Honor Song for Christine McVie
essay
I wouldn’t have predicted that my grief over Christine McVie’s death would be this large. Certainly, her music has meant so much to me over the decades. But that’s not necessarily a surprise. I’m sure there are people who dislike Fleetwood Mac but I’ve never known any of them. Even if you weren’t into their music, you could still listen to McVie’s singing voice and marvel at its singularity.
Here are three thoughts that I’ve had over the last twenty-four hours:
My big sister, Mary, was 13 years older than me. And she was my introduction to Fleetwood Mac. I connect so much of my love of 1970s music to Mary’s record collection and favorite radio stations. She was only 27 when she died in a Montana house fire. My grief at her death has never left me. It’s changed shape and size but it’s still ever-present. Christine McVie’s death has me thinking of my big sister and her death. I’m mourning both women today.
McVie’s music was so extraordinary that it had me believing that revolution was coming when Bill Clinton used “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” as his campaign theme song back in 1992. Yep, McVie’s words and music had me believing that a corporate Democrat was going to be something more than a corporate Democrat. Yeesh.
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors was released in 1977. Yep, Rumors is 45 years old! I sound like an ancient grandpa asshole but I just don’t think much of today’s pop and rock music will still be relevant in 50 years. I’ve had this discussion with my fellow ancient grandpa assholes. Which musicians of last 10 years will still be filling stadiums and arenas in 2068? Taylor Swift is our best bet. I like Swift’s music (“Out of the Woods” is my favorite song of hers) but I seriously doubt tens of thousands of fans will fill a stadium for her a half-century from now. Here’s the thing: McVie and Fleetwood Mac have been vital at every stage of my life. I’ve loved them from childhood until now—from cassette to CD to Spotify. They’ve always been on my Most Played lists. I know my love for McVie is nostalgic but it’s not only that. The music also feels contemporary to me. It speaks to my emotions right now.
As a more ancient grandpa asshole, yep! My past is populated with older voices, but ... yep.
Someone has commented, correctly I think, that grief doesn’t diminish with time, rather we grow around it, and from it. Deaths like Christine’s, and our loved ones’, are painful, always, and diminishing, at least initially, but as your post and various comments illustrate, they can help us grow into our better and larger selves.
Thanks for sharing. It always amazes me how music, upon hearing the first chord, can zap you into a moment in time of your life. So personal a memory yet collective when you talk of a band like Fleetwood Mac...they owned the radio airways in the late 70's...and everyone listened to the radio.
That's the difference today...sooooooo many ways to hear music and much easier to personally get your music out there (just look at all the talent on Tik Toc, let alone other sources). It's like information overload with no funnel.