Gold Dust Woman was one of the most popular songs off the Rumors album. It got a ton of radio play and was a standard in their live sets. Stevie still does it. It is in the top five of FM songs for me. I think it intrigued people. The intro sets a dark tone of foreboding and danger, and then the lyrics and the vocal delivery build on that. It’s kinda disturbing and you aren’t really sure what it means, but you know it’s not good. I mean “black widow” is a dark lyric. The song has such a cool but very dark vibe. Love it
Agreed and right on Helene, good to see your comments in the neighborhood. Saw this tour in 78,(college freshman) where every female was into Stevie to the extent that some were a little creepy. Lol Anyway, there’s a RU-vid audio recording of the show I attended, from the LSU Assembly Center that’s interesting. I think this and Silver Springs (that didn’t make the album but if memory serves was in the set that night) remain two of my personal favorites. Still spinning them today. Haven’t seen Henrietta commenting lately, but I’m sure that’s on me. Be well, Ron 🤘😎
@@ronaldelliott4373 Henrietta usually just comments on Zeppelin. You might find her usual astute comments on Sal’s Zeppelin stuff. Also, SyedRewinds is doing great with Zeppelin, and Silas Bailey. So you’ll find her where Zep is. Are you on the community page of STB’s Patreon channel? Many of the old gang are still there sharing music.
@@helenespaulding7562 No, I’m not but will check it out. I’ve been reading some “unofficial” Zeppelin material lately, but really enjoy getting new (to me) stories from behind the scenes and recording details. Haven’t “nerded out” in a while, but have time to catch up. Will keep an eye out for you as well. 👈
@@ronaldelliott4373 I’ve listened to every interview I can find and read several books on Zep, Robert and Jimmy. Saw Robert and Alison Krauss in August. Great show! If you want any links to interviews or book suggestions, just ask. 😁
This song is about heroin, not cocain. Heroin is brown and is called Gold dust. The spoon she sings about is used in its prep for use. She mentions the dragon too. Chasing the dragon is using heroin read this somewhere. Thanks for your great reaction.😊
This song is about a few different things but Stevie has said it’s about her life as a rock and roll woman on the road. The drugs and how they took a hold on her and how it was not easy keeping a relationship when you’re in a band. She was the Gold dust woman who would end up breaking her boyfriends heart because she was always on the road. Rulers make bad lovers…she is talking about the rock star. Rock stars make bad lovers cause they are never really faithful.
As much as I would have loved to hear "Silver Springs" on "Rumours" this is the perfect song to end this album. Thematically and atmospherically it encapsulates everything "Rumours" is about.
It's funny how at around 3:40 you were basically 'waiting for that moment, that drop' to happen. Fleetwood songs are different: they are mystical, haunting, they don't need 'that mic drop' moment as they're not about that. They are a cultured breed of trance and rock and this particular one is a total Classic sound. They don't make them like FM.
i was 9 when this album was released and listened to it over and over again in the dark with my brother and cousins and when this song would play, i would hide under the blanket and wait for it to be over! i'm still in love with it! ❤❤😂
That background, and probably the lyrics are a distraction. This song is a dark abstract painting. It might be my favorite Stevie song. I don't really know what the words mean, but she sings them with such conviction that I don't care. There's a rickety stripped-down acoustic demo of Gold Dust Woman and Stevie's vocals will send chills down your spine. I can't imagine any other song closing the Rumors album.
Her lyrics rank with Leonard Cohan and Dylan. You know how you're trying to remember something, someone's name, and three days later when you have consciously forgotten all about it, the answer pops up? This is a song you can just let simmer in the back of your mind. The next time you hear it, it makes a bit more sense. If you don't have to know everything right now, you can enjoy this song for the rest of your life. Instead of understanding all of it in a minute, then never wanting to hear it again, it will keep you intrigued as over time and experience you gain a more full understanding of her mood and her meaning. As for that picture, it's perfect. A golden sunset. A disco scene, a woman having a great time? No. This song is about a golden sunset. This song is very high on my list. Stevie Nicks does not write lyrics about some theoretical person or story, she writes about herself, her life. Now those are two big clues for you.
