“Comes from somewhere unknown”: The fiery song Stevie Nicks never gets tired of
There are a handful of artists throughout history who have mastered the art of creating music that truly evades easy description. Many do so with songs that captivate from the opening notes, evoking feelings that are almost impossible to put into words. Take most of Talking Heads’ hits as an example—the feeling is almost always immediate yet difficult to describe. Stevie Nicks achieves this same magic with her voice alone, crafting experiences that feel inexplicably intimate.
Though undeniably unique, the power of Nicks’ voice is that it feels entirely at home within the rock genre, her signature rasp signalling feelings of both nostalgia and richness, like sitting in front of a crackling fire after a hard day’s work. On top of this, her musical arrangements often enhance the overall impact, with songs that feel like a warm embrace, even if the subject matter is gut-wrenching.
While it’s easy to pick apart many of her contributions to Rumours as notable examples of this appeal, several gems exist within her solo work that achieve the same feat, like the poignant ballad ‘Leather and Lace’. Even as she performs these songs today, her voice carries thousands of stories, deeply embedded like the fabrics of all the narratives that made up the walls of her heart and soul.
Part of Nicks’ ability to channel visceral and immersive soundscapes comes from the thoughts and experiences they emerge from, some rooted in the heartache of romantic frustrations and breakups, others from entirely different moments, like accidentally stumbling upon a resonant beat while driving down a highway. This was how she initially came up with the idea for ‘Stand Back’, but what made it especially poignant was that she wrote it on her wedding day, on the way to Santa Barbara.
Nicks got the idea after hearing a Prince song on the radio and pulled over to get a copy of the song before getting to work on ‘Stand Back’. She recalled this on the liner notes for TimeSpace, saying, “I got married the day I wrote this song,” adding that it gave her an idea to write about some kind of “crazy argument” between a strained couple. Though an interesting subject to be inspired by on her wedding day, she knew immediately that it would be one of the most important songs of her career.
As she explained: “I’ve been doing this song for years, Fleetwood Mac does it also, and I never get tired of it. ‘Stand Back’ has always been my favourite song onstage because when it starts, it has an energy that comes from somewhere unknown and it seems to have no timespace. I’ve never quite understood this sound, but I have NEVER questioned it.”
The track’s inherent appeal is clear from the moment it begins. With an immediate driving beat, ethereal supporting arrangements and Nicks’ signature emotional tone, it could just as easily fit into Fleetwood Mac’s discography, making its place among the band’s setlists feel entirely appropriate. It also holds Nicks’ quintessential charm, with an underlying charge that became her calling, proving her prowess for delivering intensely intimate songs.
