What's Stevie's Signature Song?

[GypsySorcerer]

I think Rhiannon is most associated with her signature image. Among the younger/Tiktok crowd, though, it's probably Dreams or Silver Springs (Dance). Snippets from that video performance seem to go viral every 6 months.

Solo, I'd say Edge of Seventeen.

[cbBen]

"Rhiannon" and "Stand Back"

Those are the songs the public knows her for.

[WalkAThinLine.]

There are certain songs in her discography that were much bigger several years ago but have since waned in popularity. "Sara" is a prime example of this where it scored Stevie one of her highest positions on the Hot 100 yet is far less known now. "Dreams" maintained a degree of relevance even before the 2020 viral TikTok clip, but the song has solidified its place in the musical zeitgeist since then because of this moment. When discussing her solo material, "Edge of Seventeen" arguably has the most universal appeal and is also easily her most played song on Spotify.

[bombaysaffires]

'signature song' is like, what is the song all the news shows will play when the artist dies....for that I'm going with Landslide.

However Rhiannon honestly is THE song that made her whole image and popularity back in the beginning and set the course and drew the attention.
Then of course Dreams being the first#1. Solo... Edge or Stand Back were big...given Edge getting new life with Destiny's Child and now Miley I might have to go with that. Stop Draggin' is pretty consistently popular and really blew the BD album wide open and made Edge and then later Stand Back possible.

So on the basis of all that I'd say the songs that truly MADE her were Rhiannon (FM) and Stop Draggin' (solo).

But when the inevitable sad day comes, I am betting everyone plays Landslide because it'll be the most fitting for the occasion.

[cbBen]

What prevents "Dreams" from being her signature song (and it probably wouldn't be anyway) is that the title is too disconnected from the song.

Yes the word "dreams" appears in the song, but if you were to ask the public to sing the song "Dreams" by FM few would be able to. It would be different were the song called "Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining."

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by cbBen

What prevents "Dreams" from being her signature song (and it probably wouldn't be anyway) is that the title is too disconnected from the song.

Yes the word "dreams" appears in the song, but if you were to ask the public to sing the song "Dreams" by FM few would be able to. It would be different were the song called "Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining."

In my case I see Dreams as her definitive signature (FM) song cause when I listened for the first time, and it was a hit, I loved the music even though I didn't understand English very well, then the songs lyrics weren't as relevant as the music. So the Dreams "positioning" in my mind was already very strong when my english skills got better.

That makes me think that worldwide, Dreams must be the signature songs. English is a good tool for business, tourism, IT, etc. professionals but not everyone speaks or reads english outside english speaking countries, maybe except in countries like India or Malaysia where I found everybody speak it as a second language, I guess because they are members of the Commonwealth and there are good education deals, benefits with UK.

[cbBen]

Where above I say "sing" I mean "identify."

[Storms123]

"Rhiannon" cultivated the "Image" and where the notion she is a witch came from. "Landslide" and "Dreams" probably more associate with her. I bet Rhiannon could be dropped from a set list before "Landslide" or "Dreams". I would say this is the case for solo or FM, but solo specific toss up between Eof17 or "Standback".

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Storms123

"Rhiannon" cultivated the "Image" and where the notion she is a witch came from. "Landslide" and "Dreams" probably more associate with her. I bet Rhiannon could be dropped from a set list before "Landslide" or "Dreams". I would say this is the case for solo or FM, but solo specific toss up between Eof17 or "Standback".

agree, she'll never drop Dreams because it was the band's first and only #1 and don't you forget it LOL

Landslide has become such an emotional high point in her shows and everyone sings along and other people had hits with it... it has really earned a place in the top tier signature Stevie songs. It has a timelessness to it that doesn't lock it into just one era of musical styles like some of the others (thinking Stand Back which is very of its time with the synths etc and even Edge)

Current Rhiannon is a slow shadow of its former self. This is the thing with a long career.. different generations come into it at different times so "signature" all depends on who is doing the choosing.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

agree, she'll never drop Dreams because it was the band's first and only #1 and don't you forget it LOL

Landslide has become such an emotional high point in her shows and everyone sings along and other people had hits with it... it has really earned a place in the top tier signature Stevie songs. It has a timelessness to it that doesn't lock it into just one era of musical styles like some of the others (thinking Stand Back which is very of its time with the synths etc and even Edge)

Current Rhiannon is a slow shadow of its former self. This is the thing with a long career.. different generations come into it at different times so "signature" all depends on who is doing the choosing.

She did drop Dreams for lots of the 24K Gold Tour. I can say I've seen a Stevie show where she did not play Dreams. She also dropped Rhiannon for a bit. She did not perform it most of her 1989 solo tour.
She even dropped Rhiannon for most of the Shake The Cage tour in 1987. When I read in Mick's book that she does not let the band play Rhiannon anymore I was confused since I saw them play it in 1987. It was only in the set about the first 10 shows and dropped along with Gypsy.
But I do agree. She will never drop Stand Back or Edge of 17. Both songs have been cemented in her set. Stand Back in the middle and Edge of 17 closing number. Nothing ever changes.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

When I read in Mick's book that she does not let the band play Rhiannon anymore I was confused since I saw them play it in 1987. It was only in the set about the first 10 shows and dropped along with Gypsy.
.

And they played it in the BTM tour, too. I think I read Mick said there were many confusions during the time he wrote the book because of the drugs. But what follows that Rhiannon phrase in his book looks more like one of those transcendental but actually senseless reflections from Stevie.

Stevie Nicks? Better than ever, in my opinion. (Although she doesn't let us play "Rhiannon" in concert anymore.) Not long ago, she told me: "Sometimes I think I should go back to being a waitress; maybe I would enjoy life more. " She's still writing great songs, one of the major stars of our era.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

She's still writing great songs, one of the major stars of our era.

That old fool has been sucking up to his meal ticket for a LONG time.

[Villavic]

It's no surprise that the authors close their story with kind words about their friends, but the truth is that Stevie was perhaps at the lowest point in her career. She definitely wasn't better than ever.

Something closer to the truth was what he wrote about Christine, although I think that at that time no one was sufficiently inspired.

Christine McVie is as great as ever. Right now she's working on her songs for our next record, Behind the, Mask, and thinking up blissful new ways to say she loves us. The healer's daughter will always be my sister and inspiration.

[David]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

Seeing that Stevie has had multiple hits, I'm curious what people on this board consider to be her signature song.

“Rhiannon” is her sig. It’s so much more than her epochal song. It’s a blueprint for her clothes, her image, and even her cosmology. It’s her philosophy: the woman who cannot be held down and who charts her own course across weird landscapes.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by David

“Rhiannon” is her sig. It’s so much more than her epochal song. It’s a blueprint for her clothes, her image, and even her cosmology. It’s her philosophy: the woman who cannot be held down and who charts her own course across weird landscapes.

While being nutty as a fruit cake, the entire time. That, in and of itself, is quite the feat.