'Sad Angel' is a song by
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the line-up for their epony ...
, written by guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, from their EP ''
Extended Play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. '', released in 2013.
Background
"Sad Angel" and another Buckingham song, "Miss Fantasy", were intended to be released before their 2013 world tour. This did not happen, and it was instead included on ''Extended Play''. Like many of his songs, Buckingham wrote "Sad Angel" for his former girlfriend
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist.
After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...
. "All these years later, we are still writing songs that are dialogues for each other," he says. "That was part of the appeal of ''Rumours'', and of the group in general... Of all the things we cut, "Sad Angel" was, for lack of a better term, the most Fleetwood Mac-y. It was really kind of the best stuff that we have done in a while."
"Sad Angel" was also performed on Fleetwood Mac's 2013 world tour,
Fleetwood Mac Live.
Reception
Dave Lifton of Ultimate Classic Rock gave the song 7/10. While praising the rhythm section of
Mick Fleetwood and
John McVie, he felt that Stevie Nicks' vocals were lacking, with her trademark personality absent. "...For a band that has traded so frequently on the duo's history together, "Sad Angel" doesn't offer much in the way of tension between its two lead singers."
IGN gave the song a 9.8, complimenting both the instrumentation and harmonies, labeling it as the highlight of the EP, along with "Miss Fantasy". Buckingham's electric guitar playing was praised, giving the song "a good deal of momentum", and the instrumentation in general "upbeat and superb". Both singers' vocals were considered strong, providing the song with their trademark harmony. "Judging by this track, one could say that life has been good to Fleetwood Mac, specifically Buckingham and Nicks. A bright spot and possibly the highlight of their musicianship from the past 15 years or so…"
Personnel
*
Mick Fleetwood –
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
,
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
*
John McVie –
bass guitar
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
*
Lindsey Buckingham –
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
,
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
,
keyboards
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
,
lead vocals
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...
*
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist.
After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...
– backing vocals
Charts
References
{{Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac songs
2013 songs
Songs written by Lindsey Buckingham