Throughout the years, Nicks has remained committed to performing the songs she knows her fans have deep connections to.
While some have shifted in meaning somewhat, especially after the passing of Christine McVie, this newfound poignancy only enhances her appeal, making her one of the most emotionally resonant artists of all time, Farout reports.
When she played BST Hyde Park in London she covered almost everything a fan could ever wish for, from the ever-endearing ‘Dreams’ to the blood-pumping ‘Edge of Seventeen’.
(Below Nightbird witl Lori Nicks. Lori Nicks is one of Stevie's longtime backup singers. Stevie first met Lori in 1973 through her future husband Gordon Perry, who knew Buckingham Nicks producer Keith Olsen.)
That said, there are some she seems to have ditched somewhere along the way despite her attachments to them, which feels slightly confusing at times when it’s clear what they once meant to her. ‘Nightbird’ was released as the third single from Nicks’ solo record The Wild Heart, and she once described it as her favourite song off the album.
However, since 1983, she has only performed the song twice: on Solid Gold and Saturday Night Live. The song itself is undoubtedly one of Nicks’ lesser-known masterpieces, showcasing her ethereal vocals in a way that feels simultaneously nostalgic and stuck in a magical moment in time. It’s easy to see why it became one of Nicks’ favourites, with a quintessentially Nicks-esque melody that feels somewhat reminiscent of some of her other hits, like ‘Gypsy’ or ‘Sara’.
However, the song never made it outside of these two performances which, in truth, seems so be something more to do with its modest commercial success rather than anything concerning Nicks’ diminished appreciation for it. After all, it ticks every box when it comes to Nicks’ artistic expression, but culturally, it just failed to hit the mark as much as her other hits did.
At the same time, its themes could have made it difficult for Nicks to perform it live. The song was written about the difficulties female musicians face and the death of her friend Robin Snyder Anderson, alongside the inevitability of pain and suffering. Considering all three of these strands, it likely felt too personal for Nicks to revisit, and she instead felt it was best left where it was: a perfect iteration of a specific moment in time.
As she explained in 1983: “This song does extend from ‘Edge of Seventeen’; it’s about the difficulties of female rock ‘n’ roll singers; it’s about my friend Robin, it’s about death, it’s a spirit calling. Wearing boots all summer long is like, always being ready for a flood or avalanche to happen, for the worst to happen.”
Concluding: “Because when you really look at life, all the money, material things and dreams we all search after could not save one small girl.”
