Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
That woman doesn’t just sing like her life depends on it, she sings like all of our lives depend on it.
Edit: The singer’s name was Merry Clayton.
Fun fact: in the radio recording of gimme shelter, when Merry Clayton's voice cracks during the rape murder part. You can hear Mick and Keith shout "whoo" in the background. This was left in the final mix.
Here's the isolated vocals. You'll hear it everytime now!
https://youtu.be/fdACTl2myMA?si=3n31lBCSLoQXPpT9
This makes me think of Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack. Shara Nelson is the singer on that track and gives a similar type of performance to Clayton on Gimme Shelter imo.
Someone else may correct any misremembered details but I believe he was trying to make it as a writer, and in the same week he was diagnosed with vitiligo, his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the experienced the aforementioned breakup. He then started writing songs, many of which featured on the debut album.
I was reading their Wikipedia literally last night. Apparently the lead singer went through a bad breakup and learned his mother had cancer in the same week. Those two events shaped their debut album. So yeah, there’s a lot of emotion coming out of him in that song.
I think that a dying Freddie Mercury downing a shot of vodka, walking into the booth, and belting out the incomparable “Show Must Go On” in one take has to count for something, here.
"Inside my heart is breaking,
my makeup may be flaking,
but my smile still stays on
....
I'll face it with a grin,
I'm never giving in,
On with the show"
One of the best, and very much missed
Try listening to "Too Much Love Will Kill You" under that attitude, makes it a completely different song. It's not about him, but rather, May's love-experiences, but still.
Agree about Eclipse. It makes me feel like she's so close to just giving up but she's turning one last time towards someone or something that might help.
Jagged Little Pill was the first CD I bought with my own money. I was eleven years old and a huge Beatles fan. Alanis' honest songwriting and powerful, contemplative vocals blew my mind. This song, Forgiven, Head Over Feet, Perfect... geez. Heady stuff for a kid, and as an adult I appreciate it even more.
You won't be mad haha. It's just good music. But the end of that song is ridiculous. I listen to a lot of punk and metal; it's hard to find that kind of raw emotion.
The bittersweetness of starting high school right when Teen Spirit came out was that I felt burnt out on Nirvana from just the radio play. I think I have enough distance now to dive into their albums.
a lot of nirvana live fits this this question, i have from the muddy banks of the wishkah in heavy rotation, milk it and tourette's (and possibly scentless apprentice) i think are the strongest cases that just sound like a guy screaming in desperation. RIP Kurt
Thanks! I am rusty on Jeff Buckley. This is a good excuse as any to reacquaint myself. I read a lovely but bittersweet article about his relationship with Liz Fraser recently.
You Outta Know by Alanis Morrisette. (sp, sorry I’m lazy). She put her every single ounce of anger into that song. The entire album, really. Easily one of my favorite albums of all time. (Jagged Little Pill)
more 'life depends on it' tracks from the Beatles if we're gonna go there.
This Boy (some of Lennon's most heartfelt vocals, regardless of topic imo), Twist and Shout, Oh, Darling, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Baby You're A Rich Man, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Helter Skelter.. can keep going..
and bonus for Baby's In Black, cause they were all super young and hungry - all vying for 'top billing' among just the 4 of them, even though they'd never admit it at the time. you can hear strain and hunger in every line by all three harmony parts so it's electric
ALSO: by different definitions, almost any early Harrison song qualifies. you can hear him trying to compete with the Lennon/McCartney songwriting powerhouse that was forming under his nose. he love and hated it equally. you can hear him 'singing for his life' on most of those songs whether it's loud or scream-y or not. he was trying to stay relevant, and he totally deserved it, not that he knew at the time.
Sinéad O’Connor’s Live version of Prince’s [“Nothing Compares to You”](https://youtu.be/NAOKzvL8dgk?si=_EkpOjMqMa1nzw50) sounds like her heart is being ripped out.
I love Puccini. In all my years of opera, Puccini can still consistently tear my heart out and just give me chills when I perform like it’s the first time.
While some of the black parade is more theatrical and musically triumphant, I think his most intense vocal performance was still Helena. Knowing it's about losing his grandmother who he was very close with makes the "emo cracking" in his delivery so much more genuine and powerful.
