‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac turns 45 - My top five tracks
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’, which celebrated its 45th anniversary in February, is arguably one of the greatest and most well-known albums of all time. Of course, I have always been a fan of the classics like ‘Go Your Own Way’ and ‘Don’t Stop’, however it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I really started enjoying Fleetwood Mac’s music. This is thanks to my favourite artist, Harry Styles, who is good friends with Stevie Nicks, and has performed with her numerous times. This is when I discovered a new love for their music, particularly ‘Rumours’. Don’t get me wrong, it was incredibly difficult to choose a top five for this album, however these are the songs I find myself listening to the most.
5. Never Going Back Again
The bubbly melodies of ‘Never Going Back Again’ are what gave this track fifth place for me. Despite its subject matter (Lindsey Buckingham wrote the song about his breakup with Stevie Nicks), the song is incredibly catchy and just lovely to listen to.
4. Second Hand News
The opening track of Rumours takes fourth place for me. Its upbeat, folk-y tones make it the perfect album opener, setting the tone for the songs that follow. Buckingham’s vocals make the song (which is again about he and Nicks’ breakup) joyful and timeless, and is arguably deserved to be a lead single on the album.
3. The Chain
‘The Chain’ is one of Fleetwood Mac’s most recognisable songs. The first time I heard this song was when Formula 1 was playing on TV as a child, as the iconic instrumental had been the theme tune for years. ‘The Chain’ has the most amazing build-up, and both Nicks and Buckingham’s lead vocals complement each other beautifully. Another reason as to why this track is number three in my ranking is Harry Styles’ iconic cover (which I have seen live twice) and this made the song even more lovable.
2. You Make Loving Fun
It was a close call between my top two tracks, and ‘You Make Loving Fun’ just missed out on the number one spot. The song was written and sung by Christine McVie, and was the final single to be released from the album. I love everything about this song, from the lyrics to the guitar melodies. ‘You Make Loving Fun’ is a fan favourite from the album, and I think its bouncy and playful energy has something to do with this. I love the song purely for how fun it is, and it definitely deserves second place in my ranking.
Dreams
‘Dreams’ is my absolute favourite from Rumours, and is also my favourite Fleetwood Mac song of all time. There is nothing not to like about the song. The lyrics, written by Stevie Nicks, are genius, and the instrumental immediately brings a smile to my face. ‘Dreams’ is the kind of song I love to play when I’m going for a walk on a Spring or Summer’s day, it has a sunny kind of energy to it. The catchy chorus is what makes the song for me. The distinct drum beat and Nicks’ vocals make it ‘dreamy’ if you will, and this song is one that I will never fall out of love with, which is why it is number one in my ranking of top five songs on ‘Rumours’.
Chloe Mullis