Not Make Believe

DownOnRodeo · #1 07-18-2003, 02:08 AM

I wasn't around when the TISL demos were leaked (1999 or something, was it?), so this might have already been discussed.

What do you make of Not Make Believe? I can't help shaking this interpretation when I listen to it:

Stevie's talking about her songs not being 'make believe'. She knows they are seen as airy-fairy etc by many epople, but she's defending her craft and saying "No, I really meant something them, and I still do now. I may not have fully understood my talent/muse all the time, but I do now. And it's real - I'm real."

I know it doesn't fit with the verses (unless you interpret them as being about SnL and the Fleetwood Mac experience / her songwriting career), but it's just what I make out of it anyway.

jwys_soapbox · #2 07-18-2003, 09:24 AM

I kind of think the song is about the mystic (miss-teek) that has followed Stevie throughout her career--the whole love life thing that is as much a part of Fleetwood Mac as is the music. The entire thing is very often talked about as if it were some soap opera, some drama, intended to entertain the fans--and the band didn't exactly not encourage this with songs like "World Turning," the title of which is close to a soap opera that I'm sure was on air at that time--and the fact that this soap opera was the artists' real life is very often forgotten. Imagine being asked about your divorce or breakup of a love affair for 25 years after it happened! Imagine reading and hearing about it constantly from people you don't even know! Not for weeks, but years! I don't know why public personalities aren't constantly having nervous breakdowns. The whole thing seems insensitive on the part of the media and who can blame Stevie for responding and reminding them that it's not a soap opera, but her real life.

John

bootylicous · #3 07-18-2003, 10:31 PM

I completely agree with you John, but I just gotta say, Stevie doesn't seem to have a problem with talking about her relationships, I mean, 25 years later she still can't shut up about Lindsey, god bless her.

ShangriLaTroubl · #4 07-20-2003, 03:52 PM

I have always interpreted it as Stevie kinda of talkin about how a lot of ppl didnt take her seriously and stuff ya know

Chris

DownOnRodeo · #5 07-20-2003, 05:34 PM

I'm glad everyone else seems to think it's about her career too. I was worried I was reading too much into it, but it just made sense.

Great song

EveryHour · #6 07-20-2003, 07:15 PM

This song is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! It is unquestionably my 2nd favorite new Stevie song ("Garden" being first). I cannot understand why it was not on Say You Will instead of Silver Girl. {Some of you may pick a different song to "remove", but I know many of you feel that Not Make Believe should be on the record. I made a copy of SYW with this on instead of SG, and it fits right in beautifully! (Also had to put in the AOL version of SYW because I can't handle the kids, but that's a sidebar...)} Perhaps in her own mind, Stevie put Silver Girl ahead because it was for Sheryl Crow and thought it might be a bit tacky to put it on the bonus disc. In the beginning, I cringed slightly when she sings "self-esteem", but that term in general drives me crazy...it's just "so therapist-y". But it IS an extremely honest thing to say, and the whole song is so fabulous, that I got over it very easily. I agree that it is a testament to the honesty of her songs and also about her career being worth all of the crap that comes with it and all of the turmoil of (and her loyalty to) FM being worth it. Her vocals are so incredible and moving and the music is perfect (especially the guitar and drums/percussion!) Shall I go on?!

DownOnRodeo · #7 07-22-2003, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EveryHour
This song is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! It is unquestionably my 2nd favorite new Stevie song ("Garden" being first). I cannot understand why it was not on Say You Will instead of Silver Girl. {Some of you may pick a different song to "remove", but I know many of you feel that Not Make Believe should be on the record. I made a copy of SYW with this on instead of SG, and it fits right in beautifully! (Also had to put in the AOL version of SYW because I can't handle the kids, but that's a sidebar...)} Perhaps in her own mind, Stevie put Silver Girl ahead because it was for Sheryl Crow and thought it might be a bit tacky to put it on the bonus disc. In the beginning, I cringed slightly when she sings "self-esteem", but that term in general drives me crazy...it's just "so therapist-y". But it IS an extremely honest thing to say, and the whole song is so fabulous, that I got over it very easily. I agree that it is a testament to the honesty of her songs and also about her career being worth all of the crap that comes with it and all of the turmoil of (and her loyalty to) FM being worth it. Her vocals are so incredible and moving and the music is perfect (especially the guitar and drums/percussion!) Shall I go on?!

