Gypsy Flashback

[baboles]

I'm feeling a Gypsy flashback.



This is my favorite video of all time. And I think it pretty much captures everything Stevie (the voice, the clothes, the mystical image).

It makes me feel so good.

[macpai]

I agree whole-heartedly.
The Mac's ability to change and grow is evident once again. The video age is upon them and they delivered two of the most memorable videos around. Of course it helps that they have some seriously good-looking front peeps!

[Phoenix]

ahh, that was very nice. (always is)

[Moz]

I absolutely love the parts where Stevie's in the rain.. ahh.. wish there were pictures of that!

[David]

I guess the director -- whatever his name is, I've forgotten -- Mulcahy or something -- was emulating various film "looks" of the 1930s & early '40s, such as the sultry Warners melodrama with satiny black & white ("Casablanca," "To Have & Have Not"), the earlier social-problem films of the Depression era from Warner & Monogram ("East Side Kids," "Public Enemy"), & finally the glittering & oversaturated MGM & Fox musicals in 3-strip Technicolor ("Wizard of Oz," "Moon Over Miami," "Meet Me in St. Louis").

It's a Hollywood cornucopia -- a pastiche of old styles, which really made it stand out at a time when music videos generally looked pretty cruddy visually (most probably shot on video whereas GYPSY was shot on film stock).

It should have occurred to Fleetwood Mac, after having done this video, to shoot the Forum concerts on film stock instead of video, because that concert video has always had a cruddily way-too-realistic look & sound to it (it's like watching something shot by a personal digital video cam). Imagine that concert shot with the care & style used on GYPSY.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by David

It should have occurred to Fleetwood Mac, after having done this video, to shoot the Forum concerts on film stock instead of video, because that concert video has always had a cruddily way-too-realistic look & sound to it (it's like watching something shot by a personal digital video cam). Imagine that concert shot with the care & style used on GYPSY.

Blame HBO.

[wolfontherun]

The rain scene is set up so well and Stevie really nails it. Very difficult scent to film I wonder how many takes it took to get this great result.

I also love her smile at the end and the willowy carefree dance on the cliff.

One bit they should have edited out is when the sparkles are raining down on her as she is dancing/twiirling you can see that her face scrunches up as they were hitting her in the face and eyes.

But I digress. I love the video and so wish that Stevie could have used the same director for all her videos as I have never been a big fan of her solo videos.

[LB Freakazoid]

Somewhere, I remember hearing that this video posed another first in the music industry.... Wasn't it the first video to win the American Music Award for best video of the year?

[petep9000]

I remember being blown to bits when I saw this on TV in 1982. I think it was on Casey Kasem's old 'American Top 40' show. And, I think he said that it was the most expensive video of all time. Well, as of 1982 obviously. My favorite part is when Stevie's character looks so destitute and so sad, against the lamppost with her fingerless gloves and that battered old hat. Poor Stevie, someone give her some soup!

[David]

Originally Posted by petep9000

I remember being blown to bits when I saw this on TV in 1982. I think it was on Casey Kasem's old 'American Top 40' show. And, I think he said that it was the most expensive video of all time. Well, as of 1982 obviously.

I remember seeing that showing on America's Top 40, too, PeteJohn! And you're right he did say it was the most expensive. It was still early in the video game, but even so...

I didn't know you had a blog -- I'm reading it over now! Great job! I like your review of the Theroux book on train travel. Should I read that book? I don't like to read much that isn't about Beethoven or by Barzun, but I can try.

[UndoingTheLaces]

The thing about video at that time is that it was a new innovation and around the early 80's, having things look so stark and dry was the really in thing. I'm glad they let Fleetwood have a very classic feel by shooting their videos on film. When the concert video was done they were probably all so happy to be using this new innovation that would let them shoot a whole concert with a lot less money and more versatility than film would allow.

I always loved this video and especially the mix that they used with the extended ending. I remember searching for years for some form of that on vinyl, hoping it was on a promo 12" or something. The version on The Chain is nice but I really miss the little "oooh, I see your bright eyes" after the guitar solo starts.

I did always think it was an odd video, especially with her looking so happy at the end considering it was such a gut wrenching song. But then again, it would hardly have been an entertaining video in an age with Devo, Eurythmics and Flock of Seagulls to have a video with Stevie sitting in a hospital room. I love the video for what it is, but I have to admit the song Gypsy still gets me choked up if I'm in the right mood.

[GarboSpeaks!]

TOTALLY lame addition to the love of this vid/song

Was on a great vacation not to long ago. A great potential awaited me in the state of Oregon. I was driving up Highway 101, in the mountains. Pass after pass, and currently I was listening to the Mirage album,
Gypsy was on, and the last musical crescecndo part was playing RIGHT when I crossed the border from California into Oregon. It was very movie like. I was in the midst of reveling in the past, the time this song was out, what was going on etc. And here it was now, this same song with me for a completely different time another journey.
Heavy huh?
lol

[wolfontherun]

Originally Posted by GarboSpeaks!

TOTALLY lame addition to the love of this vid/song

Was on a great vacation not to long ago. A great potential awaited me in the state of Oregon. I was driving up Highway 101, in the mountains. Pass after pass, and currently I was listening to the Mirage album,
Gypsy was on, and the last musical crescecndo part was playing RIGHT when I crossed the border from California into Oregon. It was very movie like. I was in the midst of reveling in the past, the time this song was out, what was going on etc. And here it was now, this same song with me for a completely different time another journey.
Heavy huh?
lol

Crescendo? You mean the long ahhhhhhhhhh part?

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by David

I remember seeing that showing on America's Top 40, too, PeteJohn! And you're right he did say it was the most expensive. It was still early in the video game, but even so...

I didn't know you had a blog -- I'm reading it over now! Great job! I like your review of the Theroux book on train travel. Should I read that book? I don't like to read much that isn't about Beethoven or by Barzun, but I can try.

I should maybe try to read something about Herr Beethoven. If you can recommend a bio that is considered good (in English) and only one volume, I'd take a crack at reading it.
David I think you might like Theroux earlier book, called 'The Great Railway Bazaar'. That is the one I really liked, the book I reviewed was a sequel he did 30 years later. I literally couldn't put 'The Great Railway Bazaar' down when I first got it. Back then, I was full of longing to travel, and I said to myself "I'm going to be just like him!"

Thanks for the compliment on my blog, I have fun with it. I know it's a bit indulgent but it's the one creative thing I do these days and I love to write.

[Musicman408]

Ah, I really love that video. Haven't even listened to the song in awhile. It made me smile.