Lindsey's album delayed means new possibilities for Stevie?

[louielouie2000]

Stevie's biggest problem is her ego. She refuses to downsize venues when it comes to touring, and it's clearly time to start scaling back. She won't record new material because she knows it won't sell millions anymore. She still wants to be that "big time rock and roll star." Yet she's still selling better than many contemporary artists that are in her league artisticly (Joseph Arthur and the like). It just seems she's turning away from her hardcore fans. She says all the time how she gave up everything to be an artist... her chance at marriage and children. It appears she gave up all that to be a STAR not an artist. I know all this is coming across rather nasty, but I'm just so frusterated as a fan right now. In my opinion Stevie is writing the better songs now than she has in almost 25 years. Her voice is also in better tune than it has been since the early '80s. Her material on Say You Will and Trouble In Shangri La got higher marks from critics than anything she's released in decades. She looks better, healthier, and happier than she has in ages. Why on earth is she relegating herself to becoming an oldies act now?? I just don't get it. Lindsey was always the one in the band who supposedly had the ego and recognition issues... yet he's totally come to terms with his "boutique appeal," and it appears he loves what he's doing regardless. I just miss Stevie... I long to hear songs about what's been going on in her life. Songs about the turmoil in the world right now, her take on things. It seems to me now more than ever that she could really make a statement as an artist. All she has to do is come at it with a different approach. Anyways... I'll stop rambling and whining now lol.

[catinthedark]

Originally Posted by Serrart

That's what I think too. What I can't really figure out is why so many on this forum think she must make another album to prove she's still a real artist. What Am I not understanding?

Romy

i don't know about others, but this has nothing to do with her proving to me she is still a real artist. i don't think i said anything of the sort.

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Note to Stevie: Your fans want you to either record a new album and rehaul your setlists or just retire and stay home.
Otherwise they're not interested in seeing you perform anymore. They've been there and done that. Most even bought the t-shirt.

not fair. we're just expressing our hopes and wishes and dreams. i don't think there's one person, including yourself, who'd choose stevie doing the same setlist live again over her doing a fresh, new one. and if she recorded a new album? you wouldn't be right there with us all buying it?

this isn't a "holier than thou" thing. we all love her. we all would love to hear new material or see her sing new songs onstage. expressing those feelings doesn't make us bad fans.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

not fair. we're just expressing our hopes and wishes and dreams. i don't think there's one person, including yourself, who'd choose stevie doing the same setlist live again over her doing a fresh, new one. and if she recorded a new album? you wouldn't be right there with us all buying it?

this isn't a "holier than thou" thing. we all love her. we all would love to hear new material or see her sing new songs onstage. expressing those feelings doesn't make us bad fans.

thank you! i thought i was going to have to put on boots to wade through all this mary sunshine BS.

[foxyluva]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Stevie's biggest problem is her ego. She refuses to downsize venues when it comes to touring, and it's clearly time to start scaling back. She won't record new material because she knows it won't sell millions anymore. She still wants to be that "big time rock and roll star." Yet she's still selling better than many contemporary artists that are in her league artisticly (Joseph Arthur and the like). It just seems she's turning away from her hardcore fans. She says all the time how she gave up everything to be an artist... her chance at marriage and children. It appears she gave up all that to be a STAR not an artist. I know all this is coming across rather nasty, but I'm just so frusterated as a fan right now. In my opinion Stevie is writing the better songs now than she has in almost 25 years. Her voice is also in better tune than it has been since the early '80s. Her material on Say You Will and Trouble In Shangri La got higher marks from critics than anything she's released in decades. She looks better, healthier, and happier than she has in ages. Why on earth is she relegating herself to becoming an oldies act now?? I just don't get it. Lindsey was always the one in the band who supposedly had the ego and recognition issues... yet he's totally come to terms with his "boutique appeal," and it appears he loves what he's doing regardless. I just miss Stevie... I long to hear songs about what's been going on in her life. Songs about the turmoil in the world right now, her take on things. It seems to me now more than ever that she could really make a statement as an artist. All she has to do is come at it with a different approach. Anyways... I'll stop rambling and whining now lol.

