Fleetwood Mac: Why ‘The Chain’ Appeared in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
Fleetwood Mac‘s “The Chain” is one of many classic rock songs which appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. During an interview, director James Gunn explained why he put “The Chain” in his film. He said “The Chain” and Looking Glass’ “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” play similar roles in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
James Gunn explained the songs in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ reflect 1 character’s taste
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn said the tunes from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are songs that one of the film’s characters would have liked. The character in question is Meredith Quill, Star-Lord‘s mother. “She’s a music lover, but she’s completely not elitist,” Gunn said.
“If it’s something that’s thought of as goofy and pop, she likes it,” Gunn added. “If it’s cool or funk, she likes it. She just likes hooks and melodies. She’s a very quirky, young girl who fell in love with, you know, as it ends up, an alien. And falling in love with an alien is right up there in Meredith Quill’s alley. She’s an oddball, like her son.”
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ reflects characters in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
Gunn said Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 uses “The Chain” in such a way that it’s about the titular superhero team. “There are two songs that are the most deeply embedded into the fibers of the film,” said Gunn. “‘The Chain’ is one because it is about the Guardians, at least in the way we use it, and we use it a couple of times in the movie.
“And the other one is ‘Brandy,’ which is an incredibly important song in the movie,” he added. “Both happen to be two of my favorite songs from the ’70s.”
The way the world reacted to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’
Although “The Chain” is one of Fleetwood Mac’s most famous songs, it wasn’t released as a single. It didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1970s. Its parent album, Rumors, topped the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 453 weeks.
The Official Charts Company reports “The Chain” became a minor chart hit in the United Kingdom. In 2009, it reached No. 81 and stayed on the chart for five weeks. Meanwhile, Rumors hit No. 1 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for 917 weeks.
In 1997, a version of the track from the live album The Dance became a minor hit in the United States, peaking at No. 30 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The track spent six weeks on the chart. The Dance hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 77 weeks. “The Chain” eventually charted — and it even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
