In a band like Fleetwood Mac, surrounded by brilliant showmen with huge voices, enormous abilities, and even bigger personalities, it may be simple to be overlooked. But Christine McVie, who was a powerful performer, is much more likely to eclipse it.
McVie was a standout performer among a group of rock’s finest because of his artistry, which included hearty piano-driven compositions, deep bluesy vocals, and delicately phrased songs about the truths of life and love. Even more so were the tunes she introduced to the group.
Among the songs in the Fleetwood Mac discography, a McVie tune is easily recognized. Her songs stand in stark contrast to those of her contemporaries, the mysterious Stevie Nicks and the flamboyant Lindsey Buckingham. They are straightforward and down to earth while yet being sincere and whimsical. The songs of McVie possess a magic that may enchant the heart and the soul and, as a result, provide the listener a glimpse into the artist’s soul.
The 10 Songs To Really Get To Know Christine McVie
“Love in Store”
The upbeat, bouncy song, which opens the band’s 1982 album Mirage, is a straightforward yet powerful expression of love. McVie’s light-as-air lead vocals simply add to the song’s buoyant brightness and weightlessness.
“You Make Loving Fun”
The band experienced turmoil while recording their critically acclaimed Rumours album, and the upheaval did not spare the record’s biggest song, “You Make Loving Fun.” “You Make Loving Fun” is a fiery, passionate song that was inspired by McVie’s failing marriage to fellow band member and bassist John McVie and her concurrent romance with the group’s light engineer.
“Say You Love Me”
She loved love songs and was an expert hook writer. The best example is “Say You Love Me,” which she wrote and which has the contagious lyrics, Cause when the loving starts and the lights go down / And there’s not another living soul around / You woo me until the sun comes up / And you say that you love me.
“Little Lies”
Tell me lies / tell me sweet little lies, sometimes it’s nicer hearing a lie than being bit by stark honesty. The 1987 hit song “Little Lies,” which she co-wrote with her newlywed husband Eddy Quintela, is about difficult love-related medications. The song, which has ethereal harmonies and sterile synthesizers, lingers like unspoken truths.
“Everywhere”
Another of her gentle pop ballads and a wonderful illustration of her aptitude for simplicity, “Everywhere” is full of appealing, uplifting lyrics. The lighter Fleetwood Mac ballads stand out from her grounded approach to a love song.
“Think About Me”
The underdog Tusk song “Think About Me,” a small departure from her piano-driven original compositions, reveals McVie’s rocker side. Her voice and the thoughtful composition she does with it add sweetness to the song’s harsher orchestration.
“Only Over You”
The friendship between the artist and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys at the time served as the inspiration for the 1982 Mirage song “Only Over You.” With thanks to Dennis Wilson for inspiration, the album’s packaging acknowledged him; Wilson would eventually die not long after Mirage’s debut.
“Don’t Stop”
“Don’t Stop,” a song that was also influenced by the John-Christine breakup, is about moving past the past to a better future.
“Over My Head”
A sympathetic song about shaky, on-and-off relationships is “Over My Head.” Another McVie classic that reaffirms her fewer songwriting philosophy, the tune has a straightforward message and is surrounded by sultry, soothing vocals.
“Songbird”
“It doesn’t really relate to anybody in particular; it relates to everybody,” she once spoke about her signature track. “It’s universal. It’s about you and nobody else. It’s about you and everybody else.” You and Christine McVie are the subjects of “Songbird,” nevertheless.