Stevie Nicks: What Is She and What Does She Mean?
- Thread starter sadmanbarty
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sadmanbarty
Well-known member
The interesting thing about her is that she's the anthropomorphisation of the 60's dream, trying to situate itself in the 70's and 80's.
'Dreams' was written at Sly Stone's house and in the 70's she encapsulated that empty, lethargic junkie decadence that the hippy dream morphed into. Her bitterness. Her raspiness makes her sound disillusioned and worn from experience.
The 80's then sees her find a new cultural relevance. Luke talked about the 80's being so mournful, because of aids and also because of the end of a more pure humanity. She then finds herself presenting a more innocent vision of herself. Using the lushness of 80's production to show us this dream, hippy world. But there's something cold and off about it. A virtual reality, holographic projection of and idealised past. A translucent paradise trying to cover a cruel dystopia.
'Dreams' was written at Sly Stone's house and in the 70's she encapsulated that empty, lethargic junkie decadence that the hippy dream morphed into. Her bitterness. Her raspiness makes her sound disillusioned and worn from experience.
The 80's then sees her find a new cultural relevance. Luke talked about the 80's being so mournful, because of aids and also because of the end of a more pure humanity. She then finds herself presenting a more innocent vision of herself. Using the lushness of 80's production to show us this dream, hippy world. But there's something cold and off about it. A virtual reality, holographic projection of and idealised past. A translucent paradise trying to cover a cruel dystopia.
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
Kate Bush has a somewhat similar trajectory.
She was younger than Stevie Nicks, so doesn't have the bitterness and disappointment in her 70's work; the hippy ideal hadn't been something she directly experienced.
But in the 80's she does find herself in a similar spot to Nicks. Having to construct this pastoral, pixie world.
She was younger than Stevie Nicks, so doesn't have the bitterness and disappointment in her 70's work; the hippy ideal hadn't been something she directly experienced.
But in the 80's she does find herself in a similar spot to Nicks. Having to construct this pastoral, pixie world.
pattycakes_
Can turn naughty
The mystic coke nymph. Siren on the digital synth rocks. Come, oh weary traveller. Buxom bouffant, lace thigh straps and glassy eyes. Heaven with a trapdoor.
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
As it happens Christine McVie is actually better than Stevie:
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
Actually "tell me sweet little lies" is a good mission statement for 80's Fleetwood Mac. The pastoral video is very apt.
"Close your eyes".
"Close your eyes".
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
Reynolds did a beautiful blog about an old friend passing away through the paradigm of the English countryside and Stevie Nicks:
http://blissout.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-memoriam.html
http://blissout.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-memoriam.html
pattycakes_
Can turn naughty
She's Sarah Palmer from Twin Peaks. Grew up too fast. It girl gone bad. All the guys want her. All the girls want to be her. If only they knew.
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
i suppose twin peaks is a part of that stevie trajectory. cultural attitudes towards folklore and magic. gets bleak with twin peaks. the blade films and buffy maybe somewhat similar thing.
the oracle in the matrix; an explicit nod to the fact that these things are illusory.
pattycakes_
Can turn naughty
The damsel from Meatloaf's universe. Riding on the back of a harley, wrapped around the ripped torso of a Nordic god.
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
Very, very good. The tangible fantasy of the 60’s is hollowed out and grotesque by whenever that song cane out (early 90’s?).
pattycakes_
Can turn naughty
Tango in the Night was on heavy rotation during my childhood. Road trips with the cassette running round and round. One of my first crushes. I put my love of women with husky voices down to her. The rest of the band is the solid, reliable sponge, but stevie's those cascades of off white icing dripping down the sides, embedded with fake pearls and rose petals
1:05
Blame it on her wild heart...
1:05
Blame it on her wild heart...
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
was she one of the last non-overtly sexual sex symbols?
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pattycakes_
Can turn naughty
Hnnnnng!
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
there's the whole americana angle to her as well. makes the bohemianism more striking.
john eden
male pale and stale
An inspiration to witchy shawl-wearing not-quite-goth-but-definitely-rock chicks everywhere.
She was bloody awful in the Neftlix series "American Horror Story" but that did kind of encapsulate her legacy in some ways.
That's an interesting parallel with Kate Bush but for me KB was more art school and less overtly about the memories of those nights of drugs and booze and sex and hanging out with leather clad dudes on the wrong side of the tracks.
She was bloody awful in the Neftlix series "American Horror Story" but that did kind of encapsulate her legacy in some ways.
That's an interesting parallel with Kate Bush but for me KB was more art school and less overtly about the memories of those nights of drugs and booze and sex and hanging out with leather clad dudes on the wrong side of the tracks.
sadmanbarty
Well-known member
i suppose you get a slew of these slightly magical (or at least of-antiquity) female artists in the 80's. souxsie soux fits maybe.
are male artists allowed to be sci fi, whereas female artists have to be magic instead.
are male artists allowed to be sci fi, whereas female artists have to be magic instead.
sufi
lala
well yes but what about debbie harry and adam ant then?
i liked the way that a few of the tracks in the 80's thread represented formerly edgy punker bands tidying up for an attempt on the charts 10 years on, some of this progression is a bit like some of that i guess
