"It was weird, actually"

“It was weird, actually”

Those words, uttered with thinly veiled ( if at all veiled) contempt by Lindsey Buckingham, are bitterness gold.  I know, they seem innocuous out of context. But bear with me, Lindsey spins them into something quite noxious. He spits out the volley at Christie McVie just after the track ” Temporary One” on the live recorded 1997 Fleetwood Mac album, “The Dance”.

“The exchange” is a peek behind the curtains of what otherwise seems to be a congenial money grab, aka reunion tour, by oft embattled group.  The album is filled with clumsy ( John McVie’s shout out to his mom) and, creepy ( Stevie Nicks shout out to her daddy*, prior to “Landslide”) moments that pair with some sublime re-imaginings of old classics. “Silver Springs” in particular, has aged very well, and has more power with less vitriol. It feels more like a long held ache, which is appropriate given the time lapse.

Without further ado, below you will find the storm within the calm, Lindsey’s verbal venom cast at Christie McVie. I have left some of the sending of “Temporary One” to provide some context.

Hear Lindsey’s volley here 

Keep in mind there are spouses and ex-lovers seemingly getting along like there is no bad history between them throughout the album.  The video of “Silver Springs” features Stevie Nicks looking right at Lindsey ( they are ex-lovers) while singing, ” I’ll follow you down til the sound of my voice will haunt you. ” and on the surface it holds none of the bitterness that “the exchange” has.  What strikes me about it is that it seems to come out of nowhere. Did Christie steal the last of Lindsay’s blow once upon a time?

Sure Christie interrupted him. But in fairness to Christie McVie it does feel like Lindsey is trying to take over the show.  He basically takes all the credit for this ” reconvening”.  He is advertising his solo album when she interjects.  It does come off a bit rude, but I am sure 30 years of hearing him stroke his own ego proved too much for her. His reply comes off very harsh, especially when you consider the playful tone of her interjection.

The song he intros after the exchange, “Bleed to Love Her”, is pretty good. At least I think it is good. I cannot separate the song from what comes before, so it may be riding the high that the “It was weird, actually” provides.

And God bless him, Lindsey’s ego is unfazed by the incident.  He finishes introducing “Bleed to Love Her” with a decidedly pretentious cadence; “Bleed, to Love, Her”.

“The exchange” is one of my favorite moments on any live recorded album.  It just makes me smile every time that it made it onto the CD.  It has had such an impact that my own version ~ ” It was, actually” is my personal in-joke of derisiveness. Pure Magic.

* – I am of the opinion that the cut off from calling your dad, “daddy” and mom, “mommy” should be at the very least prior to your first kiss. I would aim for an earlier standard but I know a lot of people have a tough time leaving the womb. But please, if you are not a virgin stop calling your parents by your toddler nicknames. It is just creepy.

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