Fleetwood Mac: The Dance

The big reunion concert, from a few years ago, of the battling and estranged members of Fleetwood Mac - concert apparently first shown on MTV.

I never really like the studio cuts from this band. It was just more MOR AM fodder, one song sounding like the next - musically induced stupor; while the real bands were playing on the 'rockin' FM station somewhere.

But . . this isn't the same band, on the video. This band rocks. Maybe it's the 90s, and all music has more of an 'edge'. But for a bunch of 50+ rockers, these guys could give the Stones lessons in performing rock tunes.

Now when I hear Gold Dust Woman from the studio album, in my head I'm hearing Stevie go off on 'you'd better SELL IT! Sell it!', and that soulful wail at the crescendo, from this vid. People around me think I've gone 'soft' or something - cause all they hear in the relatively insipid 70s AM version playing. Alas. I'm hearing something else. Like put _this_ album on the jukebox!

I'd never heard Silver Springs, before. It's really a clever and interesting song, when performed with some heart. I'd never heard Buckingham's 'spanish guitar' inspired songs and riffs. It was really impressive - as was the effort he put in to obv. trying to compensate for his aging voice. At first it sounds forced, like some old guy who doesn't quite have it, anymore. Watch the vid over and over again, and it seems less and less to be like that, and more just a really good performance on his part.

Hard to believe Buckingham and Nicks started out as a bunch of naked folkies. They've come a long way. You can almost hear Deep Purple and Euro-rock in I'm So Afraid; and a really fitting vocal tone from Buckingham, here, as well. Very versatile. Even the sort of Romper Room feel of Christine's, I suppose 'pure' Mac, ditties sort of grow on you (like Temporary One) - I'd never heard those either. And her keyboard chords, for the other songs, are that extra dramatic 'touch' that you don't quite perceive, but you recognize.

It's also great to listen to the economy, but surprizing fill and power, of the notes just from Mick and John. Those two guys make a heck of rhythm section, as it were. Where Lindsey isn't exactly a blues picker or guitar hero, it doesn't matter in that the bottom and beat are so strong to catch any limitation where you expect more from the lead. The guys make it look too easy - just way too easy.

It's a video that the more you listen to/watch it, the BETTER it gets. Maybe that's true for music you like, maybe even films. But, it's a shame the 'Mac' couldn't have released something like this for the first albums (but then they wouldn't have had the polish, the sense, the wisdom and the heart, perhaps, that they have now, which makes it possible).

This DVD is an absolute work of genius the band maybe all in there 50s but they still rock with the best of them, They sound like a band on top of there game and the songs all classics even the new ones bleed to love her and temporary one fit right in there with the rest and for them to bring back silver springs which was last played live in 1990 for the behind the mask tour and was shamefully left off the rumours album and put as a b side to go your own way has to be along with landslide one of the best songs ever written and the performance of it was so heartfelt and emotional no surprise it got put up for a Grammy. The band may sound older but they proved they have not lost any of there magic Lindsay is a genius on the guitar and his reworking of big love is inspired Christine as ever sounds amazing with her golden voice and as always leaves me with a lump in my throat when she sings songbird at the end of-the concert Stevie her voice sounds older but it is still a powerful instrument and she looks great and puts so much into her performance Mick and john the best rhythm section there is these 2 guys have played together since the before there was a fleet wood mac and they compliment each other perfectly johns low key performance to Mick's wild man bug eyed look The performance of tusk with the USC Trojan band was out of this world definitely a showstopper gave a the song a great twist and brought a dream to life for Mick as he had intended for the local marching bad to perform that song with them whenever they where on tour but it never worked out until now well worth waiting over 25 years for. This is a 10 out of 10 performance and everybody should have this in there music collection.

I saw them perform in 2003 for there say you will tour and although Christine was missing they still performed a brilliant blistering show that at over 2 hours long and over 17 songs would have left many a younger band shattered but they where outstanding and they still have that magic even now approaching there 60s

Currently, I am watching Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance" Reunion concert. And-- what? It went through tracks 1-3 in order, then to 5, now to 10. But I remember other songs being there. I don't know. I just wish they would've put "Gold Dust Woman" on the CD. It's an absolute exorcism. Stevie just wails out the end, just screams it out. Then she walks over to Mick and she extends her arm up into the air. So great.

Oh! I just noticed something! During "You Make Loving Fun", Christine looks to the side at *somebody* and gets this smile on her face as she sings. I bet she's looking at Eddy (her husband). What ruins the song a little-- I've finally figured it out! See,

I've always thought "You Make Loving Fun" was a good song, but something about the live version irked me. I've figured it out-- Stevie's backup singers sing in it. I don't find thier voices all that great. I FORGOT!! CHRISTINE SINGS "OVER MY HEAD" IN THIS!! But the backup singers do a little ditty in it. This is one of my favorite Christine songs. But I guess I can kind of see why they didn't put this on the CD.

A)Backup singers B)Too much drum sound C)It's short D)It lacks a middle sound. There's something missing from it. Good song. Screwed up in that particular performance. But they still should've put "Gold Dust Woman" in there.

