Second Hand News
Stevie Nicks: vocals
Lindsey Buckingham: guitar, vocals
Christine McVie: keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
John McVie: bass
Mick Fleetwood: drums, percussion
Thirty years ago this month, Fleetwood Mac made music history with the release of their Grammy award winning album, ‘Rumours’, an album who’s prominence and relevance still resonates as true today as it did upon it’s release on February 4th 1977.
Good day and welcome. Here I’m going to be discussing a classic album which is an essential addition to any music collection. As you may have already guessed, it’s Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’
As it was the second album released by the act, following their eponymous debut, it was much anticipated by both the fans and the music press alike (both ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘All Music Guide’ giving it a five star review).
At this time, all five members were in emotional turmoil as their marriages and relationships had broken down, including those of the two couples who made up the majority of the group. This, as Stevie Nicks pointed out, lead to long hours being spent in the studio in the most uncomfortable of circumstances. It is from these instances that most of the songs on the album came to be, charting their discomfort and lack of emotional stability, most noticeably with the track ‘Go Your Own Way’ which was a song composed in the anticipation of the groups break-up.
Finally, upon completion of the album, the band realised the quality of the album released and were brought closer together.
‘Second Hand News’, the opening track is a heartfelt romp describing how the physical act of love is not as essential to love itself as initially perceived. It is more of a folk song of the modern era giving an insight into the mind of Lindsey Buckingham who had recently been in a relationship with Stevie Nicks.
‘Dreams’, unfortunately covered by The Corrs in recent years, tells of the imminent break-up of Fleetwood Mac, hidden under the guise of the end of the relationship of a couple. Stevie Nicks’ sweet sultry voice describes this in the kind of detail which makes one feels the need to redeem any quarrel held with them and their partner.
‘Never Going Back Again’, reverting again to the bands folk roots, tells of how empty the victory of a fight between a couple is, describing how although a point has been proven, both of you have been hurt in the process. Buckingham’s acoustic guitar gives a hint of warmth and joy to the song which creates a great juxtaposition between the lyrics and the music. This recurring theme is a key aspect of ‘Rumours’
‘Don’t Stop’, penned by Christine McVie following her divorce from bass player John, is an optimistic look at her new life and how things will surely get better. It was an instant pop classic which shot straight to number three in the Billboard Charts.
‘Go Your Own Way’ as previously stated is about the chaos that the band descended into. It tells of how it’s possible to give your life to someone, or something, it can often be in vain as you are not appreciated. The hint of optimism within the song tells us that it is much easier to find someone who will love you for who you are rather than to convince someone that you are worthwhile.
‘Songbird’ is easily the most heartfelt song on the album. Covered by Eva Cassidy recently, it is described by its writer Christine McVie as ‘a little anthem’ that she wishes upon ‘all of us’. It tells of a rediscovery and a new appreciation of an old love. It instils within the listener a sense of joy and empathy for the singer, but perhaps a hint of sadness for ones self for not being able to express the same emotions she describes so perfectly. It consists primarily of a soft piano sound with a slight acoustic guitar accompaniment, forming a truly beautiful ballad on the album.
Never before has such heartbreak been shown as is done in ‘The Chain’. A perfect combination of pop with a dark bluesy under tone, it tells a tale of pain, heartbreak, deception, lies and how a partner can find it impossible to let go, even though both are aware that their relationship has no future. Although both the lyrics and music were wrote separately, they fit together so seamlessly that the listener feels that they were wrote for each other.
‘You Make Loving Fun’ is up tempo blues at its best. We, as listeners, are brought into Christine’s new relationship as she tells us of how she gives herself, emotionally and spiritually, to another. The darkness that exists here lies within the fact that she is, perhaps, saying this to hurt the partner, John, who came before. It is only expected seeing as she is recently out of a long and arduous divorce.
‘I Don’t Want To Know’ is a cheery pop song about letting go, a willingness to find love and move on while at the same time wishing only the best for your ex-partner. This song shows us that once the pain and heartbreak is over, life can begin anew with a fresh outlook to all that is ahead.
