We should all be kissing Stevie's ass

[jellyman10]

I'm kind of bewildered by some of the views in this thread. I mean, really, who's got a gun to anyone's head on any of this? By all means don't buy her music, don't go to her concerts and don't give her own personal artistic journey any thought at all in your busy day.

But that's easier said than done, and that's where the discourse of expectation enters. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that, for me, there are artists I will always be interested in, and be unable to stop myself investing in as if I had a right to expect things from them. But I don't. I just feel like I do, because of something they've created in the past that has touched me very deeply or given me such pleasure that I just want another fix. The truth, though, is that their artistic journey is theirs, and mine in mine.

I know this is all complicated by the fact that SN has often made a big deal out of how much we fans matter to her, and that certainly does fuel the delusion that she might somehow be amenable to doing what we want her to do. But really, being a fan is by definition a dependent relationship. We are all the junior partners in our relationship to the entity we think of as 'Stevie'. And if you find that position undignifying, then I suppose the only thing you can do is not be a fan any more.

Loz

[bluefox4000]

You're right. No one's forcing anyone. Just sharing opinions. I happen to only like 2 albums in her canon. Maybe because my expectations are so low, she'll blow me away. I'm a fan...But I have been throughly disappointed by her work. I can't help that. I feel she's let me as a fan down, With sub-par work. Having said that that, Will I continue to buy her albums? Yes
Because I feel she's got it in her to put out 1 more classic. Am I a bit harsh....maybe. But I feel I'm justified dammit

Off my soapbox now.

Mick

[soul_drifter333]

Yeah but she STILL needs the money...apparently.

Originally Posted by WildHearted

I think we should be grateful in some regards that she is still working at all, and hasn't sailed off to an island somewhere with her dogs never to be seen again.

[markolas]

I don't kiss anyone's ass (figuratively speaking).

[jellyman10]

Originally Posted by bluefox4000

Because I feel she's got it in her to put out 1 more classic. Am I a bit harsh....maybe. But I feel I'm justified dammit

Sure thing. And this is actually largely how I feel about Joni Mitchell, whose public utterances and creative flatlining in recent years have more or less made me view her as an artist of entirely historical interest. Seriously, she is so far from where she once was (for me) that she might as well be dead.

I don't feel entitled to anything from these people, though. I guess I just hope, rather than expect.

[SapphireSister]

The only way I'm kissing her ass is if she personally asks me too .

[AnthonyMI]

Didn't she have a personal servant hired to do this on her Rock a Little tour?

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by jellyman10

Sure thing. And this is actually largely how I feel about Joni Mitchell, whose public utterances and creative flatlining in recent years have more or less made me view her as an artist of entirely historical interest. Seriously, she is so far from where she once was (for me) that she might as well be dead.

I don't feel entitled to anything from these people, though. I guess I just hope, rather than expect.

Well, Joni has technically been in "retirement" since 2002 and she pretty much stopped giving a hoot about music after 1998- that was no closely kept secret. Her last two albums full of orchestral standards and covers of her own songs were merely depictions of Joni's musical inspiration circling the drain. She surprised us a few years ago with a new album (even in retirement she has been more prolific than Stevie!), but I think she is really done this time, especially considering how poorly the album was received. She is almost 70 and is not in good health. It makes me sad that she has ended her career on such a sour series of notes. But I've made my peace with Joni- I caught her final concert tours (both rocking and orchestral) and she has such an immense, satisfying body of work that I will cherish forever. However, unlike Joni, I think Stevie still has some work to do. I don't think IYD will be the last chapter in her book; I think we will all know when she is really done.

[starshine]

First off I won't 'kiss' any artists a** period. Even if I like them or not. Those days are so over for me. Yes, I like Stevie's music but my 'rose' colored glasses days are long gone. Yes, I appreciate what she has done for music and that she is still recording but as a long time fan I am disappointed in the out put of music esp for someone that is suppose to be so prolific of a songwriter. Either that or those were just great sounding 'words' back in all those old Fmac interview days. I can still be a fan of her's and not worship the ground she walks on or think everything she's done is wonderful.
I won't spend anymore $$ for concert tickets.(I've spent enough on tickets and memoriblia of her and FMac through the yrs). Really not for any artists unless I can get them cheap. I don't really care to see Stevie live anymore because of the setlist issue's etc. Even for this new tour with Rod (to me its just another GHits tour setlist) nor will I go to the IYD tour either.
Personally, I don't really know how I will 'feel' about the 'new' cd IYD yet. I mean Secret Love is OK but I guess since I've had the demo for so long I guess its just not a big deal to me. Plus the song in itself was OK than not like one of my must-have's that I wanted recorded offically really. Thats IMO anyway, to each his/her own. Its good to have different opinions. I think really Stevie and FMac could've really marketed each of themselves much better and each could've put alot more unreleased material (cds or dvds) etc to there advantage but well they both wasted chances to do such things. As a 'fan' looking from the outside its really a shame but it was Stevie's and Fmac choice to NOT do anything. Yes, there have been GHits packages and various things released but really they also could've used the Net more to there advantage and neither chose to do so. As a fan its our loss and I guess as a business its also there loss too. I guess its just hard for me to get too excited about this stuff. I mean I love music but it'll not ever be how it was back in the 80's or even '90's again. Heck I was too young for the 70's so I can't include that time period. Anyway, hopefully, I didn't anger anyone. We all have a right to our opinions , so we can just agree to disagree. It is what it is.