Interview with Barbara from 1997 / Angels

[Pyewacket]

This is such a sweet interview with Stevie's Mom from about 15 years ago. "Angels" is mentioned as a song that she wants played for her when it comes her "time to go."

http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.ph...2&id=6589&c=11

"I've made her promise me, just promise me, that when I go, this is the song I want played. It's just beautiful."

Has the song ever been shared?

[Tango]

Originally Posted by Pyewacket

This is such a sweet interview with Stevie's Mom from about 15 years ago. "Angels" is mentioned as a song that she wants played for her when it comes her "time to go."

http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.ph...2&id=6589&c=11

"I've made her promise me, just promise me, that when I go, this is the song I want played. It's just beautiful."

Has the song ever been shared?

Yes, it's on the "Sweet November" soundtrack- available for sale on Amazon. Not sure if it's a download, though.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by Pyewacket

This is such a sweet interview with Stevie's Mom from about 15 years ago. "Angels" is mentioned as a song that she wants played for her when it comes her "time to go."

http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.ph...2&id=6589&c=11

"I've made her promise me, just promise me, that when I go, this is the song I want played. It's just beautiful."

Has the song ever been shared?

I think it's assumed that the song "Angels" to which Barbara refers to is indeed the TISL outtake "Touched By An Angel", which was only released on the Sweet November soundtrack in 01'.

[Tango]

I just checked- the song is available on a cd ( on the Sweet November soundtrack) or you can buy an mp3 of just that song for 99 cents on Amazon.

Wow, it's on iTunes too.

[PenguinHead]

Iwant to think that Touched By An Angel isnt' the song Barbara was talking about. I hope that 'Angels" is an entirly different song.

The lyrics of Touched By An Angel seem to be about Fleetwood Mac. Even if it isn't, the lyrics are somewhat quirky and hardly universal, or inspirationally funeral-appropriate. I think that Landslide is the only song she has ever written that approached that level.

Perhaps the original demo version had different lyrics which she modifed when she recorded the song for the movie soundtrack, and "Angels" became a singular "Angel."

[Etisl]

Referencing the time frame this article came out....I think "Angels" is a different song than "Touched by an Angel".

When she says "I think it would be perfect for Touched by an Angel....but, I don't think she will send it to THEM."...........I think she is actually referring to the television show "Touched by an Angel" which was very popular around that time... And if you recall they had beautiful soundtracks and alot of musical artist that had their songs on there, or even made appearances on the show.

[Tango]

Originally Posted by Etisl

Referencing the time frame this article came out....I think "Angels" is a different song than "Touched by an Angel".

When she says "I think it would be perfect for Touched by an Angel....but, I don't think she will send it to THEM."...........I think she is actually referring to the television show "Touched by an Angel" which was very popular around that time... And if you recall they had beautiful soundtracks and alot of musical artist that had their songs on there, or even made appearances on the show.

I guess it's possible that Stevie has yet another song about angels--she's a prolific writer, and angels are her passion, according to her mother.

"Touched By An Angel" is listed in the US copyright office as having been created in 1996--they received a cassette and lyrics sheet. According to the article of 1997, Barbara Nicks says "Mom has her favorite songs: Landslide, Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You and Leather and Lace all spring to mind. She's passionate about Angels, a wistful ballad about the end of life. The song is unreleased, but Stevie gave her mother a demo recording.

"She wrote it about two years ago. I've only played it for a few people. I told Stevie that it would be great for Touched by an Angel, which I love, but I don't know if she'll send it to them.

"I've made her promise me, just promise me, that when I go, this is the song I want played. It's just beautiful."

http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.ph...2&id=6589&c=11


The "Sweet November" movie was 2001.

The Touched By An Angel series was from 1994-2003.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. It seems wrong that this song only appeared on a movie soundtrack, so that it has been virtually unheard by a lot of people. We know about it here, but of course we have learned of a lot of stuff here over the years that many fans haven't heard about. We are tough to surprise.

[Nathan]

I think it may be Jane.

last couple of weeks, I'd hit a demo
version I have a few times. then I pulled
the street angel cd. listened to jane, and
It's so different. the chorus isreally
'there are angels here', angels, angels,
angels.

[Josh2003]

Jane isn't about "the end of life" though.

I'm sure it's Touched by an Angel.

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

Jane isn't about "the end of life" though.

I'm sure it's Touched by an Angel.

(You're sure?)

But Touched By An Angel isn't about the end of life, either.

[Josh2003]

Originally Posted by seekerj

(You're sure?)

But Touched By An Angel isn't about the end of life, either.

I meant that in my mind, I'm sure.

And I think that TBAA is absolutely about the end of life. Angels standing at the side of the stage, coming to "make you better," and "to take you away."

She said she wrote the song about the AIDS Day of Compassion. It's featured on a soundtrack to a movie about a woman with a terminal illness.

[Tango]

I am curious to know how others are interpreting this song, since some think it's not about death. I guess in my mind the whole crossroads idea seems to be about some sort of transition from life to death-- I sort of picture a patient looking up from the hospital bed (or wherever they happen to be) and see an angel standing there. Everything was the same except everything was different, as if he could see something that no one else could see. Family/friends--people were standing about, and the floor was wet and slippery with the tracks of their tears. I took that to mean grieving, but yet seeing this man was passing on to something else, maybe.

