December Music That Has Nothing to Do with Christmas: “Little Lies” by Fleetwood Mac

I was talking with a friend on Facebook about 1980s music. To me it’s a wasteland of cold, empty synth-pop and plastic hair metal, but there are a few standouts. My friend agreed, and noted that it was the sadder songs that seemed to stick with him. 

We were talking about a song by the Motels, a favorite summer jam of mine I’ll feature when the season comes around again. Tonight, I’m thinking about “Little Lies” by Fleetwood Mac. I really think my friend was onto something here.

Fleetwood Mac, as they looked in 1987 with the release of this
song. It’s really amazing they made it so far. This is a full decade
after Rumors, a monster, can’t-top-this classic which would
have killed an ordinary band.

This songs opens with a cold, empty, synth line, and the overall production is very much Big ‘80s, the entire splendid arrangement reverbing like it was recorded in the school gym shower. Fortunately, the song itself was penned by one of the most underrated songwriters in one of the biggest bands of all time. Most know her as The Funny Looking Chick Who Isn’t Stevie Nicks, but she’s Christine McVie, and here she proves her chops by turning what could be total 80s cotton candy into classic pop gold. “Little Lies” is a haunting tune that speaks of brightly colored lights on a long, cold, dark night, and what you’ll do not to be left out at such a time of the year.



‘Tis a far, far better thing to be dumped in the summertime than in the cold of winter. You know it, too.