'sara' vs. 'gypsy' vs. 'dreams' vs. 'rhiannon'

what criteria are we using here?

best song

anyway the answer will probably be sara either way

xpost

best song = everything about the song, including production etc.

SARA

is perfect.

sara

sara - overrated
rhiannon - underrated.so that.

dreams

plus, rhiannon is the first Mac song that ive heard, so it's childhood nostalgia,
xpost to myself

^i suspect it was the first mac song i heard too - certainly it was either that or go yr own way

i had that 70's collection on cassette, and that was the song they chose.
but yeah, go your own way is also one of the first songs ive heard

the lack of a moroder mix of this shows a failure of imagination on somebody's part.

(also, where's "gold dust woman"?)

Real hard this one. After years of worshipping sara, i think i'll go with dreams in the end

Voted for this

For what sounds like 4/4, Fleetwood/MacVie are pretty unstoppable here. Always liked the guitar bit at the end.

the lack of a moroder mix of this shows a failure of imagination on somebody's part.

OMG SO OTM

anyway, lightning strikes, maybe once maybe twice

lol xpost but 2/2 LAilxorz agree!

i dunno, 'dreams' and 'rhiannon' are pretty even for me. though miles better than the other two.

Probably "Sara", but I love how "Gypsy" is like a compressed version of the others, combining the witchiness and yearning of "Rhiannon", the resignation and pop perfection of "Dreams" and the wispiness and production nous of "Sara". Guitar solo at the end shreds.

But um, still can't go past "Sara". ALL I EVER WANTED!

"Sara" :: "Kashmir"
"Gypsy" :: "Ten Years Gone"

i have the full concert that 'sara' clip is from on vhs somewhere, first mac i ever saw, on television when i was eleven or something, and that whole show is INSANE.

"Dreams" is great, but it's also one of the most overrated FM tunes.

Gypsy > Sara > Dreams > Rihannon

i always find it hard to think of tracks from 75-79 period FM as overrated, i love them all as if they were my children

I don't think you can overrate perfect things

'Rhiannon' is maybe my favourite FM song, so that. It's all about the harmonies in the chorus. I'd rank the other three Sara>Dreams>Gypsy.

omg the bit in the rumours doc where you hear the bare harmonies from dreams... chills i tells ya

i voted "dreams" but honestly i could throw a dart at any of these choices and hit an amazing song.

the lyrics are just so scathing for a soft-rock hit...

"it didn't end up being silly at all" (sure, stevie)

I'm voting for "Tusk."

Wow, this is tough -- these are all easily in my Fleetwood Mac top 10.

Right now, I am thinking Sara = Dreams > Gypsy > Rhiannon.

Nice to see some people repping for "Gypsy," which has long been my favorite FM track. I've heard it a thousand times, and the bridge, with Stevie building towards her vocal climax and Lindsey playing those staccato guitar arpeggios, can still make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

No "Seven Wonders"?

Voted for "Sara," of course – my favorite Mac ballad.

THUNDER ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING

dreams is basically perfect. sara is too though

the lyrics are just so scathing for a soft-rock hit...

seriously! the lyrics are bruuuuutal

i think dreams > sara > rhiannon > gypsy

on a different day i could sara though

*vote

listened to sara on my way to work like 6 times in a row--so perfect for this weather. last minute and a half are my favorite.

Gypsy. Perfect track.

These days I might even prefer the edited version from the original CD and the 1988 greatest hits: it packs even more of a wallop and contains more mystery within the limitations of a four-minute pop song.

guys i'm so happy that i 'discovered' fleetwood mac for myself literally about one week ago! like how is that possible??!! but i'm so glad i finally did. like i always knew dreams and 'go your own way' but didn't even know that 'don't stop' was them.

listening to s/t right now and these guys are like the best pop band evah

Shouldn't "The Chain" be in here too? Just a thought.

Nah. These feel of a piece - The Chain and even Gold Dust Woman are a different category.

The thing about dreams is it's all (gently) downhill from the first verse.

