Stevie Stale and Stagnant

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

I can definitely see all sides to this discussion..I really can.
However - she is stagnant and stale. I am also glad she is alive and still doing her thing.Good for her. I however am quite bored with it all.

Thank you! That's exactly the main jest of it. I see both sides too! I know people are very emotional and protective of Stevie. I knew there was a possibility that majority would get in an uproar of my critical analysis. In my opinion it was a fair assessment of her career...in comparsion to others.

Perhaps the title "Stale and Stagnent" was a bit too harsh...leading people into defense/anger mode before even reading the post. But just remember--I'm one of you--one of Stevie's biggest fans. If someone can't express an intelligent dissertation here without fear of being shunned and despised, please tell me the real purpose of this board?

I need not to defend myself. I expected discourse, not disdain. Oh well. I'll sleep well tonight.

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Thank you! That's exactly the main jest of it. I see both sides too! I know people are very emotional, protective and excusive of Stevie. I knew there was a possibility that majority would get in an uproar of my critical analysis. In my opinion it was a fair assessment of her career...in comparsion to others.

Perhaps the title "Stale and Stagnent" was a bit too harsh...leading people into defense mode before even reading the post. Remember people ---I'm one of you...one of Stevie's biggest fans. If someone can't express an intelligent dissertation here without fear of being shunned and dispised, what the heck is the real purpose of this board?

I expected discourse, not disdain. Oh well. I'll sleep well tonight.

I don't despise you. You have your opinion and I have mine. And maybe I am a bit protective of Stevie. I'm just trying to make you see my side of it. I came to the USA in 2004, you have no idea what it's like to live in a country where they hardly know her. You guys get all the good stuff: the interviews, tv shows and the tours. So it's hard for me to understand that someone could complain about the setlist, her same answers etc. She could be on a stage reading the phonebook for all I care.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by mikeschmike

Look at you posting complete sentences and ****. What a treat to come back to.

Anyway, I think Stevie has one or two great masterpeices left in her. Hopefully she knocks the doubters (myself included) on their asses.

[BombaySapphire3]

I think what some of us long time fans are disappointed about is her reasoning behind her not wanting to create any new music.I believe she has the capability to write good songs but not doing it because they won't get radio airplay is just incredible and belies alot of what she has said about her songwritingand artistry .I have not missed buying tickets for a Stevie Nicks tour since 1981 but I 'm seriously considering not going for this one even though the opening night show is only a half hour drive.

[Somajoseph]

All this whining-please, get over it. If she was completely stagnant, she wouldnt be on the road.
I am so sick of all this bitchy negativity-go to Lindsey's board and stay there.
None of you have to like ANYTHING Stevie's doing or hasnt done, but if it's no longer your thing, just F*ck off....this is a FAN forum, so ir youre no longer one...LEAVE

[crtrofthenight]

I've been a devoted fan since 1976 myself and let me tell you plain and simple, that set list needs to be revamped, revived , revised, etc. The backdrop during Rhiannon should stay the same....haunted dolls and all. That's just too cool. Rhiannon should take on a new ending of sorts. How bout saying "you don't change, I don't change" etc. like in the 90s was it? or maybe Mirage rather.
The fact is this, she should be throwing in Everyday or something like the trilogy of songs she did during the Enchanted tour....after the glitter fade, sleeping angel, Rose Garden. She CAN do these new songs. She a pro. She knows how to practice and rehearse...this is HER PROFESSION PEOPLE! Stevie is very resilient. I do think she's cheating her fans with the same boring set list. She really needs to polish up Outside the Rain and open with something powerful like that song again. Drop enchanted, drop stop draggin'.... it kinda drags. Beauty and the Beast she can alternate. I love Stevie so much but why is she throwing her voice out so loud! She practically screams during dreams. She should try toning it down and concentrate on the emotion of the song. She looks and sounds as if she can't wait for it to end. The vocal on Edge of 17 on crystal visions is absolutely a dissapointment. There's no range in her voice! It's so so so so sad. Seriously. That quiver is gone. She should try and be more emotional and move more freely instead of looking stiff. I'm sorry, I feel like I'm bashing her but she should throw B. Child or Destiny Rules in there and how about doing Sisters of the Moon? That's no big deal. She can eliminatle all the craziness at the end and give that to the girls. Something FRESH is what we need. I'm not even excited about this summer tour. I'm dreading the set list. Forget If Anyone Falls. They play that song so poorly anyway. I hope our prayers are answered.

[dontlookdown]

totally agree.

stevie.

i love her but

snooze...

yawn.

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by Somajoseph

All this whining-please, get over it. If she was completely stagnant, she wouldnt be on the road.
I am so sick of all this bitchy negativity-go to Lindsey's board and stay there.
None of you have to like ANYTHING Stevie's doing or hasnt done, but if it's no longer your thing, just F*ck off....this is a FAN forum, so ir youre no longer one...LEAVE

I've got a better idea let's meet at the wrestling ring at the Power Exchange and settle this!

[Somajoseph]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

I've got a better idea let's meet at the wrestling ring at the Power Exchange and settle this!

LOL-Thank you so much for that...sometimes it just hurts to read all this stuff.

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by Somajoseph

LOL-Thank you so much for that...sometimes it just hurts to read all this stuff.

no problem! a little levity is always good.

[GiniLeaE]

Originally Posted by The Catdancer

...but I'm just happy that she's still alive, touring and enjoying every minute of it. With all the drinking, drugs and pill popping she could've been dead a long time ago.

