. Everything I researched is coming out to this day. I was ill...I was barking and nasty to my loved ones...headaches you name it. Just last night I did a piece on Eric Cantor and his rotten mouth spewing hatred over the Americans vs Wall St....I just had to get a Bachmann jab in at the closing. 1 fact is that the district Michel represents has the highest teen suicide rate in US. Michele has been called many times to address this. She has not. Instead she remains a fraud and a bigot...and so do the rest of those in the top race...she has such a fetish though...and just go to youtube and google Marcus Bachmann gay, barbarian...I don't think anyone is old enough to remember Paul Lynde...or Liberace...his mannerisms invite the same bully bad guy backlash. I don't have Gaydar...I didn't know I was gay until my mid 20s...you cannot guess a guys sexuality by his demeanor or mannerisms...My partner can tell...and he's always right! But if I were to guess...I would say, Marcus..

My celebrity crush is a rugby payer from the UK. Ben Cohen. He's big time working on this cruel, sickening bully stuff...it has become his cause and he is a guy, strong enough in his skin to embrace and recognize the gay guys, like myself that...well...swoon over him.

I am working really hard at this topic...and often bring it up when I am a guest on my friends talk show.

Pat benatar sung it best...We Belong. And Debora Iyall of Romeo Void fame. Sings on her new album...Stay Strong...we all belong we all belong...http://youtu.be/CZRmKglxj4c

this is just one of Ben Cohen's messages to they sad and scared gay youth.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by michelej1

But for many years, as she airily floated about, she was far too close to punchline and parody for even the most die-hard of fans to ably defend her fully.

But, now, it seems her look has outlasted her critics.

Furthermore, except for the infamous nearly nude photo of Nicks on her and Lindsey Buckingham’s Buckingham-Nicks album from 1973, Stevie has remained modest, covered up in her layers of chiffon and silk scarves.

In contrast, throughout her 40-plus year career, Stevie Nicks has not only not traded on her sexuality, but she has remained true to her muse.

She became a punchline when she got fat. That's just the simple
truth. I suppose it was the time period following the Rock A Little
Tour. And followed that up by becoming listless for the Street Angel
period. The full on parody took it's place at the inauguration of
President Clinton.

You could feel two ways about it. As a fan you could feel sorry for
her during this time period. Or as a critic, you could tear her apart.
If the weight gain would have happened earlier in her career, I doubt
we'd see her in the same light.

As far as outlasting her critics, once you reach a certain age or mabye
I should say make it to a certain age, critics sometimes show a
little mercy for just hanging in there.

Thankfully the Dance happened and saved her career and legacy.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

She became a punchline when she got fat. That's just the simple
truth. I suppose it was the time period following the Rock A Little
Tour. And followed that up by becoming listless for the Street Angel
period. The full on parody took it's place at the inauguration of
President Clinton.

You could feel two ways about it. As a fan you could feel sorry for
her during this time period. Or as a critic, you could tear her apart.
If the weight gain would have happened earlier in her career, I doubt
we'd see her in the same light.

As far as outlasting her critics, once you reach a certain age or mabye
I should say make it to a certain age, critics sometimes show a
little mercy for just hanging in there.

Th

Thanks for showing some perspective. The writer of the article got a lot of undeserved and misguided flack here. Despite the undying love of Stevie professed by some angry Ledgies here, Stevie, in some public circles, was not always as loved by critics and the general public --even before her solo years, when she was in Fleetwood Mac. She wasn't taken seriously. Big deal! So what? If you liked her, you liked her.

I can admit that I was a closet Fleetwood Mac fan in my high school days. They were not "cool" at that time. My obessesive devotion to them was kept a secret for many years. As decades went by, it was great to see people gaining a new perspective and respect for them.

That writer clearly was a fan, and was being very honest about her perspective. and it was spot on. She didn't just come a fan because Stevie is now considered "cool." She was always a fan -- there was nothing fickle about it. Please get a sense of perspective and humility and drop the attitude that Stevie is some kind of deity beyond reproach.

[TerraRhiannon]

That was an awesome article, they really hit the nail on the head! I'm making coming here a priority again because in the midst of my schedule and work and taking care of my new house, I hate missing news and new articles like this one :|