Stevie's Special Guest tonight in Chicago...

[RockAlot]

I have & still do admire Sheryl and not sure why there is always this need to dog her? Especially being she is a friend of Stevie's.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by RockAlot

I have & still do admire Sheryl and not sure why there is always this need to dog her? Especially being she is a friend of Stevie's.

Agreed. I think she's a fantastic artist... I've followed her since the mid '90s and have all of her albums. She's exceedingly talented, probably far more so than Stevie herself. Stevie beats her in a more immeasurable way, though: emotional bonds with her listeners. I don't get why Stevie fans have to beat Sheryl down. She and Stevie are as alike as apples and oranges.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RockAlot

I have & still do admire Sheryl and not sure why there is always this need to dog her? Especially being she is a friend of Stevie's.

Agree. I have a great appreciation for Sheryl's talent. She is a quick study, has a keen natural musical ability, and is a pretty darn good songwriter herself (she does also co-write a lot of her material) and I have all her records. That said, she can "grate" and sound shrill a little vocally time to time, and she is more of a imitator of genres than an innovator. But all that aside, I respect her, enjoy her music and consider her very talented! And I love that Stevie and her are great pals. So it was a happy moment for me to see them reunited on stage after almost a decade.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Agreed. I think she's a fantastic artist... I've followed her since the mid '90s and have all of her albums. She's exceedingly talented, probably far more so than Stevie herself. Stevie beats her in a more immeasurable way, though: emotional bonds with her listeners. I don't get why Stevie fans have to beat Sheryl down. She and Stevie are as alike as apples and oranges.

Originally Posted by Christopher

Agree. I have a great appreciation for Sheryl's talent. She is a quick study, has a keen natural musical ability, and is a pretty darn good songwriter herself (she does also co-write a lot of her material) and I have all her records. That said, she can "grate" and sound shrill a little vocally time to time, and she is more of a imitator of genres than an innovator. But all that aside, I respect her, enjoy her music and consider her very talented! And I love that Stevie and her are great pals. So it was a happy moment for me to see them reunited on stage after almost a decade.

Yes! I completely agree. I've been a big Sheryl fan since the mid 90s and always enjoyed her stuff. Sure, some of her albums are a little patchy, especially Detours, but everyone is guilty of that from time to time and it all comes down to personal preference anyway. While I think Sheryl joining FM would have been a bit much, I really like most of the work she has done with Stevie - especially If You Ever Did Believe which is excellent!

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Yes! I completely agree. I've been a big Sheryl fan since the mid 90s and always enjoyed her stuff. Sure, some of her albums are a little patchy, especially Detours, but everyone is guilty of that from time to time and it all comes down to personal preference anyway. While I think Sheryl joining FM would have been a bit much, I really like most of the work she has done with Stevie - especially If You Ever Did Believe which is excellent!

I like Sheryl Crow but I can't love her. She imitates styles too much. That second album seemed like a complete imitation to me. I think she is a great writer and producer. However, her voice seems thin to me. It fealt like it took 3 albums before I got her style. Her last album didn't even go gold and I don't think she gives a crap. She has though kids and the life she wanted.

[Dodfather]

I think her second (Sheryl Crow) and third (The Globe Sessions) are by far her best work - The Globe Sessions especially - but I do like all of them, although her last two have only been ok.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by Dodfather

I think her second (Sheryl Crow) and third (The Globe Sessions) are by far her best work - The Globe Sessions especially - but I do like all of them, although her last two have only been ok.

Totally agree!, especially The Globe Sessions - That was a great record. She kind of meandered afterwards. Stevie worked with Sheryl during her high point creatively thats for certain. Afterwards, Sheryl became too ubiquitous and her music suffered more identity crisis, hence it becoming increasingly obvious of her borrowing more and more from her influences . As far as her 00's albums, I actually prefer Wildflower to C'mon C'mon and Detours - which was terribly spotty despite re-teaming with songwriter/producer Bill Bottrell.

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I like Sheryl Crow but I can't love her. She imitates styles too much. That second album seemed like a complete imitation to me. I think she is a great writer and producer. Her last album didn't even go gold and I don't think she gives a crap. She has though kids and the life she wanted.

Sheryl hasn't had a platinum selling record of original material since 2002s "C'mon C'mon". "Wildflower" in 2005 was her last Gold selling record, but its only @50k from Platinum. 2008s "Detours"(405,000) and 2010s "100 Miles From Memphis"(150,000) are not even certified Gold in the U.S. Though I agree, Sheryl has a healthy attitude about record sales these days, in part, put into perspective cause she has kids to focus on as well, and she's achieved pretty much all she's ever wanted, but I can't help but think she cares a little more than she says in interviews. I mean she's had quite a precipitious drop in sales in a short time-span. These figures are also interesting for perspective when looking towards expectations for Stevie's "In Your Dreams". If Stevie can pull off selling 250K in 2011, that would be a milestone achievement for a female artist her age in the music industry's new reality for pop/rock females over 40+ much less 60+. If IYD does goes Gold - that would be a tsunami wave success!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Totally agree!, especially The Globe Sessions - That was a great record. She kind of meandered afterwards. Stevie worked with Sheryl during her high point creatively thats for certain. Afterwards, Sheryl became too ubiquitous and her music suffered more identity crisis, hence it becoming increasingly obvious of her borrowing more and more from her influences . As far as her 00's albums, I actually prefer Wildflower to C'mon C'mon and Detours - which was terribly spotty despite re-teaming with songwriter/producer Bill Bottrell.

I pretty much agree with all of the above. The Globe Sessions is one of those rare rock artist albums- it was pretty much career-defining. It is as close to perfection as one can get- an album that rocks hard, has some catchy pop tunes, some gorgeous melodies and lots of introspection. It's timeless. But it does make me wonder how the quality of her albums kinda fell off a cliff thereafter. I do like C'mon, C'mon a lot, but it does represent the beginning of her decline; she has been playing it way too safe in recent years. I was hoping Detours would be a return to form, but it almost sounds like a self-conscious track-by-track rip-off of Tuesday Night Music Club, but not as good. She clearly has a knack for writing great songs but she seems unable to channel her pain the way she did on TGS.

[kak125]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I pretty much agree with all of the above. The Globe Sessions is one of those rare rock artist albums- it was pretty much career-defining. It is as close to perfection as one can get- an album that rocks hard, has some catchy pop tunes, some gorgeous melodies and lots of introspection. It's timeless. But it does make me wonder how the quality of her albums kinda fell off a cliff thereafter. I do like C'mon, C'mon a lot, but it does represent the beginning of her decline; she has been playing it way too safe in recent years. I was hoping Detours would be a return to form, but it almost sounds like a self-conscious track-by-track rip-off of Tuesday Night Music Club, but not as good. She clearly has a knack for writing great songs but she seems unable to channel her pain the way she did on TGS.

i totally agree with you! The Globe Sessions was so amazing and her best cd to date. i remember at the time though that it sold alot less than her previous albums and i could never figure out why. i saw her live on that tour and she was kick ass. i would love another rock cd by her again someday. i am not a fan of 100 miles from memphis at all besides 2 songs. i did really like Wildflower and Come On Come On wasnt too bad. her new song called Collide with Kid Rock is pretty good but i do miss the old rocking Sheryl.

[Tango]

Originally Posted by RockAlot

I have & still do admire Sheryl and not sure why there is always this need to dog her? Especially being she is a friend of Stevie's.

I don't get it either. Sheryl is no slouch. The woman has won NINE grammys. Somebody must like her. She's an educated musician (BA in Music Composition, Performance & Education), not to mention a solid pianist, guitar and bass player. Not too shabby for a 49 year old former elementary school music teacher!

[Lee]

Thanks for posting the video. Now that is a duet, very nice.

I like Sheryl. I actually started getting into her music more when I found out she was friends with Stevie because if she friends with Stevie, she can't be all bad, JMO. I have a few of Sheryl's CDs. Her last one though was a stinker, JMO; I don't even play it, but I have a greatest hits CD of hers & Detours. I'm not a devout fan, but I do like her music.

Lee

[Jondalar]

Well, I think the only songs from Sheryl that I actually love are The Difficult Kind and Chances Are and Weather Channel. None of which were not hits. I hated Strong Enough, Hard to Make a Stand and Every Day is A Winding Road. I thought those songs were pure imitation. Maybe Angels was an Ode to Stevie. I did not think her voice carried Home, which was actually a decent song.

I thought Cmon Cmon was best crafted album. Then Sheryl Crow and the Globe Sessions. Wildflowers sucked. It was soooo bland. Loved Chances Are though.

[Annabell Lee]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Agree. I have a great appreciation for Sheryl's talent. She is a quick study, has a keen natural musical ability, and is a pretty darn good songwriter herself (she does also co-write a lot of her material) and I have all her records. That said, she can "grate" and sound shrill a little vocally time to time, and she is more of a imitator of genres than an innovator. But all that aside, I respect her, enjoy her music and consider her very talented! And I love that Stevie and her are great pals. So it was a happy moment for me to see them reunited on stage after almost a decade.

Ditto ditto ditto. I REALLY don't understand all the Sheryl negativity in Stevie-Land. What IS that all about? Does anyone know why ALOT of Stevie fans hate Sheryl ? Personally, if it makes Stevie happy it can't be that bad ... Lol I HAD to go there !!! But seriously, why all the haters ??

[Heartboy]

Originally Posted by Tango

I don't get it either. Sheryl is no slouch. The woman has won NINE grammys. Somebody must like her. She's an educated musician (BA in Music Composition, Performance & Education), not to mention a solid pianist, guitar and bass player. Not too shabby for a 49 year old former elementary school music teacher!

Very well said! =)

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Annabell Lee

Ditto ditto ditto. I REALLY don't understand all the Sheryl negativity in Stevie-Land. What IS that all about? Does anyone know why ALOT of Stevie fans hate Sheryl ? Personally, if it makes Stevie happy it can't be that bad ... Lol I HAD to go there !!! But seriously, why all the haters ??

Because she can produce and she has won all those grammies.