Stevie Nicks’ first solo track in 6 years, ‘Show Them The Way’, has been released ahead of an exciting calendar of events and new music as Nicks prepares to get back on the road and sharing music as soon as the pandemic is over.
The idea for the song is reported to have come to Nicks in a dream in the earliest stages of the 2008 presidential elections. At the time, Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton were competing for the Democratic Party nomination. In the dream Nicks is performing for a crowd at a political rally, attended by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., JFK and John Lennon.
“Nicks prays for strength and power”
Calling on God to help guide these leaders and voices through the unprecedented changes in the 1960s’ civil rights movement, Stevie Nicks prays for strength and power for these figures to reshape society and make positive change in the United States and around the world.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Nicks opened up about the dream and subsequent track being a sign of a need for hope. She said:
“This song really is a prayer. This song is a prayer for people to unite. A prayer for people to get together.”
In the music video, we see black and white footage of these historical figures at their most iconic and recognised speeches, events and meetings – the most poignant moments in history across the civil rights movements. Amongst the images collated and directed by Cameron Crowe (Academy Award-winning filmmaker) are figures such as Barack Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy. As well as moments in history that will never be forgotten – such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963, and George W. Bush with first responders at Ground Zero on 9/11 2001.
“This track certainly delivers.”
As the first woman to be placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, fans always hold high expectations for Nicks’ new solo releases. With Foo Fighters icon and frontman Dave Grohl on drums, and Eurythmics legend Dave Stewart on guitar helping out, this track certainly delivers.
The new track arrives as fans are preparing for Stevie Nicks’ concert film, Stevie Nicks 24 Karat Gold The Concert, which follows the release of her 2014 LP 24 Karat Gold – the last before Show Them The Way. It will be in cinemas and drive-in theatres around the world at the end of October.
“‘[the pandemic] is stealing what I consider to be my last youthful years.'”
Nicks is said to be raring to get back on stage and feels to be wasting her years now at home instead of making the most of performing. Aged 72, Stevie Nicks doesn’t want to waste a second, telling The Associated Press that “This pandemic is more than just a pandemic for me. This is stealing what I consider to be my last youthful years”. Hopefully, it will be safe to get back on the tour bus soon and the world will be able to enjoy a rendition of this powerful 6:31 minute narrative of Nicks’ dreams of the civil rights movement from the crowd.
Stevie Nicks’ ‘Show Them The Way’ is available via BMG Rights Management LLC.
Caitlin Parr
Featured Image courtesy of Eva Rinaldi on Flickr. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to the image.