For me this is Stevie Nicks's finest hour, and one of Fleetwood Mac's too. I don't think you have to know the specifics of what the song is about to be bewitched by the gorgeous melody and Stevie's unmistakable, ethereal voice. What makes it even greater is rhythm section, who build a beautiful, gossamer-light track, which is already floating several feet above the ground, even before Stevie raises it higher still. The pacing is perfect, as you said, leisurely, yet never outstaying its welcome. If it went on twice as long, I'd be happy...
"Sara" was the name Nicks gave to her unborn child before she had an abortion. In 1977, she dated Don Henley, and later confirmed that she became pregnant with his child and terminated the pregnancy. Henley spoke about it in a 1991 interview with GQ, where he stated: "I believe to the best of my knowledge she became pregnant by me. And she named the kid Sara, and she had an abortion and then wrote the song of the same name to the spirit of the aborted baby. I was building my house at the time, and there's a line in the song that says 'And when you build your house, call me.'" Nicks, who was furious that Henley made this public, confirmed the story in 2014, speaking to Billboard magazine. "Had I married Don and had that baby, and had she been a girl, I would have named her Sara."
What a terribly sad story. The child she decided not to have; even gave it a name. What a tragedy... I imagine Nicks regrets that decision the rest of her life.
This is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. I think this song was released around the time when I was first starting to pay attention to music as a kid (I would have been around 10yo) so it's some of my earliest music memories of songs that I liked that wasn't because I heard grownups listening to the song.
I believe this is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. I love them all, but this has an ethereal feel that seems to transport me to other places every time I hear it. I absolutely loved hearing Brad say he is finally appreciating Stevie's vocals and she is probably his top 70s female voice! She is worthy of all recognition of her insane talent!
For me, it was always the Stevie-sung songs that really displayed all the strengths of each member of that era of Fleetwood Mac. Not just her amazing voice - but also Mick's deceptively simple yet distinct drumming, John's playfully melodic bass lines, and Lindsey's and Christine's tasteful accompaniment. Just gorgeous.
Pee Songfacts This is a very personal song for Stevie. It is about a combination of things that were going on in her life, including the band, her friend Sara Recor, her relationship with Mick Fleetwood, and her aborted child with Don Henley. But she considers "Sara" to be her alter-ego and her muse - the "poet in her heart." "Sara" was the name Nicks gave to her unborn child before she had an abortion. In 1977, she dated Don Henley, and later confirmed that she became pregnant with his child and terminated the pregnancy. Henley spoke about it in a 1991 interview with GQ, where he stated: "I believe to the best of my knowledge she became pregnant by me. And she named the kid Sara, and she had an abortion and then wrote the song of the same name to the spirit of the aborted baby. I was building my house at the time, and there's a line in the song that says 'And when you build your house, call me.'" Nicks, who was furious that Henley made this public, confirmed the story in 2014, speaking to Billboard magazine. "Had I married Don and had that baby, and had she been a girl, I would have named her Sara." Stevie Nicks wrote this in 1978 and may have named it after her friend, the singer and model Sara Recor. At the time, Stevie was secretly dating drummer Mick Fleetwood, who had recently divorced. A few months later, Fleetwood fell in love with Sara Recor and broke up with Nicks. He and Sara were married in 1988 but later divorced.
They ALL got around. Mick was still married to Jenny Boyd (sister of Patty Boyd Harrison Clapton, the subject of "Layla"; Donovan wrote "Jennifer Juniper" about Jenny) when he and Stevie started messing around, as I understand it. (Mick and Jenny had been married from 1970-1974, but divorced when Fleetwood Mac relocated to the USA [the Bob Welch era]. After they added Buckingham and Nicks and had the two huge albums, Mick and Jenny got back together [they had kids, after all] and re-married in 1977, but it didn't last.) And Sara Recor was married to Jim Recor, who managed Loggins and Messina. Stevie found out that Sara and Mick were dating when Jim called her to complain, since Sara and Stevie were friends. Such close friends in fact, that after Sara and Mick broke up, Sara moved in with Stevie in the early 1980s. (Before Sara and Mick reconciled, married and later divorced in the late 1980s.) Indeed, given the "you're the poet in my heart" lyric and the heavy rumors that Stevie didn't stick to just one side of the street, people have speculated that Stevie and Sara were involved, as well. Sara has denied this, though. Meanwhile, in the other half of the band, Christine McVie didn't write "You Make Loving Fun" about John, let's just say…
The Professor of Rock just did a great breakdown of this song and where it came from. The name Sara likely came from her best friend first (before being her alter ego or the name she named her aborted fetus). She and her friend Sara were very close. Then Stara started seeing Mick Fleetwood (who Stevie had begun cheating with recently) and the friendship vanished. Many of the allusions in the song come from that era with Mick and Sara and the feelings she had. One of the lyrics refers to Mick and his fancy black car, and how Stevie and Sara could always hear it coming up the drive. I dont think there's MUCH "aborted fetus and alter ego" stuff to it. Keep in mind that the song was like 12 minutes long before it was cut and cut and cut again....the whole time, the lyrics were said to be about the band/Stevie's friends and what they were going through during that time.
@@murrayspiffy2815 Yes...I know what Stevie Nicks said and what the lyrics say. Like I said...the song used to be 16 minutes long. MOST of it is about a different Sara...and Mick Fleetwood...and the other members of Mac. It's obvious. You couldnt name 3 lines from the song (including longer versions) that would fit in any way with the aborted baby angle. Nobody names abortions....that should have been the first red flag. Use your head...zip your lip....or tell me which lyrics, in particular, apply to a dead baby (or her post rehab alter-ego). I'll wait.
Yes saw that Prof of Rock bit, he mentioned “when you build your house call me” was directed to Don Henley. Yes Stevie aborted Dons baby but only after Don didn’t want anything to do with the child.
