The Lighthouse: September 27, 2024

[David]

Originally Posted by sue

I have listened to The Lighthouse a few times and it has grown on me, (a bit)
I quite like the rousing feel it gives.
The song has a definite message and in that instance gives an anthem feel.
(Bit of overkill really..)

I do not pretend to understand US law, regarding Abortion.
But the message about a woman’s rights is Universal.

It was not grabbing me musically. The hook isn’t there. I’ve always thought that if you have a weak or nonexistent hook, you’d better make the song up-tempo. But this is a down-tempo dirge without musical ear candy. (Naturally, your ears may vary.)

Someone in this thread (sorry I can’t recall who) said that the lyrics were a little too concrete and simplistic, or nonfigurative. I don’t think I mind that — in fact, there are times I really prefer that from Stevie. But there’s something about this lyric that doesn’t feel genuine to me. It feels like a trendy statement. Stevie may not understand that a political statement (which she wants to make here) is more powerful when it feels like a blood-and-flesh extension of the writer. When you believe that the writer has more skin in the game as opposed to an opinion or general conviction — a position paper — you give yourself over to them. Remember “Lady”? None of us talked about it at the time — not really— but that was a feminist anthem that grew organically out of Stevie’s own personal brush with feeling shut out or cornered by bossy men.

I'm tired of knocking on doors
When there's nobody there

I believed her so much more than I believe her in the new song. “Lady” is a “concrete” lyric from Stevie’s soul, married to the perfect plaintive melody — and she wrote it over fifty years ago. “Lady” and “Landslide” and “Bella Donna” say more about a woman being unjustly ramrodded in the music world than we ever realized. The trick with the lyric is to advocate for a woman to personalize and enrich your advocacy for women. With “The Lighthouse,” Stevie sat down to write a capital-S Statement, and it seems mechanistic and tuneless. She did the same thing in “Show Them the Way,” and none of us bought that either.

The time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I’m unsure, I can’t see my way
And he says, “Lady, you don’t have to see”

This is all Stevie ever really needed to say on the matter. Amazing that this came out of a woman in her early 20s — a woman who wasn’t Joni Mitchell or Laura Nyro.

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by David

It was not grabbing me musically. The hook isn’t there. I’ve always thought that if you have a weak or nonexistent hook, you’d better make the song up-tempo. But this is a down-tempo dirge without musical ear candy. (Naturally, your ears may vary.)

Someone in this thread (sorry I can’t recall who) said that the lyrics were a little too concrete and simplistic, or nonfigurative. I don’t think I mind that — in fact, there are times I really prefer that from Stevie. But there’s something about this lyric that doesn’t feel genuine to me. It feels like a trendy statement. Stevie may not understand that a political statement (which she wants to make here) is more powerful when it feels like a blood-and-flesh extension of the writer. When you believe that the writer has more skin in the game as opposed to an opinion or general conviction — a position paper — you give yourself over to them. Remember “Lady”? None of us talked about it at the time — not really— but that was a feminist anthem that grew organically out of Stevie’s own personal brush with feeling shut out or cornered by bossy men.



I believed her so much more than I believe her in the new song. “Lady” is a “concrete” lyric from Stevie’s soul, married to the perfect plaintive melody — and she wrote it over fifty years ago. “Lady” and “Landslide” and “Bella Donna” say more about a woman being unjustly ramrodded in the music world than we ever realized. The trick with the lyric is to advocate for a woman to personalize and enrich your advocacy for women. With “The Lighthouse,” Stevie sat down to write a capital-S Statement, and it seems mechanistic and tuneless. She did the same thing in “Show Them the Way,” and none of us bought that either.



This is all Stevie ever really needed to say on the matter. Amazing that this came out of a woman in her early 20s — a woman who wasn’t Joni Mitchell or Laura Nyro.

Hi David, It's a shame that she doesn't have professional people like you, on her musical management team, to help craft and produce her songs in the way they should be! Kind Regards!

