For me, Fleetwood Mac is about the raw honesty that is so transparent with the ability to express it so clearly and succinctly.

“Freedom” inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”
art by Ariadna Vicente www.ariadnavicente.com

By Danielle Boise

The flux of music radiating around my childhood home, played by my parents, inspired my love and appetite for a variety of music. From New Wave and Cyndi Lauper to Michael Jackson’s glitter glove, The Go-Go’s “Summer Vacation” and everything else that came along, I am a child and bi-product of the ‘80s. Every wave and tide of music flowed through our house and I’m very grateful for the introduction to more than one music genre that both my music-loving parents threw at me. When I’m asked, “What is your favorite band or favorite song?” I’m stumped because the list is so immense.

My dad’s musical taste stayed in line with rock and the current musical trends of the day, from Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and Wham!’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” while my mom enjoyed old school country like Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn; Big Band always flittered in the background. My mom, sister and I wore out the tape—yes tape; not vinyl, post 8-track and pre-cd—of Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party.” It literally disintegrated in our hands. Charlene’s “I’ve Never Been to Me” constantly played on loop until the needle wore the vinyl down.

Music has the ability to act as the soundtrack to our lives, conveying simple to complex feelings and emotions through the format of music. In three minutes, a song can seer into your psyche, accessing part of yourself that you don’t even know exists. Great music opens every pore in your body and then redefines your DNA, restructuring your thoughts and providing you with the strength of conviction.

If I had to pick a favorite artist, hands down Fleetwood Mac would win because Rumours had such an impact on my life. For me it’s about the raw honesty that is so transparent with the ability to express it so clearly and succinctly. Even though personally they were in such pain and turmoil they were able create something truly magical and beautiful that has been able to transcend over 30 years, and is what I would consider timeless. They were able to access that part of themselves, to fully realize it and express it in a manner that people 30-years from now will be able to know exactly what it means to fall in and out of love, the pain that is associated with it, yet to feel fully alive.

I find it funny now that my childhood, granted Rumours was pre-childhood when it came out, how life transitions and we each go into our phases, from one point to another point. What is hip and popular in one moment becomes a classic down the road for another generation. I feel so lucky that Fleetwood Mac was able to make something so unbelievably touching, that it still touches me today and it’s hit every milestone in my life and I can only imagine that they will continue to do so – from “Dreams” to “Silver Springs” to everything in between. Fleetwood Mac has been at every point in my life. I love to watch the evolution of bands and artists, but right there in itself, Rumours is perfection and it feels like a gift, at least to me.

—

If you want to share your story of how you discovered the band or artist that influenced you and helped you define yourself during your formative years or after–email 500 words to ellen@targetaudiencemagazine.com