@@neilforehand1121 Nobody is denying that...Stevie has said as much and Don said it in the 80s. The point is, most of that song isnt about the baby. It is "dedicated to" and "partly inspired by". She didnt use the Sara alter ego or have an aborted fetus she WOULD HAVE named Sara BEFORE she had a best friend named Sara who cheated on her with Mick Fleetwood and she never spoke to again. Don Henley IS referenced in the song, but so is Mick, his wife/Stevie's friend Sara, the rest of Fleetwood Mac...and probably a few others she banged along the way. Find out what the song "Dont Come Around Here No More" is about...it's three dudes who ARENT Don Henley, Mick Fleetwood, or Lindsey Buckingham, who banged Stevie Nicks, and wrote a song inspired by her. Few people lived out the "Free Love" era like Stevie Nicks. That said, nobody argues that it was Stevie's call to abort the baby and Henley didnt argue. It was the mid 70s and Stevie had a HUGE coke problem. Do you REALLY think she EVER considered keeping that child...especially long enough to consider it female and give it a name? If so...that's not backed up by ANYTHING in any lyrics you will find of this song. IT DOES verifiably reference her best friend Sara AND Mick Fleetwood on multiple occasions....their relationship...Mick's car...but only a couple of references could ever be said to apply to the baby she never met and not the woman who took Mick Fleetwood away from her and took away Stevie's best friendship in one fell swoop. I know abortions are lifelong traumatizing events....but MAYBE the lyrics bear out that your best friend running off with your old man is too.
You described Fleetwood Mac perfectly at the end, Lex! They are so amazing! Listen to some of Stevie's solo albums. Back in the 80s I was a teenager and loved her and still do! One of my favorite albums by her is The Other Side of the Mirror. You will absolutely love her even more. Rooms on Fire is so good! Ooh My Love is another great song. She was like an 80s witchy-gypsy. The arrangement of their music is phenomenal. Her voice is like so familiar but timeless.
One of my favorite songs. I love the way her voice just floats and dances. I had always thought it was about a friend who died, but the other comments are telling me something new. Thanks for including it.
For another side of Fleetwood Mac, check out "Oh Well" - and, Lex - never censor yourself (doubt your opinions or musical instincts) you're brilliant. Even when you guys miss the meaning of the lyrics (we all do it), you still leave us with an insightful opinion about the music - It's a beautiful thing to watch your thoughts form and flow.
Fun Fact: In American Horror Story: Coven (the season about an academy of witches) Stevie Nicks plays herself, who indeed is a witch. She also plays herself in another season of that show, but I never watched that season.
Brilliance all I can say. It's not necessarily the most powerful voice but definitely the most captivating. Someone said brilliance with singing is not necessarily the power behind the voice but whether or not your audience believes that you are convicted about what you are singing and can portray that to others.
I know you have reviewed Rhiannon, but you should review their live performance of Rhiannon on the Midnight Special, from 1976. They play a lot more of the song that is not on the studio version. I know you like Stevie Nicks singing. On this performance she takes her singing and performing to another level. I know you would absolutely love it.
This song just stops me in my tracks and gives me chills whenever I hear it. It’s the soothing whispered background vocals and slow relaxed pace that is something of a trademark of Fleetwood Mac. It’s really one of the most beautiful songs ever in my book, along with “Miracles” by Jefferson Starship. For a completely different (more surly) side of Fleetwood Mac tho, check out the Live version of “Oh Well”, sung by Buckingham. It’s another of my favorites from the band, and everyone knows the famous live version they always played on the radio.
Loved your reactions to Fleetwood Mac's Sara -- Stevie Nick has such a unique voice and she has also been a prolific song writer! Wonder, if you could review Fleetwood Mac's performance of Stevie's song "Sisters of the Moon?" You'll see she gets entranced into the song to the point of 'singing in tongues.' Watch it and you'll see exactly what I mean. Stevie has produced some very beautiful solo work too. Such as "Sorcerer" and "The Planets of the Universe," which I do highly recommend!
You don't even have to understand the full song. So many lines in this song are like mini poems themselves that can invite different scenarios and visions. Such a beautiful song. Just listened to ur reaction to it 3xs in a row. For years, I thought the line "undoing laces" was instead "going places" and that's how I sang it. I like the real words better, much more poetic. Thanks
My absolute favorite Fleetwood Mac song! I dated a girl named Sarah that loved the song and she was a lot like you know hippy dippy witchy kind of girl which usually means on drugs and crazy LOL
christine McVie has great vocals with fleetwood mac she has a very unique voice i think you are going to like her. over my head and you make loving fun are just a couple of her lead vocal songs check them out
When Christine soars into that backing vocal at the end 'Ohhhhwhooo Sara' THATS EVEN MORE MAGIC to a magical song! and Stevie Nicks inspirational build up to the end and then her wistful goodbye is IMMEASUREABLE!
Love Fleetwood Mac!! Three supreme singer/songwriters in one band (Stevie Nicks , Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham)....best rhythm duo in John McVie and Mick Fleetwood and the guitar virtuosity of Lindsey Buckingham. Try some later Fleetwood Mac....for example "Say Goodbye" from their Say You Will album from the early 2000's.
If you like this, then you would be well-served to listen to "Crystal" by Buckingham Nicks . . . Lindsey and Stevie's first album as a duo in 1973 had this track with Lindsey singing lead and Stevie harmonizing. The entire album is enjoyable and gives you an idea about where the spirit of their music originated. Stevie would record the song again in the late 90's for the soundtrack to the movie _Practical Magic_ producing a stunningly haunting version of the song herself. But if you can get a copy of the original album of Buckingham Nicks you will enjoy it.
B&N's beautiful version of Crystal can be found on TH-cam along with the rest of the album. The album just had it's 49th anniversary and sadly we're still no closer to having it released on CD or Streaming. My other top picks from the album are Frozen Love, Long Distance Runner, Don't Let Me Down Again, Stephanie & Crying In The Night but it's all good. Lindsey & Stevie play the last two in their solo concerts and FM used to play Don't Let Me Down Again - it's on their Live album.
