Early life
Christine Anne Perfect was born on July 12th, 1943. Her father, Cyril, was a college professor and concert violinist, and mother Beatrice (called Tee) was a medium, a psychic and a faith healer. Her grandfather had played the organ in Westminster Abbey. Although Christine had been introduced to the piano at age four, she didn't really take to music until she was 11. She continued taking classical music lessons until the age of 15, when her older brother, John, brought home a Fats Domino songbook which transformed her musical interest from classical music to rock n' roll. Other early influences include The Everly Brothers and The Beatles.
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Early Music
Christine studied sculpture at an art college in Birmingham, England for 5 years, with the goal of becoming an art teacher. During that time she met a number of budding musicians in England's blues scene. During her time at college Christine joined a small blues band called "Shades Of Blue" in which she played bass, also in her spare she would sing with Spencer Davis. After 5 years Christine graduated from art college with a teaching degree. She moved to London, where she worked briefly as a department store window-dresser.
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Chicken Shack
In 1968 she met up with her friends Andy Sylvester & Stan Webb, and they invited her to play keyboards/piano and sing background vocals in their band Chicken Shack, a blues band which had difficulty finding mainstream success. Christine stayed with Chicken Shack for 2 albums and together they scored the top 10 British hit "I'd Rather Go Blind" with Christine on lead vocals. She was also given a Melody Maker award for female vocalist of the year, and she was lauded for having one of the "top 10 pairs of legs in all of Britain". Christine left Chicken Shack in 1969 after meeting Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie.
Fleetwood Mac
Christine was a big fan of Fleetwood Mac at the time and while touring with Chicken Shack the two bands would often run into each other. Encouraged to continue her career, she recorded a solo album, Christine Perfect, which she does not feel is among her better works. As Christine McVie, she joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970, just after marrying Fleetwood Mac bass guitarist John McVie. She had already contributed backup vocals, played keyboards, and painted the cover for Kiln House. The band had just lost founding member Peter Green and its members were nervous about touring without him. McVie had been a huge fan of the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac, and since she knew all the lyrics to their songs, she went along. McVie quickly became an essential member of the group, and the author of some of its finest songs, a position she would continue to hold for nearly 25 years.
The early '70s was a rocky time for the band, with a revolving door of musicians, and only the albums Mystery To Me and Bare Trees scoring any successes, not to mention that a group impersonating Fleetwood Mac was touring the United States without their permission. John McVie's alcohol drinking became unbearable; Christine had an affair with a music producer, and she nearly left John and the band to make a solo album with her lover. However, he went back to his spouse, so she did the same.
In 1974, Christine McVie reluctantly agreed to move with the rest of the band to the US and make a fresh start. Within a year, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Buckingham Nicks joined the band. They breathed new life into the music. Their first album together, 1975's Fleetwood Mac, had several hit songs, with McVie's "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me" both reaching Billboard's top-20 singles chart.
In 1976, McVie began an on-the-road affair with the band's lighting director, which inspired her to write "You Make Loving Fun", a top-10 hit on the landmark smash Rumours, one of the best-selling albums of all-time. Her biggest hit was "Don't Stop", which climbed all the way to #3 and has become identified forever as the song Bill Clinton played on the Presidential campaign trail and at his 1993 Inaugural Gala (McVie and the others performed there, as well as at the Super Bowl a few days later).
By the end of the Rumours tour, the McVies had divorced. The 1979 double album Tusk produced three more top-20 hits ("Tusk," "Sara," and "Think About Me"), but it was considered a disappointment since practically nothing could top the success of the Rumours album. The group reunited three years later to record Mirage, which contained the top-5 hit "Hold Me". "Hold Me" was also the band's first music video; McVie's inspiration for the song was her tortured relationship with Beach Boys member Dennis Wilson. Wilson drowned in an accident a few years later, breaking McVie's heart.
