'Battle of The Dragon' mood

[michelej1]

Here's a sentence in a Miami Herald review that interprets the song as relating to drugs.

Miami Herald (FL), April 24, 1998

Section: Weekend

STEVIE NICKS

HOWARD COHEN Herald Arts Writer

* Enchanted: The Enchanted

Works of Stevie Nicks Modern/Atlantic

These are heady days for Stevie Nicks, a rock original. Hipsters like Courtney Love, Sarah McLachlan and Sheryl Crow are singing Nicks' praises. Fashion designers Anna Sui and Isaac Mizrahi are giving her accolades. And Nicks herself is still on a high after taking part in Fleetwood Mac's acclaimed reunion last year. So revisiting Nicks' best on a new three-CD, 46-track box set devoted to her solo career makes sense.

Enchanted (due in stores Tuesday) makes a strong case for how well Nicks' '80s music has held up. Tuneful and well-crafted hits like Stand Back (her collaboration with an uncredited Prince) and If Anyone Falls still come across as engaging.

Long before the Lilith Fair, Madonna or Alanis, Nicks (who turns 50 in May) asserted herself on tunes like Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), her movie songs Heavy Metal 's Blue Lamp (her finest non-Mac moment) and Against All Odds' Violet and Blue , the aggressive Edge of Seventeen (here, we get a previously unreleased live version), the hard-rocking Gold and Braid (a live performance from the 1981 Bella Donna tour, on which Nicks held her own surrounded by members from the E Street Band and the Heartbreakers) and Reconsider Me (featuring Don Henley on harmonies).

But Enchanted is most valuable for what it reveals. Like Tori Amos' songwriting, Nicks' cryptic lyrics have always puzzled nonbelievers yet fascinated those willing to dig deeper. A throwaway song when first buried on 1986's American Anthem soundtrack, the now-resurrected Battle of the Dragon is compelling in the context of Nicks' later admission of a cocaine addiction. ``Well I got the message / Stay among the living,'' she urges. ``I can and I will go on.''

Disc One's emphasis on much-needed remastering of her first two solo albums ( Bella Donna and The Wild Heart ) is essential, and Disc Three is Enchanted 's raison d'etre for its many strong rarities, including the first CD appearance of a 1973 Buckingham Nicks track, Long Distance Winner .

But Enchanted may disappoint fans who already own her six solo albums. Disc Two is taken up by cuts from her weakest effort, 1985's Rock a Little (which didn't rock at all).

Also: Missing are obscure early-'80s duets Smiling Islands (with Robbie Patton) and I Pretend (with Sandy Stewart), as well as bootlegged material that diehards have swapped via the Internet (like Sorcerer , Nomad or her children's tale, Goldfish & Ladybug ). Maybe next box set.

[michelej1]

[And for the heck of it, while I was searching] St. Louis Dispatch review, May 1, 1998

Section: EVERYDAY MAGAZINE

REVIEW CDS

"ENCHANTED"

Stevie Nicks/Atlantic Records

If there's one thing that can finally torpedo sales of Fleetwood Mac's long-running hit album "The Dance," as well as cut into sales of that various artists tribute album to FMac's "Rumours," it's "Enchanted," the long-awaited, three-CD box set from Stevie Nicks.

Traditionally, box sets don't sell well because they're too expensive. And people interested enough to shell out that much money probably already have the original albums or own a greatest hits set or two.

But "Enchanted" could be the exception. Why? Because the timing is perfect, coming on the heels of "The Dance" and Fleetwood Mac's successful tour last year.

"Enchanted" focuses on Nicks' solo career, which might disappoint those looking to hear "Dreams," "Sara," "Gold Dust Woman" and other Fleetwood Mac tunes associated with her. But there's enough on this ambitious 46-song collection (including a piano demo version of "Rhiannon" that defines the word delicate) to appease those fans.

