Pre and Post Christine

MirrorInTheSky · #1 10-30-2004, 01:22 AM

Ok, so I'm sitting here watching The Dance for the umpeenth time. However, for the past many weeks, I've pretty much watched LIB in its entirety. So now I'm realizing the significant difference between FM w/ Christine and FM w/o Christine. It's always FM, but in each video, it's a compltety different performance as a whole. The dichotmous nature of FM between these two videos fascinate me. I realize that there are about an infinite number of FM carnations, but I'm mainly intersted in TD vs. LIB. What does everyone think, comparing the two, as a band????

Bryan · #2 10-30-2004, 06:29 AM

I also think it's amazing to see the difference between the two.
The Dance has a whole different vibe from Live in Boston. Christine left a huge gaping hole in Fleetwood Mac IMO when she left. (I think it also reflects in the sales of the Say You Will album!)
I don't think the latest lineup of Fleetwood Mac is bad by any means but it's just on a completely different level to The Dance.The band is SO much stronger with Christine in the fold.

-Bryan

Serrart · #3 10-30-2004, 10:16 AM

It's difficult for me to compare them, because from the first time I've watched the Dance I've never felt the concert vibe, but the typical MTV hybrid vibe, and they're very different. By the way, even if I love the more guitar oriented sound and the intense, sometimes breathtaking harmonies on LIB, I missed Christine's songs. When I listen to a boot from their previous tours, they always represent for me the perfect chill-out moments that make me appreciate even more all the different flavours in FM music. And I can't believe I won't have the chance to enjoy new versions of Oh Daddy, Why, Say You Love Me, Brown Eyes, Over And Over, Little Lies, or Stevie & Lindsey's voices on tracks like Friend or You Are.

Romy

markolas · #4 10-30-2004, 10:18 AM

Yeah, there's a difference, but I think I prefer LIB. On The Dance, Christine really seemed like she didn't want to be there. I've just never liked her songs as much as Stevie's and Lindsey's (maybe if she'd done fewer "You Make Loving Funs" and more "Oh Daddys") and I agree with LB when he says her songs didn't work as well live.

I liked In the Meantime just fine, and while I wonder what some of the songs would've sounded like with Lindsey's (and Stevie's) involvement, I didn't miss Christine on SYW or LIB. I love her voice, but I can't relate to the idea that Lindsey & Stevie need her mellow (overly, sometimes) adult-contemporariness to "balance them out," as I keep hearing repeated by Christine-less FM naysayers. Then again, I don't understand why so many people are so in love with Bob Welch, either. "Sentimental Lady" is such a &$%#@! boring song. I can't imagine what Christine & Bob must've sounded like together. They'd probably put me to sleep.

macfan 57 · #5 10-30-2004, 10:31 AM

I can't speak about any comparison between The Dance & Live in Boston, since I didn't get Live In Boston & so I haven't heard it. But, there is NOTHING boring about Christine & Bob Welch together. I LOVE Mystery To Me & Heroes Are Hard To Find. In my opinion, MTM is the best Fleetwood Mac album ever, although Rumours is a strong second. I also have 2 fantastic live Heroes boots as well & they're terrific too(lots of great keyboards on there). And, Sentimental Lady(the Bare Trees version) is one of my favorite Bob Welch songs. It's NOT boring.

bikerchic · #6 10-30-2004, 12:29 PM

The Dance is Fleetwood Mac & LIB is Buckingham Nicks.

GypsySorcerer · #7 10-30-2004, 01:01 PM

The music sounded more empty and hollow to me on LIB, while I thought the Dance sounded much fuller. Also, I love the 3-part harmonies of Buckingham/Nicks/McVie. But I like them both.

Gailh · #8 10-30-2004, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerchic

The Dance is Fleetwood Mac & LIB is Buckingham Nicks.

Yup - nothing else to say

Gail

~nightbird~ · #9 10-30-2004, 03:05 PM

What bikerchic and gailh said.

I still miss Christine. ::sigh::

And yes, I support her decision to retire from FM... BUT...I just can't help wondering what could have been if Say You Will/In The Meantime would have been combined and edited into one album.

