Peacekeeper (song)

"Peacekeeper" is a song by Fleetwood Mac, written by guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, from the 2003 album Say You Will. It was the first and most commercially successful single released from the album. Buckingham shares vocals with bandmate Stevie Nicks.

"Peacekeeper"
Single by Fleetwood Mac
from the album Say You Will
ReleasedMarch 2003
Recorded2003
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:11 (Album Version)
4:08 (Alternate Version)
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Lindsey Buckingham
Producer(s)Lindsey Buckingham and John Shanks
Fleetwood Mac singles chronology
""Landslide" (live)"
(1998)		 "Peacekeeper"
(2003)		 "Say You Will"
(2003)

This was also the band's 25th, and most recent song to debut in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[1] This was also Buckingham's first US hit since "Family Man", which peaked at #90 in 1988.

Background

"Peacekeeper" was written in 2000 three years before the release of Say You Will in a house Buckingham was renting with his wife. Warner Bros selected the song as Say You Will's first single, describing the song as "walking a line between something quite modern and something quite familiar".[2]

"Peacekeeper" entered the US charts at #93 on 29 March. Seven weeks later, the song reached its peak position of #80. By the time "Peacekeeper" exited the charts, it had tallied eleven consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] In New Zealand, the single proved to be more successful, eventually reaching #31 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. On the other hand, it failed to chart in the UK.

Prior to its release as a single, "Peacekeeper" also beat out entries from John Mellencamp, the Beastie Boys, and George Michael for Drudge Report's radio poll of the Top New Anti-War Songs.[4]

Lyrics

The radio edit differs slightly from the album version. The radio edit replaces the line "only kill" with "break their will."[2] The latter lyrics are used during live performances.

When asked about the lyrics for "Peacekeeper", Buckingham explained that the song had little to do with global issues or war, but rather aimed to close in on US propaganda while also exploring the idea of working towards peace on a continual basis.[2] In an interview with Miami Herald, Buckingham characterized "Peacekeeper" as a peace song and spoke of people who were unaffected and unmoved by turmoil and disasters around the world. "...It's about how we are becoming increasingly desensitized to things around the world that are brutal and not standing up for human value..."[4]

Other appearances

"Peacekeeper" appeared on both setlists for the Say You Will Tour.[5] The song was also included on their live album Live in Boston. A different live recording of "Peacekeeper" was included on the limited deluxe edition of Say You Will, which included a total of four bonus tracks. "Peacekeeper" would later make it onto all editions of 50 Years – Don't Stop in 2018.[6]

"Peacekeeper" was one of the songs performed on Sound Stage Presents – Lindsey Buckingham with Special Guest Stevie Nicks. The concert aired in 2005 on PBS.[7]

Personnel

Track listing
Reprise CD single PR03903 (Warner)[8]
  1. "Peacekeeper" (Single Remix) – 4:11
  2. "Peacekeeper" (Single Edit) – 3:42

Chart positions
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Dutch Singles Chart[9] 100
New Zealand Singles Chart[10] 31
U.S. Triple A Songs[11] 1
U.S. Adult Contemporary[12] 10
U.S. Adult Top 40[13] 16
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[14] 80
U.S. Heritage Rock Chart[15] 20

See also

References
  1. "CHART BEAT BONUS". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  2. "Peacekeeper". Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  3. "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History". Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  4. Cohen, Howard (March 24, 2003). "Number One With A Bullet?". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 2, 2004. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  5. "The Say You Will Tour". Archived from the original on March 21, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
  6. "Fleetwood Mac 50 Years – Don't Stop CD & LP Collections Available November 16". Rhino. Rhino Entertainment. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  7. "Soundstage Lindsey Buckingham". PBS. Archived from the original on 2015-03-11. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  8. "Fleetwood Mac - Peacekeeper (song)". Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  9. "dutchcharts.nl - Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac in Dutch Charts". dutchcharts.nl. November 9, 2009.
  10. "charts.org.nz - Fleetwood Mac - Peacekeeper". charts.nz. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  11. "Fleetwood Mac Chart History: Triple A Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  12. "Say You Will > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  13. "Fleetwood Mac Chart History: Adult Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  14. "Fleetwood Mac: Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  15. "Fleetwood Mac Chart History: Heritage Rock". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
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