ROCK MOMENT – Fleetwood Mac ‘Gypsy’
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Gypsy’ is one of the most beloved tracks from the band’s 1982 album Mirage, and it holds a special place in Stevie Nicks’ catalog as both a deeply personal and hauntingly beautiful song. Written by Nicks, ‘Gypsy’ reflects on her pre-fame days and the simple lifestyle she once lived before Fleetwood Mac’s meteoric rise to stardom.
The roots of ‘Gypsy’ date back to the early 1970s, when Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were struggling musicians living in San Francisco. Before fame, Nicks often decorated her modest apartment with lace, velvet, and inexpensive trinkets, creating a bohemian environment that made her feel rich in spirit, if not in money. The song’s opening line—“So I’m back to the velvet underground”—references not only her love of velvet clothing but also a small San Francisco clothing store called The Velvet Underground, where she bought many of her early stage outfits. ‘Gypsy’ became her way of remembering and honoring those more innocent times, before fame, fortune, and the turmoil of band life.
Tragically, the song also carries a more somber meaning. Nicks has said that part of ‘Gypsy’ was written in memory of her best friend, Robin Snyder Anderson, who passed away from leukemia shortly before the recording of Mirage. That sense of loss and longing adds emotional depth to the dreamy, mystical lyrics.
Behind the scenes, the making of the ‘Gypsy’ music video was a landmark moment in Fleetwood Mac’s visual history. Directed by Russell Mulcahy, who later became known for his work on Highlander and numerous MTV hits, the video was one of the most expensive ever produced at the time. Filmed on elaborate sets that recreated a magical, old-world atmosphere, it featured Stevie draped in her signature shawls, bathed in dramatic lighting that enhanced her mystical image. Production was intense—hours of costume changes, heavy use of fog machines, and intricate choreography for a band not known for theatrical videos. Despite tensions within Fleetwood Mac during the early ’80s, they came together to shoot what became an MTV favorite.
When released, ‘Gypsy’ became a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The video’s heavy rotation introduced a new generation to Fleetwood Mac and solidified Stevie Nicks’ reputation as rock’s ultimate “gypsy queen.” To this day, both the song and its iconic video remain fan favorites, bridging Fleetwood Mac’s raw past with their polished MTV-era stardom.
