OZ Article and Pic

[Rumour0323]

As you said earlier, there is just a huge protion of her audience that would give her a standing ovation if she were wheeled out onstage, farted "Rhiannon," and left. I don't think these fans would somehow falter in their undying devotion if she pulled out "Nightbird" or "Bella Donna" or "Storms."

This is priceless and oh so true. Another lemming reporting for duty.

[Mokona]

I'm amazed that people are actually considering going to these.

Me too! That's a whole lot of clams for just a few songs. Now if she was touring Japan, my dream vacation spot, I'd be booking a flight as we speak...

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by MacMan

So, if you see a 155-centimetre blonde rock star in a black slouch hat, pearled cape and heels - it's her.

God, someone get a picture, please.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

God, someone get a picture, please.

I know - and all I could think of when I read that for some reason was you in the red/pink boa hat in Sak's in May, which was FIERCE

[Rickypt]

I'm glad this info is coming through before I put a bunch of charges on my credit card.

Of course it's great that fans in Australia will get to see Stevie. It would be nice for her to take the Gold Dust Tour around the world and please her fans.

But this orchestra thing is turning out to be nothing like I imagined. Which is my fault; I'm the eternal optimist. I thought I'd actually meet Stevie at the first AHI benefit when promised; I thought she was going to take chances in Vegas when she said the concert would be like nothing anyone's seen, etc.

I first read about this Melbourne Symphony idea in the SF Chronicle. The way it was written, it seemed like Stevie was going to rework her classics with an orchestra for a special performance. That led me to think she would actually play in a theater that was created for orchestras and was planning something very unique and special.

Instead, it is another arena tour with one concert offering a few songs with the symphony to make a DVD. And Stevie is now saying her typical "....you never know" when, as Neal has stated, we do know.

I highly doubt she will even do At Last or Sunday Kind of Love. She'll probably do HAEWAFY, Landslide, Beauty and the Beast, and maybe Circle Dance and Rhiannon with the orchestra, and that's it.

To me, the issue isn't about changing the setlist for this tour, it's why she won't go all out and make it something truly special: an elegant theater with quality of sound and an entire concert with all songs reworked to accomodate an orchestra.

I'm happy to wait for the DVD, which will be rerecorded after everyone goes home anyway.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

To me, the issue isn't about changing the setlist for this tour, it's why she won't go all out and make it something truly special: an elegant theater with quality of sound and an entire concert with all songs reworked to accomodate an orchestra.

Extremely well put.

I understand that this sort of thing is expensive and time consuming. However, doing something on that scale says something about an artist. It says that they believe their work is worthy of such a treatment. If she did this kind of thing, a great example of which is Joni Mitchell's Travelogue, the kind of respect generated by it might be of a different sort than she has ever managed to attain. It is the type of Bob Dylan stature to which she has always aspired. I'm disappointed that it isn't going to be on that grand scale because I would love to go see it in person, no matter the cost. I am more disappointed however, that she doesn't seem to think that her catalogue is worthy of such a grand statement. That package, not TISL, would be her true "masterpiece".

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by sparky

I understand that this sort of thing is expensive and time consuming. However, doing something on that scale says something about an artist. It says that they believe their work is worthy of such a treatment. If she did this kind of thing, a great example of which is Joni Mitchell's Travelogue, the kind of respect generated by it might be of a different sort than she has ever managed to attain. It is the type of Bob Dylan stature to which she has always aspired. I'm disappointed that it isn't going to be on that grand scale because I would love to go see it in person, no matter the cost. I am more disappointed however, that she doesn't seem to think that her catalogue is worthy of such a grand statement. That package, not TISL, would be her true "masterpiece".

Something like that would truly be a highmark in her latter-day career, and I think she could pull it off beautifully.

I wonder if she'd be more inclined to do something on that level if there weren't such time limitations on these proposals. Instead of having to put something together for just a handful of nights in Vegas, or having the MSO available to her for only one performance, maybe if she were in a situation where she could stay in one place and perform for a few weeks at a time, it might be different.

Then again, I also wonder if Stevie believes that she doesn't have enough wide-range appeal to successfully pull off something riskier than a standard classic rock shed tour with a setlist that will be automatically familiar to the audience.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I wonder if she'd be more inclined to do something on that level if there weren't such time limitations on these proposals.

Time limitations ? Dude. It's November. February 18th is four months away.

