Fleetwood Mac is just so good!

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by jaycee

Anyway, I'll now defend my comment that creativity is a better selection criteria...

Awesome, but no one here asked you to defend that creativity is a better measure of a band's worth than popularity. That's accepted. We're curious about why you think Fleetwood Mac was a more creative band than the Beatles.

Most Beatles songs don't draw an emotional pull for me, and because they don't, I can't count them among my favorite bands. I can recognize, though, that the bands that are my favorites made the music they did because the Beatles broke down huge barriers in pop. I might not love Paul, Ringo, George, and John but I love the bands they made possible.

[AliceLover]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Where does anyone say that no one else contributed to popular music and it the way it evolved? I don't believe anyone said that, just that The Beatles were one of the most important acts in terms of influence etc. To deny that is as bad as those who can't bear for them to criticised imo.
And I say this as something who doesn't even like The Beatles much.

I totally agree, Sharon! I think some people post here sometimes just to start sh*t. I come here to read about Fleetwood Mac, not watch John Lennon videos.

I understand that the Beatles probably had an impact on all of the music listen to today, does that mean I enjoy them? No not really.

[tdfwiner]

I just thought I'd point out that a large chunk of the Beatles best work probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for the Beach Boys. Pet Sounds was a major influence on their post-Revolver work, especially SPLHCB. They were also a MAJOR influence on Lindsey.

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by tdfwiner

I just thought I'd point out that a large chunk of the Beatles best work probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for the Beach Boys. Pet Sounds was a major influence on their post-Revolver work, especially SPLHCB. They were also a MAJOR influence on Lindsey.

It looks like we could be heading towards an infinite regress!

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

I totally agree, Sharon! I think some people post here sometimes just to start sh*t. I come here to read about Fleetwood Mac, not watch John Lennon videos.

I understand that the Beatles probably had an impact on all of the music listen to today, does that mean I enjoy them? No not really.

Yeah, sorry about that post, it was completely off topic... I just get ultra-defensive of Lennon's views (which just happen to mostly coincide with mine) when it comes to anything remotely concerning religion (and I consider calling Lennon a god to be one of those things... I seriously think he would hate being called that). So posting those songs was a way for me to reaffirm his (generally negative) ideas about God and politics. What can I say? It seemed like a good idea at the time!
Another thing I just thought of - perhaps I should be clearer about what I mean by creativity? By creativity I mean things like musical style and instrumentation, not songwriting. Certainly The Beatles are more creative songwriters - they wrote about everything from paperback writers to blackbirds! FM mostly wrote about themselves! But when it comes to the sound of their music... well, like I said, my views may be premature in that I've only heard compilations and not albums, but I honestly think FM are the more creative band in this respect (perhaps, to be slightly more specific, particularly Lindsey). If I didn't, then The Beatles would be my favourite band instead. So it's not as if I'm a FM fan who thinks FM are infallible or something...
As for influence... well, I've already said The Beatles had the greater influence. I'll leave this area for others to dispute.
One last thing that may play a part in my opinions (although I hope it doesn't...) - when I listen to The Beatles, I usually end up thinking about Lennon's solo projects - I prefer the political nature of Lennon's songwriting while he went solo. IMO Lennon's the greatest songwriter there ever was, and presumably will be. So, theoretically, me thinking that Lennon's solo work is superior to The Beatles could tarnish my view of The Beatles' creativity, songwriting etc., even though I don't think it does...
Phew! This is exhausting, thinking about all this!
Anyway, back on topic, FMijsg!

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by Sleepless-Child

I have 21 FM/Stevie songs on my 25 most listened list, and I'm kind of ashamed
Dreams is fiiiirst !

Sounds a lot like me nowadays! But I'm hardly ashamed... I exhibit more of a mixture of pride and self-consciousness, if that makes any sense...

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by michelej1

When I hear them out in public, I am always struck at how good they sound, how magical their blend. Even if I'm hearing a song I would never bother to play at home on my own, when I'm out and I hear the same tune come over a speaker, pride washes over me, as if I'd written it myself and I have this compulsive urge to tell everyone around me: "Hey, that's Fleetwood Mac!"

Oh, the many strait jackets from which I have had to escape.

Michele

What she said! Although I listen to pretty much all their stuff at home myself... even "Oh Diane" when I'm playing Mirage through!

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by Janis_no1

Yeah, i'm you on this... even yesterday i walked into an Oroton shop and Stand back was on... i just thought, how awesome, do the sales girls know just how good this music is! So of course stayed in the shop a little longer just to hear it.

