Today it's common practice to film brands practicing, goofing around backstage, hanging out in tour vans, even eating breakfast. Cell phone cameras and YouTube have made behind-the-scenes footage easy to capture, and, some might argue, necessary for a band or artist to stay relevant. But back in 1981, the capturing of unscripted moments was less prevalent. Yes, it happened, on photo shoots and for documentaries, but the camera wasn't as ubiquitous, a fact that makes this footage of Stevie Nicks breaking out into "The Wild Heart" while getting her makeup done backstage special and rare (more after the jump).
My cousin Andrew sent me this video last week. We were talking, I was sad, and he said that this always helps cheer him up. "It's breathtaking," he said, "I've watched it over 50 times. And I thought 'The Wild Heart' and 'The Wilder Things' was a good match." His thinking of me and sending it to me made me as happy as the video itself did.
Stevie, who breaks out into song while getting her makeup done, is so animated and passionate that I totally understand why Andrew says it can make him feel better: I feel a little swell of happiness when I watch it. There's an innocence to her voice and her body language that shows how much fun she's having, how willing she is to lose herself in the song. I love how the woman trying to apply Stevie's makeup just stops after a while and kind of joins in with her, and the way Stevie sings to her, and the way they both sway back and forth a little bit.
I also love the lyrics: "blame it on my wild heart." As Andrew mentioned, it probably has something to do with the title of this blog and with my last name, but I think the sentiment is a pretty good one. A wild heart. A good and dangerous thing to have.
So, without further ado, here's Stevie. I hope you like the video as much as I do, and that if you're feeling sad, it helps make you a little happier. Thanks, Andrew, you're the best.