‘Oh Daddy’ is Stevie Nicks acknowledging her vulnerability now that she is alone. It is set within the phase of the break-up in which she has lost her self esteem and is crying out to her lost lover to find out what is was they saw in her. This song reverts back to simplicity consisting of prominent bass with a hint of synth. The backing vocals bring home the hopelessness portrayed in the lyrics.
In essence the closing track on the album, ‘Gold Dust Woman’, is about cocaine. This pseudo-psychedelic song tells us of how a relationship ended because a greater emphasis is put on drugs than on their partner. The song never once refers to the drugs, but instead uses the ‘Woman’ as the evil within the song, letting the listener believe that it was adultery as opposed to addiction which lead to the downfall. It is told in the form of new-age country with a slight hint of oriental influences with underlying blues tones.
‘Sliver Springs’ did not initially feature on the album but was a B-Side to ‘Don’t Stop’. It is available on later re-mastered edition of the album
Although its sweet acoustic sound lulls the listener into believing that this album is about the joys of love and closeness between two people, it is in fact a tale of heartbreak, loss and the void which can only be filled by the love of another. It shows us the error of our ways and tries to teach us that we don’t know what we have until it is lost. For this factor, I regard ‘Rumours’ very highly and would strongly encourage you all to find a copy for yourselves, not only as a reflective epic on love within this modern era, but also as a timeless pop classic.
If anything needs to be cut, a lot of the song analysis can be let go.
I decided to do an album from around the date of the issue. I could continue with this style of things or just pick albums at random, whatever’s clever.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
We have no oil again
We have no oil again
Agraphia
Maynooth, I’ve given you everything and now I’m nothing. Maynooth, twenty-four euros and forty cents. I don’t have any understanding of your choices. I am too selfish to think why people don’t have a care for the world or even their local environment’s over-taking by the sadistic government that drives our college to turn from a school into a business (though it tries so). I am merely offering a piece of artistic prose. Sometimes I write, and it does some good and other times it does not. Sometimes I tell the future in bizarre senso-matic ways that bewilder me in hindsight. Sometimes I rant at a keyboard when someone asks me, and I enjoy that too. Care to listen to me talk about myself for a long time? I know I’d love it.
But seriously forks. Or not. I’m enjoying myself at least, in my jigsaw-life with my rambling prose in between “academic life” and somebody’s Symphony No.1 in E minor. Tell me, are you familiar with the works of e. e. cummings? Isn’t it awfully poetic how he didn’t use capital letters in his name? How romantic! I’ve been in this wee establishment for nigh on four years, and I and my peers seem only the more stressed because of it. Yes, we can now get TEFL, or do a Masters or even… The sky is my ass’s limit. Learn to fly. Or transport donkeys. My friend Fuckhead has been in this college nigh on 8 years, and he’s one of the most stressed out, but terribly productive people I know. With all respect, what can I make of it after four years in The Nooth.
I entered as a lost faun, awaiting a structure of logic and law that might ease the existential dramas and delinquencies of my former life. Miles from home, I entered into this strange and plastic campus to participate in things like “quantitative methods” and “psychology”. Who had heard of such things? Bizarre fascinations of a closed world of intellectuals kept well hidden from the far-reaches of society. And as I grew I realised, and took fun out of, my studenthood. Likewise I realised that this studenthood (which I realised), was indeed… normal. I began to enjoy the stereotypes of “the woolly hat” and “getting drunk” – crazy things I’d only experienced on Barry’s Tea ads or in the Beano… or somewhere I don’t remember. Unfortunately, however, I’ve had reports of cynicism.
What I mean to tell you, with the couple hundred words I must squeeze my mind-frame onto, to whomsoever it may concern, life of the student can be one of invaluable education. Before you get into an uproar, I must proclaim clearly – it’s true, you can get an education of some kind here. So long as the will is there to learn (this particular type of information). You do, of course, learn what they want you to. Now in final year, they seem to have let a couple gaps that enable one to squeeze imagination into undergraduate schoolwork (which is an almost distant, bizarre concept in my line of study), and to allow that spark of what one has interest in, to ignite on the suffering. Yes indeed, a pleasant experience, this so-called learning, with the right motivation. For example, writing, or “interest”, can be intertwined with some sort of achievement – like a sort of a hobby. So, it appears that one can interact talents with actions to participate in meaningful endeavours, which goes against what Mr Society Man seems to encourage - the life of living because you have to and doing what you’re supposed to do.
