Like Or Dislike: The Nightmare

[skcin]

I just know this song is about to be skewered...

Upon first hearing this song, I paid no attention to it. I saw the title on the CD cover & got all excited - and then it sounded NOTHING like I expected (This also happened with Silver Girl for me, btw.) I assumed a song titled "The Nightmare" would be very dark, haunting, dramatic, etc. (ala' B&tB, SOTM, GDW.) Instead I heard this upbeat drum machine/synthesizer crap & I was pissed. For years I usually skipped it, or just ignored it. Never sang along, never even bothered to learn the lyrics.

About a year or so ago, I went on a RAL kick & played the CD over & over again whenever I could. I reread the liner notes & the lyrics to all of the songs. This tune hit me like a ton of bricks. I adore it. I ALWAYS sing along to it - I mean, I really belt it out. The music is still not the greatest match for the title & words, but the incredible lyrics & vocal performance completely make up for that for me. I don't even care that it was cowritten by Chris Nicks; it's that good. The way the lyrics flow over the music, the beat...her timing is awesome.

I can't quote a favorite lyric this time because I would type in the whole damn song. I even love the "...well she had flung out her heart against him, then in all of her wisdom..." part. I don't care if it doesn't make sense, I don't care if you people get a visual of Stevie hurling a bloody heart at some guy. I. Just. Don't. Care.

OK, I lied. A few favorite lyrics:

"Thrown down through the arms of sleep, she fell through the ivory morning..."
"When I stood with you against the storm, and I tried once again, well I said 'I'd like to leave you with something warm' how many times, drownDing in the sea, drownDing..."
"So about the moon and her sisters, how dare he take them prisoner..." I like to belt this one out especially loud.


Live. Hmmmm. There are an awful lot of words in this song, and it's pretty long - she'd be sure to miss a verse or forget a line. I think vocally she could definitely handle it, as far as hitting the notes. I'd rather hear other tunes live, I suppose. But I wouldn't be upset if she ever decided to try it.

[SapphireSister]

My response from The Nightmare appriciation thread..

I LOVE this song beyond words. I was shocked when I came on The Ledge and found out how many people despise this song. It is probably one of my top 10 Stevie songs and favorite songs ever. The lyrics are whimsical, magical, and haunting. The music has so much energy and I literally feel like endorphins are being released every time I hear it! It's one of the reasons RAL is my favorite album. I think the production is great and I love the 80's synthesizers. I love blasting it in my car and playing it over and over and singing along. I also adore the alternate versions of this song, especially the "this is not the world, not the world, not the real world" version. I cannot get enough of this song! I wish she would do it live but that will never happen. I wonder why she never did it live?

[KarmaContestant]

I've always been a big fan of The Nightmare. Any version is great. I would love to hear it done live. I think Stevie would really get into it.

[Phoenix]

[QUOTE=SapphireSister]

I also adore the alternate versions of this song,


I agree and like the demos much better than the rock alittle version. Now, I cant figure out one of two things about this song, either one, stevie was just to srapped for lyrics, so she just started ripping off from many other songs, ie storms sisters of the moon, dreams, sara,ect. or, she is doing that beautiful stevie thing that we all love where she continues her stories, and makes allusions and connections to her other songs. I wanna go through the lyrics, and see just how many other "refferences" there are in this song.....

[Dreammms]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I've always been a big fan of The Nightmare. Any version is great.

I am a fan of the Nightmare too. I also love every version of it. I know most Stevie fans hate it though

[golden braid]

I like the extended or alternate versions of this song a lot better that the album version. So I enjoy listening to those versions but the RAL one I tend to skip a lot.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I have a love/hate with the song. My hate is mainly due to the horrendously arranged backing vocals (and far too overpowering) toward the end of the song and some of the lyrics that are seemingly borrowed from other Stevie songs to make up -- well, a Stevie song. I'm not sure how much Chris was involved in the lyrics but "I said I'd like to leave you with something warm -- how many times, drowning in the sea, drowning..." bugs me and i'm wondering if he wasn't like, "HEY STEVIE! I HAVE AN IDEA!" *copy, paste* I do agree with Paula and her love of "Thrown down through the arms of sleep, she fell through the ivory morning..." and "So about the moon and her sisters, how dare he take them prisoner..." but some parts of the song are just lacking for me. However, I never skip it while listening to RAL.

[TheBlueLamp]

The alt versions are better than the album version but I still love this one.

[face of glass]

It's decent, but I've heard her do the Grande self-indulgence better than this. However, I never feel like skipping it either, in a way it is an essential part of RAL.

[GODDESS6]

luv this song!!!~

[ontheEdgeof17]

I can't decide. It depends on what mood I'm in.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

I can't decide. It depends on what mood I'm in.

Drunk or sober?

[RockALittle250]

I love The Nightmare!! The haunting allure of her voice adds to the darkness and intensity of the song. Although, i do think some of the instrumentation in the beginning of the song should have been down played a little. Even in the middle of her singing the song, the keyboards and guitars can overpower her voice, making it hard to hear what she is trying to say.

[estranged4life]

but I prefer the extended version that is also available.

[xxxmx]

i like the Storms reference, and i have always seen this as a copy/paste composition. i'm neutral on this one. i don't always skip it, but never once have i ever thought to myself 'you know, i want to listen to this one song...'