"Rhiannon" (also released as "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)") is a song written by Stevie Nicks and originally recorded by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac on their eponymous album in 1975; it was issued as a single the following year. The song's U.S. chart peak was in June 1976, when it hit no. 11.[3] The song peaked at no. 46 in the UK singles chart for three weeks after re-release in February 1978.[4]
The song is referred to as simply "Rhiannon" on Fleetwood Mac albums, except on the 2003 and 2016 remasters of Fleetwood Mac and the 2018 compilation album 50 Years – Don't Stop, on which the title "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" is used. The single version also used this title when it was originally released to the American and European markets.
When Nicks performed the song live, she often introduced it by saying "This is a song about an old Welsh witch."[6] During 1975–1980, Fleetwood Mac's live performances of "Rhiannon" took on a theatrical intensity not present on the FM-radio single. The song built to a climax in which Nicks' vocals were so impassioned that, as drummer and band co-founder Mick Fleetwood recalled, "her Rhiannon in those days was like an exorcism."[7]
Nicks discovered the Rhiannon character in the early 1970s through a novel called Triad by Mary Bartlet Leader.[8] The novel is about a woman named Branwen who is possessed by a witch named Rhiannon. There is mention of the Welsh legend of Rhiannon in the novel, but the characters in the novel bear little resemblance to their original Welsh namesakes (both Rhiannon and Branwen are major female characters in the medieval Welsh prose tales of the Mabinogion).[8][9]
After writing the song, Nicks learned that Rhiannon originated from a Welsh goddess, and was amazed that the haunting song lyrics applied to the Welsh Rhiannon as well. Nicks researched the Mabinogion story and began work on a Rhiannon project, unsure of whether it would become a movie, a musical, a cartoon, or a ballet. There were several Rhiannon-centered and themed songs from this unfinished project, including "Stay Away" and "Maker of Birds." Additionally, Nicks wrote the Fleetwood Mac song "Angel" based on the Rhiannon story.[9]
Reception
Billboard described "Rhiannon" as a "haunting song" with an "infectious melody".[10]
^Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 296. ISBN9780862415419.
^Rock Movers & Shakers by Dafydd Rees & Luke Crampton, 1991 Billboard Books.
^The Great Rock Discography. Martin C. Strong. Page 378. ISBN1-84195-312-1
^"Fleetwood Mac's 50 Greatest Songs". Rolling Stone. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
^"17 Reasons This 'Rhiannon' Clip Is the Coolest Thing in the Universe". 26 May 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^"Stevie Nicks - Behind the Music". rockalittle.com.
^ abDeMain, Bill (4 September 2015). "Fleetwood Mac: the story behind Rhiannon". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 17 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ab"Stevie Nicks on Rhiannon". inherownwords. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
^"Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 28 February 1976. p. 64. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 22 May 1976. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^"Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". www.musicoutfitters.com.
^. tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
^"British single certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Rhiannon". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^"Glen Cook aux Utopiales 2011 : l'interview". Elbakin.net.
External links
January 31, 2023
rhiannon, song, rhiannon, also, released, rhiannon, will, ever, song, written, stevie, nicks, originally, recorded, british, american, rock, band, fleetwood, their, eponymous, album, 1975, issued, single, following, year, song, chart, peak, june, 1976, when, s. Rhiannon also released as Rhiannon Will You Ever Win is a song written by Stevie Nicks and originally recorded by the British American rock band Fleetwood Mac on their eponymous album in 1975 it was issued as a single the following year The song s U S chart peak was in June 1976 when it hit no 11 3 The song peaked at no 46 in the UK singles chart for three weeks after re release in February 1978 4 Rhiannon Single by Fleetwood Macfrom the album Fleetwood MacB side Sugar Daddy ReleasedFebruary 1976 US 1 April 1976 UK 2 RecordedFebruary 1975GenreRock soft rock blues rockLength4 11 Album version 3 46 Single version LabelRepriseSongwriter s Stevie NicksProducer s Fleetwood Mac Keith OlsenFleetwood Mac singles chronology Over My Head 1975 Rhiannon 1976 Say You Love Me 1976 Rhiannon was voted no 488 in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine They also ranked the song number six on their list of the 50 greatest Fleetwood Mac songs 5 The song is referred to as simply Rhiannon on Fleetwood Mac albums