DISCUSSION: Christine's songs from Rumours - Page 2

Gailh · #16 08-30-2010, 02:59 AM

You Make Lovin Fun and Songbird would be in my top 10 or top 5 Christine songs. Actually they'd make the top 2.

If we have to vote on this I'm going to be in serious trouble. I may have to consider registering again with a new user name and vote for them both

I can take or leave Oh Daddy and although I love Don't Stop it has been played to death. I love The Chain but I hear John's bass solo at least 3 times a week because the Grand Prix season is on and the BBC use it as their theme music

Gail

**jbrownsjr** · #17 08-30-2010, 10:09 AM

Songbird - Sometimes the simplest things in life are the most beautiful. Give it up folks, she nailed it.

Oh Daddy - Haunting and brilliant. Lots of space, beautiful vocal. Great use of Fender rhodes piano and wonderful all around sound.

Don't Stop - Simply Amazing pop hit for 1977. Not too many people haven't heard this tune.

YMLF - Wow.. she totally captured the vibe in 1977 and put the FM spin on it. The play of the 4 instrumentalists showed how they really started to groove from the first FM album. I agree w/ Hejira that the live versions lose the song's ever so important essence. However, it's a cool rockin tune when they blues it up a little. The engineering of this song gets special mention.

The Chain - If you're a psycho like I am and actually have heard Christine's shell song of this, you know which parts she's written. Just like Christine was the glue for FM, she really was on this song as well.

We'll miss you Chris ~ Mick Fleetwood

michelej1 · #18 08-30-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I love that this song is a little darker than what Christine typically wrote. "If there's been a fool around, it's got to be me."

See, to me, Christine's songs are almost all dark. YMLF and Don't Stop are exceptions, but to me, there's usually a sad strain in her songs and the dense orchestration usually emphasizes loss and longing, rather than celebrates joy.

Now, when I look for a contrast, I think a song like Behind the Mask is a departure for her, not because it's dark, but because it's almost a little sinister. And the lyrics say, "I don't want you back." Well, they don't actually say that. They really say, "I don't know if l. . ." but it's as close to Christine's lyrics come to saying hit the road and don't come back. In most of her songs, even through the pain, I think the underlying message is still grasping, whereas BTM pushes away.

Michele

SpyNote · #19 09-01-2010, 01:43 PM

1. Don't Stop

I see it as a Christine song, too, even though Lindsey has a greater presence on it. He also seems to take over on Think About Me and Hold Me. It would have been nice to hear Stevie's backups on all three of these songs. Why is she missing?

2. Songbird

It's a pretty song, though I don't really listen to it often. My favorite line is "And I wish you all the love in the world, but, most of all, I wish it for myself."

3. You Make Loving Fun

I love her bluesy pop/rock songs. This is one of her best.

4. Oh Daddy

This is my least favorite Christine song on Rumours. I don't know why. It just doesn't appeal to me.

5. The Chain

It's a classic. What more can be said?

HejiraNYC · #20 09-01-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyNote

2. Songbird

It's a pretty song, though I don't really listen to it often. My favorite line is "And I wish you all the love in the world, but, most of all, I wish it for myself."

I hate to burst your bubble, but I think it's "I wish it from myself." However, I like your twist on it better... it's so self-affirming. It's almost another way of saying if you can't love yourself, how can you love anyone else?

SpyNote · #21 09-01-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I hate to burst your bubble, but I think it's "I wish it from myself." However, I like your twist on it better... it's so self-affirming. It's almost another way of saying if you can't love yourself, how can you love anyone else?

Wow, then I've missed heard that line for years! But what does that mean? Isn't the first part wishing John all the love from her?

tilthefirefades · #22 09-01-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyNote

Wow, then I've missed heard that line for years! But what does that mean? Isn't the first part wishing John all the love from her?

Maybe it means that she is hurt so much that she doesn't want to fall back into it again for a while

ryan4136 · #23 09-06-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

Here's the first discussion thread for Rumours focusing on Christine McVie's songs.

Songs up for discussion...
1. Don't Stop
2. Songbird
3. You Make Loving Fun
4. Oh Daddy
5. The Chain

Since "The Chain" is a true Fleetwood Mac collaboration, it can be discussed in which every threads you feel like.

Will "Don't Stop" go to Christine or collaboration due to Lindsey's vocals?

It's been fun reading everyone's thoughts before putting my own down. Ah we make it to Rumours. I'm going to put a bit of this on each post so feel free to skip it on the others.

Rumours to me is the first "band" album of the Rumours era grouping. While the white album sold well, to me it was a hodge podge of things the band came together with previously. To me it was 1/2 Buckingham Nicks, and 1/2 Heros/Mystery to Me. With the only song that seemed like a progression to a a band sound being Rhiannon, which was still in it's infancy as a song at the merger.