Yes. And It's so touching, that she wrote this "to" and "for" herself, as a warning of sorts. Luckily, she listened--or at least survived her demons/addictions! Glad to see you mentioning Leonard Cohen. Really, Sal would like his stuff, I think. I wish more people reacted to him. My God, what songs and words! "Democracy," "The Future," "Suzanne." Are you kidding me? Brilliant!
7:11 "Gold dust woman" is in the very first sentence that Stevie sings in this song. Check it out. It's worth playing multiple times anyway. Thanks for reviewing this song.
Such poetically haunting lyrics, especially when you know they were about cocaine addiction, and Stevie Nicks was singing the song to herself. I won't wiki-confirm that, but I'm pretty sure that's what I heard once, and it rings true. And rings SO beautifully! One of the best ever. The song itself is (far) "better than a white line," to use a, um, line from another PERFECT song: "There's Never Been Any Reason," by Head East. Salvo, I KNOW you would go apeshit over THAT song. Synth-city, great hook, fun stuff!
This is most definitely song that is meant to be listened to live. I've been listening to these songs for 50 years and it is cool to see someone reacting to them for the first time. If I were to ever lose my memory , the best thing about that would be hearing this music again for the first time. But dude, I don't understand, for someone who obviously loves music as much as you love music, how have you gone your whole life without hearing any of this? Did you grow up in town like in Footloose ? When I was listening to music in the 70's, I was still aware of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and the Andrew Sisters of the 20s and 30's. And let's face it, that wasn't the greatest music of all time like this is.
I've listened to this song for ages but never paid attention to the lyrics. Good call to include the lyrics! But yeah - it's not easy to figure out the meaning, which is a good thing.
This song is like something from a musical! We are gifted a vision of eerieness as we picture a woman grappling with something she is ashamed of; drug abuse. You can hear in her voice how she views herself; a black widow, a pale shadowed dragon, a gold dust woman. You can hear in the metronome-like beat the time ticking away as she over time allows herself to become these things. It's a spooky cautionary tale, if you close your eyes and listen again you can almost see the scenes unfold in your mind. It's fantastic musical storytelling!!
Saw Fleetwood Mac live several times. They always started with Gold Dust Woman. My friends and I would bet on if Stevie came out in black or white shawls. Twirling around the stage. Always, always a great show.
Yup. Stevie's song to herself, I believe. "Silver spoon," "GOLD dust," etc. Brilliant, haunting, powerful. And ADDICTIVE! I've listened to this song obsessively for DECADES, lol!
Stevie and the Mac kill this live! I think from the reaction of the crowds when I’ve seen them: this is a fan favorite live!? It’s mysterious and dark and about the trappings of the celebrity life and her/their issues with cocaine back in the day. Will they make it? Did she (cocaine) make you cry? Make you break down? Shatter your illusions of love…Check out this video of an almost 70 year old Stevie doing this live on her 24karat Gold tour: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K-XMnHQugaA.html
I’m having a difficult time settling on a background…any colors or theme suggestions down below please thank you Edit: she said the title at the beginning! Dang it lol missed it
Listen to the words from the perspective of “Gold Dust Woman” being cocaine. This is a song of what cocaine abuse does to the mind, body soul, and the destruction it brings.
That’s one moody freakin band. The live version from 76-77 is absolutely killer. Taking chemicals and herbs to get a good take was common in those days.
Salvo, if you want visuals to match this song, find their Live in Japan version of this song. A sublimely sensous Ms. Nicks ends up seemingly speaking in tongues near the end. One of the most amazing music/visual experiences available IMHO.
Have you by chance seen the live version of "Sister of The Moon" the one where she actually scream sings in what seems to be"tongues'... And, then she spins off stage and talks to the audience as Lindsey and Mick kick ass .. Have you seen it?? 8:55
I was 14 when my Dad came home with this album tucked under his arm. I was instantly hooked. I notice you seem to play predominately Nicks penned tomes! There are so many great tracks written by Christine (I know you've cover Don't Stop) and Lindsey. Tango in the Night album started at a Buckingham solo album before Mick and the band encouraged him to return where he threw himself into his production magic on Nicks and McVies songs as well as his own.