They left "Gypsy" off the CD too? Okay, this better have something in it to justify cos "Gypsy" is one of the better. Hey this version has Lindsey singing in it, so that's pretty cool~ and I think it's the only song form the Mirage album that they play in this.

Okay I am also noticing that they cut Lindsey's explanation of "Big Love" beforehand. Oh well, the song MORE than makes up for it. This song had *THE* guitar part. It is absolutely amazing to watch him play.

Wow, it's amamzing the things you notice. I should watch this more often. "Big Love" is Maggie's song. I swear, the dog twitched right along with the music as she slept-- it was great. My dog was dreaming about Fleetwood Mac. You know you've had success when that happens.

Now, of course, we have "Landslide". What is amazing about Stevie, is that even at 51, she still looks young. Granted, she's not as skinny anymore, but that's another thing I like about her. For once, a female singer in a band does not have to be thin to be beautiful and to be given regard. This woman has paid her dues. They all have. Look however you want, Stevie. And you have never heard a crowd cheer so much as they do when Stevie and Lindsey hug after Landslide.

Ahh... Now we're to "Temporary One"-- the new Christine song. They cut her speaking bit in it, oh well. Again, it's made up for. This one they tend to swing out with crowd shots, as they often do with Christine songs. :(

"Silver Springs" is such an odd key to sing along to. I've tried it so many times, and I can never get it to where it sounds decent. Of course, my voice isn't phenomenal either, but still!! Stevie can quite easily pull it off, as only she can. It is a very beautiful song, and it is fitting that they picked as a single off this album.

Hmmm... noticing that they cut out some of the intro to "Go Your Own Way" on the CD. Why? It's a whole extra, what, 10-15 seconds? Big Deal There!!

You know what's cool about Tusk? 1)Christine plays the accordian in it!! How cool is that? 2)It's tribal sounding. Granted, it's more tribal sounding with the studio version, but it's still there for the Dance. But, man, got to love the accordian. That right there makes anyone who ever said the accordian was a dorky instrument, a prime canidate for a mental evaluation. Christine-- You go with that accordian!! Where? I don't know! Go here! :) I love it.

And finally, there is "Don't Stop". This, right here, totally shows the genius of Christine McVie. If there were a song that Fleetwood Mac would be most widely known for, it would be "Don't Stop". Christine wrote it, but I don't think she gets enough credit for it. Most people don't even realize that she sings in it. That's what I used to think when I was younger hearing the song, before I even knew who FM was. Her voice *is* quite low, so I guess to the untrained listener... well you get the point.

Anyhow-- "Don't Stop" is a masterpeice, but I have to be in the mood to listen to it. You can't listen to a big booming symphony all the time, anytime. Sometimes you have to take things quietly.

I taped this when it was on TV several years ago. Since tapes don't last, I bought the DVD recently and found several songs on it that weren't aired on TV - a great bonus! This band can still rock out! None of them are young anymore, yet they still sound nearly the same. Stevies voice has gotten a little bit rougher, but still sounds like Stevie! Christine will definitely be missed from any future works from the band. She also had a very distinctive voice and was a very talented writer as well. I found it kind of interesting how much Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham looked at each other during the performance. They couldn't keep their eyes off each other. Wonder what THAT means? Probably nothing. But they covered nearly all their big songs along with some new material. The finale with the USC Marching Band is awesome! Altogether, this was a great concert!

This concert is what all musical dreams are made of and it's just fabulous. I first viewed this 10 years ago (the year it was filmed) and it's a wonder I haven't outplayed the CD and Video/DVD! From the opening chords of "The Chain" through to Christine's beautiful encore of "Songbird", the chills and thrills will run up and down your spine just like Lindsey's fingers run up and down his guitar fretboard.

This is a live musical masterpiece and is very addictive viewing and listening. The fabulous five are in fine form throughout, and it appears to be a total reinvention of sorts. The wonderful arena of the Warner Bros. Studios compliments the occasion with it's lavish stage set.

There are so many highlights in this great concert including "Dreams", "Everywhere", "Gold Dust Woman", "Landslide", "Over My Head", "Go Your Own Way" and Mick's drumming! However, it's the lead guitar-driven performances of Lindsey Buckingham that steals the show from the hard-rock blues of "I'm So Afraid" (which is a passionately orgasmic experience to behold!) to the acoustically fresh "Big Love" and "Go Insane" both of which illustrate wonderful grace and beauty.

There are also some new songs in there too namely "Temporary One", "Bleed To Love Her", "My Little Demon" and "Sweet Girl". Stevie Nicks' crowning moment comes in the form of the beautiful "Silver Springs" - wonderful! The finale is something to behold too, complete with the accompaniment of the USC Marching Band - "Tusk" and "Don't Stop", which leads us to Christine's heartfelt encore at the piano - Fabulous!

If you don't own this on CD and DVD then where have you been for the past ten years - go out and buy tomorrow!!!