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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

St. Vincent DeJamz 3-10-14

You may think that there are far too many songs for one to answer the question “what’s your favorite song?” You’re wrong. Your favorite song ever is “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac – from the 1997 live recording of “The Dance.” If you’re resistant to this news of your new favorite song, here are six reasons why it should have been already.

1. When the song was originally recorded in 1976, the band was in its height of everyone dating each other and that ending badly. Stevie Nicks wrote the song in defiance of Lindsey Buckingham not wanting to be with her. Of course this raises the question, who wouldn’t want to be with Stevie Nicks? A fool, that’s who.

2. It’s expected that 20 years later the pain of rejection would have eased, but au contraire, the wound has been festering. In ’97, Nicks’ pain is so much more evident it’s heartbreaking. Even if you don’t know why, you’re crying by the end. During this concert Nicks sings the line “give me just a chance” directly to Buckingham and you will lose it every. Damn. Time.

3. Stevie Nicks did a lot of drugs. It’s okay, everyone did in the 1970s. Because of this exorbitant cocaine use Nicks has a deviated septum, leading to a much, much lower register of her voice. Nicks sounds like a little girl on the original recording. She sounds like a WOMAN in ’97.

4. Not only does she sound like a stone cold fox, she uses the power of song to bewitch you into loving her. There’s a “if you don’t love me, let me just do some witch magic to ruin your dreams” kind of thing going on. This is best shown in the line “time casts a spell on you, and you won’t forget me.” Which is quickly followed up by “I’ll follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you.” Basically, Stevie Nicks will steal your soul if you do her wrong.

5. On top of the lyrics, back story, deviated septum, and raw emotional chutzpah, the musical arrangement of this song is just too much. It starts simply – some chimes, a little guitar and some cymbal here and there. When you really start getting into the meat of the song is where things get interesting. There are harmonies, melodies and musical doo-dads that your mind has never even conceived.

6. Despite “Silver Springs” being the greatest song in Fleetwood Mac’s repertoire, it never appeared on a studio recorded album. It’s the white whale of pop songs. Other songs performed for “The Dance” had been taken from the band’s previous albums, except “Silver Springs.” This version of the song earned the band a Grammy nomination, yet the tension within the band prevented it from making the cut in 1977 on the “Rumours” album – which is one of the greatest albums of all time.

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