@@caps689 I have it on Vinyl. I think it may just be more magical on vinyl than any other format, but I am with you believing it needs to be remastered and released on CD. One can hope, yeah.
I fell in love with this song in 1979 when "Tusk" came out. "Sara" stays over the last more then 40 years as one of my favorites. But the over the years I like the voice of Chrstine McVie more than Stevie Nicks. Try "Everywhere" or "Love Will Show Us How" to check it out
Only Stevie knows the true meaning of Stevie songs... lol... Great reaction. I must say, Stevie is one of the few that can write a happy song and make it sound sad and melancholy...
On its release the Tusk album was massively underrated. Others I recommend next from it would be: Storms (my fave from the album), Brown Eyes, Tusk, Never Make Me Cry and Beautiful Child
Brad & Lex if you haven't yet, you should do some reactions to Fleetwood Mac pre 1975. Peter Green era '67-'70(w/Christine Perfect(McVie), '70-'74 with a mix of band members including Bob Welch.
THERE'S A LIVE VERSION THAT CAME OUT AROUND 80-81 OR SO. IN SUPPORT OF THE TUSK ALBUM TOUR. WHICH I THINK THIS SONG IS OFF OF. WELL WORTH CHECKING OUT THAT VIDEO ! IS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL !
I'd be interested in your reaction to "Everywhere" and/or "Isn't It Midnight" from the Fleetwood Mac album Tango in the Night. "Seven Wonders" is also a good one from that album.
I just love that you are discovering these songs, and I really appreciate the way you are able to absorb and learn and grow with them, but just imagine being able to grow up with hearing them your whole life... I'm coming up on 60 years old I've heard these songs thousands of times and they don't ever get old.
Stevie had a relationship with Mick Fleetwood ( the drummer of Fleetwood Mac) and Sara was Stevie’s good friend who had an affair with Mick. Their relationship suffered for a long time but Stevie forgave them both. When she says, when you build your house I’ll come by means she has let bygones be bygones. The house she is talking about is a metaphor for Sara’s life….meaning , when you get your life in order she will be part of it. The part where she says he’s like a great dark wing in the winds of a storm…she is referring to Mick. Drowning in the sea of love means simply giving in to the passion….both Stevie’s and Micks passion and Sara and Micks passion. Drowning also refers to the dangers of falling in deep love. Also Sara refers to the child that Stevie had to abort when she got pregnant by Don Henley. Stevie always said, if she ever had a little girl she would name her Sara. Stevie refers to Sara in a later song of hers WELCOME TI THE ROOM SARA. And that song is about Stevie going into rehab and coming out a different person than when she went in. th-cam.com/video/I_vvi5UUA8Y/w-d-xo.html
Stevie nicks was one of my heart throbs back in the 70:s. I have seen them live three x... And now the organist has died. The guitarist who was with her first. Wound up sharing her with drummer. Mick Fleetwood that must have been crazy. But it was the 70's Stevie Mcvi Rip😢
Brad's right - Sarah is Stevie's alter ego. She uses it again in Welcome To The Room... Sarah. It's also though about her friend Sarah and the child she would have named Sarah. Stevie said the song was about different things about her life and the band. Many of her songs are. 2 lines about one thing, 4 about another, some real, some just story telling etc. She presented it to FM at 16 minutes long and then says Lindsey when arranging cut it down to 12, 9, 6 and then 4 minute versions. The 6 minute version is on the Tusk album. The radio edit was 4 minutes The 12 minutes in on your tube. On the album Tusk it's dreaminess is immediately followed by Lindsey punkish/indie scream singing - What Makes You Think You're The One? FM is not always smooth and that album in particular can give one musical whiplash. Some hate it for that reason but it's probably my favorite FM because of it.
Stevie has said that she's often writing about several people in a single song. The dark wing is about Mick, the drummer, who she had a relationship with. But he had a relationship with her friend Sara. There are lines here about Lindsey too. But yes, probably mostly about her unborn child with Don Henley, who becomes a spirit/poet in her heart. I think of Stevie's songs like I think of a writer like Virginia Woolf... she's floating through different personas singing about different experiences. (btw, you guys should do FM's "I'm So Afraid" just to hear Lex's reaction to the guitar solo.)
Love to see Brad evolving like this. Get down and dirty Fleetwood Mac, cover their hit “I’m So Afraid”, Lex considering the hauntingly beauty of all their music.
You nailed their essence again Lex. I think Stevie was possessed by the spirit of an old Welsh witch. Mick was right out of central casting for the part of Merlin the wizard. Lindsey is just straight up demon man (with his pale complexion and tweeking.) Brad, Linda Ronstadt was the best female vocalist of the 70s, or ever.
Great Fleetwood Mac tune! I always enjoy watching both of your reactions. I'm curious how you'd both react to the bands Stereolab or My Bloody Valentine or, the artist Tom Waits.
