Watch Fleetwood Mac: The Dance For Free

Excellent but underrated film

As Good As It Gets

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This was one of the best concerts I've seen. I caught this on my local PBS station back in 2002. I've always enjoyed their music over the years, but I became a fan after seeing this concert.Many of my favorite songs like "Rhiannon", "Big Love", "Say You Love Me", "You Make Loving Fun" and "Go Your Own Way" were played and I "discovered new songs" I hadn't heard before, like "Silver Springs" and "Landslide". I've heard the Dixie Chicks cover first and liked it, but hearing the original version is much better.I thought the biggest highlight was when they played "Tusk" and "Don't Stop". Two more of my favorite songs and the USC Marching Band enhanced it.Owning the cd and the video or dvd is worth every penny. The sad thing about "The Dance" is, this may be the last time we'll ever see them performing together. Christine McVie was not on their 2003 tour. I attended that concert back in July and the remaining 4 put on a great show, but I felt like there was something missing.

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).

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've been a fan of Fleetwood Mac since I was a little tyke and heard the song "Dreams". It is such a delight to see one of the longest running bands in history that has gone through so much turmoil, to be back together again (as was the Eagles' 1994 reunion). In this DVD concert, one can tell their voices have aged, but nevertheless are bold and resounding. Stevie Nicks looks great for being 50, as does the rest of the band.New gems that are a must for Mac fans are "My Little Demon" and "Bleed to Love Her". Lindsey Buckingham demonstrates once again his talented songwriting abilities with these new numbers. The grand finale with the USC Trojan Marching Band joining in for "Tusk" and "Don't Stop" anthem the longevity of Fleetwood Mac.And as always--watch it on DVD if you can!