Regina · #10 10-30-2004, 03:15 PM

The Dance made me a Fleetwood Mac fanatic, but it is different from this tour and the Live in Boston tape.
The group had a more standard "pop" sound with Christine. They may have called themselves a rock group, but there was a very definite old-time top 40 flavor to their music.
Now, while they haven't lost that sound totally, there is more non-stop "passion." I just think when you have two very (head)strong folks like Stevie and Lindsey out there--you have this non-stop roller coaster ride. And I like that a lot. Absolutely no disrespect meant at all, but I think Christine simply sings her songs, for the most part. Stevie and Lindsey pour themselves into their performances. That's why I love them and that's why I basically look at no one or nothing else when they are on stage.
In all honesty, my favorite moments of the Dance featured Stevie and/or Lindsey. I'm just not a Christine person. So, of course, I had a field day with this BuckinghamNicks-centric version of Fleetwood Mac.

amber · #11 10-30-2004, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina

The Dance made me a Fleetwood Mac fanatic, but it is different from this tour and the Live in Boston tape.
The group had a more standard "pop" sound with Christine. They may have called themselves a rock group, but there was a very definite old-time top 40 flavor to their music.
Now, while they haven't lost that sound totally, there is more non-stop "passion." I just think when you have two very (head)strong folks like Stevie and Lindsey out there--you have this non-stop roller coaster ride. And I like that a lot. Absolutely no disrespect meant at all, but I think Christine simply sings her songs, for the most part. Stevie and Lindsey pour themselves into their performances. That's why I love them and that's why I basically look at no one or nothing else when they are on stage.
In all honesty, my favorite moments of the Dance featured Stevie and/or Lindsey. I'm just not a Christine person. So, of course, I had a field day with this BuckinghamNicks-centric version of Fleetwood Mac.

yep.

I liked Christines more rocking songs (say you love me, temporary one) but otherwise...don't miss her too much. maybe her harmonies.

bikerchic · #12 10-30-2004, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina

Absolutely no disrespect meant at all, but I think Christine simply sings her songs, for the most part. Stevie and Lindsey pour themselves into their performances.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

tommer · #13 10-30-2004, 04:07 PM

sometimes, when i do manage to put sentimentality aside, i think that chris did the band a favour when she left, leaving them to find back their edge. TD vs. LIB proves that nicely. chris can be great, but you can't compare "great" to the powers of LB & SN, they both are way above that.
you could say the band's recent inability to score radio hits was resulted by her leaving, but to be honest i think her writing abilities aren't what they used to be in 1987, and besides, i don't need a strong single to get hooked on a FM album anymore.

David · #14 10-30-2004, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommer

sometimes, when i do manage to put sentimentality aside, i think that chris did the band a favour when she left, leaving them to find back their edge.

"Say You Will" is a lot edgier than "Tango in the Night" or "Mirage," but that isn't because Christine left. She didn't have that much influence over the band's direction, quite frankly, & she certainly never shanghaied the shows. If earlier albums with the five of them aren't edgy enough, I think it's unfair to blame Chris. Blame them all. "The Dance" was presented & packaged by ALL of them & ALL their managers & producers as a very stately, precisely performed & essentially immaculate affair.

Besides, quite a bunch of the songs on "The Dance" are also on "Live in Boston" -- so it's a good bet that the "Live in Boston" participants, being on the second go-round, as it were, were just a little more fired up themselves & in the mood to stretch a little (the way that song arrangements evolved & performances got more brazen from the Rumours tour to the Tusk tour).

"Boston" is a different agenda from that of "The Dance." If Christine had been along on the tour the last two years, Lindsey & Stevie would have still performed just the way they did perform.

amber · #15 10-30-2004, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

"Say You Will" is a lot edgier than "Tango in the Night" or "Mirage," but that isn't because Christine left. She didn't have that much influence over the band's direction, quite frankly, & she certainly never shanghaied the shows. If earlier albums with the five of them aren't edgy enough, I think it's unfair to blame Chris. Blame them all. "The Dance" was presented & packaged by ALL of them & ALL their managers & producers as a very stately, precisely performed & essentially immaculate affair.

Besides, quite a bunch of the songs on "The Dance" are also on "Live in Boston" -- so it's a good bet that the "Live in Boston" participants, being on the second go-round, as it were, were just a little more fired up themselves & in the mood to stretch a little (the way that song arrangements evolved & performances got more brazen from the Rumours tour to the Tusk tour).

"Boston" is a different agenda from that of "The Dance." If Christine had been along on the tour the last two years, Lindsey & Stevie would have still performed just the way they did perform.

um, i think just the inclusion of her songs takes the edge away. Not because of her influence on what everyone else is doing. just her songs are...feathers. No edge.