Perhaps Stevie sees death, sometimes, as a positive step or something. An angel shows up to "take you away." Apparently a positive greeting into another dimension. Not a picture painting of death = rotting, but something more. Moving to something positive-- something better.


seekerj, how do you read this song, if you don't mind my asking. You see it differently, right? And that's certainly possible! What do you think Stevie's saying or seeing with these words?


TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

And when she walked in the room
After so many years,
He looked up and saw her
He was standing at the crossroads
She was moving in slow motion
Everything was the same,
Except that everything was different

In that very moment, everyone was silent
And everyone was friendly,
For the first time in years,
Everyone was smiling
Though their pain was apparent
and the floor was wet and slippery
With the tracks of their tears

And then I see someone standing
At the side of the stage
Not standing in the shadows
I see her face
Glowing in the darkness
In her own angel way
"I have come to make you better,
I have come to take you away."

No one slipped and fell
This time, everyone was steady
Someone held my arm so that
I would not fall
For the first time, in a long time
Everyone was ready
No one said a word
And that simply said it all

And then I see someone standing
At the side of the stage
Not standing in the shadows
I see her face
Glowing in the darkness
In her own angel way
"I have come to make you better,
I have come...to take you away."I’ll make you better

Walking through the room together
In suspended animation...
No one saw us go... no one said goodbye
But in my heart, I leave
Great expectations
That you will find the answers
to your questions
And that life will once more...
be a celebration...
and that you will be touched by an Angel
and that you will be touched by an Angel
and that you will be touched by an Angel

Celebration
Someday
Someday, Someday
Celebration

[Josh2003]

Originally Posted by Tango

I am curious to know how others are interpreting this song, since some think it's not about death. I guess in my mind the whole crossroads idea seems to be about some sort of transition from life to death-- I sort of picture a patient looking up from the hospital bed (or wherever they happen to be) and see an angel standing there. Everything was the same except everything was different, as if he could see something that no one else could see. Family/friends--people were standing about, and the floor was wet and slippery with the tracks of their tears. I took that to mean grieving, but yet seeing this man was passing on to something else, maybe.

Perhaps Stevie sees death, sometimes, as a positive step or something. An angel shows up to "take you away." Apparently a positive greeting into another dimension. Not a picture painting of death = rotting, but something more. Moving to something positive-- something better.


seekerj, how do you read this song, if you don't mind my asking. You see it differently, right? And that's certainly possible! What do you think Stevie's saying or seeing with these words?


TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

And when she walked in the room
After so many years,
He looked up and saw her
He was standing at the crossroads
She was moving in slow motion
Everything was the same,
Except that everything was different

In that very moment, everyone was silent
And everyone was friendly,
For the first time in years,
Everyone was smiling
Though their pain was apparent
and the floor was wet and slippery
With the tracks of their tears

And then I see someone standing
At the side of the stage
Not standing in the shadows
I see her face
Glowing in the darkness
In her own angel way
"I have come to make you better,
I have come to take you away."

No one slipped and fell
This time, everyone was steady
Someone held my arm so that
I would not fall
For the first time, in a long time
Everyone was ready
No one said a word
And that simply said it all

And then I see someone standing
At the side of the stage
Not standing in the shadows
I see her face
Glowing in the darkness
In her own angel way
"I have come to make you better,
I have come...to take you away."I’ll make you better

Walking through the room together
In suspended animation...
No one saw us go... no one said goodbye
But in my heart, I leave
Great expectations
That you will find the answers
to your questions
And that life will once more...
be a celebration...
and that you will be touched by an Angel
and that you will be touched by an Angel
and that you will be touched by an Angel

Celebration
Someday
Someday, Someday
Celebration

Everything you just said.

Stevie said about the song, “On the 4th day of compassion I was impressed to write a poem about aids and about the angel that I do believe in my heart is there for us! I call her the 'passageway angel'. The next night I typed it up from my notes, and added the last verse.”

The lyrics clearly imply someone who has been suffering, and death is their release from that pain, into some better state/condition/place. The friends and family are sad to see them go, but happy that their loved one is finally at peace: everyone was ready, everyone was smiling though their pain was apparent, etc.

[Tango]

Anyone familiar with what Stevie means by "4th day of compassion?" Well, you know how to google stuff if you don't.


The folks as Wiki (they haven't done the blackout thing yet) say this about it:


"Day Of Compassion was an annual television special (1993-1998) which honored those who have AIDS or who are HIV-positive. Neil Tadken, creator, was so moved by the HIV/AIDS-awareness storyline involving the character Billy Douglas (Ryan Phillippe) on "One Life To Live", that Tadken contacted the producers of all ten daytime dramas, suggesting that on June 21, their shows mention AIDS and HIV in some way. All My Children, One Life To Live, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives participated in the first year. Hollywood Support's became the supporting organization, headed by Barry Diller and other major studio heads in the Hollywood. Neil Taken then met with producer Lawrence Leritz, who agreed to become the East Coast producer and spokesman. Leritz continued for three seasons; "Day Of Compassion" became the largest one day event in television history with over 200 shows on the air; soaps, talk shows, cable and news. Time Magazine named Lawrence as their Local Hero in June 1996 for his contribution."

Stevie watched her soaps.

http://rockalittle.com/article_nylon_june2001.htm

“In the old days I used to get up at 5,” says Nicks in that smoke-cured, slightly raspy voice of hers. “Now I’m up by 11 to watch my soaps: All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. For years, “ she says with a throaty self-deprecating chuckle, “this has been my top priority.”