"Classic Show Biz" In Rock

[filkertom]

In the previous thread, tomreedtoon mentions that he doesn't listen to "most serious pop music", and laments what he perceives as a lack of "classic show biz in the rock world".

Now, I am not in any way jumping on him. I think he's missed out, and I'd like to help. I think it'd be fun to not only show him that there is indeed such a thing as "classic show biz in the rock world", but also to introduce him to some of the truly great rock performances available online.

(I think this may be the Bowie-Turner performance he refers to.)

Since this is kinda show-biz-zy, let's try to stick to videos. Although there are forty-nine-thousand buttloads of great audio performances online, especially at places like The Internet Archive.

My first three choices, off the top of my head, would be these:
Meat Loaf - "I Would Do Anything For Love"

Annie Lennox - "Sweet Dreams" at Live 8 (cadhla, vixyish, tfabris, Ookla, we have fucking got to cover this at OVFF)

Billy Joel and Elton John - "Piano Man"

Link us up to some of yours!

Comments

[ericcoleman]

Another band I saw when I lived in London ... on the Sheer Heart Attack tour ... There have been few better frontmen than Freddie

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I honestly can't think of one. A few solo performers, like Loaf, come close. Steven Page has nearly the voice, and Ed Robertson nearly the charisma. But Freddie was pretty damn unique, and we were lucky enough to be there when he happened.

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

Amen to all of the above.

[ericcoleman]

Jagger in his prime was a better performer, but didn't have the voice (still, neither did Freddie live a lot of the time). I would put Angelo Moore from Fishbone up there as damn close to equal with Freddie in both voice and performance. Bono is certainly up there as well and is probably the greatest living frontman for any rock band.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. Freddie was one of those very rare people who were put on this earth to truly sing. As far as front men go he was the best. I didn't get into Queen until my college years but I've been a fan ever since I heard one of their songs for the first time.

He was definitly one of the greats. No question about it.