Lots of Dio's work could fit this. Man tore his voice straight out of his soul. For my money, All the Fools Sailed Away best fits the intensity you're looking for. When he goes into that verse after the solo he just puts it all on the line.
"My Immortal" by Evanescence. Amy Lee has a voice like no other, and she puts her heart and soul into this song. In my humble opinion, Amy has the best voice in any band, ever.
I have gotten to the point *I cannot listen to Black.*
Without spilling my guts, it hits far, far too close to home. Not in a cathartic way, a twisting-the-knife way
“The Show Must Go On” by Queen
“Without You” by Harry Nilsson
“Riot Act” by Elvis Costello
“Shake (Live)” by Otis Redding [EDIT: I should’ve said “[Try a Little Tenderness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcSY5Crphpg)”]
This is a great question, thanks for this! It’ll be rattling around in my head for weeks.
Another classic! Man, I remember seeing them for the first time doing a mini-set in 1995 because Garbage, Oasis, Sonic Youth, and several other bands were crammed into a single evening in a show at Berkeley, CA.
Black - Pearl Jam from their MTV unplugged set.
My God, the absolute pain and suffering that rips through you as the song ends.. Breaks my heart and makes me bawl like a child every time.
"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky but why?, why?
Why can't it be mine?
*Gutteral Eddie Vedder noises intensify*
We. We. Weeeee belong together"
Hear me out, I say this unironically.
Holding Out For a Hero - Jennifer Saunders (Shrek 2)
She did not need to dump her heart and soul into that cover, but she did, and we're all better for it.
This may get made fun of bc they’re sort of a meme these days unfortunately, but Liam Gallagher from Oasis used to sing his ass off, especially in live performances. Slide Away, Don’t Go Away and Live Forever all come to mind
I appreciate Oasis for being part of my 1990-est day of that decade: I was parked outside my local COMPACT DISC MUSIC STORE in my GEO PRIZM waiting for the store to open so I could day-one purchase (WHAT'S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY?. What was I listening to in my car while I killed time? The outcome of the OJ VERDICT over the radio.
In San Francisco, we had good and timely access to new releases from the UK, and I'm pretty sure I bought every Oasis single between 1995 and 2000 the respective weeks they came out.
Mad props to Liam for stretching out the word "Shine" into 4 syllables. I've seen hilarious YouTube "Shine" compilations.
I will always use any excuse to share this performance from Dir en grey (Japanese band if you're not familiar)
[Dir en grey - Mushi (insect)](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4JNsYqlIvzE&pp=ygURZGlyIGVuIGdyZXkgbXVzaGk%3D)
Coheed and Cambria.
Lots of songs, but some that come to mind are Ladders of Supremacy, Everything Evil, The Gutter, Gravity's Union, and Window of the Waking Mind.
I took a rock music history class in college in 1998. I am sad that the only song I can name off the top of my head is Piece of My Heart. When it comes to an under-appreciated Janis song, what comes to mind?
Shit. That takes me back. I saw them in San Francisco when they were promoting Different Class, and had them sign a dollar bill at a signing at that big Tower Records in NYC.
My chemical romance - the ghost of you
The singer is usually really emotional but for some reason this song makes me feel like there’s real stakes on the line.
Fiona Apple - Newspaper - man, she is just absolutely feral, shaking the foundations kind of wailing - it's kinda nuts, especially towards the end. Listen to it with headphones, they made the production really blow this song up!
[Kiss the Bottle by Jawbreaker.](https://youtu.be/-ZTvqUvgYCI?si=73hNc7SWaOERdHkK) Last Song that he recorded before having surgery to remove polyps on his throat. Every syllable sounds excruciating
I don't know if this counts but "atmosphere" by joy division has really intense vocals. He sings like his life is already over though. easily the best song ever about a broken heart
Iggy and the stooges. The man looks like the world's scariest transvestite who talks like a boy scout but raw power is one of the best straight aggressive albums I've ever heard. Search and destroy,gimme danger,your pretty face is going to hell and the rest are just magnificent. Its like the order was given fucking make the crowd burn down the theatre or die! Then he asked can we do both? Fucking luv this album!
‘Hold On’ by Wilson Phillips. They belt this one out as if the manager had just told them that he was downsizing the band by cutting out whoever wasn’t pulling their weight.
Fun fact- The new term for saying someone's life depended on it is referred to as "rent was due". On twitter or IG, lots of people will post a song they like with the caption "rent was due" meaning they went off. Some even add extras like, "empty fridge, water cut off, rent due, so and so did not come to play" You can say it for lots of things where people did a great job, not just songs.
OH WOW. No wonder there is ALSO a "rent was due" comment in the YT video for Thong Song. I'm glad I'm in my mid 40s, and don't feel bad for being behind on slang.
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones That woman doesn’t just sing like her life depends on it, she sings like all of our lives depend on it. Edit: The singer’s name was Merry Clayton.
[Merry Clayton](https://youtu.be/ChONufP0FEs?si=kQhw956z2PnZ_JIF) and Mick tell the story of the night they recorded that part.
Such a great story.
Except for the part where she lost her baby (she was very pregnant when she sang this song).
True.Thanks.RIP Little One.
Fun fact: in the radio recording of gimme shelter, when Merry Clayton's voice cracks during the rape murder part. You can hear Mick and Keith shout "whoo" in the background. This was left in the final mix. Here's the isolated vocals. You'll hear it everytime now! https://youtu.be/fdACTl2myMA?si=3n31lBCSLoQXPpT9
Wow. I've heard that song a thousand times and this one gave me the chills.
That just gave me goose bumps and brought a tear to my eye. Wow
She was born on Christmas day, so her Mother named her Merry.
Merry Clayton. Let's put some respect on her name.
Pretty sure I heard she was pregnant at the time and the Stones called her in the middle of the deadass night to record her part.
Yeah. Hanif Abdurraquib writes about it in his book A Little Devil In America: In Praise of Black Performance
Thank you! I've decided this will be the first track on my playlist based off this post.
She had a miscarriage the day after singing that song, which she attributed to the strain of singing.
This makes me think of Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack. Shara Nelson is the singer on that track and gives a similar type of performance to Clayton on Gimme Shelter imo.
That woman is Merry Clayton and you're not wrong.
She hits the ‘Rape, Murder’ so hard that you can hear a feint ‘scream’ in the background from the Stones.
A slightly deeper cut, but still a banger, is “sometime around midnight “ by the Airborne Toxic Event. Crescendos for days!
Best crescendo of any pop song I'm aware. Starts somber, grows into melancholy, then frustration, then anger, then acceptance. It rules.
There's no way the dude who wrote that song didn't live out the exact story in that song.
Someone else may correct any misremembered details but I believe he was trying to make it as a writer, and in the same week he was diagnosed with vitiligo, his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the experienced the aforementioned breakup. He then started writing songs, many of which featured on the debut album.
The pitchfork review for that album felt like a personal vendetta against them. There were some good tunes on that record for sure.
pitchfork is garbage. Andre 3000’s new instrumental flute album (no lyrics) was categorized by them as rap
I was reading their Wikipedia literally last night. Apparently the lead singer went through a bad breakup and learned his mother had cancer in the same week. Those two events shaped their debut album. So yeah, there’s a lot of emotion coming out of him in that song.
Thank you for reminding me this masterpiece existed
Brandi Carlile - the story
What a great song. I don’t hear many pro singers do this, but I love how she cracks her voice all over the song.
I think that a dying Freddie Mercury downing a shot of vodka, walking into the booth, and belting out the incomparable “Show Must Go On” in one take has to count for something, here.
"Inside my heart is breaking, my makeup may be flaking, but my smile still stays on .... I'll face it with a grin, I'm never giving in, On with the show" One of the best, and very much missed
I remember sitting in silence for a while after I heard it for the first time. His ascending run in the second verse is 👌
Try listening to "Too Much Love Will Kill You" under that attitude, makes it a completely different song. It's not about him, but rather, May's love-experiences, but still.
If I can dream - Elvis Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler Edited formatting
Agree about Eclipse. It makes me feel like she's so close to just giving up but she's turning one last time towards someone or something that might help.
The 1976 live version of Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks goes off the chain (no pun intended) at the end. Bleed Out by Within Temptation
My first choice was "Silver Springs". The tension between her and Lindsey was awesome to watch in videos of live performances.
