Music Review: Stevie Nicks "Whole Lotta Trouble"
Stevie Nicks
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Whole Lotta Trouble
Album: Other Side Of The Mirror
Year: 1989
Stevie Nicks is involved in an undefined relationship with an ex-boyfriend in the smoldering “Whole Lotta Trouble.”
A kindling keyboard and a blazing drum open the single, setting an unspoken tone. In the first verse, she and her ex-boyfriend have talked about being a relationship. However, he reasons that it didn’t work the first time and they are better together as friends. They spent the whole night talking about the future and ignored the past, glaring right at them. Nonetheless, she ponders if during one of their goodbye hugs, a fantasy of them flashes in his mind. He tells her to stay and be with him for a while. But in reality, he asks her the next time she’s available to meet again. Nicks responds that it can’t be until sometime next week. She’s curious if they could begin where they left off or fight off awkwardness. She hopes he thinks about them and wonder what they are doing.
In the chorus, she says it will confuse him and force him to come to terms about how he truly feels about her.
In the second verse, she believes he’s afraid to try again. Even though Nicks often enters his dreams as his lover, he cannot fathom it coming true. It’s overwhelming for him to return to him. It’s what he’s wanted for years and couldn’t say. However, she can read his face and eyes each time he looks at her. She leans towards him, feeling his head resting on her shoulder. She turns to see his eyes closed, his breath warming her. He feels her watching him and stares into her eyes and straight to her heart. She reaches for his face and he backs away, whispering that she has to leave. In a breathless voice, she says it’s probably best for her to go home. The intimacy of the moment surprised the both of them. She yearns for him and can’t contain it anymore. If she has to nudge and prod him along to make him realize what’s going on between them, she will.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says she can’t conceal her emotions. She tells him she is still in love with him. It was gentle shock, knowing she felt for a friend and someone who undoubtedly cared for her. He says if they become a couple again, he will likely trap her again. She tells him he’s letting his mind and logic control him and not his heart. It’s his heart that determines the reality, not the mind.
The kindling keyboard and a blazing drum have a solo.
In the third verse, she says their relationship is affectionate and visceral to be call themselves friends. However, they do not cherish the love and make it into something tangible. They talk about everything else going on in their lives but their feelings for each other. When she leaves him at night, she can hear his sobs from her home. He can feel the reach of his arm onto her chest, holding her for comfort. It unnerves her, shaking her up for the most of the morning.
The chorus is sung twice to close the single.
It’s been three years since they were a couple. Becoming friends again was a slow, gradual process where they both had to get to know each other again. During their time apart, Nicks was finally able to pursue her dreams without worrying about losing herself to him. He, on the other hand, suppressed his emotions further inside and went from one detached relationship to another.
Nicks’ pressing, stout vocals are intuitive and sultry. She knows she can’t live without him. But she knows the struggle it is for him to overcome his heart. She will do whatever she can to push him to feel openly. It’s a need she can’t quench with only private looks.
The red-blooded arrangement pumps and pulsates, stirring the silent liquid words into an emotive language.
The complex “Whole Lotta Trouble” is masterful.
Album: Other Side Of The Mirror
Year: 1989
Stevie Nicks is involved in an undefined relationship with an ex-boyfriend in the smoldering “Whole Lotta Trouble.”
A kindling keyboard and a blazing drum open the single, setting an unspoken tone. In the first verse, she and her ex-boyfriend have talked about being a relationship. However, he reasons that it didn’t work the first time and they are better together as friends. They spent the whole night talking about the future and ignored the past, glaring right at them. Nonetheless, she ponders if during one of their goodbye hugs, a fantasy of them flashes in his mind. He tells her to stay and be with him for a while. But in reality, he asks her the next time she’s available to meet again. Nicks responds that it can’t be until sometime next week. She’s curious if they could begin where they left off or fight off awkwardness. She hopes he thinks about them and wonder what they are doing.
“Would you change your mind, at the very last moment/Would you say stop for a second...I'll bet you could think for a minute/In the morning light...he says, "When will I see you?" She says, "I don't think tomorrow, baby"/Sometimes I wonder if things would change if we stayed together/Would you change your mind, at the very last minute/I think you should stop for a second...Think for a moment.”
In the chorus, she says it will confuse him and force him to come to terms about how he truly feels about her.
“This could be a whole lotta trouble/Whole lotta trouble/Whole lotta trouble for you/Well this could be a whole lotta trouble/Whole lotta trouble/Whole lotta trouble for you.”
In the second verse, she believes he’s afraid to try again. Even though Nicks often enters his dreams as his lover, he cannot fathom it coming true. It’s overwhelming for him to return to him. It’s what he’s wanted for years and couldn’t say. However, she can read his face and eyes each time he looks at her. She leans towards him, feeling his head resting on her shoulder. She turns to see his eyes closed, his breath warming her. He feels her watching him and stares into her eyes and straight to her heart. She reaches for his face and he backs away, whispering that she has to leave. In a breathless voice, she says it’s probably best for her to go home. The intimacy of the moment surprised the both of them. She yearns for him and can’t contain it anymore. If she has to nudge and prod him along to make him realize what’s going on between them, she will.
“And the angel said, "Well you must have had a dream./And you remember it..."Till the dream followed through/Till the -- end of the dream...and the dream came true/When I want something...I get it/"You'd better go," he says, "Yes I think I better,"/Stop for a moment...I think you should think for a minute/Would you change your mind, at the very last minute/When I want something...I get it!”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says she can’t conceal her emotions. She tells him she is still in love with him. It was gentle shock, knowing she felt for a friend and someone who undoubtedly cared for her. He says if they become a couple again, he will likely trap her again. She tells him he’s letting his mind and logic control him and not his heart. It’s his heart that determines the reality, not the mind.
“Oh yeah, oh yeah...Not guilty...Have mercy!/Oh he says, "You could be my prisoner/Well you're not living in the real world…You're not living in the real world."
The kindling keyboard and a blazing drum have a solo.
In the third verse, she says their relationship is affectionate and visceral to be call themselves friends. However, they do not cherish the love and make it into something tangible. They talk about everything else going on in their lives but their feelings for each other. When she leaves him at night, she can hear his sobs from her home. He can feel the reach of his arm onto her chest, holding her for comfort. It unnerves her, shaking her up for the most of the morning.
“You're not my friend...you're not my love/And this is something that we really don't discuss/"Where are you?" Sometimes I hear you crying/And I wake up...and I get through it.”
The chorus is sung twice to close the single.
It’s been three years since they were a couple. Becoming friends again was a slow, gradual process where they both had to get to know each other again. During their time apart, Nicks was finally able to pursue her dreams without worrying about losing herself to him. He, on the other hand, suppressed his emotions further inside and went from one detached relationship to another.
Nicks’ pressing, stout vocals are intuitive and sultry. She knows she can’t live without him. But she knows the struggle it is for him to overcome his heart. She will do whatever she can to push him to feel openly. It’s a need she can’t quench with only private looks.
The red-blooded arrangement pumps and pulsates, stirring the silent liquid words into an emotive language.
The complex “Whole Lotta Trouble” is masterful.