WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T GET MUCH NICKS LAST NIGHT

It's not all about the music
Ann Powers
LA Times

Today's biggest stars are those who embody powerful archetypes so well that a misplaced note or two may be kindly overlooked.

That last situation applies to Taylor Swift, who continued her winning streak by taking home album of the year for "Fearless," a recording that has seemingly won every available prize in the last year. Swift, 20, is a songwriter; she thanked her record label for "letting me write every song on my album" while accepting one of her awards.

But as well-crafted as her platinum-selling tales of suburban high school life are, it's Swift's persona that really sells. This smart young woman comes across as a perky, living American Girl doll, and that appealing version of traditional young womanhood, not her music, is at the heart of her stardom.

Her singing certainly can't be credited. Appealing enough on record, it always seems to let her down live. Swift gave a strikingly bad vocal performance at Staples Center on Sunday, sounding tinny and rhythmically flat-footed as she shared the microphone with the distinctive Stevie Nicks. Swift's inability to match or support Nicks as they worked through a medley of each woman's hits stood in stark contrast to the evening's other pairings, particularly soul man Maxwell's sensitive response to Roberta Flack and Lady Gaga's bravado turn with Elton John.

Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks

Time.com

Taylor Swift isn't even old enough to drink legally and yet the country-pop crossover picked up four Grammys, including Best Album of the Year. Man, I have done nothing with my life.

But something is off in her performance. Swift doesn't sound her best, especially in comparison to Stevie Nicks, her duet partner. And who made the decision to let Nicks sing a high school love anthem? Really, Stevie — you feel like you're the type of girl who's left sitting on the bleachers? The duet seems more like a p.r. stunt than a true performance. But I really like Nicks' ridiculously ribboned tambourine, so maybe I'll forgive her.

10 Things I Learned from the 2010 Grammy Awards Show

Accociated Content

#2 Steve Nicks doesn't mind being a backup singer. You'd think at a show like this, there wouldn't be enough space for all of the egos in the room. Still, I was surprised to see the legendary Stevie Nicks play second fiddle to Taylor Swift during their duet together. It seemed as though Stevie only sang a few bars of her hit song Rhiannon by herself before Swift quickly swooped in and dominated the performance. Maybe it was supposed to be that way. It was just surprising, since we haven't seen much of Nicks lately and we certainly didn't get to see much of her last night.

MICK AND LYNN FLEETWOOD (GRAMMY RED CARPET) MORE STEVIE NICKS AND TAYLOR SHOTS

STEVIE NICKS BACKSTAGE AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS

Stevie and Sheryl Crow backstage at the Grammy's

(VIDEO) STEVIE NICKS PERFORMING ON GRAMMY'S WITH TAYLOR SWIFT

Taylor Swift Shares The Stage With Stevie Nicks At The Grammys
After 'Today Was a Fairytale,' Swift is joined by the former Fleetwood Mac singer for 'Rhiannon' and 'You Belong With Me.'
By Eric Ditzian
MTV.COM

Little over an hour after accepting the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, comparing the win to an impossible dream, Taylor Swift took the stage at the Staples Center to perform a medley of her own tunes, as well as a song from one of her childhood heroes, who joined her onstage.

Ditching her sparkling evening gown for a more casual blouse-and-jeans combo, Swift took center stage with her guitar strapped to her shoulder for "Today Was a Fairytale." Swift then announced, "It's a fairly tale and an honor to share the stage with Stevie Nicks."

The former Fleetwood Mac singer then walked onstage. The two stood side by side, singing Fleetwood's "Rhiannon," at times a tad less harmonically than one would have hoped. Nonetheless, the women made for a compelling twosome, a portrait of two generations separated by years but drawn together by music.

Swift then grabbed her guitar for the third and final part in her medley, jumping into a twangy version of "You Belong With Me." Nicks stood back, tapping her tambourine and nodding in appreciation, every so often stepping up to the mic to share singing duties with the young artist.

At the end, Swift and Nicks embraced. It would have already been a killer night for the 20-year-old singer: Before her Best Country Album win (Fearless), she notched victories for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song ("White Horse"). But there's a lot more still to come, including Swift's battle for Album of the Year against Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and Dave Matthews Band.


Taylor Swift Duets With Stevie Nicks at the Grammys
Spinner.ca

It was a pairing with a legend and one in the making, as Fleetwood Mac's leading lady Stevie Nicks joined Taylor Swift onstage at the Grammys. Earlier in the evening, Swift described Nicks as "her hero" and she opened her performance with 'Today Was a Fairytale,' playing a quick version on the acoustic before bringing out Nicks for Mac's 'Rhiannon.'

"It's a fairytale and an honor to share the stage with Stevie Nicks," she said as Nicks walked out. The version was cut short so they could duet on a banjo-driven version of Swift's hit 'You Belong With Me.' Throughout the performance, Swift and Nicks were making constant eye contact, with Swift dancing up close to her while strumming the guitar and Nicks playing the tambourine.