The songs from "Enchanted" come from all over the place, though predominantly from her solo albums such as "Bella Donna" and "Rock A Little." In addition to the expected hits and popular album cuts, a number of other Nicks songs are unearthed, including b-sides, soundtrack cuts, demos, covers, duets, a pre-Fleetwood Mac song, live versions, outtakes, and even a new song, "Reconsider Me," written by Warren Zevon.

Whew! It covers a lot of ground, and like most box sets, it is draining after a while. It's easier to take in smaller doses, maybe one CD at a time. But "Enchanted" does live up to its title, thanks of course to Nicks' mesmerizing vocals heard throughout.

Her controlled quiver of a voice is perfectly showcased on a number of pop-rock gems such as "Blue Denim," "Nightbird," "Gold" (a duet with John Stewart), and the title track. She's all ablaze on a lengthy live version of "Edge of Seventeen" and "Gold and Braid."

Her occasional country leanings show on "After the Glitter Fades" and "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," though quaint folk takes over on "Leather and Lace" and "Garbo." There are also swelling ballads such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "Kind of Woman."

"Twisted" is a rough-and-ready demo from two years ago, while the excellent "Long Distance Winner" from 1973's "Buckingham/Nicks" album sounds like a demo (it isn't), but at least it sounds like a great demo.

Nicks' voice, such a musical treasure, even manages to bring life to "Battle of the Dragon" from the "American Anthem" soundtrack - a bad song from a bad movie.

[mikebise]

A 1984 issue of the old Stevie fanzine Dreams listed "Battle of The Dragon" as being recorded for Stevie's third album. So, the demos are from 1984.

One demo has the drugged-out Tom & Stevie stubling around, while another has a more coherent Stevie mostly solo, with Tom barely heard.

One line I like in the demos is "Who's gonna win the war?"

[starshine]

I've always always loved this song....one of her best too me. I've always though her vocals were early RAL(84 ish)...they never sounded like late RAL vocals too me.....one of the best songs probably in my top ten for sure.....great song!!

[PenguinHead]

I believe the line is "But after some calls" and not "But after some cause."

[David]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I believe the line is "But after some calls" and not "But after some cause."

I believe that BATTLE OF THE DRAGON is about the ancient feud between the Ying warlords & the Ming Dynasty. Thousands of lives were lost, & trade was brought to a standstill. At battle's end, fireworks were set off over the Bridge of Prang-Mukluk, where a barge carrying the empress & her small retarded son ran aground. The citizens of Taipei celebrated by roasting pigs on spits & drank the juice of the dingleberry until their hearts were merry, for they knew that the next morning they would have to get up & go to work.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by David

I believe that BATTLE OF THE DRAGON is about the ancient feud between the Ying warlords & the Ming Dynasty. Thousands of lives were lost, & trade was brought to a standstill. At battle's end, fireworks were set off over the Bridge of Prang-Mukluk, where a barge carrying the empress & her small retarded son ran aground. The citizens of Taipei celebrated by roasting pigs on spits & drank the juice of the dingleberry until their hearts were merry, for they knew that the next morning they would have to get up & go to work.

JUICE OF THE DINGLEBERRY??

oh, david.

Interesting about the drug references. I maybe thought about it here and there but never really concluded that it was about her drug problems. I also wonder how much of it relates to her relationship with Joe Walsh who, like and with Stevie, had a huge drug problem back when they were dating.

This came out mid 86? Late? I don't remember. But I remember really liking it and wondering why she hadn't recorded more stuff like this for RAL.

[vermicious knid]

http://www.inspiredangel.com/index2.php

As you can see, some of the lines appear to be inspired by the film Julia (go to inspirations, then BOTD). I have seen the movie, but I don't know why they were so significant to Stevie. The links below may be more accurate as to what was in the film.

http://www.subzin.com/s/and%20a%20ha...o%20shoot%20it
http://www.subzin.com/s/who%20were%2...h%20in%20paris
http://www.subzin.com/s/lilly%20list...ot%20listening