In 1984, McVie decided to take a risk and to record a solo album, as most of the other band members had done. She created hits with the songs "Got a Hold on Me" (Top 10 pop and #1 adult contemporary) and "Love Will Show Us How". The synthesizer-heavy tracks were viewed by some as somewhat jarring in contrast to the crisp and clear singing tones of McVie. Nevertheless, McVie is quoted in The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits as saying of her solo album, "Maybe it isn't the most adventurous album in the world, but I wanted to be honest and please my own ears with it."
She also met keyboardist Eddy Quintela (12 years her junior), whom she married in October 1986. They divorced a decade later. In the meantime, they wrote several songs together, two of which, "Little Lies" and "As Long As You Follow," became hits for Fleetwood Mac.
After covering the Elvis Presley standard "Can't Help Falling In Love With You" for the Howie Mandel film A Fine Mess, she rejoined Fleetwood Mac to record the Tango in the Night album. Her voice had never been better and she had one of her hits, and one of the more widely played songs of the era, "Little Lies".
In 1990 the band, minus Lindsey Buckingham, recorded Behind the Mask, but the sales were sluggish and the singles were only marginally successful. McVie had always been reluctant to go on concert tours, preferring to stay close to home with friends and family. Upon the death of her father, Cyril Perfect, that year, during the Behind The Mask tour, McVie made the decision to retire from touring altogether. Despite the departure of Stevie Nicks, McVie remained loyal to Mick Fleetwood and her former husband, recording five songs for the band's 1995 effort Time. The album, which suffered from a lack of publicity and was created by a lineup unfamiliar to the public, was a flop.
The members of the band seemed to have gone their separate ways until Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and Lindsey Buckingham got together again for one of Lindsey Buckingham's solo projects. They persuaded Christine to record and tour with them one last time. The live album, 1997's The Dance, went to #1 on the charts. McVie complied with their touring schedule, and then performed for the group's 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the Grammy Awards show, and the Brit Awards. Thereafter, she retired from Fleetwood Mac altogether.
In the years after The Dance, Christine McVie stepped out of public view almost completely. In 2000 she did, however, appear in public to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Greenwich, England. Some years later, in December 2003, she went to see Fleetwood Mac's last UK performance on the Say You Will tour in London, but did not join her former bandmates on the stage.
Mid-2004 saw the release of McVie's new solo album, "In the Meantime", her third in a career spanning five decades. Recorded in her converted barn in Kent, England, McVie worked on the project with her nephew, Dan Perfect, who contributed guitar-playing, back-up vocals, and songwriting. There was no tour to accompany this album, though McVie consented to a limited number of press interviews in the UK and the USA. Prior to her death on 30 November 2022 at the age of 79 (after a short illness), McVie lived in the south of England and rarely left her countryside home.
RIP 2022
Christine McVie, singer and keyboardist for classic rock icons Fleetwood Mac, died at the age of 79 on Nov. 30, 2022. Her family issued a statement saying she "passed away peacefully at hospital... following a short illness." McVie and Steve Nicks were a powerful one-two vocal punch for the prolific hitmakers during the 70's and 80's.
The band had this to say about McVie's passing: "There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine MCVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure. She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life. We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed. - Fleetwood Mac."
You Are
Christine McVie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have opened my eyes and truly seen
The colour of the eyes
The feel of your lips on mine
It took me a thousand years
To discover love is fine
You are
The touch of your hand is like a blind man
That now can see
The colour of your eyes
The feel of your lips on mine
It took me a thousand years
To discover love is fine
When you slow down
Won't you give me some time
I wait endlessly
There's no reason or rhyme
For the joy and pain your bring me
I guess it's not a crime
Well if it is then you're guilty
But somehow we will be fine
You are
Everything to me
The touch of your hand is like a blind man
That now can see
The colour of your eyes
The feel of your lips on mine
It took me a thousand years
To discover love is fine
Everything you are
Everything you feel
Belongs in a little way to me
Like a spinning wheel
You know
You know
You know
You know
In Christine McVie's song "You Are", she expresses her romantic feelings towards her lover. The song talks about her awe and wonder at the sight of her lover and how the touch of his hands has transformed her life. The lyricist goes ahead to express how love is something she has only discovered after years of searching. The song uses a variety of metaphors ranging from a dream, a blind man that can now see, and a spinning wheel to describe the depth of emotions she feels for her lover. The song also touches on the aspect of patience and endurance as she pleads with her lover to slow down and be patient with her.
