Sheryl Crow on Stevie in May's issue of Q

[trackaghost]

As many of you know there's a Women In Rock special in the new issue of Q. Part of it involves female artists choosing women in music who inspired them. For instance, Kim Gordon writes about Debbie Harry, Natasha Khan from Bats For Lashes writes about Kate Bush, Norah Jones about Dolly Parton and so on. Not surprisingly, Sheryl chose Stevie. Here's what she had to say:

“When I was 17 I remember listening to Go Your Own Way [from Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 album Rumours] and feeling like that song was written for me. Her music represented this edgy freedom. I could listen to her music and feel this danger, even though I was a straight-up kid. She was a poet, she was beautiful and sensual, but she was also clearly the leader of the band. At the time it was a man’s world and she was the only woman competing in it. I wanted to emulate her.
“Landslide [from Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album] is one of the greatest songs of all time. What I like about it is the vulnerability, not only in the words, but in the way she sings them. And also the simplicity. It’s very difficult to write a simple, memorable melody with that kind of lyric that everyone understands.
I met her after my first Grammys in ’95. One of the great things about Stevie is that she doesn’t disappoint you. I was really nervous, but she’s such a warm person; I felt like I’d known her forever. We worked together on the soundtrack to [1998 witchcraft movie starring Nicole Kidman] Practical Magic and I produced some songs on her [2001] album Trouble In Shangri-La. The first time she sang in front of me, I nearly dropped to the floor.
“Another great thing about Stevie is that she’s going to continue to make great music. I remember sitting with her in a hotel room in Atlanta and she pulled out her journals. She writes all the time. She showed me stuff and, before you knew it, it was a great song. That’s so unique and hugely inspiring. There aren’t many artists like that.”

[Rumour0323]

Another great thing about Stevie is that she’s going to continue to make great music. I remember sitting with her in a hotel room in Atlanta and she pulled out her journals. She writes all the time. She showed me stuff and, before you knew it, it was a great song. That’s so unique and hugely inspiring. There aren’t many artists like that.”

Too bad we'll never hear any of it!

[danax6]

Too bad Stevie didn't write Go Your Own Way.

[SandyMac]

Originally Posted by danax6

Too bad Stevie didn't write Go Your Own Way.

I thought the same thing when I read that. I was half expecting her to say GDW or Rhiannon or something similar.

[michelej1]

How many people hear GYOW and say, "That song was written for me. Man, I love to shack up. Too bad Lance didn't understand that."

I think Sheryl did say Gold Dust Woman and the magazine made a mistake when they quoted her.

Michele

[Steviefan49]

Originally Posted by michelej1

How many people hear GYOW and say, "That song was written for me. Man, I love to shack up. Too bad Lance didn't understand that."

I think Sheryl did say Gold Dust Woman and the magazine made a mistake when they quoted her.

Michele

ROTFL.. Hilarious.. Plus, what about Christine? When Sheryl mentions Stevie, being in FM, it's like Stevie in a "Man's world" and band was the ONLY woman in existance.. Uh.. don't think so..

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Steviefan49

ROTFL.. Hilarious.. Plus, what about Christine? When Sheryl mentions Stevie, being in FM, it's like Stevie in a "Man's world" and band was the ONLY woman in existance.. Uh.. don't think so..

At least I was glad that Sheryl mentioned both Christine and Stevie when she inducted the band into the RRHOF. She didn't mention any of the men per se, but ya can't have everything at a band induction -- as Bob Welch will tell you.

Michele

[Steviefan49]

Originally Posted by michelej1

At least I was glad that Sheryl mentioned both Christine and Stevie when she inducted the band into the RRHOF. She didn't mention any of the men per se, but ya can't have everything at a band induction -- as Bob Welch will tell you.

Michele

Exactly... I can't even believe that she acknowledged poor Christine then! LOL But like you said.. guess you can't have everything..

[strandinthewind]

To be fair, CM herself willingly acknowledged La Nicks was the lively focal point on and off stage and CM was content to stay behind her keyboards and stay comparatively out of the limelight.

I think this is what Crow is referring to when she says the "leader of the band."

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

To be fair, CM herself willingly acknowledged La Nicks was the lively focal point on and off stage and CM was content to stay behind her keyboards and stay comparatively out of the limelight. I think this is what Crow is referring to when she says the "leader of the band."

I think that Christine has said that she wouldn't feel comfortable up in front dancing and Stevie wouldn't feel comfortable stuck behind a keyboard. That's about the gist of it. I don't think that transmits to Stevie being the leader of the band in Christine's eyes. And I don't think Christine has ever said anything about Stevie being the "lively focus" offstage. She said Stevie often seemed fragile, huddled in a shawl or something -- or that they had to tell her to be quiet and stop singing when they were still trying to work out a musical part -- things like that.

Michele

[David]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think this is what Crow is referring to when she says the "leader of the band."

To emphasize what Michele replied, you have to do gypsy dancing & twirling in order to be considered the leader of the band? When Dave Walker the showman sang "Roadrunner" or some other intensely physical lead vocal, was he the leader of the band? And if Stevie was the leader of the band, who led the band during "Not That Funny," "What Makes You Think You're the One," "Oh Well," "Come," "I Loved Another Woman," "I'm So Afraid," "Get Like You Used to Be," etc.? Were they just a rudderless ship?

Stevie has practically always been the big visual focus onstage & the biggest star in the group, but she has never been the leader of this band.

[strandinthewind]

Stevie most def. has never been the leader of FM. I just think many if not most people see her as the hottie who was front and center stage and highly visible off stage. So, that is what I think Crow referred to, though she incorrectly implied La Nicks was the actual "leader." I envisioned more like a drum major leading a marching band as opposed to the one who makes all the decisions, provides musical direction, etc. La Nicks, by her own admission, never was that and is still not that in FM, though now her popularity has given her the option to walk away from FM if she is unhappy.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

though now her popularity has given her the option to walk away from FM if she is unhappy.

She's always been able to do that. I think it was clear ever since the Bella Donna tour that she could make a living as a solo artist. She could have left FM if she was unhappy and still had quite a successful life for the last 25 years.

Michele

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by michelej1

She's always been able to do that. I think it was clear ever since the Bella Donna tour that she could make a living as a solo artist. She could have left FM if she was unhappy and still had quite a successful life for the last 25 years.

Michele

Touche' --

What I meant to say, she could walk away now without as much regret because she knows she gave FM her all and enough is enough. Who here would put up with what she says she had to put up with. Right or wrong, it is how she views the situation. I suppose if someone here started whining about their job, we all would suggest getting another one And, I suspect most people have no strong personal bonds to their employers or so-workers in the sense that they never sewed moons and stars on their jeans

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

And, I suspect most people have no strong personal bonds to their employers or so-workers in the sense that they never sewed moons and stars on their jeans

Most people have a personal bond to their employer because walking away from your job (especially in this economy) means risking your home and financial security. Stevie doesn't face that.

One draw that FM has for her is that it gives her the heady thrill of playing the large arenas again, to relive the pomp and circumstance of fame gone by. She said many times during the SYW tour that she loved that feeling, with the limosines and private planes. She said she felt like she was in Jefferson Starship and she wanted to experience that one last time. She got to do that a bit vicariously with Tom Petty, as the "special guest" but certainly it wasn't the same as being in FM.

Michele