Shannon Martin-Paul sings one of Stevie Nicks' most beloved hits "Gypsy"
"The song Gypsy isn't a real happy story. Gypsy is a lot about returning to San Francisco. And Gypsy was written when my best friend Robin died of Leukemia and uh ...about the fact that she wasn't going to see the rest of this: I still see your bright eyes, it was like she wasn't ...going to make it. And uh, I was like the lone gypsy ~ this was my best friend from when I was 15 and so I was a solo gypsy all of a sudden and it was very sad for me and that's sometimes when I write my very best songs."
"Robin had been on the road with Fleetwood Mac for five years. As my speech therapist and also management, an incredibly efficient helper. I still miss your bright eyes ~ that's why we don't do it on stage ~ it's because it's really too hard for me to sing. Lightening strikes maybe once, maybe twice... that means one time in your life you find a very good friend, and maybe if you're incredibly lucky, you might find a second. It all comes down to you, means but you have to look very hard."
~Stevie Nicks, video interview for Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits (1988)
Again, Shannon relates this to her friend and song writing partner Chad, that passed a little over 20 years ago, and to the very recent passing of her very good friend Russ Tolsen, one of the brightest lights she had in her life and an avid Stevie Nicks fan. Although male, the lyrics remain true to both of them, as they did to Stevie's friend Robin. " I still see your bright eyes" "Lighting strikes, maybe once, maybe twice"... Both of these men died in the early 20's, way before either of their potentials could be reached.
" I feel that only twice in my life have I ever found the right people to write music with, once with Chad, and now with Lance. And with Russ, I could talk to him about anything, and he absolutely LOVED to watch me perform Stevie. This was his favorite song, and I will always dedicate this to him. I'm very much looking forward to the future of writing original music again, it's been on hold way too long, and I think Chad would be pleased and proud to know that I've found someone that I can do that with again. Musically, Chad was a force to be reckoned with, and when he passed, it took something from me that I never thought I'd get back. It's nice to feel that resurgance of energy musically again with someone.I think Russ would be proud of me as well"
~Shannon Martin-Paul