Wow - I think you summed up everything that I have been trying to say...

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by jwd

Thanks for the new sig line!

I'm honored.

She looks better, healthier, and happier than she has in ages. Why on earth is she relegating herself to becoming an oldies act now?? I just don't get it. Lindsey was always the one in the band who supposedly had the ego and recognition issues... yet he's totally come to terms with his "boutique appeal," and it appears he loves what he's doing regardless. I just miss Stevie... I long to hear songs about what's been going on in her life. Songs about the turmoil in the world right now, her take on things. It seems to me now more than ever that she could really make a statement as an artist. All she has to do is come at it with a different approach. Anyways... I'll stop rambling and whining now lol.

The fact is that she's making a very important statement as an artist right now and her statement is: silence. Something that is as important as production in the life of an artist, as it is in music. Many other artists before had chosen silence in some part of their life, for so many reasons, sometimes it's a phase, sometimes it's not (obviously I hope that's the case for Stevie). But they're driven to it by the same element that allowed them to develop their talent, the relationship with their creative freedom. As I'm grateful for the gifts she gave to us through it, so I respect the way she's coping with it right now. Besides, she's keeping singing so, IMHO, she's yet giving a very vital and always new way to relate to her.
Obviously it's a choice of every fan to accept it or not, and that's the only choice we could make regarding the way she expresses her talent.

don't know about others, but this has nothing to do with her proving to me she is still a real artist. i don't think i said anything of the sort.

I wasn't referring to you catinthedark, but to the general vibe that I get from all the recent (and cyclical) criticism. It just depends on different ways to relate to the word "fan", I think.

Romy

[Nicks Fan]

Here's my two cents

For starters I agree that Stevie has earned the right to whatever the hell she wants. I just think that she is being lazy in saying that there is no point in releasing an album when it wont sell millions of copies. Look at TISL it didn't sell all that well, but it got some of the best reviews she has ever gotten (People magazine called it one of the best albums of 2001). I think what she needs is a harsh dose of reality. She is past the point of ever selling millions of copies of her CD's anymore. What would be cool is if she did a new album and then did a scaled down show with maybe just her and a Guitar Player and her Piano and she played intimate concerts in concert halls and theaters. That would be something interesting.

When you look at the last few tours they were essentially Nostalgia tours and neither she nor the co headliner (With the exception of Tom Petty) had anything new to promote. So while I agree that she has earned the right to do what she wants it is sad that she feels like she has to be a mega selling artist to really matter.

Matt

[catinthedark]

Originally Posted by Serrart

I wasn't referring to you catinthedark, but to the general vibe that I get from all the recent (and cyclical) criticism. It just depends on different ways to relate to the word "fan", I think.

Romy

oh, it's ok - i know you weren't referring to me personally. anymore than i was speaking for everyone else here. but i was part of the discussion you were commenting on. so that's why i responded.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

not fair. we're just expressing our hopes and wishes and dreams. i don't think there's one person, including yourself, who'd choose stevie doing the same setlist live again over her doing a fresh, new one.

I don't have the same "ugh, that song again" reaction when it comes to Stevie's setlists. I love all of those songs... the ones that get played every tour and the ones that have never been performed. So it's all the same to me, whether it's "Landslide" or "Sleeping Angel."

Admittedly though, my main interest has never been her concert performances. I love them, but I derive a lot more enjoyment from her studio recordings. To me, the studio is where a musical artist really creates. The stage is just the "art gallery" where they show off what they've done.

So if I had my druthers, Stevie would never tour (or just very rarely -- like Lindsey)... she'd record an album, take a year off, then record another.

Originally Posted by catinthedark

and if she recorded a new album? you wouldn't be right there with us all buying it?

Of course I'd buy a new Stevie album. I was being facetious and a little bit snarky with my "note to Stevie" -- responding to the impression some fans are giving that Stevie needs to be constantly handing us new material or "fresh" setlists in order to truly be an "artist."

Originally Posted by catinthedark

this isn't a "holier than thou" thing. we all love her. we all would love to hear new material or see her sing new songs onstage. expressing those feelings doesn't make us bad fans.

