Let's Talk About...SEVEN WONDERS

Dodfather · #1 09-12-2009, 03:32 AM

How are we all today?

Time to bring this thread back I think!

I LOVE this song and am praying it gets added to the setlist for the Eurpoe dates, especially since Tango was so huge in the UK. I doubt it will though.

I think this is the best song Stevie did with FM between 1987-2003, until Thrown Down on Say You Will. It's by far her best song on the Tango album and I actually think the best song on that album at all - a controversial call because that album has some great tunes on it!

Does anyone have any idea what this song is actually about though? I've never seen any interviews where she discusses it in any detail, just general stuff about the release of the album. I know it was recorded at the tail end of '86 just before she went into rehab so if it was written at the same time (and who knows how long she'd had the song in a lace adorned, scented box for) then perhaps it's about the rehab journey she knows she has to embark on...

That maybe makes sense when you think about how much she talks about making paths to the "rainbow's end"...is sobriety the pot of gold that will allow her to see the Seven Wonders? Maybe because it will help her to "live to match the beauty again"? Maybe this means the beauty of how things used to be, before it all got so crazy?

Another favourite thing about this song is the FANTASTIC backing vocals towards the end! Almost like a duet between Stevie and herself here. I know that when I'm singing it very loudly in the car (the entire Tango album is great driving music) I tend to just sing those parts. Just the massive ott delivery of them, it's great/

My favourite line has to be, sung very loudly..."You'll never live to see that beauty, that beauty, that same same beauty again"....YEAH!!

Thoughts?

LukeA · #2 09-12-2009, 03:42 AM

This is a Sandy Stewart song. The main thing Stevie is definitively known to have contributed (based on an interview or two, if I recall) was "...all the way down to Emmeline", because she didn't know what Sandy was singing on the demo (and didn't think to bother to ask her, apparently), which was "...all the way down you held the line"- or something like that.

Here's some additional SW info- http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showth...749#post788749 Fannymac, is there anything else you can add? Your tidbits of info were very interesting.

Dodfather · #3 09-12-2009, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukeA

This is a Sandy Stewart song. The main thing Stevie is definitively known to have contributed (based on an interview or two, if I recall) was "...all the way down to Emmeline", because she didn't know what Sandy was singing on the demo (and didn't think to bother to ask her, apparently), which was "...all the way down you held the line"- or something like that.

Here's some additional SW info- http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showth...749#post788749 Fannymac, is there anything else you can add? Your tidbits of info were very interesting.

Oh my God!! So it is! I knew this all along but for some dumbass reason had completely forgotten and all that stuff in my post was ocurring to me as I was typing! Prize for classic schoolboy error of the day goes to me!!

belladonnadream · #4 09-12-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Oh my God!! So it is! I knew this all along but for some dumbass reason had completely forgotten and all that stuff in my post was ocurring to me as I was typing! Prize for classic schoolboy error of the day goes to me!!

Too funny

belladonnadream · #5 09-12-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukeA

This is a Sandy Stewart song. The main thing Stevie is definitively known to have contributed (based on an interview or two, if I recall) was "...all the way down to Emmeline", because she didn't know what Sandy was singing on the demo (and didn't think to bother to ask her, apparently), which was "...all the way down you held the line"- or something like that.

Here's some additional SW info- http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showth...749#post788749 Fannymac, is there anything else you can add? Your tidbits of info were very interesting.

Thanks for the link...Loved the video and interview with Sandy... I had never seen it!

wheart · #6 09-12-2009, 08:11 AM

I do love 7 Wonders. I actually performed to the 6 minute remix of this song at NOTS a few years back. But I digress. Her vocal on this song is obviously pre rehab, it's very raw... almost too raw, IMO. The band and the background vocals sound great and in sync and then there's Stevie. I dunno, she almost sounds like she's singing at a slightly higher tempo, or something. I love the line "I'll never live to see that beauty, that beauty, that same, same beauty again..." at the end. I can so relate.

nailatixela · #7 09-12-2009, 09:22 AM

I don't care for this song too much. It has a good beat, but I just don't get the lyrics. I don't understand what the 'I'll never live to see that beauty again' means, and whenever I think about what that means it just makes me feel depressed. I just can't get much of a connection to this song, and it is my least favorite song of stevie's from this album. Even though her other two are lacking something, I can at least connect with what she is talking about in WTTR and WISYA.