Lex ! You certainly are a 70’s child without a doubt. Brad is stuck on lyrics when what does it matter if you miss the music and the voice singing with the passion she does. Lol🤣
Hi! I know it's been a while since you posted this, but being a huge Stevie fan for decades, I wanted to add what I've learned about what this song is about, in her own words from various quotes. First off, I think by now you know Stevie is very poetic in her songs. She uses a lot of metaphors in her songwriting. The original version is 16 minutes long, but it got condensed to around 6 minutes on the album. She has said that it's about Mick Fleetwood (drummer), her friend Sara, Don Henley and their aborted baby who would have been named Sara if it was a girl, and other people as well. During the Rumours tour, Stevie was seeing Don Henley, she got pregnant and had an abortion. Apparently, she was very hurt and upset about Don Henley's reaction, how he was fine with her decision and took it like he wasn't interested in any long-term commitment. Don Henley said in an interview in the early 90's "she wrote the song to the spirit of the baby." She also had an affair with Mick Fleetwood, I'm not sure when it started, but Mick eventually broke it off with Stevie because he started seeing her friend Sara, which was a major betrayal to Stevie. Later on, all was forgiven. Sara was with her the night Stevie wrote the song. I believe the line, "and he was just like, a great dark wing, within the wings of a storm" are Sara's words. I'm not positive on this, but I could've sworn I read that somewhere. Here's a quote about it. "“I remember the night I wrote it. I sat up with a very good friend of mine whose name is Sara, who was married to Mick Fleetwood, Sara Fleetwood. She likes to think it’s completely about her, but it’s really not completely about her. It’s about me, about her, about Mick, about Fleetwood Mac. Its about all of us at that point. There’s little bits about each one of us in that song and when it had all the other verses it really covered a vast bunch of people. Sara was the kind of song you could fall in love with, because I fell in love with it…” What I know about some of the metaphors in the lyrics in her own words: The line "drowning in the sea of love, where everyone would love to drown" "Don’t we all love to be miserable and lay face down on our bed, and go ‘I’m so miserable, don’t talk to me, I want to hurt! Don’t bring me tea, don’t even talk to me, let me die in my own…’ we all do that. We love to do that." "And he was just like, a great dark wing, within the wings of a storm" is about Mick in his car. "I think I had met my match, he was singin' and undoing, and undoing, the laces" that was about singer/songwriter jd Souther, he was undoing her laces on her shoes. "When you build your house, call me, home" Don Henley at the time was building his house literately, but that was a metaphor. It means, when you get your act together, maybe I'll come back. So, this is what I've learned. It's a very sad yet beautiful song. Hopefully, this will give you more insight to the song's meaning.
I absolutely have to recommend the version of this song. Stevie nicks Sarah live 1981. In this version of the performance at the beginning of the song, she leaves a clockwise circle of protection around some of the band members. A Wiccan friend taught me that. And by the way, the gorgeous brunette singing backup is stevey's sister.
I keep saying that you guys should try reacting to The Kelly Family! One of them, Barby Kelly, sounded remarkably similar to very young Stevie Nicks. Barby had her own style and had to leave the band due to mental illness and died in April 2021. She known for singing the lead vocals on the songs "Break Free," "Baby Smile" "She's Crazy," "Like A Queen," and "Sweetest Angel." The Kelly Family were 9 singers who were siblings and every one of them had incredible voices. Highly recommended group!
I'd love you to react to Fleetwood Mac mk1, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. You've reacted to their songs covered by others, but please listen to the originals. 'Black Magic Woman', 'Oh Well', 'Green Manalishi', 'Jumpin At Shadows', 'Albatross', 'Man Of The World', 'Shake Your Money Maker', 'I Need Your Love So Bad' are all amazing, plus quite a few more.
I read an interview of Mary J Blige by Stevie Nicks in Interview magazine. The amount of respect between two seemingly disparate artists was amazing. Brad is right, Stevie had the best voice of the seventies and early eighties.
This is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. Stevie's greatest moment.
mine too - makes me emotional
Another hauntingly beautiful song by Fleetwood Mac.
For me this is Stevie Nicks's finest hour, and one of Fleetwood Mac's too. I don't think you have to know the specifics of what the song is about to be bewitched by the gorgeous melody and Stevie's unmistakable, ethereal voice. What makes it even greater is rhythm section, who build a beautiful, gossamer-light track, which is already floating several feet above the ground, even before Stevie raises it higher still. The pacing is perfect, as you said, leisurely, yet never outstaying its welcome. If it went on twice as long, I'd be happy...
This and "Landslide"
Woooow amigo..! Hermoso comentario. Tienes un excelente gusto como yo jajaja. Y ademas conoces de música, saludos
Hi 😅😮😊much k
Don't forget about Mick's driving drum beat.
Perfect description
"Sara" was the name Nicks gave to her unborn child before she had an abortion. In 1977, she dated Don Henley, and later confirmed that she became pregnant with his child and terminated the pregnancy. Henley spoke about it in a 1991 interview with GQ, where he stated: "I believe to the best of my knowledge she became pregnant by me. And she named the kid Sara, and she had an abortion and then wrote the song of the same name to the spirit of the aborted baby. I was building my house at the time, and there's a line in the song that says 'And when you build your house, call me.'"
Nicks, who was furious that Henley made this public, confirmed the story in 2014, speaking to Billboard magazine. "Had I married Don and had that baby, and had she been a girl, I would have named her Sara."
What a terribly sad story. The child she decided not to have; even gave it a name. What a tragedy... I imagine Nicks regrets that decision the rest of her life.
Wow!!! That is so sad.
My goodness thanks for the information.. that's powerful meaning to the song
Yeah. I heard/read the same story.
My respect has dropped.
This is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. I think this song was released around the time when I was first starting to pay attention to music as a kid (I would have been around 10yo) so it's some of my earliest music memories of songs that I liked that wasn't because I heard grownups listening to the song.
I believe this is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. I love them all, but this has an ethereal feel that seems to transport me to other places every time I hear it. I absolutely loved hearing Brad say he is finally appreciating Stevie's vocals and she is probably his top 70s female voice! She is worthy of all recognition of her insane talent!
The first time I heard her voice I thought it was a Muppet singing 😂
But I've always loved her songs 💞
For me, it was always the Stevie-sung songs that really displayed all the strengths of each member of that era of Fleetwood Mac. Not just her amazing voice - but also Mick's deceptively simple yet distinct drumming, John's playfully melodic bass lines, and Lindsey's and Christine's tasteful accompaniment. Just gorgeous.
but prey tell...., who 'displayed all the strengths of each member of that era' of The Mac in the 'era's she wasnt even there
Sarah is a masterpiece of a song. It’s complicated and yet so smooth.
Fleedwood Mac has given us so many great songs...i'm just happy that you guys have acknowledged their importance in music history!!!
...I think "Rumors" is still one of the best selling albums of all time.
They sure knew how to put sounds together and make it ethereal, didn't they?