Don't get me wrong -- I've never meant to imply that I think anyone is a "bad" fan for expressing a critical opinion. I guess I just tend to think that there are certain things in life that we can change and certain things that we cannot change, and... just for right now... we should all accept the fact that Stevie's not in a "let's spend 18 months in the studio" kind of mood. We should also accept the fact that she's still trying to play to those large audiences while she's healthy enough to do so.
In another 10 years... when she's 70... we're all going to be wishing we still had the option to fly to Vegas to see her perform. Even if it's just "Dreams" again.

The funny thing is, this isn't even the longest drought we Stevie fans have ever had to endure. Seven years went by between the release of 'Street Angel' and the release of 'Trouble In Shangri-La,' with just a few soundtrack songs and "Sweet Girl" to tide us over in the meantime.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Nicks Fan

For starters I agree that Stevie has earned the right to whatever the hell she wants. I just think that she is being lazy in saying that there is no point in releasing an album when it wont sell millions of copies. Look at TISL it didn't sell all that well, but it got some of the best reviews she has ever gotten (People magazine called it one of the best albums of 2001). I think what she needs is a harsh dose of reality. She is past the point of ever selling millions of copies of her CD's anymore.

I still tend to think that the "why bother if no one's going to buy it" response she gave to those Australian journalists when asked about recording another album, was just a smoke-screen.
We're talking about the same woman who has written hundreds of songs that have never seen the light of day, for the sheer love of writing.

I think she's just not inspired right now and/or needs to make peace with something in her personal life (Lindsey has implied that Stevie's having a hard time getting from "one phase in life to the next" -- which probably has to do with coming to terms with where she fits in as a female rock star in the middle of her "golden years").

Maybe all of this touring is how she's coping with it, or maybe it's providing her with a distraction so she's not depressed about it.

[TheWILDheart]

Why does Lindsey's album delayed mean that the FM tour will be delayed? Has nobody bothered to be possitive and think that it might be delayed BECAUSE of the FM tour?

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I still tend to think that the "why bother if no one's going to buy it" response she gave to those Australian journalists when asked about recording another album, was just a smoke-screen.
We're talking about the same woman who has written hundreds of songs that have never seen the light of day, for the sheer love of writing.

I think she's just not inspired right now and/or needs to make peace with something in her personal life (Lindsey has implied that Stevie's having a hard time getting from "one phase in life to the next" -- which probably has to do with coming to terms with where she fits in as a female rock star in the middle of her "golden years").

Maybe all of this touring is how she's coping with it, or maybe it's providing her with a distraction so she's not depressed about it.

Lindsey has implied that UTS is about Stevie having a hard time getting from one phase in life to the next. But..has he ever implied that he is talking about the present time period? At most of the shows I saw Lindsey said something about "watching someone struggle from one point in life to the next" . At one show he even went as far as to say the song was about someone who was "on the last FM tour with him. " Are people just assuming he is talking about Stevie now? Is he making it sound that way? The lyrics are very tender...extremely intimate and loving. "lay your head down, no one will see, cry ME a river of new DREAMS". He is also going to be the one to "shepherd" her from the pain. He is telling her it is ok for things to be different, she is still the Queen...inside. Maybe he is referring to the klonopin years? Stevie was mocked by fans and the media, the focus was on her weight, she was insecure and depressed. That seems like a time when someone would say "hey you are still beautiful, you have the same soul, you are still the Queen of Rock and Roll, to me".
Stevie is rocking like her bad self right now. With Tom Petty, soon with Chris Issack. Fans have been saying she seems happy as can be. The lyrics to Under the Skin could very well be about something Stevie struggled with years ago. The fact that he titled the album "Under the Skin" speaks volumes about how important that concept is to him. Personally I do not think Stevie seems depressed, down, or like she is struggling with life right now. Just because she is not really writing and recording does not mean she is depressed. People change. Priorities change. Maybe her priorities have shifted. She might be finding peace and happiness in things other than writing music.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by TheWILDheart

Why does Lindsey's album delayed mean that the FM tour will be delayed? Has nobody bothered to be possitive and think that it might be delayed BECAUSE of the FM tour?