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by BrownEyedGirl26

Hi David, It's a shame that she doesn't have professional people like you, on her musical management team, to help craft and produce her songs in the way they should be! Kind Regards!

He was not criticizing the production or craft IMO .It seems that he was criticizing the song itself and comparing it very effectively with songs that she had written decades ago when she was still a good writer. The production is actually very good and the video is her best since the 1980s.The song itself does not compare with her best self penned hits of the past the last of which was the excellent Rooms On Fire more than 35 years ago.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

He was not criticizing the production or craft IMO .It seems that he was criticizing the song itself and comparing it very effectively with songs that she had written decades ago when she was still a good writer. The production is actually very good and the video is her best since the 1980s.The song itself does not compare with her best self penned hits of the past the last of which was the excellent Rooms On Fire more than 35 years ago.

I do think the production is great and the video is probably the best of her career. Both make the song better. I like the straightforwardness of the song, but it is too wordy and the chorus isn’t catchy. It is powerful though.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I do think the production is great and the video is probably the best of her career. Both make the song better. I like the straightforwardness of the song, but it is too wordy and the chorus isn’t catchy. It is powerful though.

what??

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

He was not criticizing the production or craft IMO .It seems that he was criticizing the song itself and comparing it very effectively with songs that she had written decades ago when she was still a good writer. The production is actually very good and the video is her best since the 1980s.The song itself does not compare with her best self penned hits of the past the last of which was the excellent Rooms On Fire more than 35 years ago.

Sorry if my post sounded sarcastic, it wasn't meant to be. I was being quite serious, actually!

[David]

Originally Posted by BrownEyedGirl26

Sorry if my post sounded sarcastic, it wasn't meant to be. I was being quite serious, actually!

It’s quite all right. Speak out! I was surprised to see so many people say they truly enjoyed the new song, and why. I’m glad to see Nicks back in the studio. I’m just dying for her to write a new classic song. Where there’s life, there’s hope!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by David

It’s quite all right. Speak out! I was surprised to see so many people say they truly enjoyed the new song, and why. I’m glad to see Nicks back in the studio. I’m just dying for her to write a new classic song. Where there’s life, there’s hope!

Well, you might need a defibrillator.

[tothegypsy]

The Lighthouse is being released on vinyl for the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day, and there's currently a CD single available at her merch store.

[DashingDan]

Originally Posted by tothegypsy

The Lighthouse is being released on vinyl for the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day, and there's currently a CD single available at her merch store.

Here's more info for the collectors among us: https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/18449

[krrrby]

Originally Posted by BrownEyedGirl26

Sorry if my post sounded sarcastic, it wasn't meant to be. I was being quite serious, actually!

Can you say that while holding a dove in your hand?

THIS IS SERIOUS.

[reebokandlace]

This article is a different perspective…..

https://thefederalist.com/2024/10/04...ives-she-took/

[SisterNightroad]

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

This article is a different perspective…..

https://thefederalist.com/2024/10/04...ives-she-took/

Thank you, I just reopened The Ledge after a long time and I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

[tothegypsy]

Originally Posted by SisterNightroad

Thank you, I just reopened The Ledge after a long time and I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

That article is completely deranged. I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that there is nothing inconsistent about reevaluating a past decision to have an abortion while still believing that you shouldn't be arrested for making that choice. Pro-CHOICE...it's right there in the name.

[SisterNightroad]

Originally Posted by tothegypsy

That article is completely deranged. I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that there is nothing inconsistent about reevaluating a past decision to have an abortion while still believing that you shouldn't be arrested for making that choice. Pro-CHOICE...it's right there in the name.

From what I can see it's from an alt-right propaganda site, most of the writers are young antifeminists from the right-wing. I've seen another article on Stevie quoting her 1992 Vox interview to show that feminism is a propagandist lie that ruins women's lives and another incredibly bitter article about Taylor Swift. I guess it really stings them that all the coolest celebrities are leaning for the opposite party.