In honor of the great Stevie Nicks's 68th birthday this past Thursday, I decided to write an article about the band that made her famous, Fleetwood Mac. I've casually listened to Fleetwood Mac for as long as I can remember ("Rhiannon" being an early favorite), but I didn't start really appreciating them until recently. Through listening to almost their entire repertoire, I realized that Fleetwood Mac's songs can be applied to many situations. Here're 11 Fleetwood Mac songs for specific times in your life.
1. For when you need motivation
Why not think about times to come/And not about the things that you've done/If your life was bad to you/Just think what tomorrow will do
One of Fleetwood Mac's most popular songs of all time, "Don't Stop", is the perfect medicine for powering through finals week, working long hours at a dead-end job, or just dealing with day-to-day stressors.
2. For when you want a second chance
Say you will, say you will give me one more chance/At least give me time to change your mind
Although "Say You Will" was released in 2003, this song perfectly exemplifies the warmhearted feeling of 70's pop-rock. Whether it's a loved one, a friend, or even a professor whose class you're not doing so well in, this song will motivate you to go out and try to get that second chance you know you deserve.
3. For when you want to feel like a gypsy queen
If I live to see the seven wonders/I'll make a path to the rainbow's end
"Seven Wonders" became popular again when Stevie Nicks performed it on American Horror Story: Coven, but it's been a personal favorite of mine for a while. Both the lyrics and the music make you feel like you are floating in a castle above the clouds.
4. When you're a woman scorned but you just don't care
One thing I think you should know/I ain't gonna miss you when you go/Been down so long/I've been tossed around enough
"Second Hand News" is primarily sung by Lindsey Buckingham on an album which was largely concerned with relationship problems between band members. This song is about being replaced by your partner-- but instead of crying about it, you just let them know how much better you'll be without them. I listen to this song almost every morning, preemptively destroying the chance of heartbreak.
5. When you have to make a tough decision
Said Sara, you're the poet in my heart/Never change, never stop/But now it's gone
"Sara" was written about Nicks's abortion. Had she and Eagles member Don Henley gone through with the pregnancy, the baby would have been named Sara. Nicks's ability to make a tough decision and stand behind it and her commitment to being open and honest with the media is admirable and an inspiration for any hard decisions we have to make. (As a side note, I totally respect Nicks's decision, but I am a huge Eagles fan and think Sara would've brought the early 70's southern rock movement into the modern age.)
6. When you're making love, not war
Peacekeeper, don't tell why/Don't be afraid to fight
Okay, so Fleetwood Mac wasn't exactly a Vietnam War protest band, but "Peacekeeper" is the closest we get from them in terms of a call to action. If anything, this is a song that's still a motivator for the peacemakers of the world.
7. When your partner walks out on you
You can go your own way/Go your own way/You can call it another lonely day
Between "Go Your Own Way" and "Second Hand News", Fleetwood Mac certainly excels in making us feel good about our break-ups. In this song, your loved one has walked out on you, but instead of being sad, you change your vantage point: maybe it is better for you to be on your own anyway--your partner will just be lonely without you.
8. When you're "Netflix and chill"ing
Would you love me tomorrow/Like you say you love me now
"Love that Burns" is so bluesy it's almost impossible to tell that it's a Fleetwood Mac song, but it works for them. I think this is the perfect song to test whether your one-night-stand should become something more: play them this song, then see if they can guess who the artist is. If they get it right, they're a keeper!
9. When you're rocking out at a summer party
Don't say that you love me!/Just tell me that you want me!
"Tusk" is yet another surprising Fleetwood Mac song. It has a slow build up, but once it reaches its climax, you won't be able to stop listening. The repetition of lyrics makes it very sing-along friendly. I'm almost 100% certain that in some past life, I danced and screamed along to the words of this song at a 4th of July party, totally in my element.
10. When you need to wallow in your sadness for a while
Oh mirror in the sky, what is love?/Can the child within my heart rise above?
I had to save the best for last. While many people know "Landslide" because the Dixie Chicks covered it, I've been head over heels for the original for as long as I can remember. The simplicity of the music and vocals, as well as the superb lyrics, make this song enchanting to listen to. It's especially great for those times when we have just been hurt but are not yet ready for "pump-up" songs. Sometimes, you just need a good song to cry to.