I Love Stevie nicks vibrato. And her raspy voice. She was something else😮
Yes she was!! Still is but man she was happening back then!! My first girl crush lol
Pee Songfacts This is a very personal song for Stevie. It is about a combination of things that were going on in her life, including the band, her friend Sara Recor, her relationship with Mick Fleetwood, and her aborted child with Don Henley. But she considers "Sara" to be her alter-ego and her muse - the "poet in her heart."
"Sara" was the name Nicks gave to her unborn child before she had an abortion. In 1977, she dated Don Henley, and later confirmed that she became pregnant with his child and terminated the pregnancy. Henley spoke about it in a 1991 interview with GQ, where he stated: "I believe to the best of my knowledge she became pregnant by me. And she named the kid Sara, and she had an abortion and then wrote the song of the same name to the spirit of the aborted baby. I was building my house at the time, and there's a line in the song that says 'And when you build your house, call me.'"
Nicks, who was furious that Henley made this public, confirmed the story in 2014, speaking to Billboard magazine. "Had I married Don and had that baby, and had she been a girl, I would have named her Sara."
Stevie Nicks wrote this in 1978 and may have named it after her friend, the singer and model Sara Recor. At the time, Stevie was secretly dating drummer Mick Fleetwood, who had recently divorced. A few months later, Fleetwood fell in love with Sara Recor and broke up with Nicks. He and Sara were married in 1988 but later divorced.
Very interesting Randy!...Stevie really got around
@@raymo6795 So did Don Henley.
@@Pathfinder197 ….It’s the lifestyle…sex,drugs, and rock n roll
They ALL got around. Mick was still married to Jenny Boyd (sister of Patty Boyd Harrison Clapton, the subject of "Layla"; Donovan wrote "Jennifer Juniper" about Jenny) when he and Stevie started messing around, as I understand it.
(Mick and Jenny had been married from 1970-1974, but divorced when Fleetwood Mac relocated to the USA [the Bob Welch era]. After they added Buckingham and Nicks and had the two huge albums, Mick and Jenny got back together [they had kids, after all] and re-married in 1977, but it didn't last.)
And Sara Recor was married to Jim Recor, who managed Loggins and Messina. Stevie found out that Sara and Mick were dating when Jim called her to complain, since Sara and Stevie were friends. Such close friends in fact, that after Sara and Mick broke up, Sara moved in with Stevie in the early 1980s. (Before Sara and Mick reconciled, married and later divorced in the late 1980s.)
Indeed, given the "you're the poet in my heart" lyric and the heavy rumors that Stevie didn't stick to just one side of the street, people have speculated that Stevie and Sara were involved, as well. Sara has denied this, though.
Meanwhile, in the other half of the band, Christine McVie didn't write "You Make Loving Fun" about John, let's just say…
@@Jessica_Roth …. Bunch of Hippie fornicators
The Professor of Rock just did a great breakdown of this song and where it came from. The name Sara likely came from her best friend first (before being her alter ego or the name she named her aborted fetus). She and her friend Sara were very close. Then Stara started seeing Mick Fleetwood (who Stevie had begun cheating with recently) and the friendship vanished. Many of the allusions in the song come from that era with Mick and Sara and the feelings she had. One of the lyrics refers to Mick and his fancy black car, and how Stevie and Sara could always hear it coming up the drive. I dont think there's MUCH "aborted fetus and alter ego" stuff to it. Keep in mind that the song was like 12 minutes long before it was cut and cut and cut again....the whole time, the lyrics were said to be about the band/Stevie's friends and what they were going through during that time.
I guess you know more about than Don Henley - the father of the unborn child - as he talked about it publicly in an interview.
@@murrayspiffy2815 Yes...I know what Stevie Nicks said and what the lyrics say. Like I said...the song used to be 16 minutes long. MOST of it is about a different Sara...and Mick Fleetwood...and the other members of Mac. It's obvious. You couldnt name 3 lines from the song (including longer versions) that would fit in any way with the aborted baby angle. Nobody names abortions....that should have been the first red flag. Use your head...zip your lip....or tell me which lyrics, in particular, apply to a dead baby (or her post rehab alter-ego). I'll wait.
Yes saw that Prof of Rock bit, he mentioned “when you build your house call me” was directed to Don Henley. Yes Stevie aborted Dons baby but only after Don didn’t want anything to do with the child.
@@neilforehand1121 Nobody is denying that...Stevie has said as much and Don said it in the 80s. The point is, most of that song isnt about the baby. It is "dedicated to" and "partly inspired by". She didnt use the Sara alter ego or have an aborted fetus she WOULD HAVE named Sara BEFORE she had a best friend named Sara who cheated on her with Mick Fleetwood and she never spoke to again. Don Henley IS referenced in the song, but so is Mick, his wife/Stevie's friend Sara, the rest of Fleetwood Mac...and probably a few others she banged along the way. Find out what the song "Dont Come Around Here No More" is about...it's three dudes who ARENT Don Henley, Mick Fleetwood, or Lindsey Buckingham, who banged Stevie Nicks, and wrote a song inspired by her. Few people lived out the "Free Love" era like Stevie Nicks. That said, nobody argues that it was Stevie's call to abort the baby and Henley didnt argue. It was the mid 70s and Stevie had a HUGE coke problem. Do you REALLY think she EVER considered keeping that child...especially long enough to consider it female and give it a name? If so...that's not backed up by ANYTHING in any lyrics you will find of this song. IT DOES verifiably reference her best friend Sara AND Mick Fleetwood on multiple occasions....their relationship...Mick's car...but only a couple of references could ever be said to apply to the baby she never met and not the woman who took Mick Fleetwood away from her and took away Stevie's best friendship in one fell swoop. I know abortions are lifelong traumatizing events....but MAYBE the lyrics bear out that your best friend running off with your old man is too.
Cocaine is an amazing drug !
Brad: “Her voice has grown on me.” I believe more accurate is that it’s you Brad who has grown. You now have a better perspective.
Lex looks absolutely beautiful in this reaction video...
