**New Single** - Secret Love - Page 43

Artemis · #**631** 01-19-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitzo

I think Stevie`s vocals sound fresh and good on the single and it bodes well for the sound of the album as a whole. I fully agree that her performances of some tunes live has been a bit ragged in recent years - if Anyone falls, Rhiannon, Stand Back... However, her performances of ballads has been marvellous - BATB, Beautiful Child, Love Is last August, Silver Springs on the Unleashed tour. I really think she needs to focus on songs like those more and get away from the shouting. As for SYW, she really owned a lot of the stuff there, so much more engaged than TISL. Illume and Running Through the Garden and Everybody Finds Out and Thrown Down and Goodbye Baby are her best in many years, IMO. Destiny Rules and Silver Girl, not so much, but they are still so Stevie-ish.

The thing about Destiny Rules, I thought it was totally well-written, and the music was awesome... Stevie just needed a more inspired vocal when she was recording it. I thought it worked really well on stage though, so I have no idea why they didn't play it more!

APerfectLie · #**632** 01-19-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I agree with everything here. Stevie's vocals on Ellen were so bad I had to turn the tv off

. She just doesn't have the chops for some of her classic songs anymore. Rhiannon is the worst of that lot... it's so, so painful to hear these days. I too wish she'd simply refocus her career and delve more into becoming a very serious recording artist. Perhaps releasing concept albums of all different genres. I'd love to hear an electronic/dance based album from her, even a country one! She's got so much more to offer than poorly belted off key Stand Backs.

Rhiannon definitely isn't the exorcism it used to be, but I think vocally it still sounds good live. I do agree that Stand Back needs to be retired from and TV performances for the rest of her life. I think it bodes well in a live concert with all the energy and the audience and with such a high volume, people probably don't notice how bad the vocal is. But really, it is lifeless and she is out of breath. Especially when she doesn't twirl, which she never does on TV. Also, I never felt like Stand Back really transitioned well into a live song. The studio version kicks ass and there are some rare performances from the 80's that were really awesome, but it has never been one of my favorites live. It is a fun, energetic song live, but vocally it has never really done anything live. So I never have understood why she chooses to perform it at EVERY solo AND Mac show AND on TV. I think Stevie still has a really good voice (Four words: Beauty and the Beast), but I think she just has trouble keeping her breath with the speed of some of the songs.

AliceLover · #**633** 01-19-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I agree with everything here. Stevie's vocals on Ellen were so bad I had to turn the tv off

. She just doesn't have the chops for some of her classic songs anymore. Rhiannon is the worst of that lot... it's so, so painful to hear these days. I too wish she'd simply refocus her career and delve more into becoming a very serious recording artist. Perhaps releasing concept albums of all different genres. I'd love to hear an electronic/dance based album from her, even a country one! She's got so much more to offer than poorly belted off key Stand Backs.

I disagree. She sounded great at the 2010 show I saw (I was expecting the worst). Better than 75% of the Unleashed Tour (the other 25% being the first 15 dates or so).

You gotta go to a show, man, and you'll know. She's still got it. Youtube and concert audio's do not do her justice.

HejiraNYC · #**634** 01-19-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceLover

You gotta go to a show, man, and you'll know. She's still got it. Youtube and concert audio's do not do her justice.

I agree. There's a lot of guff given out by people who judge her vocal chops from those crappy sounding YouTube videos. When her voice fills the room in three dimensions, it's a totally different experience.

louielouie2000 · #**635** 01-19-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceLover

I disagree. She sounded great at the 2010 show I saw (I was expecting the worst). Better than 75% of the Unleashed Tour (the other 25% being the first 15 dates or so).

You gotta go to a show, man, and you'll know. She's still got it. Youtube and concert audio's do not do her justice.

I've seen her live plenty of times. She can't pull off Rhiannon anymore, plain and simple. I definitely agree she sounds much better live, but there are still songs she just needs to put away because she massacres them live with her current voice.

Jondalar · #**636** 01-19-2011, 10:40 PM

I saw Fleetwood Mac last year and Lindsey was awesome. Stevie seemed like a Zombie. It was like she was pacing herself the whole show to get through it.

tilthefirefades · #**637** 01-19-2011, 10:55 PM

Stevie really hasn't had an amazing vocal performance in the past 10 years, other than Beauty and the Beast. Stand Back was just embarrassing on Ellen. I agree with Mitzo that she should focus more on the ballads than the rockers. And as for the Unleashed tour, in my opinion it's her worst tour vocally ever.

Johnny Stew · #**638** 01-20-2011, 12:10 AM

I'm an odd bird (big surprise!) -- I love latter-day "Rhiannon." Stevie's lower, more seductive register, the slow-burn delivery... it really clicks with me. I honestly can't remember the last time I listened to a pre-'90s live version of it.

I do have to agree, though, that some of the other songs just don't do Stevie's current voice justice. Or vice versa.