Dodfather · #8 09-12-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belladonnadream

Too funny

I know! I made myself laugh with my own dumbass-ness (see, I'm making up words now and everything)...Glad I've amused fellow Ledgies today!

David · #9 09-12-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nailatixela

It has a good beat, but I just don't get the lyrics.

There is an excellent drum track on this -- it's probably the best drum track on the album. It sounds the most natural, & it has more of Mick's old style. Even those fills before the repeat of the 1st stanza are classic Mick Fleetwood. Those fills could have come right from Rumours. I also think the rest of the track is stellar. It jumps right out of the speaker at you, the way Go Your Own Way did. Mix & levels & everything are perfectly set, & the hooks are tasty.

The conga playing on the extended mixes is unnecessary -- clutter. The strength of the album mix is its leanness.

FMlex · #10 09-12-2009, 10:41 AM

Love this song!
However, I think that the Christine-led songs on Tango are what make the album.
Everywhere, Little Lies and Isn't It Midnight.

I also found the "Sara... Sara..." about two-thirds of the way through the album version quite different. Here's what I found on that:

Quote:

Lori,
Random question: What is Stevie saying during the musical breaks in the album version of Seven Wonders? The fans have been dying to know, and a debate is on between: never, Sara, ever, Tara or pharoah. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lori's answer:
I do believe that what Stevie is singing during the breaks in “Seven Wonders” is..... “Sara.”

Favorite lyric: "If I hope and I pray ooh it might work out someday"

While I'm not a fan of this little concert, here's the video:

Dodfather · #11 09-12-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMlex

Love this song!
However, I think that the Christine-led songs on Tango are what make the album.
Everywhere, Little Lies and Isn't It Midnight.

I also found the "Sara... Sara..." about two-thirds of the way through the album version quite different. Here's what I found on that:

Favorite lyric: "If I hope and I pray ooh it might work out someday"

While I'm not a fan of this little concert, here's the video:

Man - I had forgotten just how Godawful this concert video is. This is a case in point as to why I want Seven Wonders included on the European Unleashed dates. It's one of my favourite Stevie Mac songs and deserves a much better performance than what we see here! Stevie can do much better than this soporiphic mess and the band could rock this tune if Stevie pulls off the vocal...I live in hope!!

flickersticked · #12 09-12-2009, 11:27 AM

I was 13 years old when I became a Fleetwood Mac fan, right after The Dance came out. I went about collecting everything I could get my hands on, cds, demos, videos. When I saw this video it actually made me cry with it's awfulness. I hadn't seen it again until today. Thanks a lot lol

wheart · #13 09-12-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMlex

Love this song!
However, I think that the Christine-led songs on Tango are what make the album.
Everywhere, Little Lies and Isn't It Midnight.

I also found the "Sara... Sara..." about two-thirds of the way through the album version quite different. Here's what I found on that:

Favorite lyric: "If I hope and I pray ooh it might work out someday"

While I'm not a fan of this little concert, here's the video:

the only good thing about that video is Stevie's outfit.

golddustdrummer · #14 09-12-2009, 01:09 PM

this song has a lot of meaning for me.

when I first saw Stevie in concert, it was at Riverbend in Cincinnati.
it was the second time I'd seen a concert there (first was the Spice Girls - yes, I'm a 90s kid)
- so the whole "certain place, certain time" lyric I just love.

then the "You touched my hand and you smiled...All the way back you held out your hand"
- I got to touch Stevie's hand at that concert.

and I'll probably never live to have that awesome of a personal experience with her again.
unless, you know...Stevie calls me up to do lunch.

"You touched my hand I played it cool
And you reached out your hand to me
But if our paths never cross
Well you know I'm sorry but...."

michelej1 · #15 09-12-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMlex

I also found the "Sara... Sara..." about two-thirds of the way through the album version quite different. Here's what I found on that:

That's a great quote. I knew some people thought Tara, but I didn't know they thought pharoah. That's funny and it plays into the Great Pyramid Seven Wonders theme.

Michele