Good point! I have feared that since I was a teen...ESPECIALLY since Laura Branigan passed away! I took Laura's death VERY hard...and I am obsessed with Stevie and her music even more because of her songwriting talent.

I can't even fathom a WORLD WITHOUT STEVIE! The thought sends me into a depression...

The really cool thing about the "Constructive Criticism" offered us here, is that I can see that we do look like we are worshipping at the altar during the "Edge Walk"...I've only done that for two people in my LIFE! Billy Graham in Jax, FL at his crusade AND Stevie...I can't believe I am comparing the two, but YEAH! It felt like that...

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Stevie is high up on my long list of artists I love and have followed dillegently since 1977. And I'm glad she's still performing, yet I'm very dissapointed in her lack of creativity and inspiration.

I'm sick of the fact that all she talks about are the same things she's talked about for years and years now -- Fleewood Mac's long-past dramas, her cocaine and kolonopin days etc...ad nausuem. She panders to it, the media panders to it, and alot of fans pander to it. Move on!

Her shows haven't really changed that much since she went solo. The main content is "all the same....all the same...Rhiannon." Yeah, she adds a few new songs here and there, then drops them, and switches some songs around. Oh wow...ehh! Her incessant touring only drives home the fact that she is dead in the water, completely stagnant, and living on past glories.

So, as fans, we have to settle for and be happy for the "new" stuff on her third compilation album -- more live versions of Landslide and Rhiannon, and, albeit, a great, unexpected cover version of a Led Zeppelin cover.

I'm reading a book about another artist I love, Elvis Costello. Yes, they are two completely different artists, so it's a little unfair to compare the two. But Elvis fans have it so much better than Stevie fans. Granted, he's in another realm -- prolific beyond belief...nearly 30 albums since 1977, plus another ton of random songs. And no signs of stopping.

He's a master artist, musician and lyricist. Stevie is none of those -never has been, never will be, nor do I expect her to be. I love her for who she is and what she's done, regardless of her limitations. But reading about him -- how impromptu his shows can be, and how he completely changes his shows each tour, sometimes show to show, makes me realize just how redundant she's become. I find fault with her...and so-called fans who expect/demand the same old songs...the songs they know and have heard a million times over. It just re-enforces the redundancy.

Elvis's vast cannon of songs allows him to perform shows that are fresh and unexpected. He's not beholden to play his hits or other well-known songs all the time. His audiences enjoy the show for what it is...and rarely complain that he didn't play this or that song. They can never predict what song he'll open with or what song he'll close with.

Yet, with Stevie, it's all very rote, tour after tour after tour....like the "Edge walk." It's not so much a show anymore, it's more like a church service. All we can hope for is one new song --new meaning one she hasn't performed for a while. Even without new material, she has many other songs she could perform, including more covers, which she is very good at.

I don't think it's much to ask for. But do I think Stevie has some serious psychological barriers that have kept her from moving forward, thus we have to settle for the stale and suffer for the stagnancy. It's completely befitting that she gravitates to Vegas...city of canned entertainment. It's all the same. All the same. All the same.

Well, maybe you can simply stock your FM and Stevie LPs in a box, sit on a couch and remember the old times when the world was exactly as you wanted it to be?

It's not easy, especially for a woman, to be a rockstar at almost 60 and she does it in her own way, beautifully and gracefully. The least we can do is to respect her artistic choices, IMO.

Besides, your analysis isn't critical but emotional since you speak as a fan or ex-fan, that is legitimate anyway. It's always a matter of taste.

Romy

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

I think what some of us long time fans are disappointed about is her reasoning behind her not wanting to create any new music.I believe she has the capability to write good songs but not doing it because they won't get radio airplay is just incredible and belies alot of what she has said about her songwritingand artistry .I have not missed buying tickets for a Stevie Nicks tour since 1981 but I 'm seriously considering not going for this one even though the opening night show is only a half hour drive.

Just for the sake of arguement, what IF somebody in her camp reads this forum and reports back to her what is said??? Than all she hears are complaints. The majority of this Stevie forum is complaining one way or another (and on another board too). If I were her I wouldn't release any new music because people are complaining anyway so what's the point???

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by GiniLeaE

Good point! I have feared that since I was a teen...ESPECIALLY since Laura Branigan passed away! I took Laura's death VERY hard...and I am obsessed with Stevie and her music even more because of her songwriting talent.

I can't even fathom a WORLD WITHOUT STEVIE! The thought sends me into a depression...

The really cool thing about the "Constructive Criticism" offered us here, is that I can see that we do look like we are worshipping at the altar during the "Edge Walk"...I've only done that for two people in my LIFE! Billy Graham in Jax, FL at his crusade AND Stevie...I can't believe I am comparing the two, but YEAH! It felt like that...

I know what you mean. The same could have happened to Stevie. I'm so glad it didn't and therefore I'm glad she's still alive. I don't care what songs she sings, she's still there and we have a chance to see her!!!!

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by The Catdancer

Just for the sake of arguement, what IF somebody in her camp reads this forum and reports back to her what is said??? Than all she hears are complaints. The majority of this Stevie forum is complaining one way or another (and on another board too). If I were her I wouldn't release any new music because people are complaining anyway so what's the point???

i think it's pretty clear from stevie's setlist that she's catering to the casual fan - i don't think she's too worried what her more hardcore fans want.