Stevie Nicks Gleerified!

The Queen of Rock 'n Roll Stevie Nicks is back with 'In Your Dreams'. Her first solo studio album in a decade released May 4, 2011 that caused tremors among Stevie Nicks' fans around the globe. Music reviewers claim that the album is one of her best. Why, she wrote most of the songs herself. Plus, it is a collaboration of the brightest musicians in the industry. And we know that whenever Stevie Nicks writes her own song, they turn to be gold records. Remember? She's the one who authored "Dreams"? The single which catapulted Fleetwood Mac in to world fame?

But months before the release, Stevie made a visit on the Glee set in support of Glee's "Rumours" episode which covered songs from the Fleetwood Mac, her life-long band. The whole episode was a tribute to Fleetwood Mac. It was written by Ryan Murphy and directed by Tim Hunter. The episode premiered on Fox on May, 2011. (U.S). Also, the episode features the return of Kristin Chenoweth on her recurring role as April Rhodes. The episode became the 13th most viewed TV series in the United States that week and 3rd at United Kingdom.

Storyline

Sue Sylvester (yes, your favorite antagonist) started the fire. The cheerleading coach restored the school paper "Muckraker" in order to destroy the Glee club from within by triggering conflicts among members. The Muckraker spreads rumors that almost tear the group apart. Santana berated Brittany after reading a libelous write-up about her gender issues caused by the latter's internet talk show (Fondue for Two). Another Muckraker item that pairs Sam and Quinn almost caused a fistfight between Sam and Finn. Suspicious, Finn dragged Rachel in to a stakeout with him outside a grungy motel. To their surprised, they instead saw Kurt leaving the motel instead of Quinn which makes the whole situation much more complicated and intriguing.

April Rhodes visits Will Schuester and asked him to help her out with her new all-white version of the Whiz. Wil declined due to club tensions. April then likens their current situation to that of Fleetwood Mac. Will realized the similarity and decides to make the week focused on "Rumours", the best-selling Fleetwood Mac album.

To introduce the new assignment for the week, April and Will sang Dreams to the kids. This lead to a Fleetwood Mac classics parade. Artie finally confronted Brittany about her true relationship with Santana which lead to their sad breakup. Poor Artie sang "Never Going Back Again" after Brittany left him. Santana, filled up with her feeling towards her best friend, finally let it all out with "Songbird". Angry Quinn, on the other hand, gave Finn an ultimatum: not one song with Rachel again or she's out of his life (and glee club as well). The two performed "I Don't Want To Know". Rachel wouldn't back down. She belted "Go On Your Own Way" and let Finn play the drums for her (genius, right?). Rumours then finally came to rest when everyone finds out that Sam and his family now lives in a cheap motel because their house was mortgaged and his parents were jobless for months. Kurt was bringing him some clothes and Quinn looks out for his younger siblings almost every night. After Sam's revelation, the Glee club went to visit Sam along with his pawned guitar (they bought it back). Finn brought him his old garments. It was heartbreaking. For the reconciliation finale, Sam brought his siblings at school and together, they sing "Don't Stop".

Critical Reviews

The episode mostly got favorable reviews. Critics believed that it is better than the preceding episode. CNN France reporter Lisa Respers was amenable that she needed a roll of tissue at the end of the episode. Sam's younger brother and sister were so adorable on the stage singing "Don't Stop" that they made her cry. Obviously, this episode cleverly made use of some of the greatest classics available and integrated it to real drama. Not just for the sake of selling iTunes singles. Eric Futterman believes that the musical number were visually stunning and some of the best in the season. He pointed out that "Songbird" is the most heartbreaking.

Stevie's McKinley stop

The Glee stars were starstrucked when the legend rocker visited the set. The Fleetwood Mac vocalist delivered a memorable speech in front of the cast. Stevie Nicks said, 'If I hadn't been a musician, I would have been a teacher. And I would've hoped to send this message to kids - that although there are very important things like math and science and learning, you know, kind of the things that get you through life, there's also you need to find joy...And whether that's through music or dance or things like that, you need to have outlets in your life.' This part is where Diana Agron cried. The whole cast was moved by her.

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3 Stevie Nicks Song Facts

Legendary rock star Stevie Nicks is back with her good old raspy vocals, signature bangs, high-heeled boots, chiffon lace dresses and her latest album 'In Your Dreams'. Yes, you've been waiting for it and now it's here. The album was released May 4, 2011 and now widely available in your favorite record bars. According to song critics, 'In Your Dreams' is one of her best. Perhaps, because Stevie Nicks wrote and co-authored most of the songs in the package. Plus, the album is a collaboration of some of the most genius musicians around. This fact ensures you that your every buck is worth it. Talking about facts, let's take a look at some of the most interesting facts on why we learned to love Stevie Nicks. Most are background snips of some of her greatest hits.

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around

"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" is Stevie Nicks' first single in her first solo album "Belladona". The album was released July 8, 1981 and "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" became is an instant hit. It ranked #3 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and ranked #2 in the U.S. Billboard Album Rock tracks.

The song was penned by Thomas Petty and Mike Campbell intended for their band. Jimmy Iovine, who was working with Stevie Nicks that time arranged and produced the song for her. Nicks and Tom met during the recording of Petty's group album, "Damn the Torpedoes". Nicks asked Tom if he could write a song for her. Tom didn't think she was serious. A year later, Nicks came to Tom again asking the same thing. Tom wrote 'Insider' for their album Hard Promises, being recorded that time, recorded a demo and sent a copy to Nicks. The rising singer paid a visit to the studio the next day and eagerly taped the song with Petty's band. Tom loved the song and included it in the album.

Petty, impressed with the lovely lady's talent, commissioned Mike Campbell to record a demo of "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around", a song he wrote a year ago. They sent a demo to Nicks which she really liked. After some arrangements, the two decided to make a duet with the song. The end result? Tom thought he could've convened to the lady's request earlier. The hit single turned platinum in just a few months time.

Landslide

If you are a Glee fan, you must have watched the episode when Santana confessed her true feelings with and to Brittany. She can hardly express her sadness with Brit turning down her promiscuous proposal. The two are BFFs so the revelation threatened to ruin their life-long friendship. With the help of Mckinley High substitute teacher Ms. Holly Holiday, the gals let it all out in a song - Landslide. Yes, another Fleetwood Mac classic. "Took my love, I took it down. Climbed a mountain and I turned around. And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills. Till the landslide brought me down..." Yep, those are the symbolic lyrics written by the Rock Queen herself. Many thought it was all about Nick's dad (her dad thought it was too...). In an interview with VH1 Storytellers in 1998, Stevie Nicks revealed it was really about her relationship with long-time boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham coming to a crash like a big landslide that year. She wrote it in a friend's magnificent house with a view of vast, snow-covered hills.

Dreams

As you may know, Stevie Nicks isn't meant to be part of Fleetwood Mac. Lindsey was the only invited one but he insisted on bringing Nicks along. Little did the group know, the girl who was just dragged along is their main gun. "Rumours" is probably their best band album. It garnered international, critical acclaims. The emotion-filled songs in the album were perhaps, the product of the group's emotional upheavals during its recording. Lindsey was breaking up with Stevie, Mick was undergoing divorce, John and Christine were on the early stage of marital separation. "Dreams", the main song in the album was written by Stevie Nicks in a room adjacent to their studio. With a piano, she wrote "Dreams" in a snap. Ten minutes approximately. She performed it in front of the band and Fleetwood Mac decided to record it the next day and the rest is history.

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