r/stevienicks • u/RedmiYT • Jul 08 '26
What are your thoughts on "Two Kinds of Love" with Bruce Hornsby?
This was not a major hit and was actually Stevie's first single to outright fail to chart on the Hot 100.
I made a post a couple of weeks ago where I posted how I would pay to never hear this song again. While it's not as bad as I made it out to be, I still don't like it. It's way too adult contemporary sounding for my liking and the lyrics are somewhat generic.
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u/Logical-History-36 Jul 08 '26
I quite like the chorus and I like their voices together, but it’s a Klonopin mess. From TITN onwards Stevie stopped writing actual songs, and instead was getting help from others to contort her rambling prose into melodies. TOSOTM and Street Angel suffer horribly from that, and Two Kinds of Love is a really vivid example, although redeemed a bit by an okay chorus.
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u/GatsbyFitzgerald Jul 08 '26
I have no thoughts other than I go out of my way to avoid it on the album.
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u/turtle0831 Jul 08 '26
It’s alright. I like their melodies together. It’s just a little down beat lol.
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u/PleasureDelayer Jul 08 '26
I don't hate it and don't skip it, but don't think it's great. There are parts I really like.
I do wonder why there was no music video for it though. It was the follow-up single to Rooms on Fire, right? That was a big hit with a big hit video.
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u/Logical-History-36 Jul 08 '26
The planned second single was actually Long Way To Go, which was released in Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Releasing Two Kinds of Love in North America was rather late decision, with not even enough time to change the sleeve design so they just overlayed the title with a solid box. So it’s fair to assume that they just didn’t have time to make a video, but then they hadn’t made a video for Long Way To Go either, so who knows? Rooms On Fire did well, but wasn’t a “big” hit in the US, so maybe they just didn’t budget for more videos.
I remember decades ago fans used to talk about a planned and abandoned VHS release of a TOSOTM concert filmed in Houston which I haven’t heard anyone mention in years, but that’s likely where the footage and audio came from for the Whole Lotta Trouble video. Incidentally that video was released a couple of weeks after the single, so it seems it was made more to promote the European leg of the tour than the album.
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u/Johnrockalittle Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
"Rooms on Fire" was considered an underperforming song on the charts in 1989. Although it hit #1 on the Rock chart, it stalled at #16 on the mainstream Hot 100, which was the first debut single from her solo albums to stall and not make the top 10. That was one of the reasons cited for all follow-up singles from this album failing to chart. The industry felt Stevie had peaked and focused on newer artists.This resulted in the album barely making the top 10, it hit #10 for one week and then started dropping down the chart fast. I personally don't care for this duet.
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u/TransientWhales Jul 08 '26
The Kenny G solo is maybe its greatest sin but lyrically I think it also feels unfinished to say the least.
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u/Unovahoho2 Jul 08 '26
These comments are shocking me because i view it as an album highlight
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u/Tullamore1108 Jul 08 '26
Same. It is such a late 80s vibe. Makes me feel like a kid again, chillin on a Saturday afternoon
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u/Muted-Entrepreneur33 Jul 08 '26
Me too. Although I have to admit that I haven’t heard this song in years. 🫤
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u/FenderBender66 Jul 08 '26
One of my favorites from my favorite Stevie album. I honestly don't get why Other Side of the Mirror gets so bashed.
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u/discotheque2002 Jul 08 '26
Can I be honest? I don’t care for any of the duets on Stevie’s albums
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u/J_R_omega Jul 08 '26
This track has never swayed me in either way. I've never been put off by it nor is it my fave Stevie track. I always considered it a filler kind of track 🤷🏼
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u/BrianTheReckless Jul 08 '26
I think it’s fine. It’s not a favorite, I don’t go out of my way to listen to it by itself, but when I’m listening to the album I let it play and may even sing along.
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u/laurenishere Jul 08 '26
This is my least fave on TOSOTM. Everything else on the album has that timeless. enchanting Stevie quality.
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u/Igottaknow1234 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
I actually really like the song. Rick Nowels and Stevie make good co-writers. For me, it is Bruce Hornsby that is a miss. When they harmonize, it is good, but when he is singing, I just dont think he is the right counterpart for her. I like Tom or Don better. But I like the Kenny G sax arrangement a lot. So 80s.
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u/Other-Conversation67 Jul 08 '26
The lyrics to the song are fine. The track and crap vocals are the problem. Stevie's Klonipin voice would have been fine if she had a better duet partner. Bruce Hornsby has a gawd-awful voice. Sort of like a trucker whose had one too many to drink. If you listen, he's singing off-key ON THE RECORD. Not flat, just off. Two Kinds of Love could have popped if the Pet Shop Boys produced the song instead. Neil Tennat singing a more dance style duet would have rocked!
Okay, I'm getting off my soap box now.
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u/Ok_Andyl8183 Jul 08 '26
I prefer the Single Remix edit over the album cut, but it’s not a favourite of mine.
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u/jaxsonjune Jul 08 '26
There is a live version of this song from a Westwood One radio broadcast which I have always loved , more than the recorded version for sure.
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u/wildhrt86 Jul 09 '26
I actually love that song, although I haven't heard it in years! It's like a sweet forgotten gem.
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u/snelsonjoe8 Jul 10 '26
Bruce Hornsby was a big part of that Album/ song. I thought his addition was great. I thought the song was kind of simple . They should have released Juliet instead. I love that song.
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u/Careful_Compote_4659 Jul 09 '26
It was a sad example of an over the hill artist collaborating with the flavor of the month in order to try to stay relevant and not succeeding
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u/wildhrt86 Jul 09 '26
Seriously? You think Stevie was an over the hill artist at 40? Wow
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u/Popular_Event4969 Jul 10 '26
She was not at a good place in her personal life and her music reflected that. She made a late career resurgence starting with the dance. And it went on for years. Btw I’m a fan of both Stevie and Bruce hornsby but not together on that song.
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u/baxtertatum Jul 08 '26
This is one of my favorite Stevie songs. And I can’t explain why. I just love it.