I love this Stevie Nicks song, so magical, mystical, you never want it to stop.
You described Fleetwood Mac perfectly at the end, Lex! They are so amazing! Listen to some of Stevie's solo albums. Back in the 80s I was a teenager and loved her and still do! One of my favorite albums by her is The Other Side of the Mirror. You will absolutely love her even more. Rooms on Fire is so good! Ooh My Love is another great song. She was like an 80s witchy-gypsy. The arrangement of their music is phenomenal. Her voice is like so familiar but timeless.
Brad has grown. Stevie the Welsh Witch.
Hauntingly and beautiful voice
Those dreamy background vocals are perfect! Can't help but love them....
She and Christine McVie were DOMINANT forces in Fleetwood Mac in the 70's . Great, beautiful song. 🎶🎵🎶♥
RIP Christine
It's just sad. She's EVERYWHERE now! I loved her!
One of my favs. Stevie is such a beautiful soul. Absolutely love her and her voice.
One of my favorite songs. I love the way her voice just floats and dances. I had always thought it was about a friend who died, but the other comments are telling me something new. Thanks for including it.
For another side of Fleetwood Mac, check out "Oh Well" - and, Lex - never censor yourself (doubt your opinions or musical instincts) you're brilliant. Even when you guys miss the meaning of the lyrics (we all do it), you still leave us with an insightful opinion about the music - It's a beautiful thing to watch your thoughts form and flow.
Fun Fact: In American Horror Story: Coven (the season about an academy of witches) Stevie Nicks plays herself, who indeed is a witch. She also plays herself in another season of that show, but I never watched that season.
The instrumental part of this song always captivates me equally as the singing does. What a sonic adventure!
try Songbird by fleetwood mac and hear Christine Mcvie the other woman in the group. its a beautiful song and showcases another aspect of the band.
Overwhelming. One of the...ooh...ten best songs ever. Ever.
Love Fleetwood Mac, other great songs from them are, Say You Love Me, You Make Loving Fun, Rhiannon, Dreams, and my favorite, Don’t Stop
Brilliance all I can say. It's not necessarily the most powerful voice but definitely the most captivating. Someone said brilliance with singing is not necessarily the power behind the voice but whether or not your audience believes that you are convicted about what you are singing and can portray that to others.
I know you have reviewed Rhiannon, but you should review their live performance of Rhiannon on the Midnight Special, from 1976. They play a lot more of the song that is not on the studio version. I know you like Stevie Nicks singing. On this performance she takes her singing and performing to another level. I know you would absolutely love it.
She gave me chills when I first saw it. She was possessed.
Yes!!!
That performance is stunning
Love how this band can let the music expand, give it room. And the lyrics too. They just create such a beautiful musical vibe, like no other.
This song just stops me in my tracks and gives me chills whenever I hear it. It’s the soothing whispered background vocals and slow relaxed pace that is something of a trademark of Fleetwood Mac.
It’s really one of the most beautiful songs ever in my book, along with “Miracles” by Jefferson Starship.
For a completely different (more surly) side of Fleetwood Mac tho, check out the Live version of “Oh Well”, sung by Buckingham. It’s another of my favorites from the band, and everyone knows the famous live version they always played on the radio.
Fitting you kinda look like a gypsy with your headdress, almost like the spirit of Stevie Nicks was with you during this.
Great tune! The epitome of Stevie in the 70s.
Brad & Lex, you’ll love their "You Make Loving Fun"!!!
Yes!!!
Loved your reactions to Fleetwood Mac's Sara -- Stevie Nick has such a unique voice and she has also been a prolific song writer! Wonder, if you could review Fleetwood Mac's performance of Stevie's song "Sisters of the Moon?" You'll see she gets entranced into the song to the point of 'singing in tongues.' Watch it and you'll see exactly what I mean. Stevie has produced some very beautiful solo work too. Such as "Sorcerer" and "The Planets of the Universe," which I do highly recommend!
You don't even have to understand the full song. So many lines in this song are like mini poems themselves that can invite different scenarios and visions. Such a beautiful song. Just listened to ur reaction to it 3xs in a row. For years, I thought the line "undoing laces" was instead "going places" and that's how I sang it. I like the real words better, much more poetic. Thanks
My absolute favorite Fleetwood Mac song! I dated a girl named Sarah that loved the song and she was a lot like you know hippy dippy witchy kind of girl which usually means on drugs and crazy LOL
christine McVie has great vocals with fleetwood mac she has a very unique voice i think you are going to like her. over my head and you make loving fun are just a couple of her lead vocal songs check them out
Fleetwood Mac is a Great Band & Love All their Music! All of them are so Talented!
When Christine soars into that backing vocal at the end 'Ohhhhwhooo Sara' THATS EVEN MORE MAGIC to a magical song! and Stevie Nicks inspirational build up to the end and then her wistful goodbye is IMMEASUREABLE!
Such a great song. Any time you hear Fleetwood Mac, you know it’s going to be awesome.
Love Fleetwood Mac!! Three supreme singer/songwriters in one band (Stevie Nicks , Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham)....best rhythm duo in John McVie and Mick Fleetwood and the guitar virtuosity of Lindsey Buckingham. Try some later Fleetwood Mac....for example "Say Goodbye" from their Say You Will album from the early 2000's.
Yes! Please react to Say Goodby!!!! Please! You won’t be disappointed!
when i want to ignore the world and just relax and unwind i allways listen to fleetwood mac.. amazing group with amazing music.
If you like this, then you would be well-served to listen to "Crystal" by Buckingham Nicks . . . Lindsey and Stevie's first album as a duo in 1973 had this track with Lindsey singing lead and Stevie harmonizing. The entire album is enjoyable and gives you an idea about where the spirit of their music originated. Stevie would record the song again in the late 90's for the soundtrack to the movie _Practical Magic_ producing a stunningly haunting version of the song herself. But if you can get a copy of the original album of Buckingham Nicks you will enjoy it.
