Sisters... so what do we think?

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I really LOVED it! So chilling to hear that opening riff once again. Stevie voice handles the song just fine. Sure, as we expected, she's not shredding the chorus, holding it longer & singing it higher like she did on the "Tusk" & "Mirage" tours, because obviously if she did (even if she could) she'd shred her vocal chords and blow out her voice - which is exactly what she did numerous times during "Rhiannon" & SOTM live performances in the 70's through early 80's, causing show cancellations and vocal inconsistencies.

Remember this show is a not a sprint, it's a marathon. Stevie is very aware what NOT to do to keep her voice in shape, this is a pretty long show (which is probably the reason this song has been shortened) and basically a grueling North American tour schedule (at their age) through July 6th. Also, I think that based on SOTM's placement in the setlist, I believe it was probably an intentional move on the bands part to not only shorten the 2013 "live" version of this fan favorite, and not make it the barn burner-esque song of yore, hence Lindsey's less intense & subdued guitar solo & shortening the song.

I suspect between opening night jitters and being the first show, that as the tour rolls along Stevies performance's of SOTM will only get better. I don't expect this song to get dropped at all!
AND "Without You" sounds amazing - If the live version sounds this amazing, I can only imagine what the studio version sounds like. And Stevies definitely singing as high as she did on the early 70's demo! WoW

Btw. I love the "Sisters" vamping in the chorus - it's new and sounds eerie. It reminds me how she sounds & sings "Honey" on "Trouble In Shangri-la"

I can't wait to hear this live in person!!

I loved this 2013 live version. She seems to be singing this with more conviction somehow while trying to conserve her voice. She has said in past interviews that in the early live performances of this song she ripped her vocal cords so she's being more careful these days.

[DeeGeMe]

I didn't think Stevie's vocal was that bad; it was about what I expected for her at this age and her current vocal range. What was disappointing to me was the guitar part and we need Linds singing part of the song like he did on the Mirage tour--also crank up the girls a bit in the background.

But I am totally down with the people who are pointing out that age in general does things to your voice--the other day I was listening to Emmylou Harris and happened to listen to a 70's song back-to-back with a new one from her latest duo album with Rodney Crowell--her high end is just not there anymore even though she still has a great voice--it's not the voice she had in her 20's/30's anymore. So imagine combining age with a prior history of vocal abuse and it's amazing Stevie can still sing at all.

[mtkad]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

Yeah, I know Stevie can hit a G4, that really shouldn't be a problem. Just swinging up there once or twice would give the song a lot of energy.

Hate to be pernickity, isn't it an A4 that's the highest note in Sisters? It's the same high note she goes for in Rhiannon/Dreams, and Gold Dust Woman? these days. But yeah, surely she could give a good high wail at the last "moon".

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

I didn't think Stevie's vocal was that bad; it was about what I expected for her at this age and her current vocal range. What was disappointing to me was the guitar part and we need Linds singing part of the song like he did on the Mirage tour--also crank up the girls a bit in the background.

But I am totally down with the people who are pointing out that age in general does things to your voice--the other day I was listening to Emmylou Harris and happened to listen to a 70's song back-to-back with a new one from her latest duo album with Rodney Crowell--her high end is just not there anymore even though she still has a great voice--it's not the voice she had in her 20's/30's anymore. So imagine combining age with a prior history of vocal abuse and it's amazing Stevie can still sing at all.

Exactly, she is a lot wiser now and knows what she's doing so if she's happy then I'm happy!

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

I didn't think Stevie's vocal was that bad; it was about what I expected for her at this age and her current vocal range. What was disappointing to me was the guitar part and we need Linds singing part of the song like he did on the Mirage tour--also crank up the girls a bit in the background.

I agree, if they performed it with his guitar solo and then break it back down to the light/creepy guitar with the drums and then build back up with vocals - it would have been much better. However, I do think it's good and I doubt the main structure of the song will change on this tour. Hopefully she adds some vocal Stevie-isms and immerses herself in the song a little more.