However, when we arrive at Rumours we find an album where all parties seem to be coming together (even while personally they are pulling apart) to put the best that each person has to offer on every song, and to really push a "band" sound. There is nearly zero solo feel to any song. Sometimes Tusk gets a rap as being overproduced (which it is), but it's no more overproduced than Rumours the members of the band just swim the same direction down stream together on this one.

It's a true gem of pop/rock (not my favorite FM album, but it's place in thier catalog is important to aknowledge). Overproduced at times, but done (largely by LB) with the blessing of the band, unlike Tusk where we seem some disagreement in sound.

On to Christine....

Don't Stop....very popular song. You see a great writing partnership in Christine and Lindsey here. This song does better in sales with LB singing it, however this is easily a standard Christine type song.

Songbird...has done well with Mac fans, the negative about Songbird was the attempt by the band to recreate the feel of the song on nearly every album afterwards. It would've had a bigger impact historically if it sat alone in it's feel in the bands history (similar to a never going back again from LB).

You make loving fun.....my favorite CM song on this album. Easily the most produced song on this album, but I don't see how they could've made as strong without all the layering of sounds. If I was introducing someone to FM that had never heard them before I'd be hard pressed not to pick this one. Gotta think everyone can relate to this song.

Oh Daddy....I rarely pick Oh daddy out on a play list for some reason. But everytime I listen to it, I love how it has a unique sound that can't be easily copied. I find it unique lyrically for CM, because nearly every song she writes is about falling in or out of love....this one really is only asking for forgiveness, love be damned.

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

AliceLover · #24 09-07-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

YMLF is one of my all-time favorite FM songs, but I absolutely loathe it live. I hate the way that the rhythm just slows. down. to. a. crawl. when the chorus kicks in, unlike the album version where the rhythm just pushes right along. And the live version does not have that heavenly choir effect either, which really underscores the almost religious epiphany belied by the words "I never did believe in miracles..." YMLF is lightning in a bottle, I guess... it can be re-attempted, but never recaptured.

I agree with you here. Especially on the chorus aspects. Those choir harmonies are pure gold. However, I do love the older live versions because of Lindsey's guitar work on the choruses. Plus the ending on the live version is so dramatic. Love it!

Gotta say my favorite live version has to be Rosebud 77'

TrueFaith77 · #25 09-07-2010, 10:46 AM

It needs to be said that Clinton RUINED Don't Stop.

chiliD · #26 09-07-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan4136

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

Don't really see how you can say that, since the lyrics are stereotypically Stevie Nicks...the instrumental work behind the vocals, yeah, that's Lindsey (listen to live versions of "Lola (My Love)"). From the bass break on, that's a typical "Fleetwood Mac" vibe...from as far back as the Peter Green/Danny Kirwan days ("Searchin' For Madge", "Tell Me All The Things You Do", etc)

Ulpian · #27 09-07-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan4136

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

That's not true at all. If it's anyone's song in particular, it's Christine's. The original Keep Me There / Butter Cookie demos can be heard in one form or another in that final cut.

Villavic · #28 09-07-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

Since "The Chain" is a true Fleetwood Mac collaboration, it can be discussed in which every threads you feel like.

It is? According to the "making of Rumours" dvd, Lindsey was playing with John,, but they didn't have a song, Stevie recalls, and Lindsey didn't want anybody to add but at the end he agree to accept Stevie's help (lyrics, I understand). I can't find where Christine includes parts in this song (jbrownsjr help me)..

Villavic · #29 09-07-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

It needs to be said that Clinton RUINED Don't Stop.

Just because a song is too much played, or associated with someone, it is ruined? I think it can be a temporary effect, but saying it's ruined.. I consider it too much.

I've been tired of Don't Stop. But these days I'm dating someone new in my life who loves this song, so Don't Stop is now our song. And he is discovering Fleetwood Mac and I'm playing to him all version (Rumours, Rumours demo, Live, The Dance, Tango Live, etc..)... Then it is on my top ten songs again. Of course is a matter of moods and ideas association. One day you are saturated of, tomorrow you love it again... that's the magic of music, IMHO.

Artemis · #30 09-07-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyNote

1. Don't Stop

I see it as a Christine song, too, even though Lindsey has a greater presence on it. He also seems to take over on Think About Me and Hold Me. It would have been nice to hear Stevie's backups on all three of these songs. Why is she missing?

Excellent question! I've always wondered this, it just seems so odd. Especially in Hold Me, since in the video Stevie just... lies around and looks fabulous