Don’t laugh, but I might have a thing for Stevie Nicks.
Maybe she’s no longer as culturally relevant as she once was. And she’s got a few years on me. Twenty-one, to be exact. But you know what? I dig her. I always have, from her earliest days in Fleetwood Mac through her solo career. She’s got an amazing voice. Rihannon, anybody? Dreams? The best Fleetwood Mac songs are hers, hands down. And her solo stuff is pretty rockin’, too. Stand Back. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around. If Anyone Falls. 80s classics, all of them. And, of course, the awesome Edge Of Seventeen. Catchiest guitar riff ever. Talk about bootylicious. Hands down, one of my favorite songs from the eighties. She’s still putting out music, too. Stevie’s got a new album that just came out last month and a great new single, Secret Love. She sounds better than ever. The years have been kind to her.
When I say I’ve got a “thing” for her I don’t mean it like that.
Or do I…?
Stevie Nicks has this mystical aura about her. There’s something about those long, flowing gowns, platform boots, and rumors of witchcraft that intrigue me. She may not be the kind of woman you take home to mother…err, because she’s basically the same age as mother…but maybe it’s that wild streak that I find so appealing. I’ll bet you anything she owns a crystal ball, and has probably snorted cocaine off tarot cards. What can I say? I like girls with an edge. I’m not saying I approve of her lifestyle choices, but she’d be a fun date for an evening, you know? Ooh baby, ooh.
Said ooh.
Plus, her lyrics. And the days go by like a strand in the wind; in the web that is my own I begin again. That’s sheer poetry right there.
I was listening to this song of hers the other day, Sometimes It’s A Bitch, and it felt like she was inside my head.
Well I’ve run through rainbows and castles of candy
I cried a river of tears from the pain
I try to dance with what life has to hand me
My partner’s been pleasure…my partner’s been painThere are days when I swear I could fly like an eagle
And dark desperate hours that nobody sees
My arms stretched triumphant on top of the mountain
My head in my hands…down on my kneesSometimes it’s a bitch, sometimes it’s a breeze.
Stevie’s saying that sometimes life is easy, and other times it can be a real struggle. There’s nothing especially unique or original about that message, but the lyrics are beautiful and she sings it with raw passion. I was driving in my car the other day as the song was playing, and nearly slammed on my brakes. “My god!” I thought. “Stevie Nicks has just nailed it!”
What exactly is the it that she nailed? The idea that it doesn’t matter how the world perceives you, but rather, how you view yourself that really matters. It’s not what’s in the mirror but what’s left inside, she sings. It’s about finding your own inner strength in order to survive. I tried to dance with what life had to hand me; and if I could, I’d do it all over again.
As far as rolling-with-the-punches anthems go, I like it. Sometimes we just need a reminder, and if said reminder is delivered through the raspy-yet-sensual voice of the sorceress-like Stevie Nicks, all the better.
One of my friends accused me of being very introspective lately, and I’d have to agree. You might say I’m taking stock of my life these days and coming to some interesting revelations. It’s amazing, once you start doing that, how many answers you stumble across in the lyrics to music.
You know what else is amazing (besides my smooth and seamless topic change)? The asparagus I had last night.
It’s the same bunch I picked up recently from the farmer’s market. I’d actually forgotten that it was in the fridge, but remembered midway through cooking dinner last night. I figured I should use it while it was still fresh, so I grabbed a handful, threw it in a saute pan with a little olive oil and sea salt, and cooked it up. And you know what? For a side dish, it rocked. It was better than the pork and rice that were supposed to be the star of the show. So good that I wished I’d made more of it. In fact, I would have been satisfied with a heaping plate of the asparagus and nothing more. I actually went to bed thinking about the asparagus, and woke up this morning craving it. I am totally having some more of that for dinner tonight.
The only thing better than that asparagus? If Stevie Nicks sang a song about that asparagus! That’s a win/win, baby.
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Mark Petruska 
“I’ll bet you anything she owns a crystal ball, and has probably snorted cocaine off tarot cards.”… Sounds dreamy 🙂
In all seriousness though, I had a weird thing for Sting when I was a kid. I did a book report on him when I was little and got only a C+ with a teacher’s comment : Weird.
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Did you argue that Sting was a closet philosopher and point to lyrics like “love is the seventh wave” to justify your claims, though?
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I find it interesting that you have a “thing” for Stevie Nicks. Because to that, I’d like to offer one tidbit of feedback.
I effing HATE her.
Seriously: All that mystical mumbo-jumbo, the flowing gowns, the pretentious raspy voice. Ick.
But I think it’s a chick thing — because Boyfriend Brett loves loves LOVES her. Ick x 2.
I am, however, a fan of asparagus. But not the crazy pee smell: What’s up with that, anyhow?
Fun post — and good luck with that introspection!
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According to Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D. – who wrote a book together:
Asparagus contains a sulfur compound called mercaptan. It is also found in onions, garlic, rotten eggs, and in the secretions of skunks. The signature smell occurs when this substance is broken down in your digestive system. Not all people have the gene for the enzyme that breaks down mercaptan, so some of you can eat all the asparagus you want without stinking up the place. One study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that only 46 percent of British people tested produced the odor while 100 percent of French people tested did. Insert your favorite French joke here:
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Okay, Mark, what have you been smoking? And can I have some?
Now–let me continue this serious and sincere reflection on asparagus–Sara has ben grilling ours–and it has been to die for–the best stuff you have ever tasted. We were eating it like candy!
I too love your line about Stevie doing cocaine off of tarot cards! Too perfect! Wonder how she does her asparagus?
Kathy
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I’ll bet she cooks hers in a black kettle along with a little eye of newt.
Sex-ay!!
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I didn’t know Stevie Nicks was rumored to practice witchcraft. Intriguing.
Admit it now, you’ve spent hours watching old Stevie Nicks music videos on you tube, haven’t you? I won’t judge. It’s a favorite past time of my own. But I prefer the great dance moves of old Soul Train videos. Mmhmm, that’s right!
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Better Soul Train than Solid Gold, I suppose!
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Stevie is not a witch. Also, she is not the writer of “Sometimes It’s A Bitch”. Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Falcon penned it. She actually balked a bit saying “bitch” in a song as she doesn’t like to cheapen her songs with language like that. She’s a true, gracious lady of Rock. I love Stevie…she’s amazing. You can visit her official website nicksfix.com for more facts and trivia. Enjoy!
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Thanks for the insight! I did see that Jon Bon Jovi wrote the song for her. Smart move – I doubt he would have done it justice! I appreciate the link; I’ll check out Stevie’s website.
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Your Stevie Nicks fandom is suspect until we see a video of you doing karaoke to your favorite song of hers!
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It would take many, many rums for me to ever contemplate karaoke! But I was singing along to “Edge of Seventeen” in my car really loudly the other day.
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They do have a massive collection of her outfits here in Cle at the R&R Hall museum you know…
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Hmm…how far is Cleveland from Dayton again??
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Mark. I love her, too. I love that she’s just….been who she is…
plus, that voice…
Here is the song Shayne and I had sung at our wedding, almost 21 years ago….not your normal wedding song…
🙂
you just made me cry happy tears…
blessings
jane
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Wow, Jane. That song is so beautiful it gave me shivers. 🙂
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When I was a kid, I’d pretend I was Stevie Nicks and sing into my bedpost that was my “microphone.”. I had so many Fleetwood Mac albums. Had a crush on Lindsay Buckingham. Now that I think of it, I think I still do.
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Lindsay teamed up with Stevie on her latest record. And if you’re a fan of SNL, you’ll know he’s the recurring guest on “What’s Up With That.”
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