B&N's beautiful version of Crystal can be found on TH-cam along with the rest of the album. The album just had it's 49th anniversary and sadly we're still no closer to having it released on CD or Streaming. My other top picks from the album are Frozen Love, Long Distance Runner, Don't Let Me Down Again, Stephanie & Crying In The Night but it's all good. Lindsey & Stevie play the last two in their solo concerts and FM used to play Don't Let Me Down Again - it's on their Live album.
@@caps689 I have it on Vinyl. I think it may just be more magical on vinyl than any other format, but I am with you believing it needs to be remastered and released on CD. One can hope, yeah.
@@caps689 I bought that album twice. Long Distance Runner is my favorite.
I fell in love with this song in 1979 when "Tusk" came out. "Sara" stays over the last more then 40 years as one of my favorites.
But the over the years I like the voice of Chrstine McVie more than Stevie Nicks. Try "Everywhere" or "Love Will Show Us How" to check it out
Only Stevie knows the true meaning of Stevie songs... lol... Great reaction. I must say, Stevie is one of the few that can write a happy song and make it sound sad and melancholy...
On its release the Tusk album was massively underrated. Others I recommend next from it would be: Storms (my fave from the album), Brown Eyes, Tusk, Never Make Me Cry and Beautiful Child
This is the song the band Dead Sara is named after. One of the best bands out there today. You'd love em, best female rock vocalist of this era.
been waiting ages for you guys to react to this, easily my favorite Fleetwood Mac song.
i grew up with homies from all kinds of ethnic backgrounds as a kid, they all loved fleetwood mac, good music transcends yeah ;)
Brad & Lex if you haven't yet, you should do some reactions to Fleetwood Mac pre 1975. Peter Green era '67-'70(w/Christine Perfect(McVie), '70-'74 with a mix of band members including Bob Welch.
THERE'S A LIVE VERSION THAT CAME OUT AROUND 80-81 OR SO. IN SUPPORT OF THE TUSK ALBUM TOUR. WHICH I THINK THIS SONG IS OFF OF. WELL WORTH CHECKING OUT THAT VIDEO ! IS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL !
Yes .. In the red long dress!!!!
this is the very best song. just a GORGEOUS haunting ghostly feminine af song that sets the dream pop genre into motion. just BEAUTIFUL.
Funny that yall say that. Stevie Nicks is a white witch (the good witchcraft, white not black). lol
I'd be interested in your reaction to "Everywhere" and/or "Isn't It Midnight" from the Fleetwood Mac album Tango in the Night. "Seven Wonders" is also a good one from that album.
Very ethereal, an airiness twinkle-like quality. A near tribal beat adds to the allure. Captivating, if had to apply just one word.
I just love that you are discovering these songs, and I really appreciate the way you are able to absorb and learn and grow with them, but just imagine being able to grow up with hearing them your whole life...
I'm coming up on 60 years old I've heard these songs thousands of times and they don't ever get old.
Stevie had a relationship with Mick Fleetwood ( the drummer of Fleetwood Mac) and Sara was Stevie’s good friend who had an affair with Mick. Their relationship suffered for a long time but Stevie forgave them both. When she says, when you build your house I’ll come by means she has let bygones be bygones. The house she is talking about is a metaphor for Sara’s life….meaning , when you get your life in order she will be part of it. The part where she says he’s like a great dark wing in the winds of a storm…she is referring to Mick. Drowning in the sea of love means simply giving in to the passion….both Stevie’s and Micks passion and Sara and Micks passion. Drowning also refers to the dangers of falling in deep love.
Also Sara refers to the child that Stevie had to abort when she got pregnant by Don Henley. Stevie always said, if she ever had a little girl she would name her Sara. Stevie refers to Sara in a later song of hers WELCOME TI THE ROOM SARA. And that song is about Stevie going into rehab and coming out a different person than when she went in.
th-cam.com/video/I_vvi5UUA8Y/w-d-xo.html
Now try SARA SMILE by HALL AND OATES 😁
LIndsey Buckinghams production on this is just INCREDIBLE.
Stevie is the original spooky queen. You nailed it, Lex!
Stevie nicks was one of my heart throbs back in the 70:s. I have seen them live three x... And now the organist has died. The guitarist who was with her first. Wound up sharing her with drummer. Mick Fleetwood that must have been crazy. But it was the 70's Stevie Mcvi Rip😢
When it comes to falling under Stevie Nicks' captivating spell, resistance is futile. Welcome Brad. We're all here.
Beautiful Child by Stevie is beautiful as well.
One of my faves. Stevie is the greatest poet. 🎶💗 Gypsy is another great song from them.
Stevies masterpiece ethereal and surreal
Brad's right - Sarah is Stevie's alter ego. She uses it again in Welcome To The Room... Sarah. It's also though about her friend Sarah and the child she would have named Sarah. Stevie said the song was about different things about her life and the band. Many of her songs are. 2 lines about one thing, 4 about another, some real, some just story telling etc. She presented it to FM at 16 minutes long and then says Lindsey when arranging cut it down to 12, 9, 6 and then 4 minute versions. The 6 minute version is on the Tusk album. The radio edit was 4 minutes The 12 minutes in on your tube. On the album Tusk it's dreaminess is immediately followed by Lindsey punkish/indie scream singing - What Makes You Think You're The One? FM is not always smooth and that album in particular can give one musical whiplash. Some hate it for that reason but it's probably my favorite FM because of it.
Was listening to intro and literally smiled cuz you guys get to experience this song for the first time.
I like the song Welcome to the Room... Sara.
There are layers upon layers upon layers in this song.
This is still one of my favourites. Thanks!
Stevie has said that she's often writing about several people in a single song. The dark wing is about Mick, the drummer, who she had a relationship with. But he had a relationship with her friend Sara. There are lines here about Lindsey too. But yes, probably mostly about her unborn child with Don Henley, who becomes a spirit/poet in her heart. I think of Stevie's songs like I think of a writer like Virginia Woolf... she's floating through different personas singing about different experiences. (btw, you guys should do FM's "I'm So Afraid" just to hear Lex's reaction to the guitar solo.)
