Landslide — Fleetwood Mac vs. The Chicks

Welcome back to Chillers – Cover Up, where we pit two versions of the same song against each other to see which one reigns supreme. The originals are cold, the covers are warm — so make sure you Cover Up and get ready to dive in.

The Song: Landslide is a bittersweet reflection on crossroads, change, and the unstoppable passage of time. Carried by delicate guitar picking and flowing vocals, it paints the image of life being swept away by forces outside your control — like a landslide crashing down. Folk, country, and rock all mingle here, making it a song that feels at home across genres.

The Original: Released on Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album, Landslide pairs Lindsey Buckingham’s intricate guitar work with Stevie Nicks’ haunting, rising-and-falling vocals. The song feels timeless — Nicks’ voice floats between fragility and power while Buckingham’s guitar keeps everything grounded. Like much of Fleetwood Mac’s work, it’s music that somehow sounds right in any era, a testament to the band’s rare, enduring genius.

The Cover: In 2002, The Chicks (then still the Dixie Chicks) recorded their own version of Landslide for their album Home. They leaned into their country roots, adding banjo, twang, and layered harmonies that distinguish their take from the solitary intimacy of the original. What emerges is a heartfelt, country-folk ballad that sits comfortably on one of the best albums of the 2000s. It’s respectful of the source material but confident enough to stand tall as its own.

The Verdict: This is one of those rare cases where there may not be a clear winner. Fleetwood Mac’s original is iconic, timeless, and emotionally raw. The Chicks’ version is gorgeous in its own right, reshaped by harmonies and country instrumentation. Today, I’d give a slight edge to Fleetwood Mac — but on another day, I could see myself flipping. Both versions stay in rotation, and both will keep earning plays for years to come.