That reminds me of when I was buying albums in a JB Hi-Fi, and as I lined up behind a long row of people to pay, "Second Hand News" came on. I was completely taken aback! Although I tried not to show it... Could they really be playing Rumours?! Then, of course, as I was paying at the counter, "Dreams" came on. It was Rumours!! All I wanted to do was to continue shopping, even if it meant only pretending to be looking for stuff! But, of course, I had to get to uni... It tore me apart to leave!
I think the reason I love hearing them in public, like on the radio, is because I expect several others around me should be enjoying it too. Or maybe because I think FM are worthy of public/radio play, and they get it? In any case, I absolutely love it when it happens!

[blondyy-x]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Well you could say that about Fleetwood Mac or any band really.



Yes, but you (and I for that matter) don't understand in the same way as someone who saw it all happening. I remember the great late DJ John Peel saying that younger people today don't understand how important Elvis was: the music world and youth culture changed completely when he came along. The change, he said, was striking, he literally changed everything almost overnight. Now you could argue that someone else would have done it if Elvis hadn't but that doesn't make him any less important.

The point i was (badly) trying to make was that if anybody else could have come along and done the same then they can't be gods. They're just quick.
I wasn't trying to say that they are less important (infact i think they are one of the most important atrists in music) i was just reffering to them being called gods.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by blondyy-x

The point i was (badly) trying to make was that if anybody else could have come along and done the same then they can't be gods. They're just quick.
I wasn't trying to say that they are less important (infact i think they are one of the most important atrists in music) i was just reffering to them being called gods.

Come on, not just anybody could have done it! You're making it sound like you or I, if we had been around at the time, could have written the songs they did and had the impact they did. The Beatles were special, they weren't just "quick". Were there other special bands around then that could have possibly done what they did? Sure, inevitably it would have happened, music would have continued to evolve with or without them although probably in a different way, that doesn't make The Beatles' achievements any less special or amazing.

Also, I think people are taking ChiliD's "Gods" comments too literally. To me he was just exaggerating for effect the high esteem he holds them in. Given we're all here spending way too much time talking and obsessing about another band, surely people can relate to that.

[ButterCookie]

I wish I'd kept my big mouth shut now, jeesh.

[blondyy-x]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Come on, not just anybody could have done it! You're making it sound like you or I, if we had been around at the time, could have written the songs they did and had the impact they did. The Beatles were special, they weren't just "quick". Were there other special bands around then that could have possibly done what they did? Sure, inevitably it would have happened, music would have continued to evolve with or without them although probably in a different way, that doesn't make The Beatles' achievements any less special or amazing.

Also, I think people are taking ChiliD's "Gods" comments too literally. To me he was just exaggerating for effect the high esteem he holds them in. Given we're all here spending way too much time talking and obsessing about another band, surely people can relate to that.

I didn't mean anybody as in you and I, i meant other artists at the time. I'm not good at writing down opinions or explaining stuff on paper. And again, im not saying that they are less special or amazing. I'm a fan, really. And i'm new to the boards, meaning i don't know what ChiliD meant, i don't know the context he types in and i can't read his personality. So when he said Gods i took it as Gods. Now that i know what he actually meant, i understand.

[DefDumbandBlond]

It's obvious we all have different opinions on the Beatles, and who was most important, etc. Clearly the Beatles had an impact on music, no doubting that, but I think (and I'm sure a few others can agree) that this arguing has gone on long enough, and I doubt nobody is going to change anyone else's minds about how they feel about the Beatles, so I think we should just getting back to talking about the band we are all actually here to talk about.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by ButterCookie

I wish I'd kept my big mouth shut now, jeesh.

Seriously? This has been one of the most interesting discussions on here in ages I think!

Originally Posted by DefDumbandBlond

so I think we should just getting back to talking about the band we are all actually here to talk about.

So discussions outside of gushing about Fleetwood Mac aren't allowed here now? As long as I've been a member they have. Clearly some people want to talk about this even if you don't.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

I might not love Paul, Ringo, George, and John but I love the bands they made possible.

I completely agree! There are so many bands I love that formed because they wanted to be like The Beatles. Maybe they would have formed anyway but they would have been different bands. Even The Byrds, the band that arguably started the whole folk-rock thing, formed inspired by The Beatles and I'd say that the Stevie/Lindsey line-up of Fleetwood Mac owes a debt to that.