While Fleetwood fans probably wouldn't say this was Nick's best vocal duet, it was still one of the nicer surprises of the evening. Earlier, Swift took home the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal.

Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks' Grammys duet: Out of sight, or out of tune?
by Clark Collis
Entertainment Weekly

The last thing I want to do is ruin another awards ceremony for Taylor Swift. But there’s no doubt that someone was badly off-key during the version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” that the country superstar just performed with Stevie Nicks at the Grammy Awards. And I’m afraid my money’s on Taylor. Moreover, I’m not the only person at the Music Mix who cringed at the sight of Stevie acting as Taylor’s backing singer on “You Belong To Me.” As one of my colleagues just emailed me: “Stevie Nicks is the ‘Gold Dust Woman,’ goddammit!”

(PHOTO) BEAUTIFUL SHOT OF MICK AND COLBIE WALKING ON STAGE

Presenters Colbie Caillat and Mick Fleetwood walk onstage during the pre-telecast of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles January 31, 2010. Photo by: Danny Moloshok

THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND ON THE RED CARPET

PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISBHARRISON

NO GRAMMY LOVE FOR THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND

The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito goes home empty handed during the Pre-Telecast Grammy show.

Nominated in the category of “Best Traditional Blues Album.” “BLUE AGAIN,” is released on the Savoy label Group’s 429 Records label, is a project showcasing iconic rock drummer and Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood and his Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, a top notch quartet of musicians featuring Rick Vito. Produced by Mick Fleetwood and Rick Vito, the recording is equal parts blues rave-up and loving homage to the early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, revisiting the blues-based classic songs of early Fleetwood Mac along with several new compositions in riveting live performance. Released on March 17 on 429 Records (home of last year’s “Best Contemporary Blues Album” Grammy winner Dr. John), “BLUE AGAIN” was an instant commercial and critical success which debuted in the top 20 on the iTunes Overall Chart and both the Billboard and iTunes Blues charts.

TAYLOR SWIFTS FIRST EVER GRAMMY PRESENTED BY MICK FLEETWOOD

Colbie Caillat and Mick Fleetwood present Taylor Swift with her very first Grammy Award and also her second.  View the clips here:
Grammy #1 | Grammy #2

Stevie and Taylor will duet later tonight on the main televised show... Should be good!!

(PHOTOS) MICK FLEETWOOD AND COLBIE CAILLAT PRESENTING PRE-TELECAST GRAMMY'S

Mick and Colbie are on right now presenting on the Pre-Grammy Telecast:  Go to Grammy.com to stream the show live.

STEVIE AND FERGIE

Fergie meets up with Stevie Nicks - one of her idols at the Grammy rehearsals.

Photo Credit: Fergie

GRAMMY REHEARSALS DAY 1 (TAYLOR SWIFT AND STEVIE NICKS)

SWIFTWOOD MAC IN ACTION
Entertainment Weekly

Friday brought the chance to see Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks collaborate in one of those moments the Grammys are known for. Swift — who has a very good shot at sweeping this year’s major categories, in my opinion — doesn’t wear her Fleetwood Mac fandom on her sleeve as a songwriter, but it is apparently there, for after running through her current single, “Today Was a Fairytale,” she used her very most dramatic voice to introduce her duet partner: “And now, my fairytale dream comes true: I get to share a stage with Stevie Nicks.” The two women’s voices complimented each other nicely on the harmonies of “Rhiannon,” before moving into a more awkward mandolin-fueled hoedown version of “You Belong With Me.” Never thought I’d see Stevie Nicks playing tambourine behind Taylor Swift, but that’s the magic of Music’s Biggest Night.

For Swiftwood Mac and all the rest of the action, tune in to the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, live on CBS, Sunday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. ET/PT

FLEETWOOD MAC - PUTTING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD "TECHNICALLY"

If you are into all the technical aspects regarding putting a tour together from the lighting to the mic's... hit the link to the full article.

FLEETWOOD MAC
TOTAL PRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL

Rumours of TPi’s backstage presence at Wembley Arena were true. Mark Cunningham met the Fleetwood Mac crew as the anglo-american legends prepared to unleash their greatest hits...

Fleetwood Mac’s 2009 Unleashed tour went through six weeks of rehearsals at Sony Studios in Los Angeles early this year, before playing its opening show on March 1 at Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena. Managed by Marty Hom, the tour arrived in Europe on October 8 with a Copenhagen date, and hit the UK 14 days later.

Production manager Bobby Herr visited the UK a week early with rigger/carpenters Jack Deitering and Roland Castillo, and stage manager Larry Yager to meet the team at All Access Staging & Productions’ brand new UK operation in Woking, just off the M25.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: TOTAL PRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL