2008 Woodie Awards
Sincere songs have soul-healing powers
Jacqueline Plessinger
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Features
Why do you listen to music? Do you listen to it to celebrate a milestone? To dance and socialize? Do you listen to music when you need to escape from life's ups and downs? Do song lyrics comfort you when you are in pain?
I recently attended a concert given by rock-gypsy Stevie Nicks in Reading, Pa.
Nicks is most known for her captivating stage presence and intricate lyrics with Fleetwood Mac and as a massively popular solo artist.
I have followed Nicks on her solo tours and her outings with Fleetwood Mac for the last 10 years.
At every show, fans gather to show their support to a woman that gives herself fully through her hopeful lyrics and enchanting persona.
At each show, I walk through the venue's doors into a kingdom of fairytale and magic, a place where Nicks will "come to make [me] better…come to take [me] away."
Men and women surround me, clad in dripping black chiffon, platform suede boots, top hats and glittering shawls.
With a crescent moon necklace as our invitation, we openly share our personal stories with each other, while Nicks's lyrics echo in the back of our minds.
When Nicks sings, "Has anyone ever written anything for you? / In all your darkest hours / Have you ever heard me sing?," a crowd of worshippers silently weeps, "Yes."
Nicks genuinely shares her experiences of love lost, loneliness and dreams shattered through her songs, each line torn from a page in her journal.
She creates little worlds for us to come into with her, where we are taken away from any pain or hardship that is troubling us, and upon returning, we are healed.
Through the characters she creates, like "Rhiannon," "Bella Donna," "Gold Dust Woman," "Gypsy," and "Sara," she weaves in tales of strong women that inspire her listeners to rise above and overcome periods of grief and pain.
Nicks becomes these characters in song, her dark chiffon wings mimicking the healing birds of Rhiannon while her golden shawl, flowing over her extended arms, conjures an ancient queen in "Gold Dust Woman."
I recently attended a concert given by rock-gypsy Stevie Nicks in Reading, Pa.
Nicks is most known for her captivating stage presence and intricate lyrics with Fleetwood Mac and as a massively popular solo artist.
I have followed Nicks on her solo tours and her outings with Fleetwood Mac for the last 10 years.
At every show, fans gather to show their support to a woman that gives herself fully through her hopeful lyrics and enchanting persona.
At each show, I walk through the venue's doors into a kingdom of fairytale and magic, a place where Nicks will "come to make [me] better…come to take [me] away."
Men and women surround me, clad in dripping black chiffon, platform suede boots, top hats and glittering shawls.
With a crescent moon necklace as our invitation, we openly share our personal stories with each other, while Nicks's lyrics echo in the back of our minds.
When Nicks sings, "Has anyone ever written anything for you? / In all your darkest hours / Have you ever heard me sing?," a crowd of worshippers silently weeps, "Yes."
Nicks genuinely shares her experiences of love lost, loneliness and dreams shattered through her songs, each line torn from a page in her journal.
She creates little worlds for us to come into with her, where we are taken away from any pain or hardship that is troubling us, and upon returning, we are healed.
Through the characters she creates, like "Rhiannon," "Bella Donna," "Gold Dust Woman," "Gypsy," and "Sara," she weaves in tales of strong women that inspire her listeners to rise above and overcome periods of grief and pain.
Nicks becomes these characters in song, her dark chiffon wings mimicking the healing birds of Rhiannon while her golden shawl, flowing over her extended arms, conjures an ancient queen in "Gold Dust Woman."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
David Coffin
posted 6/07/08 @ 8:05 PM EST
i have a story i could tell! but i gave it away to miss stevie nicks it's her story to tell and write about now!we will just hafe to wait till she's ready to tell the story in her book of enchanted tell's from her past, i love her is why i gave her our story,it's not mine to tell anymore! we can only hope she write's about it to her fan's witch i love dearley good bad or indifferant i love her fan's as miss nicks doe's, so if you feal your not loved you are. (Continued…)
Blue Lamp
posted 6/07/08 @ 8:35 PM EST
Thank you! I don't think anyone could have explained this "enchantment" that WE feel any better!
The Wild Heart
posted 6/07/08 @ 10:24 PM EST
I also attended the Reading show. Stevie has helped me through her music like so many others. Rock on Ancient Queen!
Bill Gamelson
posted 6/08/08 @ 8:56 AM EST
Of course, the people that know here realize she doesn't give a rat's patooey about her loyal fans who work so hard to put food on her table. Someone could jump in front of an assailant taking a bullet in the chest for her out of his undying love and she wouldn't even pause long enough to say goodbye. (Continued…)
Bill Gamelson
posted 6/08/08 @ 9:01 AM EST
David Coffin, you did not date Stevie! You were never her friend and she would never be a friend to a wacko like you! Now take your meds and your pseudonym and GO HOME!
Reading Stevie Fan
posted 6/08/08 @ 7:02 PM EST
Very well written article that expresses what Stevie fans feel. She's extremely genuine in her appreciation for her fans and I can't thank her enough everything she's given me through her music and just being herself, flaws and all. (Continued…)
Stev1eNix
posted 6/08/08 @ 7:56 PM EST
I also attend the Reading and have known Stevie for many years....She just keeps getting better. And she truely loves her fans...
nicksfan
posted 6/09/08 @ 4:48 PM EST
Great article..huge Stevie Fan here too - saw her at the end of the year and she was flawless! Will catch her again when she's in Santa Barbara!
Cynaera
posted 6/09/08 @ 6:06 PM EST
Um, okay. Bill Gamelson - could you please take your little turf-war with David Coffin off the board? It doesn't matter who knows or doesn't know who. (Continued…)
Stephanie Vacca
posted 6/09/08 @ 11:00 PM EST
Jacqueline,
That is the best description of Stevie in an article that I have ever read. I think it's a combination of Stevie's lyrics and the passion/energy she puts into the song when she performs it that makes it so moving. (Continued…)
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