Gift Guide

The 20 Best Christine McVie Songs, from Songbird to Everywhere

Christine McVie wrote and sang many of Fleetwood Mac's warmest, most optimistic songs, from Say You Love Me and Don't Stop to Songbird, Little Lies and Everywhere. Here are her 20 best songs, from her blues days with Chicken Shack through Rumours and Tango in the Night to her solo hit Got a Hold on Me, with chart facts and the stories behind them.

What is Christine McVie's most famous song?

"Don't Stop", a top five hit from Rumours, is Christine McVie's most famous song, along with the ballad "Songbird" and the 80s hits "Little Lies" and "Everywhere". She also wrote and sang "Say You Love Me", "Over My Head", "You Make Loving Fun" and "Hold Me", and had a solo top ten hit with "Got a Hold on Me" in 1984.

Christine McVie's greatest Fleetwood Mac songs

  1. "Don't Stop", 1977: an upbeat, forward-looking top five hit.
  2. "Songbird", 1977: a tender piano ballad and a beloved concert closer.
  3. "Everywhere", 1987: a shimmering love song that became a top five hit in the UK.
  4. "Little Lies", 1987: the biggest hit from Tango in the Night.
  5. "You Make Loving Fun", 1977: a warm, funky top ten hit from Rumours.
  6. "Say You Love Me", 1975: a bright, harmony-filled top 20 hit.
  7. "Over My Head", 1975: a gentle top 20 single from the self-titled album.
  8. "Hold Me", 1982: a sunny top five hit from Mirage.
  9. "Think About Me", 1979: a catchy top 20 single from Tusk.
  10. "Save Me", 1990: a top 40 hit from Behind the Mask.

More Christine McVie songs with Fleetwood Mac

  1. "Warm Ways", 1975: a soft, soothing ballad.
  2. "Sugar Daddy", 1975: a playful track from the self-titled album.
  3. "Oh Daddy", 1977: a slow, soulful Rumours track.
  4. "Over and Over", 1979: the gentle opener of Tusk.
  5. "Brown Eyes", 1979: a moody, slow-burning song from Tusk.
  6. "Wish You Were Here", 1982: the haunting closer of Mirage.
  7. "Isn't It Midnight", 1987: a driving rock song from Tango in the Night.
  8. "Spare Me a Little of Your Love", 1972: an early favorite from Bare Trees.

Christine McVie's solo songs

  1. "Got a Hold on Me", 1984: her solo top ten hit.
  2. "Love Will Show Us How", 1984: a top 40 follow-up from her self-titled album.

Who was Christine McVie?

Christine McVie was born Christine Perfect on 12 July 1943 in Greenodd, in the north of England. A classically trained pianist, she fell in love with the blues and sang and played keyboards with the British blues band Chicken Shack, then married Fleetwood Mac's bassist John McVie and joined the band in 1970. Her warm alto voice and melodic songs became one of the pillars of Fleetwood Mac's sound for nearly three decades. She died on 30 November 2022, at the age of 79.

Chicken Shack and the British blues

Before Fleetwood Mac, Christine Perfect was the pianist and one of the singers in Chicken Shack, part of the late-60s British blues boom that also produced the early Fleetwood Mac. Her soulful lead vocal on the band's 1969 cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" became a UK hit and showed the voice that would later carry so many Fleetwood Mac songs. She released a solo album under her maiden name, Christine Perfect, in 1970.

Tango in the Night

Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album Tango in the Night was one of the biggest of their career, and Christine wrote two of its best-loved songs. "Little Lies", written with her then-husband Eddy Quintela, and "Everywhere", with its shimmering, chiming keyboards, became the album's signature hits, and "Everywhere" in particular has grown more popular with every decade, turning up in films, commercials and countless wedding playlists.

Christine McVie albums to start with

  • Fleetwood Mac (1975): with "Say You Love Me", "Over My Head" and "Warm Ways".
  • Rumours (1977): with "Don't Stop", "Songbird" and "You Make Loving Fun".
  • Tango in the Night (1987): with "Little Lies" and "Everywhere".
  • Christine McVie (1984): her solo album, with "Got a Hold on Me".

Rumours and Don't Stop

Fleetwood Mac recorded Rumours in 1976 while two of its couples, Christine and John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, were breaking up. Christine's songs on the album, "Don't Stop", "Songbird", "You Make Loving Fun" and "Oh Daddy", balanced the heartbreak with optimism and warmth. Rumours became one of the best-selling albums of all time, and "Don't Stop" took on a second life when Bill Clinton used it as his 1992 campaign theme, reuniting the Rumours lineup to play it at his inaugural celebration.

The story behind Songbird

"Songbird" is a short, simple ballad built around Christine's voice and piano. It became the song Fleetwood Mac often used to end their concerts, and since her death it has become one of the most loved tributes to her, covered by many artists and chosen by many couples for their weddings.

Leaving and coming home

After the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Christine McVie left Fleetwood Mac and retired to the English countryside, partly because of a fear of flying. She rejoined the band in 2014 for a world tour, received the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement that year, and in 2017 released an album of duets with Lindsey Buckingham.

Christine McVie songs for a wedding

"Songbird" is one of the most beautiful first dance songs of the 70s, and "Everywhere", "You Make Loving Fun" and "Say You Love Me" are joyful choices for the ceremony exit or the reception. "Don't Stop" is a hopeful pick for a send-off. For more, see our first dance songs and old love songs.

Christine McVie songs for a memorial

"Songbird" is a gentle, loving farewell, "Over My Head" and "Warm Ways" are soft and comforting, and "Don't Stop" is an uplifting choice for a celebration of life. For more, see our memorial slideshow songs.

Christine McVie songs for a road trip

For a sunny drive, play "Say You Love Me", "Don't Stop", "Hold Me", "Little Lies" and "Everywhere", and slow down with "Songbird" as the sun sets. For more, see our road trip songs.

More great songwriters of the era

If you love Christine McVie, explore our Fleetwood Mac songs, Stevie Nicks songs, Sheryl Crow songs and Heart songs.

A song as warm as Christine's

Christine McVie wrote love songs full of warmth and hope. A personalized song can do the same for someone you love: their name, your story and what they mean to you, with a soft rock, acoustic or piano sound. It makes a heartfelt anniversary, birthday or wedding gift.

How to create a personalized song

  1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, acoustic, pop and more.
  2. Add their name.
  3. Share three memories or details about them.
  4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
  5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.

Everything you want to know

What songs did Christine McVie write for Fleetwood Mac?

Christine McVie wrote "Don't Stop", "Songbird", "You Make Loving Fun", "Say You Love Me", "Over My Head", "Hold Me", "Little Lies" (with Eddy Quintela) and "Everywhere", among many others.

When did Christine McVie die?

Christine McVie died on 30 November 2022, at the age of 79. She had rejoined Fleetwood Mac in 2014 after leaving the band in 1998.

Did Christine McVie have solo hits?

Yes. Her 1984 single "Got a Hold on Me" reached the top ten in the US, and "Love Will Show Us How" reached the top 40.

Can I get a personalized song?

Yes. With Cantarova you add a name and a few memories, choose rock, acoustic or another style, review the lyrics and listen to 4 free previews. The full song is ready within minutes.

Why people choose Cantarova

  • Because a love song written about them is the warmest gift of all.
  • Because it is ready within minutes, in time for the big day.
  • Because you hear 4 free previews before you pay.

Ready to create a personalised song?

Keep reading

Create your song · free preview