Dreams > Gypsy > Rhiannon > Sara

I'm going for Sara, but hey, if Dreams wins, it's not like a big deal or anything. I think I've got more childhood nostalgia around Dreams, anyway. Gypsy is an excellent track, but certainly at the bottom of this ranking. I'm glad mark cl has discovered them! I often talk to music fans about them and you'd be surprised how many people scratch their heads as though actively investigating them is the weirdest idea in the world.

Toughie - either Sara or Dreams.

Both are so perfectly excuted. Dreams for it's pop-ness appeal but Sara for the tingles felt on each hearing; Sara creates such a tense mood but so beautiful!

I voted Dreams 'cos I ain't too deep,

Either Dreams or Sara, I can't decide!

Great poll. I don't know 'Gypsy' either, so treat for me. WIll report back.

Lindsey doesn't look well in those first couple of clips. Great guitar at the end on Gypsy. I seem to remember Rhiannon having some blistering guitar too. This is hard.

I have only ever heard Fleetwood Mac on the radio. Which ever song has the 'thunder only happens when it's raining' lyric is the one i'd vote for.

^^"Dreams"

just searched my library and discovered that I do have one FM track in my collection. Little Lies (Dub Mix). Good little mix too.

I got Tango In The Night at the weekend. It's better than I expected (and I was expecting it to be pretty good)

Yeah, I was surprised at how much I liked TITN when I first heard it a year ago -- I think I had assumed that FM were solid for a few years in the late '70s and useless thereafter, but there are some fantastic pop songs on that album.

I usually like Christine's stuff least, but her songs on it are impeccable

I'm voting for "Tusk."

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:59 AM

Me too.

'tusk' isn't even a stevie nicks song, so you might as well vote for 'hey jude'

Listen, you wrote "best song" and cited four Fleetwood Mac tunes.

I usually like Christine's stuff least, but her songs on it are impeccable

On TITN? Hells yeah. "Big Love" aside, McVie saves the album.

I still don't understand this poll, though. Why omit the TITN and Say You Will Nicks singles? Or "Fireflies"?

cause only a crazy person would vote for them over these 4

Nah, I'd put "Thrown Down" and "Say You Will" up against them. I'd at least want to read what people write about'em.

those are great songs, but cmonnnnnnn

'say you will' can stand up to 'dreams'??? I mean really

I think I probably love Rhiannon most, and I really like the guitar at the end of Gypsy, but the Dreams that get bent posted upthread is so beautiful that I voted for that in the end.

'say you will' can stand up to 'dreams'??? I mean really

No. I'm just (again) wondering by what criteria where those four poll options picked. Whatever. We can create a Say You Will post.

I think they stand pretty clearly as the massive Stevie Nicks songs of the classic era (Self-titled / Rumours / Tusk)

See: SN songs on this album -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Hits_(1988_Fleetwood_Mac_album)

I feel like if I should have added anything else, it should have been 'Landslide'

oh wait, gypsy's on mirage...err...I'll just go w/ the greatest hits explanation then

Yeah I think the poll makes sense - these songs strike me as anthems in a way that the Say You Will songs aren't. I think "Thrown Down" and "Destiny Rules" and a couple of others on that album are amazing, but they feel more like album tracks (whether or not they were actually released as singles). Maybe the purpose of Nicks' songs on Say You Will was to prove that she could do astonishing album tracks, something I'd say she hadn't managed previously since "Beautiful Child".

i have a cousin named after rhiannon

hey, me too! i just met a woman who named her daughter "aja". remember that guy on the real world named "yes"? the world is a funny place. if i ever have a son i'm naming him "supertramp"

if i ever have a son i'm naming him "supertramp"

You're setting him up to be this guy though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless

Haha met a beautiful chick named aja a couple weeks ago - don't repost to braggin thread tho :-/

The girl I know who was named Rhiannon after the FM song now (understandably) hates it.

Rather than try to reflect my own music tastes, should I have children I'd rather bestow names that position them to host their own reality tv show as teenagers - I'm thinking "Status" for a boy and "Cachet" for a girl.

rhiannon
"this is a song about an old welsh witch..."

love the rotating camera during the solo.

I suppose a peak period McVie poll is next, no?

no "brown eyes" or "you make loving fun," no credibility

Rhiannon >> Dreams >>>>>>>>>>>>> Sara >> Gypsy

Silver Springs

i don't wanna be a cleaning lady...

now here you go again you say, you want your freedom

hey, me too! i just met a woman who named her daughter "aja".

