Why doesn't anybody name Christine McVie as a great singer?

[Blazer]

I mean there's a LOT in her vocal style and song writing that puts her with the all time greats: her vocals are PITCH PERFECT, I don't think she's capable of singing off-key. And then she has that quality of hurt in her voice, that thing where people keep praising singers like Karen Carpenter for, that quality where she can make you shiver because of her singing just expresses "I-know-this-hurt-because-I've-been-through-it-myself."

And then there's the songs...

[jazztele]

McVie is without a doubt a great singer...or at least great at what she does.

Too many people associate a great voice with power and range. Christine's range is pretty small and so is the "size" of her voice, but you're absolutely right, everytime she opens her mouth the music that comes out is damn near perfect.

[Martin R]

There's emotion and honesty when she sings. I get so tired of these American Idol type yodelers.

The Mac's always been one of my favorites from back in the Peter Green days. Bob Welch fit pretty well...but to me the voice of the band is Christine.

[bcarter_1]

Originally Posted by Martin R

There's emotion and honesty when she sings. I get so tired of these American Idol type yodelers.

I agree.

[Ash Telecaster]

I have always liked her voice. I know people that trash her whenever the subject of FM comes up but honestly I can't imagine why.

[Larry F]

I really like her version of I'd Rather Go Blind, with Chicken Shack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohx9Ve7-GS0

[McGlamRock]

IMO she wrote the best tunes on the "Tusk" record. "Never Forget" and "Think About Me" are two of my favorite FM songs.

[gitold]

If you put me in a room. put a gun to my head, and told me I HAD to listen to FM but I could choose between Chrissie or Stevie I'd pick Chrissie every time!

[Paul in Colorado]

I loved her stuff in the pre-Buckingham-Nicks FM. She kept that band alive.

[zatoichi]

Frankly, she's NOT a great singer IMO, nor does she have a great (or even interesting) voice. It doesn't help that her vocal material is the weakest in the FM catalog (save for Jeremy's boogie-woogie schtick), but I try not to hold that against her.

I understand that she was on a lot of 'hits', and that creates a bond w/ the audience, an imprint on the singer's voice. I don't think that says anything about the quality of her performance, on-stage or in the studio. Comparisons to Karen Carpenter seem particularly inapt, as Carpenter's voice was rich and intimate, and she used it w/ great expression; by contrast, McVie's voice is thin and characterless, and she doesn't seem to actually DO much with it.

The truth is, Fleetwood Mac with her is and has always been a completely different band than the one that made the name. She, as much as anyone, made this second band a success...but she really didn't improve it at all. Chicken Shack provided a much more effective setting for her voice, as Larry has pointed out. W/ FM, I find her unlistenable.

For contrast, I'm not real impressed w/ the Buckingham-Nicks transplant, either, but that's all personal taste. All my own opinion, Contents under pressure.

[black_doug]

Originally Posted by gitold

If you put me in a room. put a gun to my head, and told me I HAD to listen to FM but I could choose between Chrissie or Stevie I'd pick Chrissie every time!

Agreed - but no gun required.

[Tony474]

Before she was Mrs McVie she was Christine Perfect. Make of that what you will. I personally find her a pleasant enough singer to listen to, with certain technical and musical attributes. Good? Certainly. Great? Depends on your criteria.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by zatoichi

Frankly, she's NOT a great singer IMO, nor does she have a great (or even interesting) voice. It doesn't help that her vocal material is the weakest in the FM catalog (save for Jeremy's boogie-woogie schtick), but I try not to hold that against her.

I understand that she was on a lot of 'hits', and that creates a bond w/ the audience, an imprint on the singer's voice. I don't think that says anything about the quality of her performance, on-stage or in the studio. Comparisons to Karen Carpenter seem particularly inapt, as Carpenter's voice was rich and intimate, and she used it w/ great expression; by contrast, McVie's voice is thin and characterless, and she doesn't seem to actually DO much with it.

Karen Carpenter? Over Chrissie?

I am just speechless. Speechless.

Look, I prefer the Peter Green Mac, and I was not happy to see Bob Welch leave, either. But why pile on Christine? She's so much better than the Goat Girl, it isn't even funny.

[getbent]

I try not to worry about anybody... anybody seems to think and not think all kinds of things that I don't agree with... while sometimes I can like anybody, I won't just hang out with anybody, and I'm not just friends with anybody... anybody is not even necessarily somebody...

so, I can like Chrissie McVie and not worry about what anybody thinks... I can enjoy her without worrying about anybody and everybody can do what they like.

[e-merlin]

Well, I dig the hit-ridden version of Fleetwood Mac. I like it all. No favorites. Great stuff. I'm too young to remember the Peter Green version of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. I don't really care. I'm only 50.

[mickeydean]

i loved her voice. she took the money and got out so she's smart too!

[Ricky D.]

She's very good. I liked her singing better than the other girl's. But not great, just a solid role player. The songs made Fleetwood Mac a great group. Solid professional performance from everybody, excellent blend on the vocals.

[rangercaster]

i enjoy listening to her ... she is no Linda Rondstadt ... but then again, who is ???

[Stratburst]

This song is as close as I get to a guilty pleasure:



And this was the highest charting single off Tango in the Night, FM's "comeback record."

[Del Pickup]

In the 70's to many people I suspect that Stevie Nicks was the face of the band and Christine McVie was almost seen as a sidekick who happened to play keyboards and sing a bit. But in reality she was so much more. Songbird almost always brings a tear to my eye - it's just got so much pain in there that I think it would take a very hard man not to be moved by that song.

And since the 80's Ms McVie has been way more attractive than Ms Nicks (as far as I'm concerned) She's got one of those classic beauties that never seem to age whereas Stevie has now succumbed to the ravages of time and too many substances and is way past her best.

Since McVie left the Mac I don't think I'd ever go to see them live cos it just isn't the same band without her notwithstanding the core male members are still there.