There are very few rock icons who have been able to merge mystique and vulnerability quite likeStevie Nicks. She was the visionary and the voice of some ofFleetwood Mac’smost iconic records and events. Her creative approaches have become synonymous with poetic lyrics infused with raw, emotional admissions in the songs she’s written. But even our favorite musical artists have favorites of their own. Each musician has their ears pricked, and their spines shivered by a seminal piece of work that gives them the courage to believe that they could do the same for others. For Nicks, that revelation cameearly in her career,shaping not just the lyrical content of her music but the attitude to writing itself. She learned to value honest emotion, no matter how complex, and to have that emotion displayed as the authentic focal point of a song. The folk genius whose work became the ultimate inspiration for Nicks was the wonderful Joni Mitchell.
How Joni Mitchell Influenced Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nickshas always been transparent in citingJoni Mitchellas her greatest source of inspiration. Her love for the folk star began with Mitchell’s third studio album, saying that “Ladies of the Canyontaught me a lot. I remember lying on the floor, listening to Joni’s records, studying every single word. When she came out with a new album I’d go crazy, ‘Don’t bother me this week. I’m listening to Joni Mitchell.’” This type of admiration goes far beyond what a casual appreciation, with Nicks really giving each detail of Mitchell’s writing her undivided attention.Nicks was dedicated to educating herselfon the greatest artists. That’s what genuine inspiration is.
In an 1981 interview withBAMMagazine, Nicks openly acknowledged that a great number of people inspired her, but that her artistic vision held a particular fondness for Joni Mitchell’s work. In the interview, Nicks shared her love for Mitchell,“I learned so much from listening to her.In fact, I probably wouldn’t be doing this if it hadn’t been for her. It was her music that showed me I could say everything I wanted to and push it into one sentence and sing it well.”
Without Mitchell, Nicks arguably wouldn’t have become the musical artist she went on to be. Mitchell’s example gave Nicks the courage toblend a sense of emotional intimacy with her natural grandeur. The musical styles of the two legends differ, but the attitude of unapologetic vulnerability is the bridge between them. Through Mitchell, Nicks learned to let lyrics breathe, infusing songs with layered imagery scattered among a message of truth.
The Rise of Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks
For Stevie Nicks, the influence of Joni Mitchell was perhaps less about the musical construction itself, but more about adopting a creative attitude. “I just loved the way she was a very personal writer yet easy to relate to. She was doing what I wanted to do” Nicks explained. Mitchell gave her permission and the courage to write directly from the heart without flinching,no matter how messy, painful, or unflattering the subject matter was.
This gutsiness became the foundation of Nicks' identity as both a songwriter and performer. To me, this is perfectly evident in the legendarylive renditions of “Silver Springs,”the ultimate breakup anthem. The iconic line “You’ll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you” is belted just feet away from her Fleetwood Mac bandmate and ex in question,Lindsey Buckingham.These renditions are so raw, championing the rigorous emotion that Mitchell crafted so perfectly.
By channeling vulnerability,Stevie Nicks transformed from a rock singer to an icon of emotional authenticity.The Joni Mitchell influence didn’t just play a part in shaping Nicks as a writer, but emboldened her to perform on stage as her truest self. Vulnerability became strength, and is a staple of Nicks’ bewitching legend, one of the most captivating in rock history.
Artists inevitably have their influences. Even the biggest stars started as young musicians holed up in their rooms listening to their favorite artists. They’re just fans, too. For Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell’s influence drove her to really see the value of writing for passion’s sake. The sonic foundations of the two stars diverged, but there is a connection between the two artists built upon their dedication to voicing themselves honestly and profoundly in their work.
