Greetings,
There are a lot of things I love in life. For example, I love songwriting, because it makes me feel content, and wearing black, because it makes me feel thinner, and adorable short people, because they make me feel tall. So is there an adorable short, songwriter who wears a lot of black anywhere out there to make this day superb? Why, hello, there, Ms. Stevie Nicks! How are you?
As I made it clear when I reviewed her latest album, I am a great admirer of Stevie Nicks. She has taught me so much as a writer, and I love the honesty she conveys in her work. She also has always seemed to really love what she does, putting so much passion into it that you can't help but feel that through everything she writes. And she looks overwhelmingly good, not just for her age, so I figured if I flatter her enough, she may share with me her secret.
So, naturally, I had to do a top ten song list for her. Now, when it comes to someone like Stevie, who has been in a band and done solo work, I really had to focus and decide what I wanted to do here. Therefore, I have chosen to not include any of her work with Fleetwood Mac, since that will one day, most likely, garner a list of its own, unless it's something she recorded at some point as a solo artist. Speaking of which, I could have also only focused on her solo work, but since, in the days of Buckingham/Nicks, she and Lindsey had a mere one album, I thought I could include some songs from that time, as well. As usual, some of these will be obvious, and others, not so much. But these are my favorites, so here we go.
#10. "After the Glitter Fades" - I normally am not a fan of celebrities talking about how hard it is to be one, but, though there seems to be a taste of that here, I am much more forgiving. I think that is because what she wrote here can be about anything that takes you away from personal things, like love. It just so happens that her "thing" is being famous. And it reminds us that what is important will somehow last.
#9. "Edge of Seventeen" - I'd say this is one of Stevie's most famous solo songs and with good reason. I love a song that has great music, but doesn't rely on that so much that the writer lets the lyrics suffer. This song is stellar in both music and lyrics. Being that she was inspired by the deaths of both John Lennon and her uncle, you can really feel how personal it is, even with the driving beat. It takes a gift to do that.
#8. "Alice" - There are a bunch of references to Alice in Wonderland in this song. And the song is written by Stevie Nicks. Do I have to say anything else as to why I love it?
#7. "Stand Back" - I would never consider myself a fan of Prince, but I am certainly glad he exists. See, if he didn't exist, he wouldn't have written "Little Red Corvette", and then Stevie would not have been inspired to write "Stand Back". That's right. She loved Prince's song so much that she wrote her own that kind of sounded a little like it. To say the least. Don't worry. Prince was cool with it. Apparently, he even played the synthesizer on the recording. Nice guy. Lucky guy. I mean, who wouldn't want to work with Stevie? (Spoiler Alert! I would!)
#6. "Crystal" - This is one of those songs from the Buckingham/Nicks days and it is just so beautiful. It's one of those songs with which I love to harmonize. Now some of you may have heard a version of this on a Fleetwood Mac album or on the soundtrack for the movie Practical Magic. Yes, she has recorded this one numerous times. That's fine with me. I'll take this lovely tune as many times and as many ways as she wants to present it to me.
#5. "Two Kinds of Love" - So, Stevie is certainly a lady who likes a duet. She has done some fantastic ones, and here is a favorite of mine. I'm not sure if it's as well known as others, but it does have Bruce Hornsby. And that is more than good enough for me.
#4. "Long Distance Winner" - Here's another from Buckingham/Nicks. I think I first heard this song on Stevie's 1998 box set, Enchanted, and I fell instantly in love with it. The music is amazing, and the lyrics are some of her best ever. Between this song and the other I mentioned, I really don't know why Stevie and Lindsey weren't more successful on their own. I guess everything happens for a reason.
#3. "Leather and Lace" - And another duet, this one with Don Henley, who I think has one of the best voices ever. Now I could go into all the stories, true and rumored, about the relationship between these two, but today, it's all about the music. And this is easily one of the best duets of all time. Love these two voices together so much. I still hold out hope that they'll give us another song someday.
#2. "Italian Summer" - This one is the newest entry on the list, being from Stevie's most recent album, In Your Dreams. I'm sure that the hardcore fans have already heard this masterpiece of a song, but I suggest even the most casual of fans to give this a listen. This is, hands down, one of the best things Stevie has ever done. I know that even some of our greatest artists can get complacent or just run out of good material, but this proves that there can always be a gem left to be created, no matter how long someone has been going. The song is phenomenal.
#1. "Has Anyone Written Anything For You?" - I cry. I cry a lot. And, every now and then, something makes me cry because it is both devastating and beautiful all at once. This song is exactly that. I could tell you the story behind it, but I almost feel unworthy because it is so incredibly personal for both Stevie and the person for whom she wrote it. But you can find out the origin for yourselves; it's worth it. Still, though she has been overwhelmingly honest in her work, I think no other song has been closer to letting us see Stevie's heart and soul than this one.
And those are my favorites from Ms. Nicks. I have to say,again, that she has been a huge inspiration for me as a songwriter and as a woman. When I listen to Stevie's work, it makes me want to better my own. That is what a true artist does. Stevie Nicks is certainly one of those.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