Was she a Mission of Burma groupie?

okay I decided I'm going w/ dreams

Dreams.

Dreams is also the most awesome driving song ever

I'm voting for "Tusk."

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:59 AM

Me too.

― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, April 28, 2009 2:13 PM

'tusk' isn't even a stevie nicks song, so you might as well vote for 'hey jude'

― iatee, Tuesday, April 28, 2009 3:01 PM

Changing vote to "Hey Jude."

dreams is such a wonderful song to sing along with

and it's one of those songs too where i can almost feel the rain

I already said this, but the playing (guitar especially, but really all instruments) on the version upthread is just exquisite.

Voted for "Sara," of course – my favorite Mac ballad.

I was a bit stunned to read this. Not because I think it's wrong but because I never thought of it as a ballad. Then again, I suppose I've never had the opportunity to call it anything. What type of song do y'all call it?

In any event, I voted for "Sara" with a "Dreams" chaser.

I was a bit stunned to read this. Not because I think it's wrong but because I never thought of it as a ballad. Then again, I suppose I've never had the opportunity to call it anything. What type of song do y'all call it?

An incantation.

Gypsy > Sara > Dreams > Rihannon

― NoTimeBeforeTime

I'll go with this.

Gypsy: "So I'm back to the velvet underground" seems a curious opening line for a Fleetwood Mac song - they're not a very reference-y kind of band

listening to this in chronological order right now at work

The Velvet Underground was a head shop, I think.

Gypsy: "So I'm back to the velvet underground" seems a curious opening line for a Fleetwood Mac song - they're not a very reference-y kind of band

she's referencing a store, IIRC

xpost

she means the novel

haha

I thought she was referencing a goth club in Toronto.

She's talking about her privates.

"Rhiannon" all the way (because "Landslide" isn't an option). "Sara" actually seems like the slightest of these. I think I prefer "Storms".

"Dreams" is a close #2, obv.

Yeah, def "Storms" > "Sara"

This article has this quote about the velvet underground lyric:

"In basic ways, I haven't changed," she says. "In material ways, of course, I've changed a lot. Because I'm not starving now and I don't have to worry where my rent's coming from and that makes it a lot easier on my blood pressure. I still love all the same things. Every place I live still looks pretty much like my apartment in San Francisco.

"The clothes I wear...that doesn't change. I love long dresses. I love velvet. I love high boots. I never change. I love the same eye make-up. I'm not a fad person. I still have everything I had then. That's one part of me...That's where my songs come from. There's a song on the new FM album that says, "Going back to the velvet underground/Back to the floor that I love," because I always put my bed on the floor." She quotes from the song again. "To a room with some lace and paper flowers/Back to the gypsy that I was.' And that's San Francisco. That's the velvet underground. Those are the things that I can't give up."

well there ya go

For the sake of completeness:

"Beautiful Child" > "Sara" > "Gypsy" > "Dreams" > "Crystal" > "Landslide" > "Storm" > "Silver Spring" > "Rhiannon" > "Gold Dust Woman" > "That's Alright" > "I Don't Want To Know" > "Sisters of the Moon" > "Angel" > "Straight Back"

I cant believe people are putting Rhiannon at the bottom of their list for this poll. Maybe I like it best because it's the most rocking of the choices?
Rhiannon > Gypsy > Dreams & Sara

I think you mean <

different kicks for different tricks I guess

"Beautiful Child" > "Sara" > "Gypsy" > "Dreams" > "Crystal" > "Landslide" > "Storm" > "Silver Spring" > "Rhiannon" > "Gold Dust Woman" > "That's Alright" > "I Don't Want To Know" > "Sisters of the Moon" > "Angel" > "Straight Back"

No "Welcome to the Room...Sara" at the bottom...?

"Beautiful Child" > "Sara" > "Gypsy" > "Dreams" > "Crystal" > "Landslide" > "Storm" > "Silver Spring" > "Rhiannon" > "Gold Dust Woman" > "That's Alright" > "I Don't Want To Know" > "Sisters of the Moon" > "Angel" > "Straight Back"

no reason to drag Swans into this

Hahaha, Amen to that!

