Edge of Seventeen

The Zoo Crew is spinning the iconic "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks, a track from her 1981 debut solo album Bella Donna, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its chugging guitar riff and soulful energy. This song, released as the album’s third single on February 4, 1982, carries a deeply personal story. Inspired by the deaths of Nicks’ uncle Jonathan and John Lennon in December 1980, the lyrics channel her grief and resilience. Nicks has shared in a 1981 interview that the line “And the days go by like a strand in the wind” reflected the fleeting, painful days during her uncle’s battle with cancer, while the verse about “words from a poet and a voice from a choir” nods to Lennon’s tragic murder. The song’s title came from a conversation with Tom Petty’s then-wife, Jane Benyo, who mentioned meeting Tom “at the age of seventeen.” Nicks, mishearing “age” as “edge” due to Jane’s Southern accent, found the phrase so compelling that she vowed to write a song around it, giving Jane credit for the inspiration.

Another layer to "Edge of Seventeen" is its evocative imagery, particularly the “white-winged dove.” In a 2020 X post, Nicks recounted how the phrase came from a flight menu describing the bird’s song as “ooh, ooh, ooh,” native to her home state of Arizona. Moved by the symbolism of the spirit departing, she wove it into the song. Remarkably, she noted she hadn’t heard a dove’s call until 2020, when one sang at her Arizona home, bringing her to tears. The song’s recording was intense, with Nicks telling Vox in 1992 that the energy was so powerful it took two nights to capture, leaving her emotional during the bridge. Its cultural impact endures, from being sampled in Destiny’s Child’s 2001 hit “Bootylicious” (with Nicks appearing in the video) to covers by artists like Lindsay Lohan and a 2020 mashup with Miley Cyrus titled “Edge of Midnight.”

Stevie Nicks began her musical journey in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was born on May 26, 1948. Her love for music sparked early, singing country duets with her grandfather at age four. After moving to San Francisco, she met Lindsey Buckingham at Menlo-Atherton High School, forming a creative and romantic partnership. They joined the band Fritz, opening for legends like Janis Joplin, before releasing the 1973 album Buckingham Nicks with Polydor Records. Though it flopped commercially, it caught the ear of Mick Fleetwood, leading to their invitation to join Fleetwood Mac in 1975. The band’s self-titled album, featuring Nicks’ “Rhiannon,” topped the charts, and 1977’s Rumours became a global phenomenon, despite Nicks’ breakup with Buckingham. Her solo career launched with Bella Donna, which hit number one on the Billboard 200 and solidified her as a rock icon, blending her mystical style with raw emotion.

Fans can connect with Stevie Nicks through her Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where she shares updates, like her 2020 post about the remastered Bella Donna on vinyl. Her official website, stevienicksofficial.com, offers tour dates, music, and merch. Devoted fans, or Zoo Freaks in spirit, can dive into Stevie Nicks Info, a fan-run site with detailed discography and news, or join communities like the Stevie Nicks Fans Facebook group to share their love for her timeless work.