Love to see Brad evolving like this. Get down and dirty Fleetwood Mac, cover their hit “I’m So Afraid”, Lex considering the hauntingly beauty of all their music.
Agreed but it has to be a live version, be it Rosebud 1976, Live album 1980, Mirage tour 1982, The Dance 1997 or Live In Boston 2004.
@@caps689 live in Boston is my fav.
You nailed their essence again Lex.
I think Stevie was possessed by the spirit of an old Welsh witch. Mick was right out of central casting for the part of Merlin the wizard. Lindsey is just straight up demon man (with his pale complexion and tweeking.)
Brad, Linda Ronstadt was the best female vocalist of the 70s, or ever.
Lex mentioned witch shows and Stevie is often called “the witch”.
Great Fleetwood Mac tune! I always enjoy watching both of your reactions. I'm curious how you'd both react to the bands Stereolab or My Bloody Valentine or, the artist Tom Waits.
My all time favorite Fleetwood Mac song. Thank you so much for posting your reaction.
After loving this song since it came out, this is the first time I've read the lyrics along with it, I love it more than ever now
Been listening to this song at least once a week since 1986 . Classic
Lex ! You certainly are a 70’s child without a doubt. Brad is stuck on lyrics when what does it matter if you miss the music and the voice singing with the passion she does. Lol🤣
Seven wonders was even used in American Horror Story a few seasons back. They actually got Stevie to guest star!
Stevie is so talented and omg such a cutie back in the day.
Tango in the night (demo) is an amazing track! It is of importance that it is the demo version though.
My sister in her 75 skylark listening to this every weekend before real life set in.
One of my all time favorites. It makes me emotional
"sara" is a total groove
Lex is FEELING this classic FM tune and I love watching it!!❤
The bass line in this song is so cool
Such a beautiful song.
Hi! I know it's been a while since you posted this, but being a huge Stevie fan for decades, I wanted to add what I've learned about what this song is about, in her own words from various quotes. First off, I think by now you know Stevie is very poetic in her songs. She uses a lot of metaphors in her songwriting. The original version is 16 minutes long, but it got condensed to around 6 minutes on the album. She has said that it's about Mick Fleetwood (drummer), her friend Sara, Don Henley and their aborted baby who would have been named Sara if it was a girl, and other people as well. During the Rumours tour, Stevie was seeing Don Henley, she got pregnant and had an abortion. Apparently, she was very hurt and upset about Don Henley's reaction, how he was fine with her decision and took it like he wasn't interested in any long-term commitment. Don Henley said in an interview in the early 90's "she wrote the song to the spirit of the baby."
She also had an affair with Mick Fleetwood, I'm not sure when it started, but Mick eventually broke it off with Stevie because he started seeing her friend Sara, which was a major betrayal to Stevie. Later on, all was forgiven. Sara was with her the night Stevie wrote the song. I believe the line, "and he was just like, a great dark wing, within the wings of a storm" are Sara's words. I'm not positive on this, but I could've sworn I read that somewhere. Here's a quote about it. "“I remember the night I wrote it. I sat up with a very good friend of mine whose name is Sara, who was married to Mick Fleetwood, Sara Fleetwood. She likes to think it’s completely about her, but it’s really not completely about her. It’s about me, about her, about Mick, about Fleetwood Mac. Its about all of us at that point. There’s little bits about each one of us in that song and when it had all the other verses it really covered a vast bunch of people. Sara was the kind of song you could fall in love with, because I fell in love with it…”
What I know about some of the metaphors in the lyrics in her own words:
The line "drowning in the sea of love, where everyone would love to drown" "Don’t we all love to be miserable and lay face down on our bed, and go ‘I’m so miserable, don’t talk to me, I want to hurt! Don’t bring me tea, don’t even talk to me, let me die in my own…’ we all do that. We love to do that."
"And he was just like, a great dark wing, within the wings of a storm" is about Mick in his car.
"I think I had met my match, he was singin' and undoing, and undoing, the laces" that was about singer/songwriter jd Souther, he was undoing her laces on her shoes.
"When you build your house, call me, home" Don Henley at the time was building his house literately, but that was a metaphor. It means, when you get your act together, maybe I'll come back.
So, this is what I've learned. It's a very sad yet beautiful song. Hopefully, this will give you more insight to the song's meaning.
I absolutely have to recommend the version of this song. Stevie nicks Sarah live 1981. In this version of the performance at the beginning of the song, she leaves a clockwise circle of protection around some of the band members. A Wiccan friend taught me that. And by the way, the gorgeous brunette singing backup is stevey's sister.
The redhead is Stevie’s ex sister in law.
One word....Beautiful.
Her voice takes you somewhere no other voice can
VERY well said!
And on fancy dancing or flashy video tricks to hide the lip-syncing. Just real talent.
Thank you for sharing this with me
I keep saying that you guys should try reacting to The Kelly Family! One of them, Barby Kelly, sounded remarkably similar to very young Stevie Nicks. Barby had her own style and had to leave the band due to mental illness and died in April 2021. She known for singing the lead vocals on the songs "Break Free," "Baby Smile" "She's Crazy," "Like A Queen," and "Sweetest Angel." The Kelly Family were 9 singers who were siblings and every one of them had incredible voices. Highly recommended group!
I'd love you to react to Fleetwood Mac mk1, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. You've reacted to their songs covered by others, but please listen to the originals. 'Black Magic Woman', 'Oh Well', 'Green Manalishi', 'Jumpin At Shadows', 'Albatross', 'Man Of The World', 'Shake Your Money Maker', 'I Need Your Love So Bad' are all amazing, plus quite a few more.
I read an interview of Mary J Blige by Stevie Nicks in Interview magazine.
The amount of respect between two seemingly disparate artists was amazing.
Brad is right, Stevie had the best voice of the seventies and early eighties.