Stevie Nicks delivers tremendous Hyde Park show, but Harry Styles cameo jars – review

13 Jul 2024

Get The Inside Scoop On Music - Join Now Hear This!

Receive Our Now Hear This Email For Free

You can't avoid hearing Fleetwood Mac's music. The last version of the influential band ended two years ago after Christine McVie's death, but their songs continue to influence our culture. It's like their music is on a constant loop that no one wants to stop.

However, if you purchased tickets to see Stevie Nicks perform at Hyde Park in London hoping for a nostalgic homage to a past pop group, you were in for a surprise. As soon as Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream" plays and Nicks takes the stage in a black outfit, fingerless gloves, and long, flowing hair reminiscent of Rapunzel, it becomes clear that you are witnessing a performer with undeniable talent and a strong presence.

On the stage, Nicks is a skilled performer, a woman with a strong presence and deep, gravelly voice that has only become more powerful over the years. When she talks about the excitement of performing at Hyde Park, it sounds a bit like she is trying to charm us with rehearsed compliments. But when she starts talking about performing with Petty in 2017, that feeling goes away. "I feel his spirit and I'm happy he's with us," she says sincerely, before starting a lively performance of "Free Fallin'" that gets the crowd singing along with arms in the air.

The most popular songs featured in the setlist during Fleetwood Mac's peak of 13 years are "Gypsy", "Gold Dust Woman", and towards the end, "Rhiannon". Combining the opener "Outside the Rain" from Stevie Nicks' solo album Bella Donna with Fleetwood Mac's hit "Dreams" highlights how similar the two tracks are musically, which may not have been the best decision.

By only including her original songs in her setlist, Stevie Nicks leaves out some of Fleetwood Mac's most popular songs like "The Chain" and "Go Your Own Way". This allows for more focus on her solo music and a few well-chosen covers. One cover she includes is a politically-themed rendition of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth", where Nicks encourages fans to vote and shares that she didn't start voting until she turned 70. ("Don't follow my example!")

At the age of 76, Nicks has experienced some changes in her voice, but she has found ways to adjust. She now focuses on lower notes and uses her middle range effectively. She is supported by a talented backing band. During the performance of "Leather and Lace," a duet she originally sang with Don Henley, Nicks is joined on stage by her vocal coach, Steve Real, who she credits with helping her maintain her voice for live performances well into her 80s.

This part of the performance is very emotional, with many moments like it. The band starts with a long instrumental introduction before launching into "Edge of Seventeen", which is Nicks's most popular song as a solo artist. While this song also deals with grief, the upbeat, electric melodies transform it into a powerful celebration rather than a mournful tribute.

For a well-established band like this one, the crowd here is unexpectedly youthful – from my estimation, they seem to be at least ten to twenty years younger on average compared to the audience at Bruce Springsteen's amazing set at Hyde Park in 2023. This demonstrates the revival of Fleetwood Mac in the 2010s era, when their album Rumours began to be seen as cool once again after being relegated to the "oldies" category for years.

Furthermore, it demonstrates Nicks's significant position in the music industry and her ability to inspire both younger musicians and fans. During her performance as a warm-up act in the early afternoon, country singer Brandi Carlile expressed that she and other female artists on the lineup may not have pursued music if it weren't for Nicks's impact. This feeling was evident among the audience throughout the entire evening.

Get ready to stream 70 million songs and podcasts without any annoying ads on Amazon Music.

Experience endless listening to a wide variety of music and podcasts without interruptions on Amazon Music, with access to 70 million songs.

To close out the performance, Nicks surprised the audience by inviting Harry Styles on stage for a special encore of “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and “Landslide” as a tribute to McVie on her 81st birthday. The younger fans in the crowd went crazy with excitement. It was unexpected to see Nicks share the stage with a young pop star like Styles, who seemed humble and reluctant to take away attention from Nicks, showing his respect through a dramatic gesture.

However, it also seems logical. Despite all the memories and reflections, even though it feels like a final chapter, it doesn't seem like the end. Eventually, pop music will have to continue without Stevie Nicks. But for now, she is able to experience the world that her music has helped create.