Stevie Nicks Disappointed With Sales Of Her Latest Album

[teedeerocks]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Why is everybody jumping down her throat? She's just being honest. Sure, she could pretend that IYD was a huge smash (it did chart in the Top 10 after all). However, she's just being matter of fact about her own sales performance and used herself as an example of how the music business is in the toilet. She never compared herself with the hot young artists of today, who, by the way, are not selling nearly as much as they would have ten years ago. Yes, it is rather disappointing that a new album by an artist who has purportedly sold 140 million albums worldwide can barely sell a few copies of a new release. Facts are facts, and it would have been rather bizarre for her to pretend that IYD was a big hit when it wasn't.

Yes she is being honest about the record sales.But in just about every interview she stressed the fact that she is only doing this for herself,it was the best year of her life,she was so sad to see it end,blah,blah,blah.And not to mention she said "why else would I be doing this-I DON'T NEED THE MONEY".We all know how she changes her stories-that's not surprising.But after all those heartfelt statements she made about IYD,this is like a slap in the face to her fans.

[Dex]

Originally Posted by teedeerocks

Yes she is being honest about the record sales.But in just about every interview she stressed the fact that she is only doing this for herself,it was the best year of her life,she was so sad to see it end,blah,blah,blah.And not to mention she said "why else would I be doing this-I DON'T NEED THE MONEY".We all know how she changes her stories-that's not surprising.But after all those heartfelt statements she made about IYD,this is like a slap in the face to her fans.

This isn't Stevie lamenting the fact that she now can't afford to remodel her kitchen or buy new property in Soho. This is a woman who very worked hard for a year to make what she sees as a significant cultural contribution, and then seeing that a) not being as popular as she wishes it would be, and b) being disrespected by being taken without any financial compensation to the many people who worked on it. It's not really about her wanting money, it's about how irritating it is when you put a product out there, legally require people to pay for it, and then have them go "Well why should I? You enjoyed yourself! YOINK!" I've talked to independent artists who work on a much smaller scale who express similar irritation. And it doesn't make them money-grubbing capitalists.

She is accepting of the new realities of the music industry, but she should be allowed to say "Y'know, this kinda sucks compared to what I grew accustomed to in past decades" without anyone being offended. It's a very human response.

[teedeerocks]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

I think she has back or hip problems (I can't remember which) that are the reason she doesn't run around the stage like she's 30.

I was going to mention this on an earlier thread.Has anyone noticed that in the new concert video footage she often times keeps her left arm across the small of her back in between songs-almost as if she's guarding it?I guess I took notice to it because,being a chronic back pain sufferer,I do the same thing.And those boots can't be helping either.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by teedeerocks

I was going to mention this on an earlier thread.Has anyone noticed that in the new concert video footage she often times keeps her left arm across the small of her back in between songs-almost as if she's guarding it?I guess I took notice to it because,being a chronic back pain sufferer,I do the same thing.And those boots can't be helping either.

Nothing at all to due with back issues. That's where the knob to her ear monitor was located and she often fiddles with the thing throughout most of her shows.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

You've framed Stevie in a way I don't think I've ever seen anyone frame her. Very provocative... thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thank you

[Wynne]

Thank you kak125 for putting up the video where Stevie explains it much better than a written up review. To see someone talk and see their body language and see their humor and have no mis- quotes or anything taken out, puts a huge new perspective on the topic. If I had not seen that video I would have viewed her words a little harsh, now that I see the video, she was perfection and said nothing at all that could be judged.

[Macfanforever]

She could sell more CD's with the DVD release.I hope so.

[TribalTwinSC]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Why is everybody jumping down her throat? She's just being honest

I agree with HejiraNYC. I don't think she is saying she doesn't appreciate the 300,000 people who bought IYD. And I think it is very sad that probably that many or more downloaded it or songs from it free by stealing them on the internet. However, that being said, I do think that Stevie just needs to accept that her glory days are over. She is never going to be on regular rotation on MTV or VHI anymore. But we all remember when she was on every station, on every cover and on every channel. She is nearing her mid-sixties now. That does not mean that she does not have an audience. She has a sea of devoted fans (such as myself) who already own every album, CD, documentary and probably every photo she has ever had published. And we will continue to buy them as long as they are released. She needs not forget that there are those of us out there that would give limbs from our bodies just to meet her and spend countless hours listen to interviews and rare concert footage on YouTube. I know that sounded creepy but I just hope she keeps that in mind.

As far as the talk about her going into the vault, well, that is exactly what she is going to do in October. I have mixed feelings about this album just because the demos have such a special place in my heart and it will be hard for her to surpass the original versions; especially recording all the songs in only 3 weeks. Some of the vocals in the demos are so raw with emotion and so fragile. If she can fake the emtion she was feeling when she recorded the songs years ago then I guess she is an actress after all!

