There are far too many “concert” movies out there that suck. Stevie Nicks, 24 Karat Gold does not. You can watch it for free on Tubi. With maturity comes a change in performance. Even though it feels odd talking about Taylor Swift as mature, that’s what her Eras Tour proved. She started young, so her fan base is young, but they’ve been with her for years.
Maturity vs. Energy
During the early years you don’t have much to talk about. Everything you wanted to say you put into your songs. Even getting through interviews can be tough. Engaging your audience tends to be lots of tricks like group hand clapping and audience call backs. Bohemian Rhapsody is a movie that points this out. Freddy Mercury didn’t live long enough for Queen to have the mature audience interaction that comes with decades in the business.
Stevie has maturity in spades. For most of the songs in this concert video she takes the time to tell those in the audience who don’t know, the story behind them. Landslide. The song that put Fleetwood Mac on the charts has a great story.
She and her friends were in Colorado staying with others and driving their Toyota without reverse. While what’s his face was off earning some money she and her girlfriend were supposed to go out to supper with these wealthy people. She saw the view of the mountain from their mansion and said
“Listen, I realize you don’t know me and we are supposed to go out, but I would really rather sit her in front of this window and write s song.”
“You’re right, you should.”
A True Purple Patch
I bought the digital version of the album behind this concert. I must say there really isn’t a bad track on it. During her twenties and thirties Stevie truly had a purple patch when it came to song writing. Throughout this concert you will hear her talk of The Gothic Trunk of Lost Songs.
I never knew that Prince played on Stand Back or that it was inspired by Little Red Corvette. I never knew that she was actually good friends with Tom Petty and that they helped each other write songs. Oh sure, everyone knew Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around but agents and studios force big name stars to work together for nothing but cash. After watching Stevie Nicks, 24 Karat Gold, I do.
She Can Make Fund of Her (and your) Age
There are plenty of times when Stevie points out her age. Much of it is to encourage younger people to just go for it. Really hilarious when she puts on one coat for a song, looks down and busts up laughing. The band has to stop. Coat goes down to about six inches above her ankles. Then she tells the audience “When I put on this coat, from here on down” bending over to the bottom of the coat, “it still looks the same. This is what all you 25 year olds out there have to look forward to!”
It’s funny. Stevie was famous for putting on the top hat and twirling on stage lost in the song. Given all the ballast she is swinging around now, she can’t twirl that fast.
A truly enjoyable watch for those of us “of a certain age.”
For more movie rental ideas please see list one and list two.
