Stevie Nicks Disappointed With Sales Of Her Latest Album

[nicolasjz]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I tend to think there is a taste level issue involved here, and it's not simply a matter of whether or not she promoted herself properly. Stevie has a very specific, binary appeal- either you get her or you don't get her. I don't know of many people who are simply indifferent. In the case of Europe, I just tend to think the European musical palette is different; they seem to be more admiring of "entertainers" versus "musicians," hence the immense popularity of non-songwriting singers like Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Kylie Minogue, Anastacia, Bonnie Tyler, Tom Jones, etc. I think perhaps Americans are a bit more demanding of their performers.

As a European I'm a little offended by what you just said. The idea that the U.S, the land of commercialism, entertainment, sacred money and vulgar and talentless popstars is "more demandingof its performers" is just laughable.

Let me just give you a short list of real, artistic songwriters who are more popular in Europe than in the US:
- Tom Waits
- David Bowie
- Bruce Springsteen (yes, the Boss can still fill stadiums in Europe, no longer in America)
- Leonard Cohen
- The Pixies
- Marianne Faithfull
- Neil Young
- Patti Smith
- Tracy Chapman
And countless others. You'll notice that many of them are actually American.

The reason why Stevie had no success whatsoever in Europe is simple: she's hardly ever toured there! Had she toured for Bella Donna and The Wild Heart, she certainly would have built a following there. By the time she finally came for OSOTM, she was nearing the nadir of her commercial success. And of course, she never went there ever again. As I said in another post, Stevie has only herself to blame for her lack of success in Europe.
At the same time you have to give credit to Tina Turner for going on these massive world tours and playing tirelessely in Europe. That she became a much bigger star there than Stevie is only logical and fair.