The Lighthouse: September 27, 2024

[aleuzzi]

I’ve come late to this posting party because I wanted to get “The Lighthouse” under my skin before I commented.

I’ve been pretty critical of Stevie (musically and otherwise) these past eight years, especially after the tone-deaf “Show Them the Way” debacle. I was prepared to consider “Lady” her last great moment. But, well, I am IMPRESSED with “The Lighthouse” as a song, as a statement, as a bold move away from the private mythology of songs like “Sara” and “Silver Girl” to what I believe is a thoroughly successful public statement. Here, she uses her personal story (which Don Henley had no right to blab about before she came forward with it on her own terms) and creates something that speaks directly to the moment, to the ongoing struggle of women pursuing reproductive freedoms and full agency with their own bodies. Her live performance of the song on SNL surpasses the recorded version. And her interview with CBS shows her using her celebrity for something greater than herself. I never thought I’d say this again: I salute her. For this at least.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

She sand Landslide and well....she is 76 after all.

Sorry saffires, I don't get the premise of your post!

At age 77, Cher had a song that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. And, Cher got inducted into the RRHOF 5 years after Stevie so to me, that means Stevie's the bigger star.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Sorry saffires, I don't get the premise of your post!

At age 77, Cher had a song that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. And, Cher got inducted into the RRHOF 5 years after Stevie so to me, that means Stevie's the bigger star.

So Cher having her own TV show, and winning an Oscar(Moonstruck-1988) makes Stevie a bigger star?

[bombaysaffires]

My point is that Stevie is 76....and as a result she gets certain allowances, certain "passes" when her vocals are not what they were when she was 26 or 36 or even 46.... She sang Landslide at the MJFox thing, and it was cheered because she is who she is, and because she has the history and past successes that she has and all of that.... Because the vocal performance she gave that night was...less than. It was serviceable, but it was not great. If she was starting out, or if she was on any of those singing competition shows....no one would have said "Wow that's an amazing singer!!" It would have been good for a dinner theater or cruise ship show. But.....because she's got 50+years of success behind her....and because she's pushing 80....allowances are made. Clear enough?

[BLY]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

My point is that Stevie is 76....and as a result she gets certain allowances, certain "passes" when her vocals are not what they were when she was 26 or 36 or even 46.... She sang Landslide at the MJFox thing, and it was cheered because she is who she is, and because she has the history and past successes that she has and all of that.... Because the vocal performance she gave that night was...less than. It was serviceable, but it was not great. If she was starting out, or if she was on any of those singing competition shows....no one would have said "Wow that's an amazing singer!!" It would have been good for a dinner theater or cruise ship show. But.....because she's got 50+years of success behind her....and because she's pushing 80....allowances are made. Clear enough?

I will say you nailed it!

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

So Cher having her own TV show, and winning an Oscar(Moonstruck-1988) makes Stevie a bigger star?

Moonstruck, Silkwood and Mask make Cher a great actress.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

My point is that Stevie is 76....and as a result she gets certain allowances, certain "passes" when her vocals are not what they were when she was 26 or 36 or even 46.... She sang Landslide at the MJFox thing, and it was cheered because she is who she is, and because she has the history and past successes that she has and all of that.... Because the vocal performance she gave that night was...less than. It was serviceable, but it was not great. If she was starting out, or if she was on any of those singing competition shows....no one would have said "Wow that's an amazing singer!!" It would have been good for a dinner theater or cruise ship show. But.....because she's got 50+years of success behind her....and because she's pushing 80....allowances are made. Clear enough?

Clear but your response to my post about her not singing The Lighthouse at the fundraiser had nothing to do with what I was saying. Maybe you thought I was talking about her not having confidence in Landslide but I was talking about The Lighthouse. She’s very confident in Landslide, that’ll never leave her concert sets.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

So Cher having her own TV show, and winning an Oscar(Moonstruck-1988) makes Stevie a bigger star?

Even though Stevie hasn’t had a “hit” since she was 40 and Cher had a number one hit when she was 52, Stevie’s headlining Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits(she withdrew), Hyde Park London, Bottle Rock Festival, Sea.Hear.Now on the New Jersey Beach. Cher isn’t. But Cher definitely has more album sales than Stevie Nicks solo.

[David]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I’ve been pretty critical of Stevie (musically and otherwise) these past eight years, especially after the tone-deaf “Show Them the Way” debacle. I was prepared to consider “Lady” her last great moment. But, well, I am IMPRESSED with “The Lighthouse” as a song, as a statement, as a bold move away from the private mythology of songs like “Sara” and “Silver Girl” to what I believe is a thoroughly successful public statement. Here, she uses her personal story (which Don Henley had no right to blab about before she came forward with it on her own terms) and creates something that speaks directly to the moment, to the ongoing struggle of women pursuing reproductive freedoms and full agency with their own bodies. Her live performance of the song on SNL surpasses the recorded version. And her interview with CBS shows her using her celebrity for something greater than herself. I never thought I’d say this again: I salute her. For this at least.

