Stevie’s First Solo Demo Defines Her Power Forever

Steppin’ Out On Her Own
Stevie’s first single album after departing from Fleetwood Mac, “Bella Donna” reached number one on the charts in 1981.
“And the lady’s feeling like the moon that she loved. Don’t you know that the stars are a part of us?”
Stevie’s raw, perfect voice set against the lovely subtly of her piano is music to our ears in this original demo take.
Clearly it is very different than the studio version she ended up with, but the innocence in her isolated voice represents the idea behind the song so much better than the album version ever could.
Interesting Fact: As a solo artist, Stevie has been nominated for a Grammy 8 times, but has never won.
She always seemed to be singing to an iconic woman figure that she idolized or felt comfort with… or was it really the inner, innocent Stevie that she hid from the world?
“Bella donna… my soul…”
+ Bella Donna Lyrics +
You can ride high atop your pony
I know you won’t fall…
’cause the whole thing’s phoney.
You can fly swingin from your trapeze
Scaring all the people…
But you never scare me
Bella donna…
And we fight… for the northern star
No speed limit… this is the fast lane
It’s just the way that it is here
And you say… I never thought it could
Bella donna… we fight…
For the northern star
And the lady’s feeling
Like the moon that she loved
Don’t you know that the stars are
A part of us
And the lady’s feeling
Just like the moon that she loved
And you say… I never thought it could
Bella donna
Come in out of the darkness…
You are in love with…
And I’m ready to sail…
It’s just a feeling…
Sort of captures your soul
Bella donna…
And the woman may be awestruck
And the woman may truly care
But the woman is so tired…
So the woman dissappears…
Come in out of the darkness…
Bella donna… my soul…
Don’t change… baby please don’t change
And you say…
And your face becomes thin
You never thought it could
Come in out of the darkness
Bella donna…
You are in love with
And I’m ready to sail
It’s just a feeling