I think LB's album is being delayed because he wants to tour solo the rest of this year, or at least most of it.

As for Stevie, I've more or less given up. If she tours again and comes within a couple of hours of me, I might go see her, just because I've never seen her live before, but I'm not all revved about it.

And as far as FM goes, there's no way in hell I'd pay $200 to see them. Seeing LB solo was amazing, and especially in a small venue like that. If FM or SN would play the smaller venues, maybe I'd be more interested. But I wouldn't pay $200 to be packed in like a sardine in a can to hear LB play all the songs he played when I saw him in Austin (plus more interesting ones he'd never play in FM), and hear SN croak out versions of Dreams and Landslide that sound just like the Live in Boston DVD.

[HejiraNYC]

Just adding my own speculation/$0.02 here...

We all know how Klonopin almost snuffed out the candle of Stevie's creative muse. But do you suppose there is something else that has replaced Klonopin since she "cleaned up" over a decade ago? I just find it hard to believe that after decades of frying her neurons with all kinds of substances- alcohol, coke, weed, nicotine, caffeine, Klonopin, etc., that she could go cold turkey off of everything and be in perfect balance. I'm not saying that she has seemed drugged up or catatonic in recent years... However, there could be a pharmacological basis behind her good spirits- whether she is taking certain herbs, certain antidepressants, lithium, etc. And considering the way these pills are dispensed like Pez candy these days, it would not surprise me in the least if Stevie may have a mini-pharmacy stocked full of these pills in her medicine cabinet. I also understand that estrogen replacement therapy (following menopause) can also instill a sense of well-being.

Although I am happy for Stevie if she is happy (whether it is a drug-based happiness or not), I have a feeling that maintaining such an even, upbeat keel has probably made it hard for Stevie to get back in touch with her creative muse. She herself said that the greatest art comes from the greatest pain (or something to that effect), so no pain equals no pain. And no songs too, apparently. I wonder if she is even keeping up with her personal diary.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Lindsey has implied that UTS is about Stevie having a hard time getting from one phase in life to the next. But..has he ever implied that he is talking about the present time period? At most of the shows I saw Lindsey said something about "watching someone struggle from one point in life to the next" . At one show he even went as far as to say the song was about someone who was "on the last FM tour with him. " Are people just assuming he is talking about Stevie now?

Maybe he is referring to the klonopin years? Stevie was mocked by fans and the media, the focus was on her weight, she was insecure and depressed.

Stevie is rocking like her bad self right now. Fans have been saying she seems happy as can be. The lyrics to Under the Skin could very well be about something Stevie struggled with years ago.
Personally I do not think Stevie seems depressed, down, or like she is struggling with life right now. Just because she is not really writing and recording does not mean she is depressed. People change. Priorities change. Maybe her priorities have shifted. She might be finding peace and happiness in things other than writing music.

Since he has said that the new songs on 'Under The Skin' were written while on the 'Say You Will' tour, I just naturally assumed that the title track was one of those new songs (otherwise, that makes only five newly-penned songs on the album).

Stevie, to me, seemed rather unhappy on the 'SYW' tour. I know a lot of fans have expressed the same opinion. And those who attended shows would know even better than I ( ).

Maybe (and hopefully) Stevie has now worked through whatever was troubling her on the 'SYW' tour, as evidenced by her happier, more easy-going demeanor on the last couple of tours -- but I definitely think Lindsey was commenting on something she was going through a lot more recently than the Klonopin Era, 14 years ago.

As far as not writing and recording -- you could very well be right in that her priorities have simply shifted. Everyone in Fleetwood Mac, including Stevie herself, have always said that she's never been fond of being cooped up in a recording studio. And Mick has often said that he and Stevie are "the road-horses in Fleetwood Mac."
So maybe she's simply decided that she wants to focus more on the performing side of things.

[strandinthewind]

^^^

I think WAY more than we will ever know went down between them on the SYW tour. I know I saw things I have never posted publicly about and to my knowledge so do others. And, lot's of those things demonstrated DRAMA that could make a good song or two