Another Ledgie once suggested that Stevie should start stripping her show down, pare back the musicians, pull up a stool and focus more on her slower songs, ballads, etc. At the time, I didn't like the idea at all, but I'm starting to see the possibilities in that scenario. Instead of her having to compete with a loud rock band, the music would be much more understated, and her voice would be allowed far more breathing room in the sonic mix. She wouldn't even have to eliminate all of her upbeat songs -- they could simply be presented in a different fashion.

At any rate... this thread is about "Secret Love," and I'm head over heels for it. The demo never really knocked my socks off. It was a pretty & pleasant song, but never seemed to stay in my mind beyond its three minute running time. This new recording, however, has been stuck in my head for days. The production is contemporary but still very faithful to that "Stevie Nicks" style, and Stevie's vocal is everything I could've hoped for. It soars when it needs to soar, it's vulnerable when it needs to be vulnerable. It's simultaneously heartbreaking (in the best possible way) and empowering. Total home-run.

louielouie2000 · #**639** 01-20-2011, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

At any rate... this thread is about "Secret Love," and I'm head over heels for it. The demo never really knocked my socks off. It was a pretty & pleasant song, but never seemed to stay in my mind beyond its three minute running time. This new recording, however, has been stuck in my head for days. The production is contemporary but still very faithful to that "Stevie Nicks" style, and Stevie's vocal is everything I could've hoped for. It soars when it needs to soar, it's vulnerable when it needs to be vulnerable. It's simultaneously heartbreaking (in the best possible way) and empowering. Total home-run.

Aww, I've missed you!

Couldn't have said it better myself! I cannot get this song out of my head!

**mylittledemon** · #**640** 01-20-2011, 12:14 AM

Yep... if there's at least two more songs on the new album that are as good (or better) than the new song I'll be happy.

GoldDustOrphan · #**641** 01-20-2011, 02:13 AM

"Secret Love" isn't a love-at-first-sight kind of girl. I was indifferent at first, because I made the mistake of listening to it through my laptop as soon as it finished downloading. I was worried I'd have to fake it, like I did with "Everyday," hoping repeat listens would reveal something compelling (luckily, I could cheat guilt free with "Planets," because "Everyday" is her worst single). Hours later, I listened again with my noise-canceling earbuds and the song sort of snuck up on me. I've been mainlining it ever since. It's simple, yet very effective; modern but not bowing to any trends. And it's short running time should be noted. Even the best writers need an editor, and she has a good one here. She doesn't wander from the narrative or lose momentum with some weird counter-melody or awkward bridge.

Oooh Missionary · #**642** 01-20-2011, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OooMissionary

Since watching 'Destiny Rules', I can only picture Stevie bellowing in a closet in that house, with the singing bass flopping around behind her... while Lindsey giggles, and thinks to himself 'Now I've got her!!!'

Nice name, by the way.

OooMissionary · #**643** 01-20-2011, 05:57 AM

LOL... I had no idea there was another member that had gone 'Missionary'...

skcin · #**644** 01-20-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I've seen her live plenty of times. She can't pull off Rhiannon anymore, plain and simple. I definitely agree she sounds much better live, but there are still songs she just needs to put away because she massacres them live with her current voice.

Agreed. Rhiannon is dull & flat. Even Edge is way too monotone for my taste, but at least the music itself keeps it energized.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I'm an odd bird (big surprise!) -- I love latter-day "Rhiannon." Stevie's lower, more seductive register, the slow-burn delivery... it really clicks with me. I honestly can't remember the last time I listened to a pre-'90s live version of it.

I do have to agree, though, that some of the other songs just don't do Stevie's current voice justice. Or vice versa.

Another Ledgie once suggested that Stevie should start stripping her show down, pare back the musicians, pull up a stool and focus more on her slower songs, ballads, etc. At the time, I didn't like the idea at all, but I'm starting to see the possibilities in that scenario. Instead of her having to compete with a loud rock band, the music would be much more understated, and her voice would be allowed far more breathing room in the sonic mix. She wouldn't even have to eliminate all of her upbeat songs -- they could simply be presented in a different fashion.

At any rate... this thread is about "Secret Love," and I'm head over heels for it. The demo never really knocked my socks off. It was a pretty & pleasant song, but never seemed to stay in my mind beyond its three minute running time. This new recording, however, has been stuck in my head for days. The production is contemporary but still very faithful to that "Stevie Nicks" style, and Stevie's vocal is everything I could've hoped for. It soars when it needs to soar, it's vulnerable when it needs to be vulnerable. It's simultaneously heartbreaking (in the best possible way) and empowering. Total home-run.

Hopy crap, where the hell have you been?

TerraRhiannon · #**645** 01-20-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I've seen her live plenty of times. She can't pull off Rhiannon anymore, plain and simple. I definitely agree she sounds much better live, but there are still songs she just needs to put away because she massacres them live with her current voice.

She should always perform it like this from now on: