Soundstage aired last night - any reviews?

[Hawkeye]

I really don't gve a rats ass about freaking Octaves and my ABC's. Waht matters is the delivery of the song and in my opinion rhiannon now is the best it's been since the Street Angel tour, definitely better then The Dance and BY FAR better then the TISL and Enchanted versions.

[Johnny Stew]

Wait... you mean Stevie isn't the same skinny little 20-something girl, who used to shred her vocal chords up on stage singing "Rhiannon" every night?!?
Well, doggoneit, I'm not even gonna bother buying this DVD then!
Hmmpf!



What's funny though, is that people are saying that Stevie should follow Joni's lead... which I assume means she should sit down on a stool, light up a cigarette, and sing all of her melancholy numbers... because she'd be more "graceful" that way.
But then in the next breath, they're saying she should be more energetic and passionate.

No, "Rhiannon" isn't exactly the goosebump-inducing scorcher it used to be, but I think Stevie's fashioned it into a really intense slow-burner, that perfectly suits her current voice and deportment.
For me, it doesn't lack energy or passion... it's just a different reading on it.

But that's just my opinion.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

Tower I have a question for you, are you a singer?

Do you sing about 20 songs a night with the majority being high melod songs? she does and shes almost sixty you ass. Do you know hard it is to do that? You have some nerve to say that about her. They are trying to plase the fans and when i was at that show Rhiannon sure as hell pleased me. Shes not what she used to be, but she is still kicking ass at 56.

Jimmy

Dude, no need to get personal.

[HomerMcvie]

Tower I have a question for you, are you a singer?Do you sing about 20 songs a night with the majority being high melod songs?

I am, and do 40! songs a night. AND, I write the set list depending on how good I feel that day. A perfect example is: We've been doing Sheryl Crow/Rod Stewart's "First Cut is the Deepest". Well, it's a little too high for me without straining, and lowering the key just doesn't sound right, sooo, we're DROPPING it, because, IT IS BETTER TO NOT DO IT, THAN TO SUCK AT IT! And that's the lesson she could learn.
Suck not, oh witchy one!

[MikeVielhaber]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I am, and do 40! songs a night. AND, I write the set list depending on how good I feel that day. A perfect example is: We've been doing Sheryl Crow/Rod Stewart's "First Cut is the Deepest". Well, it's a little too high for me without straining, and lowering the key just doesn't sound right, sooo, we're DROPPING it, because, IT IS BETTER TO NOT DO IT, THAN TO SUCK AT IT! And that's the lesson she could learn.
Suck not, oh witchy one!

my favorite version is version from the writer of the song...cat stevens. ..very unlike his 70's output but its just a very well written song......speaking of which....i HATE it when someone covers a song that was originally sung by someone of the opposite sex and they just switch out the he's and she's....i think thats totally weak.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

Tower I have a question for you, are you a singer?

Do you sing about 20 songs a night with the majority being high melod songs? she does and shes almost sixty you ass. Do you know hard it is to do that? You have some nerve to say that about her. They are trying to plase the fans and when i was at that show Rhiannon sure as hell pleased me. Shes not what she used to be, but she is still kicking ass at 56.

Funny you should ask. I am a singer. I was a vocal major in college and I know all about singing. I've been in a band since 1989 and I know what it's like to rehearse for eight hours straight singing songs over and over again.

I don't necessarily think Stevie is "kicking ass" at 56. Tina Turner was kicking ass at 56. Ann Wilson is kicking ass at 54. I think Stevie is f**king awesome- "Beautiful Child" is spine-tingling- it's that good. But I wouldn't say she's "kicking ass".

Stevie doesn't sing 20 songs a night and none of them are high melody, which isn't really the point anyway. Everyone has their own subjective opinion about Stevie's performances and her music. I've seen Stevie in concert about 30 times since 1979. Sometimes fantastic, sometimes frightening, sometimes ho-hum.

I feel that she cannot do justice to Rhiannon anymore. That's just my opinion. Just because she's 56 doesn't mean the performances should be subpar. She doesn't HAVE to do Rhiannon. She could do any number of other songs that fit her register that would be vibrant, moving and entertaining.

My Joni example was more related to reality. If you know her music, you know that songs like "California" and "The Arrangement" and others are really, really high. Joni can't sing that high anymore. So, when she went on tour- did she pull out "California" in the same key, but sing it in a monotone, lackluster fashion? Nope. She did take a song like "A Case of You" (which is also REALLY high in its original key) and completely revamped it into a slow, orchestral piece. A lot of Joni's fans hated that she changed it around, whereas I thought it was enough of a departure to actually work on its own merit.

Rock-n-roll songs should ROCK. Look at Ann Wilson. She still goes out on tour and she really does sing 20 high melody songs every night with no problem. Ann and Stevie obviously have different voices, but you work with what you got. And Stevie voice just can't do Rhiannon the way it is right now. I think she should change it or, preferably, drop it.

I would much prefer to see the Stevie of 2004 do stuff like "Crystal", "Storms", or even something like "Illume", which isn't that high but would really kick ass live. I think "Rhiannon" was something that really was only designed for 1975 Stevie and I think it has seen its day.

Just my opinion.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by The Tower

Rock-n-roll songs should ROCK. Look at Ann Wilson. She still goes out on tour and she really does sing 20 high melody songs every night with no problem. Ann and Stevie obviously have different voices, but you work with what you got. And Stevie voice just can't do Rhiannon the way it is right now. I think she should change it or, preferably, drop it.

Ahh, but Ann shaves off some of those higher notes, too, when doing songs like "Crazy On You" and "Magic Man."
But I know what you mean, and you're right that she does push her limits more on stage than Stevie does these days.
Still, I don't feel that Stevie is just "going thru the motions," or not investing any passion... it's just expressed in a different way than it was before.

And it's just my personal opinion, but I'd usually rather hear a song done in it's original tempo but with a lower key, than hear it slowed down.
chiliD will hate me for this, but I can't listen to Eric Clapton's unplugged rendition of "Layla"... to me, the slowed tempo is excruciating and mars what is one of the greatest rock songs ever.

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by MikeVielhaber

yeah we all expect it to be horrible because of the cover.....

Ah, you don't get tongue in cheek remarks, tomball ranger?

[dissention]

While I'm no big fan of the latter day Rhiannon's, it's been better than it has been in a LONG time lately. So, I don't have a big problem with it. If it's as I remember it from the taping, it won't be that bad; I enjoyed it.

[AliceLover]

I am actually quite surprised why this is new to you people.

Rhiannon was only good during the white album and Rumours tour. Of course I mean by this she tore it up at the end. Ever since then it hasn't been that good. But if your a singer like me you know your limits. The songs she sings every night can be straning on her voice. But I am still confused why this is new to all you.

Jimmy

[EveryHour]

When it comes to Stevie, I don't feel that I "gloss over" imperfections (which I realize can be so easy to do when you care about/adore/admire, etc someone so much), but rather accept them as human. I don't pretend that currently Rhainnon is as exciting as 1976, but I love and accept what it is now as yet another new rendition of what has been a constantly evolving song. I like the low notes...something new in a song that has been performed thousands of times. Bottom line: I think it's great that Stevie is still rockin' in her 50's, whatever that brings. She has the right as an artist and human to be out there and say, "this is who I am now". She can't, afterall, be anyone but herself. Sure, ideally I think it would be great if some of the songs were reworked, but if Stevie chooses not to, the option is not for her to retire for the sake of your comfortability. The option is for those who are no longer moved by her performances to quit going to the shows! You, too, have the option to "bow out gracefully" without complaint, just as you think Stevie "should". I, for one, will continue to support her because she still moves me like no other. And she can rock the Reeboks for eternity for all I care because I'm only 25 and I already don't like uncomfortable shoes!