That list is just the four albums from the same period as the songs in this poll. "Welcome To The Room... Sara" would go in at the bottom, "Seven Wonders" probably after "Rhiannon", and I don't know about the other one.

The world waits for the results of this poll.

Also Dreams is fantabulous, folks but if you don't vote Sara, there's something terribly wrong, here.

why can't you see the old time MTV Gypsy video on You Tube? do you have to pay upwards of $99 for a DVD to see that damn thing again?

Buckingham picks like a good ol' UK-er on the end of Gypsy doncha know! Got the Brits right where he wants 'em, I reckon!

"thunder only happens when it's raining"
"lightning strikes, maybe once maybe twice"

'Sara' is probably my least favourite of the four, actually. But it was my introduction into the real Fleetwood Mac via this piece on Tusk from Melody Maker's 'Unknown Pleasures' book, so I'll be eternally grateful to it.

Hahah her hair is to die for at the top of that link! Imagine how much money your average awful 80's hair metal band would pay to have just had her hairdresser! LOLOLOLOLOL

First person to mention Bon Jovi gets a great big fart in their face.

iatee, you were right, Landslide was your only mistake of omission, here. Don't worry, we can do the poll again.

this poll is a fucking joke; Sara.

Yeah, see, if you don't have the second bonus Tusk CD of alternate versions including SARA, then you just don't have the hipness. Forget it. You will never be cool again. Sorry.

6 minute Sara>>10 minute Sara imo

I changed my mind: Sara > Dreams

Okay but people, what other band mentions the fucking VELVET UNDERGROUND SO FURTIVELY?

Gypsy is going to make everyone gay. All of a sudden, everyone will turn gay, because of that song.

But that isn't going to help you when the mafia for "Dreams" comes knocking on your door. Nope.

Better be safe and go with Sara.

Also, Rhiannon can pretty much suck it. I've decided Gypsy is better than Rhiannon, sorry.

"I Don't Wanna Be A Cleaning Lady"

Also, Rhiannon can pretty much suck it. I've decided Gypsy is better than Rhiannon, sorry.

O T M

yes landslide is the only song that the logic of this poll calls for that is absent. and the answer is, when it's all said and done, dreams. as much as we love sara, we must conclude that dreams is the better song - for its dynamics, the thunder crash of the chorus, the unity of lyrical theme and music, and of course a hook for the ages.

Ha! BLASPHEMER!

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Going for dreams because of the harmonies in the chorus. But neither of these are among my favourite Fleetwood songs.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

wow! Justice is done...but look how close!

not close enough. ILM, this time your Tusk stanning has gone too far.

ohno!
rhiaaaaaaaaannnnnnnon

Seriously Tusk is beyond stanning. If anything its better than its ILM rep.

I have Gypsy on my new iPod. It is almost enough to feel complete as a human being. Almost.

This is one of the best threads on the entirety of this board, just saying. I'll be quiet now, but this one is a doozy.

Okay last post for tonight, but Fleetwood Mac are the best band in the universe. I don't care if it's Lindsay or Christine or Stevie singing. It doesn't fucking matter. It just doesn't fucking matter at all. I've made a special exception for New Order just to do this post, because everyone knows New Order are Bimble's fave band. I made a special exception. I even overrid the Beatles. THANKING U.

I want lots of friends who love Fleetwood Mac. If you don't like them, well...

Had I seen this poll I would've voted Rhiannon, just because I've been playing it quite a bit recently.

^^^ this is good

OH yeah, damnit. Oh yeah. She can kick the shit out of any rock and roller that happens to get into a 400 mile radius. Just sayin'.

I've just had a complete and total Fleetwood Mac moment. Thanks iatee. Can't believe some of the original "Gypsy" video is in that. It's almost too much.

And then you can play the studio version of Gyspy and almost triumph over the whole of life. You can almost transcend death. You know I went to a graveyard this morning in the sunshine and it was so beautiful it's like pins & needles in my heart.

But yeah, Fleetwood Mac.

Madness.

