Like or Dislike: Edge of 17

[skcin]

I adore this song. I always have. I remember it clearly when I was little & it was first released & I thought it was "one wing dove" . I love everything about it - the pulsing guitar, the percussion, the power vocal of the century. I love it so much I want to marry it. It may be my #1 favorite Stevie solo song, if I was forced to pick one.

The music is phenomenal, it's hard & heavy. It's not a "pretty" song, it just rocks. That guitar riff is now classic. Live is even better, I have never, EVER heard a version that disappointed me. Well, she has forgotten a verse more than once, so I don't like when that happens, but other than that, none. Some are better than others, but they're never boring. I do prefer one long growl (ala recent performances) as opposed to the chattering nonsense yell (ala Red Rocks.) Storytellers version is particularly great. This tune live is just electric. I wouldn't mind a shortened drum/guitar intro, but I figure it gives her time to change shawls & catch her breath.

The lyrics - where do I begin? They are sad & painful & desperate & beautiful. One minute they make me hopeful, the next minute my heart aches. I wouldn't change a single word, phrase, verse - nothing. It is perfect.

"And the days go by, like a strand in the wind, in the web that is my own, I begin again"

"the music there was hauntingly familiar"

"so with the slow graceful flow of age"

"so I went searching for an answer
up the stairs & down the hall
not to find an answer, just to hear the call
of a nightbird,
saying come away
COME NOW"
^
My.God. The pain, fear, mourning & hope (all at once) in that verse & the way she's singing it just blow me away.

[DrummerDeanna]

Well I do love the song - but I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites.

I love the John Lennon factor "with the words of a poet and the voice of a choir...and a melody....nothing else mattered"

But over the years I've grown a little bit weary of the song - hearing it so much etc - but I still keep it on the radio when I catch it - and it's fun as hell to dance around to!!!

[golden braid]

I LOVE this song! Definitely in my top 5 favorite solo songs, maybe even my favorite solo song (I just hate to pick one). The song rocks and kicks ass. And I never get tired of it live.

[Dreammms]

I LOVE this soung. Everything about it is amazing. I also love Sharon on background vocals!

[nickslover2071]

Another gr8 song from Bella Donna...

[HejiraNYC]

This is definitely not easy listening music that you just keep on in the background. This song commands your attention from the very first line and transports you to this dark, mystical, urgent place. I can't think of many songs that can do that.

[Elizabeth]

I love this song and I never get tired of hearing it. I think I went through 3 copies of the Bella Donna record. For those of you who are too young to remember a record is a vinyl disc with grooves that we listened to prior to CDs and they were very easily worn out!

[mylittledemon]

I dont think you can be a Stevie "fan" and not like this song. I think its classic. It's one of those radio-tunes when you hear it you always turn the radio up and tell your backseat drivers to can it.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I would say probably in my top ten but there are songs that rank above Edge -- at least for me. Some of her lesser known songs pack more of a punch even though solo-wise, Edge and Stand Back are what she's known for.

[catinthedark]

This is one of the songs I've just grown a little tired of, I think. I never listen to it by choice anymore, but I do love hearing it live. But it is an amazing song, and it does contain one of my favourite lines ever:

"Well, I see you doing what I try to do for me -
With the words of a poet... and the voice of a choir... and a melody..."

I also love "so with the slow, graceful flow of age."

She definitely has a way with words sometimes. And "so with the sloooow graceful floooow of age" is an example of what I'm always trying to describe to people about who she uses the rhythm and sound of words to convey a feeling. "Sings a song, sounds like she's singing..." does it, too.

And one more: I always found this line, "in a flood of tears that no one really ever heard fall at all" to be very sad. Conveys such aloneness.


I guess I'd put Edge in the Stevie Nicks epic category. It introduced the "white winged dove." It is one of her greatest songs ever - it will always be hot live - and it does contain some of her best writing, IMO.

[wondergirl9847]

Hearing it live and in person Sunday was awesome!! Added on to the fact that I got to touch her and she talked to me....yeah, kicks a$$. That riff is world famous by now and it has a great energy to it. And the wail....yeah, rocks.

It's my fave solo song of hers.

[TheBlueLamp]

It's a great song, but it wouldn't be in my top 20. The Enchanted version is a bit blah though. Too long. As it appears on Bella Donna, it's just right.

[SapphireSister]

Definitely not a favorite but I have so much love for it none the less. How can you be a real fan and not? Just a little tid bit of info which some of you may not know - that famous guitar riff was taken from a Police song according to Waddy. They just changed the beat. I was fascinated when I heard that!

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by skcin

I thought it was "one wing dove"

Until I read the lyrics, I thought it was "just like the one we know".

This song is perfect. It will be known and adored by many generations to come. I haven't heard anything like it since it was released.

I prefer the live version because I like the "I hear the call....of a nightbird", and I can't get enough of the side kicks on the HBO concert.

[witchy_woman13]

belladonna was one of my daughters first records.........does anyone remember records ? lol she would use a hairbrush as a mic and sing her little heart out eo17 was one of her faves ......... so yeah i really love this song and all the wonderful memories i have of it