I can't give up the night
I'm in high tide
I'd like to sail the seas
I'd like to take you on a
Slow ride

[He's So Unusual]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Stevie is a culturally important rock star. She bridged the gap between female rock stars that were uncomfortable with their stardom - Joni, Carly, Carol, and those female rock stars that loved their stardom - Madonna, Whitney, Cyndi Lauper, Janet. She was strong but feminine.
However, unlike Madonna, Whitney, Cyndi and Janet ….She was icon that didn't do a lot of press until she turned 50. Unlike Carly, Joni and Carol, Stevie loved superstardom and embraced her persona.

The only person I think you can successfully compare Stevie to is Jim Morrison of the Doors. They both possessed that "IT" quality. He was the Lizard King. She is the Gypsy Queen. He wore his leather pants all the time and Stevie wears her get up and "boots all summer long." They were both mystics. Along with Jim Morrison, Stevie helped invent Mystic Rock and did it more successfully than him. They are like cult leaders and their music is all about charisma and belief.

I wouldn't call Madonna, Whitney Houston or Janet Jackson rock stars, they're pop stars, the latter two with an R&B edge. Joni Mitchell has always seen fame for the fickle and bullsh!t thing that it is. She has never been interested in column inches, she doesn't care about that side of things, she's in it for the art. Madonna marked the turning point when the music industry was dumbed down and singers had to rely on shock tactics and controversy to sell below average talent. Like Joni Mitchell said: Americans have decided to be stupid and shallow since 1980. Madonna is like Nero; she marks the turning point." Madonna opened the doors to many other singers with little talent, she was proof that anyone could become a star with the right producers and writers behind them.

When Madonna, Whitney and Janet were at their peak in the 1980s the music business was in a completely different place to where it was when Joni, Carly Simon and Carole King were at their peak in the 1970s. The music press was so much bigger, so much more widespread, music television was big news, etc. which meant singers could sell themselves in a way they couldn't before, they had a much bigger and easier platform to become famous and well-known. I wouldn't say that Stevie was the first female artist to really embrace her fame, Cher and Janis Joplin both embraced their stardom and personas in the 1960s and 1970s, same goes for Debbie Harry. Stevie did a fair amount of press while in her 30s and 40s in the 1980s and 1990s, I've seen stacks of stuff on YouTube and other sites. And no one invented "Mystic Rock" because it isn't really anything.

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by TribalTwinSC

I do think that Stevie just needs to accept that her glory days are over.

I think Stevie needs to realise that if she keeps producing crap then her glory days are over. However, (and I've said it before and I'll say it again) if she take's a leaf out of Rod Stewart's book and reinvents herself and does an album of old blues classics for example (hell even with a nod to FM) then she might find that she opens up a whole new era for herself plus access to a whole new audience.

[Dex]

Originally Posted by chriskisn

I think Stevie needs to realise that if she keeps producing crap then her glory days are over. However, (and I've said it before and I'll say it again) if she take's a leaf out of Rod Stewart's book and reinvents herself and does an album of old blues classics for example (hell even with a nod to FM) then she might find that she opens up a whole new era for herself plus access to a whole new audience.

I like you, Chris, but I think you might be certifiable.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Dex

I like you, Chris, but I think you might be certifiable.

I will certify that statement.

Isn't this subject matter a little stale. Her comments are from her last album, which is apparently a very polarizing body of work -- you either absolutely love it or absolutely lothe it. At least it didn't dissuade her from recording another album - which be equally polarizing for different reasons (we are too familiar with the demos). Your going to love or hate it. Isn't that what art is all about? It makes an impact either way.

I've followed her since 1976, I will defer to accepting and finding joy in whatever Stevie does, especially in this latter period of her career; as someone once said, "She can sing the phone book "(and it will hold your interest).

[BlueLight]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I've followed her since 1976, I will defer to accepting and finding joy in whatever Stevie does, especially in this latter period of her career; as someone once said, "She can sing the phone book "(and it will hold your interest).

I would no doubt listen to her sing the phone book. But an album of covers - oy, let's hope they never happens!

As to Stevie's purported dissatisfaction with her record sales, I've never understood her to be bitter or frustrated with IYD's sales. If you listen to her full comments, she makes clear that she was in fact very happy and pleased with her sales, given the current sad state of the record industry and how hard she worked to promote the album. I think she's realistic about the current environment, but understandably frustrated by piracy, declining sales, fragmentation, etc. Just my own take of her comments!

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by BlueLight

I would no doubt listen to her sing the phone book. But an album of covers - oy, let's hope they never happens!

I agree with you about that. I don' t think that will ever happen; thankfully she's too self-centered to go that far. But I do think she is great when doing some one-off choice covers, like Not Fade Away and At Last.

[BlueLight]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I agree with you about that. But I do think she is great with some on-off choice covers, like Not Fade Away.

Agreed. And I love her take on It's So Easy. But don't get me started on Like A Woman ("With her fog... her amphetamines... and her pills.")!!