Go on if you want

You've hit the nail on the head . I think the song is so good - especially her excellent singing and Lindsey's funky arrangement.
And welcome to the Ledge from me, EveryHour

David R · #8 07-24-2003, 08:51 AM

Quote:

I cannot understand why it was not on Say You Will instead of Silver Girl.

I agree with you 110%!...

DownOnRodeo · #9 07-24-2003, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David R
I agree with you 110%!...

DavidR - that Red Rover sig is the best!

Who needs a full-on music video - they should just play the song on MTV with that gif repeating

LOL

louielouie2000 · #10 07-24-2003, 11:07 PM

I don't think this song is about her career at all. I view it as her discussing a relationship. Let's look closer at it-

"It isn't just that we cause each other such pain.
Everywhere we go now,
at home or at play.
It hurts my self esteem, it hurts my everything.
I am reeling... ooh it hurts my feelings.
Sometimes it was heavenly.
Sometimes it was too heavy.
Sometimes it's just too much for me...
well I want to run away.
But then there are the things,
that cast the doubt away,
the things that made me stay for so long."

To me that verse is just talking about the ups and downs of relationships. She's talking about how she's in a relationship, and that though the it's trying, and gets hard at times, she's not ready to give up just yet. There's still that magic between them... or the other person does something so sweet, that it keeps her around

.

"I'm not make believe then,
I'm not make believe now.
I'm not make believe then,
I'm not make believe now.
I didn't understand then,
but I understand now."

To me this is talking about how the person whom she's in a relationship in doesn't take her seriously. It's as if she feels she's treated like someone who isn't real... and it hurts her. But it seems that looking back on the situations... she can see that it wasn't so bad.

"It was the best of times...
It was the worst of times.
And they both rushed by...
like a thief in the night...
taking no prisoners...
adventures in paradise...
just like the first time."

This is talking again about all the pain that comes with being in love... and how the person whom you're in love with can hurt you more than anyone. Again it's talking about the ups and downs of relationships.

I could definately see how it could be viewed as being about her career... but to me I've always loved this song because it perfectly captures what it's like to be in a relationship

.

DownOnRodeo · #11 07-25-2003, 08:04 AM

Yep I agree Louie. But I think of it as being about Lindsey, and the 'make believe' concept being especially relevant because their relationship in FM (...'it was the best of times, it was the wost of times...') harboured so much misunderstanding about Stevie's musicality and songwriting integrity/value. Or just her career and public persona in general.
I was just curious as to whether anyone else made the extrapolation beyond just any old relationship to the relationship between Lindsey and the misunderstood 'songwriter' Stevie. It seems others made the same connection! (I love the Ledge - makes you feel less insane

)
But no doubt it could be about any number of other relationship too, let alone the Lindsey one at all.

David R · #12 07-26-2003, 05:30 AM

Quote:

DavidR - that Red Rover sig is the best! Who needs a full-on music video - they should just play the song on MTV with that gif repeating LOL

haha... Thanks DownOnRodeo! I am not sure MTV will play it... maybe cartoon network? haha...

They had a shirt like that at the concert which I was going to buy but didn't because it was too "cheap" looking for $35... then I thought I should make my own...

I think "Not Make Believe" is about Fleetwood Mac in general... and how everyone says it's a soap opera and such... but "It's not make believe" This song is like another "Fireflies"

"It isn't just that we cause each other such pain.
Everywhere we go now,
at home or at play.
It hurts my self esteem, it hurts my everything.
I am reeling... ooh it hurts my feelings.
Sometimes it was heavenly.
Sometimes it was too heavy.
Sometimes it's just too much for me...
well I want to run away.
But then there are the things,
that cast the doubt away,
the things that made me stay for so long."

I believe it is about the Mac... "Everywhere we go now, at home or at play" on tour and in the studio maybe? Also about how FM had it's good times and bad times... and how Stevie wanted to leave but she always stayed "for so long"...

"I'm not make believe then,
I'm not make believe now.
I'm not make believe then,
I'm not make believe now.
I didn't understand then,
but I understand now."

I think this is about her and lindsey's relationship in the Mac and how he always took the "leader" spot in the studio and such... and how she felt she wasn't being appreciated... and how Stevie kind of resented him back then... but now she understands why it was that way... because it was better for the music... *maybe that is why it was considered to be put on a Mac album?*

"It was the best of times...
It was the worst of times.
And they both rushed by...
like a thief in the night...
taking no prisoners...
adventures in paradise...
just like the first time."

Again I think about the Mac... and how she is reflecting on the times they had together and how time has gone by so fast... how the times were good and bad...

that is what I am getting from the song... This really is a great song and should have definetly been on the album...