8 Fleetwood Mac songs you can thank Christine McVie for
During her time with Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie wrote some of the band's most beloved classics
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Christine McVie was, and forever will be, one of a kind. She was born Perfect—literally, her birth name was Christine Perfect—before marrying John McVie. She joined Fleetwood Mac alongside him in 1970, where she played the keys, sang, and wrote some of the group’s most beloved songs.
McVie also had a reputation for being one of the more demure musicians in Fleetwood Mac’s collection of big personalities, even if she didn’t necessarily completely agree herself. “I was supposedly like the Mother Teresa who would hang out with everybody or just try and [keep] everything nice and cool and relaxed,” she recalled to Rolling Stone earlier this year. “I enjoyed the storm.… Even though I am quite a peaceful person, I did enjoy that storm.”
The storm wasn’t just enjoyable, but, clearly, artistically lucrative. Of course, what follows is not a comprehensive list, but a reflection and a small tribute to Miss Perfect, Mother Teresa, Christine McVie.
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No, the friends in the back of my car could not sing harmony.
Saw an interview with her a while ago where she said that even after all these years, she would still tear up every single time she played “Songbird” which I believe. It’s such a beautiful song.
Now this is a worthwhile list for it shows the talent of a legend. Favorite cover of Songbird:
Thanks for sharing! Beautiful cover. I have Rumors on DVD-Audio which sounds amazing and Songbird is the perfect ending to a near perfect album.
I stopped watching the show not long after, but I remember the Glee version of it was pretty amazing.
A commemorative slideshow! I think she would be pleased.
Not sure how you leave “Hold Me” off this list. I mean, it’s gotta be one of the top 5 biggest hits in Fleetwood Mac history, but sure. Great list otherwise.
That gorgeous smoky voice singing beautiful lyrics. God speed, Christine, on angel’s wings.
There’s a version of Brown Eyes featuring Peter Green. It didn’t make it to the original Tusk pressing but you can find it on youtube. Other great cuts: “Hold Me”, “Think About Me”, “Over and Over”.
For all the talk of Nicks & Buckingham writing catty songs about their relationship and making each other perform them live, John McVie seemed to take “You Make Loving Fun” pretty well.
Yeah, the blurb on that one leaves out that Loving was supposedly written about how much she was enjoying an affair while married to McVie. I expect by that point it was all par for the course and everyone was just living with drama because they were cranking out world-beater music.
“…Stevie and I were very careful. The boys used to get provided with cocaine in Heineken bottle tops onstage, but Stevie and I only did the tiny little spoons.”
This nonchalent badassery is how rock and rollers are supposed to behave. Maximum respect to Christine McVie!
Considering what a drugged-out wreck Nicks would become, I’m guessing her spoon looked more like this one.
I don’t know shit about Fleetwood Mac except for a handful of their big hits that I’ve always liked and I honestly just assumed the female vocalist was Stevie Nicks on “Everywhere” and “Sweet Little Lies,” two of my favourites of theirs. I’m glad I’m having my ignorance disabused, too bad it took her passing to do so.
Nicks is indeed all over Little Lies, but McVie sings lead.
Slideshow leaves out songs she did with FM before and after the platinum years. Check out “Prove Your Love” and “Show Me A Smile” also.