The first verse talks about the lyricist's amazement at the fact that she's in love. She admits that she has opened her eyes and truly seen the beauty of love. The second verse emphasizes how her lover is everything to her, and how his touch has transformed her life. The lyrical content emphasizes the importance of love, and its power to change and transform lives. Furthermore, the song addresses the struggles that come with love but seems to suggest that true love is worth waiting for, no matter how long it may take.
In conclusion, "You Are" is a love song that describes the awe, wonder, and admiration someone can feel towards their lover. The song highlights the importance of love, and its power to change lives for the better. The lyricist uses a variety of metaphors to convey her emotions, and the song speaks to the beauty and endurance that true love can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me the whole thing isn't a dream
I want to confirm that what we have is real
I have opened my eyes and truly seen
I have finally realized what love really means
The colour of the eyes
Your eyes are captivating
The feel of your lips on mine
Your touch brings me to life
It took me a thousand years
It took me a lifetime to find true love
To discover love is fine
I have found that love is worth everything
You are
You mean everything to me
Everything to me
You are my world
The touch of your hand is like a blind man
Your touch has made me see things I never saw before
That now can see
You have showed me a whole new world
When you slow down
I need you to take things easy
Won't you give me some time
I need some space to think
I wait endlessly
I am always here for you
There's no reason or rhyme
I cannot explain why I love you so much
For the joy and pain your bring me
You bring both happiness and pain, but I still love you
I guess it's not a crime
Loving you should not be a bad thing
Well if it is then you're guilty
If loving you is wrong, then I don't want to be right
But somehow we will be fine
We will overcome everything together
Everything you are
Everything about you is wonderful
Everything you feel
I want to share all your emotions
Belongs in a little way to me
I feel a small part of everything you do
Like a spinning wheel
Our love is always turning and evolving
You know
You understand me completely
You know
You see right through me
You know
You are always there for me
You know
You are my everything
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christine McVie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Don Won
This woman's sense of melody is almost like a female Paul McCartney! She is so underrated but I don't think she cares. Her voice really compliments those lovely melodies too!
Jenny Gutierrez
this is a beautiful song rock on christine.it has soo much meaning, made purely from the heart.
Mark C
Christy, I can't help it but your voice is touches me and I just love it so much. So rythmic and soulful. I just have to cry its always that spiritual to me for lack of a better word. Please keep singing and get any album you put out. Man it feels good to e press myself. Ĺove Love your voice it juzt has that something that touches at least me. Love you in a soulful singing way. Keep going!!!!
SuperGeemac
Christine describes perfectly how it feels to be in love
burlingtonbill1
Thanks Chris for this gem! I hope you are happy in your retirement...you deserve the best after all the joy you brought so many people for so many years. I love you for your gifts to us and your sweet spirit! And thanks to the poster person for putting this up.
blak bird
I think some of her best work was on Future Games as well as Kiln House and Bare Trees, I'm lucky enough to have an original The Legendary Christine Perfect LP. Saw them at UNC-Chapel Hill about 70-71 made eye contact with her, mouthed I Love You and she smiled at me...I was smitten!
michael19541
Loves, 'Future Games' LP, sands of time, woman of a thousand years...immortal.
Bryan Haugen
Very beautiful voice from a Very beautiful person.
Big Craig
One of my all time favorite songs, wonderful voice and one damn sexy woman.......
thanapol chaiyawong
she's the best and the key of success of Chicken Shack and Fleetwood Mac.I really adored her......