To thine own self be true, they said. And it’s all juxtaposition, and every degree is talking about pretty much the same thing in different languages. So long as we can wear scarves over jumpers with hairy coats, and get drunk before 12, and get to bed after 12, and have the money (or none), we don’t need to worry about the future of student life. ?. With its wheelings and dealings and horrible overtakings by people that just aren’t as cool as they used to be; and the funding-based biases that just don’t think free speech is profitable, or proper. And the wonderful position of the students taking over the old independent newspaper to try and get people educated about what’s educating them. Indeed.
So the moral of the story is:
Free the fucking radio waves!
And wake the fuck up!
Agraphia
Maynooth, I’ve given you everything and now I’m nothing. Maynooth, twenty-four euros and forty cents. I don’t have any understanding of your choices. I am too selfish to think why people don’t have a care for the world or even their local environment’s over-taking by the sadistic government that drives our college to turn from a school into a business (though it tries so). I am merely offering a piece of artistic prose. Sometimes I write, and it does some good and other times it does not. Sometimes I tell the future in bizarre senso-matic ways that bewilder me in hindsight. Sometimes I rant at a keyboard when someone asks me, and I enjoy that too. Care to listen to me talk about myself for a long time? I know I’d love it.
But seriously forks. Or not. I’m enjoying myself at least, in my jigsaw-life with my rambling prose in between “academic life” and somebody’s Symphony No.1 in E minor. Tell me, are you familiar with the works of e. e. cummings? Isn’t it awfully poetic how he didn’t use capital letters in his name? How romantic! I’ve been in this wee establishment for nigh on four years, and I and my peers seem only the more stressed because of it. Yes, we can now get TEFL, or do a Masters or even… The sky is my ass’s limit. Learn to fly. Or transport donkeys. My friend Fuckhead has been in this college nigh on 8 years, and he’s one of the most stressed out, but terribly productive people I know. With all respect, what can I make of it after four years in The Nooth.
I entered as a lost faun, awaiting a structure of logic and law that might ease the existential dramas and delinquencies of my former life. Miles from home, I entered into this strange and plastic campus to participate in things like “quantitative methods” and “psychology”. Who had heard of such things? Bizarre fascinations of a closed world of intellectuals kept well hidden from the far-reaches of society. And as I grew I realised, and took fun out of, my studenthood. Likewise I realised that this studenthood (which I realised), was indeed… normal. I began to enjoy the stereotypes of “the woolly hat” and “getting drunk” – crazy things I’d only experienced on Barry’s Tea ads or in the Beano… or somewhere I don’t remember. Unfortunately, however, I’ve had reports of cynicism.
What I mean to tell you, with the couple hundred words I must squeeze my mind-frame onto, to whomsoever it may concern, life of the student can be one of invaluable education. Before you get into an uproar, I must proclaim clearly – it’s true, you can get an education of some kind here. So long as the will is there to learn (this particular type of information). You do, of course, learn what they want you to. Now in final year, they seem to have let a couple gaps that enable one to squeeze imagination into undergraduate schoolwork (which is an almost distant, bizarre concept in my line of study), and to allow that spark of what one has interest in, to ignite on the suffering. Yes indeed, a pleasant experience, this so-called learning, with the right motivation. For example, writing, or “interest”, can be intertwined with some sort of achievement – like a sort of a hobby. So, it appears that one can interact talents with actions to participate in meaningful endeavours, which goes against what Mr Society Man seems to encourage - the life of living because you have to and doing what you’re supposed to do.
To thine own self be true, they said. And it’s all juxtaposition, and every degree is talking about pretty much the same thing in different languages. So long as we can wear scarves over jumpers with hairy coats, and get drunk before 12, and get to bed after 12, and have the money (or none), we don’t need to worry about the future of student life. ?. With its wheelings and dealings and horrible overtakings by people that just aren’t as cool as they used to be; and the funding-based biases that just don’t think free speech is profitable, or proper. And the wonderful position of the students taking over the old independent newspaper to try and get people educated about what’s educating them. Indeed.
So the moral of the story is:
Free the fucking radio waves!
And wake the fuck up!
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