Stevie's Cameo on AHS: COVEN revealed!

[SpyNote]

Originally Posted by sodascouts

Thanks for your efforts. I didn't download it myself because I recorded it, but I know many people did.

A word from someone who's been there: if you upload things in order to get kudos and thanks, you're going to be disappointed. Feeling unappreciated is natural, but instead of focusing on how many people are thanking you, focus on finding gratification in the fact that you are contributing to the fan community and making a lot of people happy. You're doing good; you're helping people. Know that and smile.

For me, one sincere, unforced thank you is worth 20 that were given out of a sense of obligation or quid-pro-quo.

Again, thanks for all you do.

Nancy, that's great advice. I have been there too and have often had to swallow my pride when efforts go unnoticed. You expect some acknowledgement, but it often doesn't materialize. I'd imagine this is why some fans who used to be so active in this chose to walk away. But ultimately it is about sharing the content so that we can all experience and discuss it. As you said, that should be enough.

[michelej1]

IGN, by Matt Fowler 2/9/2014

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/...-season-review


"Time casts a spell on you...

"...but you won't forget me."

Yes, I thought I'd start off this Coven season review with some Fleetwood Mac lyrics. Seemed appropriate since "Silver Springs" is really the only Mac song I like. And since they actually played the song in the season finale yet didn't somehow get to the chorus, I thought I'd throw it in. With lyrics apropos the themes of Coven too.

It also allows me to kick off the review by talking about Stevie Nicks and her role on the show this year. A small part, sure, but an ill-conceived one. Now, now, before you leap to Stevie's defense, just know that not everyone in the world is a Stevie Nicks fans. It's just a cruel fact of life, I'm afraid. I have nothing against her, solo career or Mac years, but her voice and music (aside from the aforementioned song) just never did anything for me. If you're a Stevie enthusiast though, her bits throughout Coven probably tickled you to no end. Playing actual songs, as opposed to a composed soundtrack score, in TV shows and movies is always a risk. Because there's a chance that they won't strike a chord with everyone. It can be divisive. And, in worst case scenarios, exclusionary.

Having Lily Rabe's swamp witch character, Misty, be a die-hard Stevie fan was fun. But the goof should have stopped there (more on AHS' over-tendency toward goofs in a few paragraphs). Having Stevie herself show up (as rumors of witchcraft have always been part of her pop mystique) was pushing it. Because too much meta-levity and celeb-worship amusement can come off clumsy and gauche. It's only several steps above Mr.T showing up on Diff'rent Strokes to talk to Arnold about bullying. All of a sudden the actual story that you've invested in doesn't matter - replaced with a tongue-in-cheek rib.

Having Stevie play and sing actual songs (like the two she sang in an episode actually called "The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks") was the cake-topper mistake. Again, divisive. Some found her scenes touching while others rolled their eyes. Creative risk. The worst offense though came at the end in the season finale, "The Seven Wonders," when the pre-credit scene was just a Stevie Nicks music video featuring the witches interacting with a lip-syncing Stevie as she walked through the mansion to her old 1987 hit.

And if you're going to argue, "Well, this show isn't meant to be taken seriously," then what are you even doing in here reading this? You're not going to enjoy any attempt at analysis as you've already determined that it's not welcome.

I'm taking up a lot of space writing about Stevie here because it connects to a bigger problem with the show. Namely, what the show has evolved into since Season 1. I liked Season 1 a lot. Liked most parts of Asylum, though we began to see evidence of pacing problems and character payoff issues. Coven then seemed like it was designed to counter-balance the grimness of Asylum. In the same way, say, that Batman Forever was Warner Bros. reaction to parents complaining that Burton's Batman Returns was too Gothic and scary for their kids. Coven was most definitely the lightest American Horror Story season yet.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by michelej1

And if you're going to argue, "Well, this show isn't meant to be taken seriously," then what are you even doing in here reading this? You're not going to enjoy any attempt at analysis as you've already determined that it's not welcome.

Whether I agree or disagree with Mr. Fowler's views, I always think it's arrogant when critics shoot down any arguments of their criticisms, by saying that you're just not open to analysis. No, Mr. Self-Important Critic, one can be open to analysis and simply not agree with yours. And if you're not open to criticism yourself, maybe you need to re-think your line of work.

[saradorna]

I haven't seen this here

[Johnny Stew]

Thanks for posting, saradorna! Stevie is unbelievably cute and funny in the Q&A. I adore that woman.

