And now we've lost Christine McVie!

Just a couple of days ago, I wrote about the unexpected death of Irene Cara.  And now, I'm writing about the wonderful and incomparable Christine McVie, who passed away in a hospital yesterday at age 79 after a "short illness".  At this time, the actual cause of death hasn't been officially announced, but I did read that Christine was in "poor health" over the summer and was having trouble with her back.

I just want to take a short moment to post about how much I've admired Christine McVie's incredible contributions to popular music.  There's never been a time in my life when her songs haven't touched me in some way.  When Fleetwood Mac was white hot, I was a small child living in England.  I can't listen to songs like "Over My Head" or "You Make Loving Fun" without thinking of the woman who wrote them and remembering my sojourn living in her native country.  

I've always felt that Christine McVie was extremely underrated.  Stevie Nicks got a lot more attention, because she was pretty much the front woman of Fleetwood Mac, wearing outlandish Welsh "witch" costumes, dancing, and and singing out in front of the crowds.  Christine, by contrast, was always behind her keyboards, quieter, more reserved, understated, but always impeccable and classy.  She was a songwriting powerhouse, and always willing to chip in on projects with other musicians.

It's funny, because yesterday, I posted a review of Stephen Bishop's autobiography, On and Off, on my main blog.  Bishop can always be counted on to post on the social media accounts of other celebrities.  It was because of his condolences on Christine McVie's Facebook page that I "heard" about her passing so quickly.  

Christine McVie was certainly old enough to pass naturally... but that doesn't mean that anyone was ready for her to go.  I was shocked when I read the news, and genuinely saddened, even though I know this is a part of life.  I guess reading about the heroes of my youth passing the bar is a reminder that my time is coming.  But I do feel so fortunate that I was around when Christine McVie was at the top of her game.  She has left an indelible mark on music that won't fade for many generations.  That is extraordinary.  Her death was announced about twelve hours ago, and YouTube is already flooded with tributes.

Songbird...

You Make Loving Fun

Over My Head

Got A Hold On Me

As Long As You Follow

Don't Stop

And one of my personal favorites, Brown Eyes

Rest in peace, Christine McVie.  There's a new songbird in Heaven today...

Was reminded of this classic hit this morning...

"Magnet and Steel" is a classic hit by Walter Egan…

I well remember when this song was popular, back in 1978.  Walter Egan had just one really big hit and this was it.  Stevie Nicks was one of the backup singers and, if I'm not mistaken, she was also dating Egan at the time.  "Magnet and Steel" had a sexiness about it, as well as sort of a 50s sound.  I like it because it reminds me of the late 70s, when I had no responsibilities and was pretty innocent about the world.  Also, I just like stuff from that era.  I'd much rather listen to 40 year old hits than recent hits.

  

For some reason, "Magnet and Steel" reminds me of this old song, too… from about the same time.

Whatever happened to romantic duets by people who can sing?  Just kidding.  I'm becoming an old fart and I need to get a life.  

I'm sure these folks are still floating around out there in the big world…  Kind of like Stacey Q.

 

Raspy voiced singers...

Fellow blogger Alexis recently blogged about Fleetwood Mac's frontwoman Stevie Nicks, a raspy voiced singer-songwriter who has a very distinctive voice that has sold millions of records.  While Alexis says she's not a fan of Stevie's, except for her song "Landslide", I happen to love Stevie Nicks' music.  I really like her when she's with Fleetwood Mac, though I do admit to liking a couple of her solo songs, too.  When I was ten years old, she released "Stand Back", a song I loved back in the day... It was reportedly a collaboration with Prince.  She wrote in the liner notes of her CD, Timespace, that he contributed the keyboards.  I believe it.  This song pulsates with energy.

Here she is performing it on Solid Gold... not lip synching, I might add!

Of course I love "Landslide"  It's elegance personified!

I loved "Rhiannon"...

And I loved "Sara"...

And "Dreams"...

Yeah, she has a voice a little like sandpaper.  But I can think of someone else who has a raspy voice that doesn't please me.  That would be Kim Carnes...

"Bette Davis Eyes" was a huge hit when I was a kid.  I kind of liked this song back then.

Then she teamed up with Kenny Rogers and sang "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer"... damn shame!

Later in the 80s, she sang the weird song "Crazy In The Night".

And in the early 80s, she sang "More Love".  I kind of like this song, probably because it reminds me of a time when I had no responsibility.

Another raspy voiced singer I can think of is Melissa Etheridge.  I initially was a Melissa fan, but as I got older and more evolved, I liked her music less.  I was a fan of a few of her early hits, though, like "Bring Me Some Water"...

And "Similar Features"...

And "Like The Way I Do"...

The magic wore off sometime in the early 90s and I lost touch with Melissa Etheridge's music.

I'd still pick Stevie Nicks as tops in this group.  But that's just me.