She’s definitely giving all her energy lately to what’s important to her. She has always done things on her terms, and she still is today. Commendable. Impressive, too, considering her health ailments and all those historical forces marshaled against her.

But, Tony, I just can’t get fully into this song — it’s drony to me and the lyrics feel fresh off her diary page. I would never say that to Bob Dylan, however, whose last two studio albums were acclaimed for their songwriting rather than the legacy and longevity of the guy himself.

[reebokandlace]

As long as fans continue to buy seats Stevie will continue to tour. She could go out there and sing the ABCs and Old McDonald out of tune and people are just happy to be in her presence…. When/If the glitter fades she will walk away. Until then she will continue to rock on. She is raking in a ton of money. She loves touring. The press has been kind to her. There is no reason to stop.

[HomerMcvie]

[QUOTE=reebokandlace;1298363] When/If the glitter fades she will walk away. /QUOTE]
SHHHEEEIIIITTTTT! Who TF are you kidding? Her star faded 40 years ago. She'll play for 50 people, as long as they still convince her that she made good life choices.

It's sad af, actually. She's the poster child for bad decisions in life.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Clear but your response to my post about her not singing The Lighthouse at the fundraiser had nothing to do with what I was saying. Maybe you thought I was talking about her not having confidence in Landslide but I was talking about The Lighthouse. She’s very confident in Landslide, that’ll never leave her concert sets.

but why do you think that is?

She didn't sing it because NO ONE KNOWS IT.

EVERYONE knows Landslide.

Also, of course, Landslide is very sentimental, it's a quiet folky-ballad....more appropriate to the event than a bombastic anthem about reproductive choice.

That's the thing with a political anthem....it is really only appropriate in certain situations.

But again, no one knows it. And frankly, when this moment in time passes (it pretty much has now that the election is over) the song will be really nothing more than a footnote in her legacy. The fact she took a political stand actually will count for more than the song itself, which I agree is quite drone-y.

And further, because Landslide is quieter and slower, she knows she'll probably be able to croak that out til the very end of time. The Lighthouse requires a lot more energy for her to perform, and the older she gets the trickier that gets. It's just not a "get out the lighter/phone flashlight and wave it around" kind of song like Landslide is live, and it's not a dance-able song like Stand Back or even Edge of 17, and it has no emotional connection to the audience (it's not a song that takes them back to childhood/highschool/college etc). No one is going to play The Lighthouse at their wedding/funeral/graduation, but they sure as shoot do Landslide.

That's why she didn't sing The Lighthouse.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

but why do you think that is?

She didn't sing it because NO ONE KNOWS IT.

EVERYONE knows Landslide.

Also, of course, Landslide is very sentimental, it's a quiet folky-ballad....more appropriate to the event than a bombastic anthem about reproductive choice.

That's the thing with a political anthem....it is really only appropriate in certain situations.

But again, no one knows it. And frankly, when this moment in time passes (it pretty much has now that the election is over) the song will be really nothing more than a footnote in her legacy. The fact she took a political stand actually will count for more than the song itself, which I agree is quite drone-y.

And further, because Landslide is quieter and slower, she knows she'll probably be able to croak that out til the very end of time. The Lighthouse requires a lot more energy for her to perform, and the older she gets the trickier that gets. It's just not a "get out the lighters/phone flashlight and wave it around" kind of song like Landslide is live, and it's not a dance-able song like Stand Back or even Edge of 17, and it has no emotional connection to the audience (it's not a song that takes them back to childhood/highschool/college etc). No one is going to play The Lighthouse at their wedding/funeral/graduation, but they sure as shoot do Landslide.

That's why she didn't sing The Lighthouse.

Roger to all! As an aside, isn’t the only thing live from her two television performances of Lighthouse her vocal? Isn’t every other sound the track?

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

EVERYONE knows Landslide.

Also, of course, Landslide is very sentimental, it's a quiet folky-ballad....more appropriate to the event than a bombastic anthem about reproductive choice.

Just to add, Leelee Buckingham sang “Landslide” with her school choir. Lindsey played guitar with them. This was AFTER Stevie had him fired!

THAT’S how universal “Landslide” is.

At this point, I seriously wonder what some want from this woman at her age? When my mother was 76, she was a multiple stroke survivor, used a walker, was having UTIs every nine weeks or so, and was a fall risk. Volunteer at a nursing home to see what 76 actually looks like.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

As long as fans continue to buy seats Stevie will continue to tour. She could go out there and sing the ABCs and Old McDonald out of tune and people are just happy to be in her presence…. When/If the glitter fades she will walk away. Until then she will continue to rock on. She is raking in a ton of money. She loves touring. The press has been kind to her. There is no reason to stop.

yep. and clearly she enjoys it. she was kinda whiny during Covid about being stuck at home and missing out on things and losing her energy. I think she's embracing all these opportunities because, kinda to Steve's point, age will eventually catch up with her and she knows it. So she's maximizing everything she can.