Very brief tidbit on John's health in there, too:

"Our bass player, John McVie, had a run-in with some cancer. And he's good. He's going to sail to Maui, with his chemo in a bag, and off he's going across the ocean. So... it's, you know, the quiet ones are the ones that surprise you the most.

[BlueDenimLamp]

Stevie Nicks performers for us last night! It was amazing! #justsayin pic.twitter.com/2XPwmqR3jI

— Gabourey Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) June 7, 2014

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

"Our bass player, John McVie, had a run-in with some cancer. And he's good. He's going to sail to Maui, with his chemo in a bag, and off he's going across the ocean. So... it's, you know, the quiet ones are the ones that surprise you the most.

Still doing chemo. Maybe it was 6 months.

Michele

[saradorna]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Thanks for posting, saradorna! Stevie is unbelievably cute and funny in the Q&A. I adore that woman.

Very brief tidbit on John's health in there, too:

"Our bass player, John McVie, had a run-in with some cancer. And he's good. He's going to sail to Maui, with his chemo in a bag, and off he's going across the ocean. So... it's, you know, the quiet ones are the ones that surprise you the most.

You're welcome!

[PenguinHead]

Thank you so much for posting this clip; it is much appreciated. Otherwise I would have never known about it.

I'm surprised Stevie had the courage to perform publicly while playing the piano. She was smart to set the expectations low and prefaced the performance by explaining that she just uses the piano to write songs, and she isn't a trained musician.

She can be very funny, and I'm happy that the audience generally laughed at her comments. Still, I bet there were audience members who aren't that familiar with her, and probably thought she was a little odd.

I like that she improvised a lot on Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You. But she kind of got lost in it, and completely omitted one of the stronger, dramatic verses in the song:

And the rain came down
But there's no pain and there's no doubt
It was easy to say, I believed in you every day
If not for me, then do it for the world

[BlueLight]

Stevie is so incredibly hilarious. If she hadn't become a Rock & Roll star, she should've become a stand-up comic......

[lulu28]

Originally Posted by BlueLight

Stevie is so incredibly hilarious. If she hadn't become a Rock & Roll star, she should've become a stand-up comic......

She sure is hilarious! I love to listen to her tell her stories. I'm so glad she stepped outside her comfort zone with Coven. Did anyone think she was moving a little cautiously or maybe limping slightly when she came up on stage? I've watched this segment several times and I do think so. I hope she's not having hip or knee issues. She's been working so much lately. Maybe she needs a nice trip to Hawaii!

[michelej1]

June 9, 2014 by Something Else!

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014...r-story-coven/

‘It’s very hard for me to go back’: Stevie Nicks offers revealing thoughts on American Horror Story: Coven

For self-taught pianist Stevie Nicks, having the opportunity to perform both “Rhiannon” and “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You” during a January episode of American Horror Story: Coven was a blessing and a lucky thing. After all, they are not only important to her, but also among the rare things Nicks regularly performs as a soloist.

In fact, she reveals: “There’s really only two songs that I actually play all the time. If there’s a piano in the room or if I am at home, I will sit down and I will play these songs,” she says. “I suggested these songs for me to play, and they were happy with that — and I was glad. Otherwise, it’s very hard for me to go back and pick up songs that you would think I know so well. If I’m just going to sing them over a track or with a band, I do, but when it comes to actually playing, it’s not so good — because I don’t practice all the time.”

Nicks’ comments came during a panel discussion on the television series, which concluded with touching performances of both tracks.

“Rhiannon” was, of course, Nicks’ first big chart success after joining Fleetwood Mac in time for its eponymous 1975 album. “Has Anybody Ever Written Anything For You,?” meanwhile, is a deep cut from her 1985 solo project Rock a Little. The latter song, she says, will always belong in part to the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, “because I wrote it about him and a child that he lost in a terrible car accident in 1971, a baby.”

[Hawkeye]

That's very interesting. I have noticed that in the past 20 years of tv appearances especially ones that visit Stevie's home she will treat the interviewer to a solo performance and it's ALWAYS those 2 songs. I always thought it was her strong preference towards those 2 songs but now it makes sense they're the only 2 she really can play.

I think she's played 2 others on TV. Moonlight right around IYDs release and she played planets back in 2001 which of course was followed by has anyone ever...

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I think she's played 2 others on TV. Moonlight right around IYDs release and she played planets back in 2001 which of course was followed by has anyone ever...

Really? That's awesome. Is there an audio MP3 available of her live performance of "Moonlight"? Would love to hear it!

[MikeInNV]

We've seen her play "Dreams" a couple times, haven't we?