Fleetwood Mac’s turbulent streak, both inside and outside of the studio, created the foundation of their popularity. Real people face real turmoil, but it happens under the same roof, resulting in a tug-of-war situation in which no one wins. Nonetheless, the music created was magical, even though it was based on a comic parody.
Many of Fleetwood Mac’s songs express love and longing as the band members struggle with the intensity of their feelings for each other. In the beginning, passion pervaded every area, forging bonds. It pulled the band together in ways no one could have predicted.
However, instability ensued, threatening to wreck everything. John and Christine McVie navigated what appears to be a self-destructive divorce. Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham escalated their profound love story into one filled with resentment and frustration. This reunion signaled a potential mending of one of the most notorious public break-ups in history.
While personal relationship troubles and breakups frequently lead to musicians throwing in the towel. The members of Fleetwood Mac channeled their emotions into their music, for better or worse. Nicks and Buckingham parted ways right before they began recording Rumours. This provided the ideal foundation for an album full of musical gossip.
After their breakup, Buckingham used ‘Go Your Own Way‘ to criticize Nicks’ promiscuous behavior, which she of course denied. In her opinion, it was nothing more than a provocative invention, which irritated her every time they did it live. “I wanted to go over and kill him,” she claimed, understandably overwhelmed by the angry comments directed at her.
Nicks responded with ‘Dreams‘. Although most people think of this song as a romantic and sincere homage to love, Nicks used it to tell Buckingham her side of the story. She also aimed to convey her perspective to the rest of the world. The fact that it only took her ten minutes to write speaks volumes about her thinking and emotions. They flowed easily onto the page in a matter of minutes.
However, Nick does not give any amicability; ‘Dreams‘ is quite cut-throat, as indicated by the lyrics: “listen to the sound of your loneliness” and “when the rain washes you clean, you’ll know.” It doesn’t always take a wordsmith to translate Nicks’ poetic musings. She was confidently but respectfully reminding Buckingham that the “stillness of remembering” what he once had will haunt him forever.
On ‘Silver Springs‘, Nicks skillfully built a song based on Buckingham’s misfortunes, transforming her resentment into some form of empowerment. Nicks is not only mourning a lost fairytale, but she also swears to curse Buckingham with the eternal haunt of her lost love. “Time cast a spell on you, but you won’t forget me / I know I could’ve loved you, but you would not let me,” she sings, declaring that she will “follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you,” so that he can “never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you.” Chilling.
Going back to their 1979 album Tusk, Buckingham lashed out at Nicks on ‘What Makes You Think You’re the One’. He sought not only to overwhelm her with nasty comments and questions but also to play up some of her most insecure aspects. The song asks her questions like, “What makes you believe I am the one who will love you forever”? It also states, “Everything you do has been done, and it will not last forever.” At the same time, Buckingham’s delivery is vengeful and venomous, mocking Nicks’ distinctive vocal style.
Although John and Christine McVie were no better at exposing secrets and sparking disputes in their songwriting. Many of their works dealt with their relationship issues more subtly. This was evident in songs such as ‘Oh Daddy‘, which Christine wrote to express her gratitude for Mick Fleetwood’s serenity after her divorce.
Christine incorporated her struggles and reflections into many of her songs. For instance, ‘You Make Loving Fun‘ was inspired by her affair with Curry Grant. To preserve face, she told John McVie at the time that the song was about her dog. However, deep down, she knew she was placing all of her cards on the table.
Nonetheless, this pales in comparison to Nicks and Buckingham’s heated attacks on one other, which were broadcast to the entire globe. Furthermore, Nicks‘ agony and anguish were clearly expressed in a much more effective manner than Buckingham’s. This was owing mostly to her occult-ish poeticism and ability to weave her difficulties into beautiful songs with which most people could relate.
