Why, Oh Why did Stevie turn down "These Dreams"? - Page 7

glitter_fades · #91 05-22-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

If Debbie was treated as the star, FM was still more famous then that, and Stevie was the main star, I think she got the bulk of the attention.

I was a young adult in 1980 and Blondie was high profile. Most people thought Debby was Blondie. That irked some of the guys in the band. Fleetwood Mac was also huge and high profile then. Stevie wasn't so much. She wasn't the main star. The band was the star. People who weren't fans before Stevie went solo never believe me when I say that. It's true. Even when she first went solo she wasn't that big. It wasn't until MTV and the post Mirage/Wild Heart era that Stevie became more a household name. She was never bigger than Blondie in their heyday. Fleetwood Mac was but never Stevie alone.

xdreamsunwindx · #92 05-22-2005, 10:07 PM

As far as the whole Stevie/Debbie thing goes..

Deborah Harry is the Marilyn Monroe of rock music. She brought class, beauty, and grace to the rawness of rock. It showed that a girl didn't have to man it up to be respected as an artist. She and Blondie brought disco, rap, reggae, and punk into the popular music scene, and will always be remembered for that. She's a pop culture icon. Just how many rock singers have had their likeness interpreted on silkscreen by Andy Warhol? I mean, you know you're the **** when Andy Warhol digs you and wants to make your face look all mod and colorful. Debbie's the epitome of a pop star. She had the looks, the voice, and the personality to captivate men and women alike. People may not know who Debbie Harry is, but they know Blondie. Not the band, but Harry's persona.

Stevie, on the other hand, while also held highly influential, is hardly what one would consider a pop culture icon. Fleetwood Mac? Probably. Stevie solo? Eh. Stevie's a gorgeous woman, and was totally an object of lust for men all over the world for a bit. She's recognized for her witchy look and ethereal lyrics among music fans. But, nowadays, if you asked your average Joe who Stevie Nicks is, chances are, you'll get a "Who's he!?" or something along the lines of that, or, if you get lucky, "Isn't that one of the chicks from Fleetwood Mac?" Now, Fleetwood Mac is a different story. A lot more people will recognize the fact that Stevie's one of the chicks in Fleetwood Mac, but not so much the fact that she's a solo artist, because A) her albums, while the first 3 did pretty well, never matched up to her work with Fleetwood Mac, success-wise, and, B) she's known a lot for her collaborations with Petty, Henley, etc. You're more than likely to hear a Fleetwood Mac song on the radio than a solo Stevie song.

So. In closing? Debbie Harry? Blondie? Pop icons, and instantly recognizable. Fleetwood Mac? Same. But Stevie solo? Eh. Not quite as well-known amongst the average joes. Both women, though, are just plain awesome, and highly adored amongst music fans.

gldstwmn · #93 05-22-2005, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, beats listening to 11:59 and Hanging On the Telephone on vinyl. I get squealy just thinking about it.

It was a Girard turntable with the little light on the end of the stylus and we were just a little high on beer, everyone having a good time listening to the "New Wave" music. Oh, the days.

xdreamsunwindx · #94 05-22-2005, 10:08 PM

By the way: Stevie turned These Dreams down because that song really sucks.

Ok the end.

amber · #95 05-22-2005, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glitter_fades

I was a young adult in 1980 and Blondie was high profile. Most people thought Debby was Blondie. That irked some of the guys in the band. Fleetwood Mac was also huge and high profile then. Stevie wasn't so much. She wasn't the main star. The band was the star. People who weren't fans before Stevie went solo never believe me when I say that. It's true. Even when she first went solo she wasn't that big. It wasn't until MTV and the post Mirage/Wild Heart era that Stevie became more a household name. She was never bigger than Blondie in their heyday. Fleetwood Mac was but never Stevie alone.

Hmmm, so now we have conflicting stories...

Still, what you say is good evidence for the Blondie side....

gldstwmn · #96 05-22-2005, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glitter_fades

It wasn't until MTV and the post Mirage/Wild Heart era that Stevie became more a household name.

I have to disagree. I lived in Albuquerque NM in 1981 and had MTV pretty much from the first day.
They played the daylights out of Tusk and Sara. It was a regular staple.
They also played another little ditty called Stop Draggin' My Heart Around that feautured this cool chic with beads in her hair.
The pinnacle of it all was a video named Gypsy released in 1982. It was played to the point of over-saturation by MTV and radio. If you didn't know who Stevie was then, you were living under a rock.

glitter_fades · #97 05-22-2005, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

Hmmm, so now we have conflicting stories...