except on the 2003 and 2016 remasters of Fleetwood Mac and the 2018 compilation album 50 Years Don t Stop on which the title Rhiannon Will You Ever Win is used The single version also used this title when it was originally released to the American and European markets When Nicks performed the song live she often introduced it by saying This is a song about an old Welsh witch 6 During 1975 1980 Fleetwood Mac s live performances of Rhiannon took on a theatrical intensity not present on the FM radio single The song built to a climax in which Nicks vocals were so impassioned that as drummer and band co founder Mick Fleetwood recalled her Rhiannon in those days was like an exorcism 7 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 Personnel 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditNicks discovered the Rhiannon character in the early 1970s through a novel called Triad by Mary Bartlet Leader 8 The novel is about a woman named Branwen who is possessed by a witch named Rhiannon There is mention of the Welsh legend of Rhiannon in the novel but the characters in the novel bear little resemblance to their original Welsh namesakes both Rhiannon and Branwen are major female characters in the medieval Welsh prose tales of the Mabinogion 8 9 After writing the song Nicks learned that Rhiannon originated from a Welsh goddess and was amazed that the haunting song lyrics applied to the Welsh Rhiannon as well Nicks researched the Mabinogion story and began work on a Rhiannon project unsure of whether it would become a movie a musical a cartoon or a ballet There were several Rhiannon centered and themed songs from this unfinished project including Stay Away and Maker of Birds Additionally Nicks wrote the Fleetwood Mac song Angel based on the Rhiannon story 9 Reception EditBillboard described Rhiannon as a haunting song with an infectious melody 10 Personnel EditFleetwood Mac Stevie Nicks lead vocals Lindsey Buckingham guitar background vocals Christine McVie keyboards background vocals John McVie bass guitar Mick Fleetwood drumsCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1976 PeakpositionCanada Adult Contemporary RPM 11 4Canada Top Singles RPM 12 4Australia Kent Music Report 13 13Dutch Singles Chart 16US Billboard Hot 100 14 11US Billboard Adult Contemporary 15 33US Cash Box Top 100 16 9Re issueChart 1978 PeakpositionUK Singles Chart 46 Year end charts Edit Chart 1976 RankAustralia Kent Music Report 13 100Canada 17 63US Billboard Hot 100 18 76US Cash Box 19 74Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 20 Platinum 600 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone In popular culture EditAuthor Glen Cook stated in an interview 21 that the title for his novel She Is the Darkness was taken from the lyrics of Rhiannon The song made an appearance in the second episode of American Horror Story Coven and was subsequently performed by Nicks herself in a guest appearance in the tenth episode The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks References Edit Fleetwood mac singles Strong Martin Charles 1995 The Great Rock Discography p 296 ISBN 9780862415419 Rock Movers amp Shakers by Dafydd Rees amp Luke Crampton 1991 Billboard Books The Great Rock Discography Martin C Strong Page 378 ISBN 1 84195 312 1 Fleetwood Mac s 50 Greatest Songs Rolling Stone 22 September 2019 Retrieved 30 January 2022 17 Reasons This Rhiannon Clip Is the Coolest Thing in the Universe 26 May 2020 Retrieved 24 August 2022 Stevie Nicks Behind the Music rockalittle com a b DeMain Bill 4 September 2015 Fleetwood Mac the story behind Rhiannon Classic Rock Magazine Retrieved 17 March 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Stevie Nicks on Rhiannon inherownwords Retrieved 19 September 2015 Top Single Picks PDF Billboard 28 February 1976 p 64 Retrieved 13 July 2020 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 22 May 1976 Retrieved 11 May 2020 Top RPM Singles Issue 4128a RPM Library and Archives Canada a b National Top 100 Singles for 1976 Kent Music Report 27 December 1976 Retrieved 15 January 2022 via Imgur Fleetwood Mac Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Whitburn Joel 1993 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 1993 Record Research p 88 Cash Box Top 100 5 29 76 tropicalglen com Top Singles Volume 26 No 14 amp 15 January 08 1977 RPM Library and Archives Canada Archived from the original on 19 March 2016 Retrieved 15 July 2017 Top 100 Hits of 1976 Top 100 Songs of 1976 www musicoutfitters com Cash Box YE Pop Singles 1976 tropicalglen com Archived from the original on 20 October 2018 Retrieved 21 July 2017 British single certifications Fleetwood Mac Rhiannon British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 28 September 2022 Glen Cook aux Utopiales 2011 l interview Elbakin net External links EditSong lyrics at the official Fleetwood Mac site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhiannon song amp oldid 1133702754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