I heard an interview with Lindsay Buckingham one time where he was asked what kind of effects and processing was used on her voice near the end. He said nothing, that's just "Stevie in distress"...
It is interesting when they don't say the title in the song. Led Zeppelin has a few songs that don't have the title in it at all. The Immigrant Song, D'yer Mak'er, Black Dog, Battle of Evermore, and probably others I don't know about.
I get the impression that she is talking to her lover and his "side piece". Saying that she is only in it for the money and, once he gets his heart broken, he will figure this out and "pick up the pieces and go home" i.e. back to her. She is resigned to the fact that he is going to stray "pick your path and I'll pray". But she gets in some dark barbs in the meantime.
Dude. The first line of the song is, "Rock on, Gold Dust Woman". 😅 This songs background couldn't be more perfect. It's a spooky tune, about being a crazy chick insanely addicted to cocaine. And also about the gold digging groupie chicks,throwing themselves at the men in the band,and the way they were so nasty to Stevie This has got to be one of my VERY FAVORITE SONGS. I love it's darkness, actually. Not everything is sunshine and lollipops.
You might as well show that Kino footage. If they released it to RU-vid, so be it. I wouldn't contact the company, you might draw unnecessary attention to yourself. If it gets blocked, we'll, that's it. This Denmark show was a promo opportunity for the band to intro themselves into Europe. I believe they played to a bunch of students who didn't quite know what to expect. My first listen back then I was in the same boat! hahaha 🤣
SIR-----------STEVIE ET AL WROTE THIS DURING A COKE BINGE. LISTEN TO THE LYRICS . COKE WAS TRULY, THE " GOLD DUST WOMAN " ----------AHHHHHHHHHHHH, THE 70'S ! ------------YA HAD TA BE THERE.-------------MJL, 77 Y/O
I think this song is about a strong and powerful woman. Stevie is definitely not a wallflower. If you like being thrown off, you should listen to Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk". I won't say anything more. 😁
I love that this song ends Rumours. It adds a darkness to the album, and shows that Stevie is recognizing her power, but also how dangerous that power can be. Fame and drugs are changing her and it's thrilling and terrifying for her. The live version on the Dance is by far the best.
You MUST watch the Gold Dust Woman video when Bob Welch was playing lead🎸 It's at a VIP party, and it seems to be impromptu... Stevie isn't dressed as she usually is on stage... She's in a mini skirt and boots, of course... It's fire!! 🕊️💗💗💗🎼💃🏼🔮🌙🎹🎸🎸🥁💌🌿🌸🎸💃🏼🔮🌙 4:05 The above mentioned video is so awesome 👍😎 4:50
Don’t know if you care enough about background to check it out, but Soul Train Bro had some REALLY cool backgrounds. One was outer space…with stars… others sunset clouds…some geometric. You could take a peek
Well, this is a very odd choice of vid. As you said, whoever picked that screen background did a sucky job. Live is much better. Also, for a very sensual and darkly mysterious version, the cover of this byGov’t Mule and Grace Potter is truly excellent snd a fun watch.
Love Fleetwood Mac & Stevie but you really need to check out a cover from some much more current musicians. This is a fantastic live cover by Warren Haynes of Allman Bros & Govt Mule featuring Grace Potter of Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at an outdoor concert. Salvo you will absolutely dig Graces hippie chick dancing!ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-A13tUxH09SI.html
Love this one! Stevie was a big cocaine user, she mentions at the beginning a silver spoon. This in my opinion is about herself! This and Rhiannon are my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs!
Just watching your review about gold dust woman Fleetwood Mac You seem like a good dude Throughout most of their best music they were on cocaine and screwing each other
Nice, bit of spooky undertone with Stevie's lower range along with Christine's harmony. I think she begins talking about the Gold Dust woman. You may have been looking for something more obvious. Please try not to anticipate these artists. Your bias in the Young column is showing.
@@mazdodd4145 DEFINITELY LIKE STEVIE OVER CLOVE ANY DAY N ABOUT ANYWAY but jus love the song period and only song ever liked Clove sang......ohhhhhhh buutttt wait.... My 2nd cousin ...Grace Potter n the Nocturnal w Warren Haynes and Gov MuLe do GDW welllll.....CHK it