Still, what you say is good evidence for the Blondie side....

Since we're talking evidence, I was a college student in Europe in 1981 and I remember Blondie music a lot on the club scene. Fleetwood Mac and Stevie were nowhere as I recall. When I returned to the US later that year I remember the rumblings about FM breaking up. Stevie had her solo thing started. Then all of a sudden the band was in Europe working on Mirage. That was cazy. I just missed them when I came home.

GateandGarden · #98 05-22-2005, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xdreamsunwindx

By the way: Stevie turned These Dreams down because that song really sucks.

Ok the end.

amber · #99 05-22-2005, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glitter_fades

Since we're talking evidence, I was a college student in Europe in 1981 and I remember Blondie music a lot on the club scene. Fleetwood Mac and Stevie were nowhere as I recall. When I returned to the US later that year I remember the rumblings about FM breaking up. Stevie had her solo thing started. Then all of a sudden the band was in Europe working on Mirage. That was cazy. I just missed them when I came home.

It has definitely been established that Blondie was bigger in Europe...

amber · #**100** 05-22-2005, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I have to disagree. I lived in Albuquerque NM in 1981 and had MTV pretty much from the first day.
They played the daylights out of Tusk and Sara. It was a regular staple.
They also played another little ditty called Stop Draggin' My Heart Around that feautured this cool chic with beads in her hair.
The pinnacle of it all was a video named Gypsy released in 1982. It was played to the point of over-saturation by MTV and radio. If you didn't know who Stevie was then, you were living under a rock.

Yes!!! Score!!!

gldstwmn · #**101** 05-22-2005, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

It has definitely been established that Blondie was bigger in Europe...

I agree. The were very big in the UK especially. But I guess the UK Ledgies would have to comment on that.

glitter_fades · #**102** 05-22-2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I have to disagree. I lived in Albuquerque NM in 1981 and had MTV pretty much from the first day.
They played the daylights out of Tusk and Sara. It was a regular staple.
They also played another little ditty called Stop Draggin' My Heart Around that feautured this cool chic with beads in her hair.
The pinnacle of it all was a video named Gypsy released in 1982. It was played to the point of over-saturation by MTV and radio. If you didn't know who Stevie was then, you were living under a rock.

Remember in 1981 hardly anyone had cable or knew much about MTV if they didn't know somebody with cable. By 82/83 things were changing in the cable market and more people saw MTV, but you sure are right about Gypsy. That is the single most important song in her 80's career. The MTV video made Stevie a household name and cemented her 80's image forever. Don't forget that is a Fleetwood Mac item not her solo.

dissention · #**103** 05-22-2005, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I agree. The were very big in the UK especially. But I guess the UK Ledgies would have to comment on that.

Gawd, they even book their UK gigs a year in advance.

I remember buying a few copies of NME at the end of '04/early '05 and they had ads for their November '05 UK tour in it. Talk about planning ahead.

I think Blondie is yet another case of the Brits discovering the fabulous stuff before Americans had the brains to catch on. And most shocking to me is that they first broke through in Australia, before the US and UK, with In the Flesh of all songs.

gldstwmn · #**104** 05-22-2005, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glitter_fades

Remember in 1981 hardly anyone had cable or knew much about MTV if they didn't know somebody with cable. By 82/83 things were changing in the cable market and more people saw MTV, but you sure are right about Gypsy. That is the single most important song in her 80's career. The MTV video made Stevie a household name and cemented her 80's image forever. Don't forget that is a Fleetwood Mac item not her solo.

Whenever I Call You Friend peaked at #5 on the pop charts in 1978.

Magnet And Steel hit #8 on the pop charts in 1978.

Gold peaked at #5 on the pop charts in 1979.

Bella Donna hit #1 September 1981.

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around peaked at #3 on the radio charts 7/8/81 quickly followed by Edge Of Seventeen which hit #11.

gldstwmn · #**105** 05-22-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Gawd, they even book their UK gigs a year in advance.

I remember buying a few copies of NME at the end of '04/early '05 and they had ads for their November '05 UK tour in it. Talk about planning ahead.

I think Blondie is yet another case of the Brits discovering the fabulous stuff before Americans had the brains to catch on. And most shocking to me is that they first broke through in Australia, before the US and UK, with In the Flesh of all songs.

I love that song.