Stevie Nicks’ favourite Christine McVie song for Fleetwood Mac
The late Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks shared a deep sisterhood that was integral to the success of Fleetwood Mac. Their relationship went beyond mere bandmates; they were kindred spirits who understood each other on a profound level. This understanding translated into their collaborative work, where they complemented each other’s talents and brought out the best in each other. Their mutual appreciation for each other’s brilliance was evident in both their personal bond and their musical contributions to Fleetwood Mac’s iconic repertoire.
Most importantly, Nicks and McVie complemented each other artistically. They both came from contrasting backgrounds and even though they combined in Fleetwood Mac, they brought different musical elements to the forefront of the band’s unique sound with equal importance. There was no hierarchy or passengers, with each member fulfilling a pivotal role.
Nicks and McVie, born on contrasting sides of the Atlantic, had vastly different journeys to Fleetwood Mac, but the destination remained the same. The American began in the folk world before pivoting to rock with Buckingham Nicks, capturing the attention of Mick Fleetwood, who recruited the duo for Fleetwood Mac.
Meanwhile, before joining Fleetwood Mac, McVie had considered leaving the music industry behind. She was a member of Chicken Shack, who toured with Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, where she became friendly with John McVie and embarked upon a relationship with the musician, eventually leading to her becoming a full-time member after a failed attempt at a solo career.
On Nicks’ second album with the band, Rumours, each member of Fleetwood Mac showcased their magnificence to produce a seminal offering. While McVie was revered most for ‘Songbird’, which would become a career-defining anthem, Nicks preferred ‘Oh Daddy‘, which she labelled her favourite.
The track in question was written as a homage to Mick Fleetwood, although he didn’t know it until many years later. On the piano-led track, she sings of Fleetwood: “Oh Daddy, You soothe me with your smile, You’re letting me know, You’re the best thing in my life.”
In 2001, Fleetwood Mac celebrated Rumours on DVD, which featured the band analysing the album track-by-track. Explaining the meaning of ‘Oh Daddy’, McVie said: “Mick’s the big daddy for sure. And we always call him big daddy. I was being a little sarcastic on the chorus. You know, how can you think you’re always so right? And I could never get the last line. Stevie gave me last line ‘and I can’t walk away from you if I tried’ and I just knew I was going to say it.”
Meanwhile, Nicks expressed her infatuation with the track, declaring: “That is my very favourite Chris song. And it always, always was. I really came from a folk-singer guitar and song thing. With Chris, being an accomplished pianist, she came from a different place. So it’s like we all have our strengths.”
‘Oh Daddy’ is an appropriate song to demonstrate Fleetwood Mac members’ differing strengths and versatility, with Fleetwood’s contribution often flying under the radar. While, from a drumming standpoint, Fleetwood lacked the showmanship of his peers, he was the captain of the ship, and without him, the band would have floundered into unsustainable chaos.