[The Catdancer]

Based on the youtube contributions I thought it was great. Very different than what we're used to but she's not 30 anymore and I think opening night jitters played a big part. Lindsey should sing the "some call her sister of the moon" part and they should add the guitar solo, other than that I thought it was pretty good. I loved the back up vocals, they sounded pretty spooky and I loved Stevie going "sistaaaa". Overall a good performance and I'm sure it'll get better over time. Just my 2 cents

[markolas]

Yes, Lindsey's guitar solo would make it better, but it's a great performance. I was astonished that it was reintroduced to the set; even after I heard that Stevie said they were doing it, I thought "I'll believe it when I see it." Vocally, she totally pulled it off.

[FierySequences]

Originally Posted by The Catdancer

Based on the youtube contributions I thought it was great. Very different than what we're used to but she's not 30 anymore and I think opening night jitters played a big part. Lindsey should sing the "some call her sister of the moon" part and they should add the guitar solo, other than that I thought it was pretty good. I loved the back up vocals, they sounded pretty spooky and I loved Stevie going "sistaaaa". Overall a good performance and I'm sure it'll get better over time. Just my 2 cents

I agree with everything you posted...except the "sistaaaaa" repetitions. It was new and different for me, so in time, I guess the re-interpretation could grow on me. I loved that Stevie was Brave to perform it (and hope she continues to do so).

The mystical, dark, dreary song is one of the best she has ever recorded. And I enjoyed the fact that I was surrounded by Casuals that either didn't know the song or were aghast with the performance, like they had just bought a one-way ticket to an exercisism. I Love It!

This IS our Stevie, a song that defies popular opinion and vote. The world would be a better place with all exposed to this "dark" side of Stevie and FM.

[RavenOfRhiannon]

I listened to it yesterday and thought, 'Well, that was a good effort.' I didn't hate it, and I thought the vocals were pretty good.
Today I listened to the whole show 'back to front' (as Stevie likes to say) while I was doing housecleaning. Right in the middle of 'Sisters,' I realized I was singing, dancing and spinning around. It totally crept up on me, but man this song still works live!
I would only add to the chorus of those wishing for a longer guitar outro. It does seem to end just as I'm really getting into it.

[sleepless child]

I listened to it twice now. The first on Utube and the second is the bit torrent show. You can really hear everything on the download and after the second listen, I thought it was really good. I would like the Lindsey vocal and some wailing guitar, but I think the show as a whole was more subdued than past tours. I am seeing them in Pittsburgh and can't wait to see how they will sound after a few more shows under their belt.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

Here's a "Sisters" fact: The first time Stevie ever performed Sisters of the Moon was at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, NY July 1977. (Before it even came out on Tusk!) I was at that show front row and it was during that song, at that very moment, that I became a die hard Stevie Nicks fan.

I like the way Stevie pointed out that she hadn't done the song since the seventies after it was over.

Walter Egan performed the song even before Fleetwood Mac did and he said Lindsey told him to stop. Or he said Stevie told him she liked his version of the song, but since it was going to be on the next Mac album Lindsey put the kibosh on Egan continuing to do it.

Michele

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I like the way Stevie pointed out that she hadn't done the song until the seventies after it was over.

Walter Egan performed the song even before Fleetwood Mac did and he said Lindsey told him to stop. Or he said Stevie told him she liked his version of the song, but since it was going to be on the next Mac album Lindsey put the kibosh on Egan continuing to do it.

Michele

I had no idea Walter ever performed the song, thanks for the heads up! Here's a version... obviously to me it just sounds totally wrong hearing anyone other than Fleetwood Mac perform Sisters.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

obviously to me it just sounds totally wrong hearing anyone other than Fleetwood Mac perform Sisters.

His is rather fast and sing-songy allowing the drama and mystery of the song to escape out like a bucket with a gaping hole.

Michele

[HomerMcvie]

Where was she in 1982???

Oh yeah, plotting her future Betty Ford vacation!!!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Where was she in 1982???

Someone should have yelled to her, "1982!" when she said the seventies. Either she would have smiled and remembered or she would have given them a death stare.

Michele