Inconceivable alternate reality, from that article linked above:

"Well, "Tusk" wasn't MY album. "Tusk" was mainly Lindsey's conception, dream, everything he ever wanted to do. Everybody just figured that for whatever his reasons were, it was important that he do that and we just sort of sat back and let him do it. I don't mean to sound blase or anything. I was there. I just didn't have very much to do with it. Because if I had had much to do with it, it wouldn't have been a double album and it wouldn't....it wouldn't have been crazy."

I pledge allegiance to the Buckingham guitar solo at the end of Gypsy, I promise. He can get an honorary Brit award or something, for that. Right?

Dreams > Gypsy > Rhiannon > Sara

― (*ﾟーﾟ)θ L(。･＿･)　　　°~ヾ(･ε･ *) (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, April 28, 2009 9:45 AM (1 year ago)

starting to think Gypsy=Dreams>Rhiannon>>>>>>Sara

I just listened to gypsy! like 3 seconds ago!

what the hell is wrong with sara!!

fuckin nothing is wrong with sara

Seriously Tusk is beyond stanning. If anything its better than its ILM rep.

― ❉❉❉❉❉❉❉❉Plaxico❉❉❉❉❉❉❉❉❉ (I know, right?), Monday, 11 May 2009 03:09 (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C4EGaNrAp4

^^^ first public performance of "rhiannon"

<3 you forever for this!

It's amazing that on the demo she already found the right vocal melody for "Gypsy." It's almost identical to the released one.

omg @ rhiannon right there

dreams and rhiannon both all time faves of highest order, while sara and gypsy both bore me to no end. think Fleetwood Mac only band to really hit these extremes for me

never saw this thread but i would've voted for "Gypsy." never really occurred to me but i'm not that big on Stevie Mac -- generally prefer both the FM hits by other singers and her solo stuff

i don't think i voted, but dreams

i would have voted for "gypsy." it's something in her delivery.

you know:

"so i'm back
to the velvet

uuuunderground"

little lifts of smoke

oh hell, "rhiannon" for all time. wish i'd voted.

and thanks for that live version, aero! too fast & tough, but still so great.

i voted for sara and id do it again in a heartbeat

id do it a thousand times over

never change

i would have voted for "gypsy." it's something in her delivery.

― preschoolin' life (BradNelson), Tuesday, July 5, 2011 5:01 PM (15 minutes ago) Bookmark

People slag the bridge in that tune, but for me what makes the song is the way that Stevie ends on a lower note for each line of the first half while Lindsey's arpeggios imply the rest of the band is climbing for something; then in the second half, she ends on the same note three times before reaching for that last high one. It's spine-chilling.

now i am reading hilariously written interpretations of the lyrics to "sara" online

Though the years were hard, her years with Lindsey, at least at the start, were basked in a joyful love, one that shined and gave off this promised light of happiness. Behind this light, though, was another source, this one more emotional and intense, such as the flames of a fire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKIC_Kza4Ek

^^ this version of gypsy almost makes me want to vote for it. but, no, its sara! sorry guys!

i was watching Stevie duet w/ one of the competitors on The Voice last week and she flutters her fingers while performing even more than any impression of her could ever hope to convey

dreams vs. sara was tough for me

okay maybe "sara" is correct. i have been listening to "storms" a lot lately, too; the quality of stevie's voice on it is so ;_;

I believe the Rhiannon youtube revive proves that song #1

i have been listening to "storms" a lot lately, too; the quality of stevie's voice on it is so ;_;

"storms" is my favorite fleetwood mac song and is better than any of these okay sorry

this poll is vicious but right now i could listen to the little ascending guitar bits in the chorus of 'gypsy' forever.

well not the chorus. whatever that section is. the 'to the gypsy that remains' bit. what is that! why does it only appear once!

i kinda think these are the four best fleetwood mac songs

"storms" is my favorite fleetwood mac song and is better than any of these okay sorry

― preschoolin' life (BradNelson), Thursday, July 7, 2011 12:49 PM (six years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

hey me, you're an asshole and an idiot. the answer is either "sara" or "gypsy"

Sara for sentimental reasons but gypsy would be my pick as that song is so uplifting and great to sing along to. Silver springs is up there too

sara vs dreams for me. very difficult