A professional orchestra can rehearse a full length symphony in a few weeks. I am sure an hour and a half of pop songs, in two keys tops, would be a five day rehearsal.
Paul Buckmaster or some such contemporary could rustle up arrangements of 15-18 songs in a similar amount of time. A few weeks tops. I just think she can't be bothered at this point. That's what bugs me. Although she may be warming up to do just that. It would be easier to predict the rain patterns in Portland.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by sparky

Time limitations ? Dude. It's November. February 18th is four months away.

I didn't mean limitations on rehearsal time... but rather on the amount of shows. She only did, what, five shows in Vegas? And she only has the MSO for one night. And, in both cases, she had/has to put together a show that will translate to a shed tour that quickly follows.

So what I was saying, is that maybe if they were multi-week engagements, without then having to adapt the show into something suitable for the sheds, she'd be more inclined to try something a little more different?
I don't know. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by sparky

Although she may be warming up to do just that.

True, and for all we know, she could be dipping her toes in the water, to gauge the reaction and see if there's any kind of serious interest in this type of show from her, beyond that of the die-hards.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I didn't mean limitations on rehearsal time... but rather on the amount of shows. She only did, what, five shows in Vegas? And she only has the MSO for one night. And, in both cases, she had/has to put together a show that will translate to a shed tour that quickly follows.

True, and I suspect she made a ****load of cash for Vegas, which offset any of the cost for that prodcution.

So what I was saying, is that maybe if they were multi-week engagements, without then having to adapt the show into something suitable for the sheds, she'd be more inclined to try something a little more different?

Possible. And for all we know, the promoter might only have wanted her to do a short symphony set, in order to ensure more tickets sold. Who knows how booked that venue is ?

True, and for all we know, she could be dipping her toes in the water, to gauge the reaction and see if there's any kind of serious interest in this type of show from her, beyond that of the die-hards.

It looks that way. God knows she is a creature of habit, and the first Stormy Weather thing was 7-8 years ago. I think she is using Joni as a template, and working her way into it. And making someone else pay for the symphony, basically, which is smart.

Though, even with the die hards she could sell enough copies of such an extravaganza to make money. I mean, who the hell else bought the box set ?

[amber]

Originally Posted by sparky

Extremely well put.

I understand that this sort of thing is expensive and time consuming. However, doing something on that scale says something about an artist. It says that they believe their work is worthy of such a treatment. If she did this kind of thing, a great example of which is Joni Mitchell's Travelogue, the kind of respect generated by it might be of a different sort than she has ever managed to attain. It is the type of Bob Dylan stature to which she has always aspired. I'm disappointed that it isn't going to be on that grand scale because I would love to go see it in person, no matter the cost. I am more disappointed however, that she doesn't seem to think that her catalogue is worthy of such a grand statement. That package, not TISL, would be her true "masterpiece".

Nice. I agree. I wish we could tell her, and she would listen. Especially the part about her thinking her catalogue isn't worthy of such a grand statement. It's hard to believe she would think that, but judging by her actions you kind of have to. Perhaps age and that career low made a bigger blow to her confidence than suspected. But she should know that she really does have the most loyal and forgiving fans. It's hard for me to believe that Stevie couldn't imagine and conceive of something spectacular. Honestly. Stevie's always been about big, otherworldly dreams. And fantasy concepts. And stuff. She's not just selling us short, she's selling her veryownself short.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by amber

She's not just selling us short, she's selling her veryownself short.

Bingo. My Homegirl Jackie gets the prize.

But, she may be gearing up for real deal.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by sparky

But, she may be gearing up for real deal.

Then why the hell isn't she waiting to film the "real deal" for DVD?

[amber]

Originally Posted by sparky

Bingo. My Homegirl Jackie gets the prize.

But, she may be gearing up for real deal.

Plz. When, when she's 80? I hope you're right, though.
And is that...Jackie Suzanne, or Jackee? (from 227). Either way, pretty cool. I was very curvy tonight, too. (a la Jackee) I think my teacher almost asked me out...

[sparky]

Originally Posted by dissention

Then why the hell isn't she waiting to film the "real deal" for DVD?

Probably because whoever ponied up the cash for the dvd isn't convinced one without the hits would sell enough to make them the profit they want.

This way she gets to retread the act again and sell another friggin dvd in five years or whenever. If one sells with six symphony songs, the next time she cuts a deal on an entire symphony dvd, she will have proof people will buy it and therefore be able to demand a bigger cut of the money.