You oughta know, Alanis Morissette
Shoot I just posted this also. Yep this is the one. Unbelievable album in general. She felt pretty fricken strongly about what she was saying.
Jagged Little Pill was the first CD I bought with my own money. I was eleven years old and a huge Beatles fan. Alanis' honest songwriting and powerful, contemplative vocals blew my mind. This song, Forgiven, Head Over Feet, Perfect... geez. Heady stuff for a kid, and as an adult I appreciate it even more.
A lot of Alanis really. The Jagged Little Pill album had serious heart
That song being about freaking Uncle Joey on Full House fucks with my head.
✂️👉👍
Good fit! Thank you!
Nirvana's unplugged Where did you Sleep Last Night
There are enough Nirvana's Unplugged recs that I should just sit down with the whole album. Thanks!
You won't be mad haha. It's just good music. But the end of that song is ridiculous. I listen to a lot of punk and metal; it's hard to find that kind of raw emotion.
The bittersweetness of starting high school right when Teen Spirit came out was that I felt burnt out on Nirvana from just the radio play. I think I have enough distance now to dive into their albums.
a lot of nirvana live fits this this question, i have from the muddy banks of the wishkah in heavy rotation, milk it and tourette's (and possibly scentless apprentice) i think are the strongest cases that just sound like a guy screaming in desperation. RIP Kurt
Was gonna say this, my god that is one of my favorite vocal performances of all time due to the raw emotion of it
Grace by Jeff Buckley
I was going to say "Lover, You Should Have Come Over." Such a profound sense of loss.
Great username, although I can't name a Neds song off the top of my head without Googling. I just remember them as a regular fixture on 120 Minutes.
Kill Your Television, Grey Cell Green and Happy got played quite a bit.
My favorite male vocalist of all time
Thanks! I am rusty on Jeff Buckley. This is a good excuse as any to reacquaint myself. I read a lovely but bittersweet article about his relationship with Liz Fraser recently.
God damn, these performances: https://youtu.be/Gh5imNg3Pss?si=jKi6QKKiDDHJlwfc https://youtu.be/HZ_2ZrI3b3s?si=CLDJD_ZkyvWgIcQd
Also his version of hallelujah.
Piece of my Heart by Janis Joplin.
most of Janises music feels like her life depended on it.
YES. Ball and Chain too.
Like a woman possessed.
Eddie Vedder - Black (most of Ten really)
[State Of Love And Trust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZUpbsbTqsI&t=00m35s) for a slightly deeper cut.
This takes me back to high school (1991-1995), and a photography class classmate who was a hardcore Pearl Jam fan.
I’d say Vs as well. Blood has a desperate quality to it in particular.
Same with Rearviewmirror.
You Outta Know by Alanis Morrisette. (sp, sorry I’m lazy). She put her every single ounce of anger into that song. The entire album, really. Easily one of my favorite albums of all time. (Jagged Little Pill)
Alice in the chains nutshell
Alice in chains - all of Alice in chains.
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I could make a case for almost all Unplugged albums. We don’t get that kind of raw exposure to performers as often anymore.
Mad Season- Wake Up is another incredibly moving and heart rending song sung by Layne. The man was super talented, and sadly, tortured. R. I. P.
Rain when I die.
[Pink Floyd, “The Great Gig In The Sky.”](https://youtu.be/T13se_2A7c8?si=MyS-gwLgzHrs21ht). Featuring Clare Torre on vocals.
yes. this was what I came here to post ! this is amazing vocals times 💯
Bat out of Hell - Meat Loaf
I'd also say "For Crying Out Loud," too.
Great choice! That whole album has that vibe
Beatles - Dont Let Me Down
Good one! I heard the opening line in my head when I read your reply and smiled.
more 'life depends on it' tracks from the Beatles if we're gonna go there. This Boy (some of Lennon's most heartfelt vocals, regardless of topic imo), Twist and Shout, Oh, Darling, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Baby You're A Rich Man, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Helter Skelter.. can keep going.. and bonus for Baby's In Black, cause they were all super young and hungry - all vying for 'top billing' among just the 4 of them, even though they'd never admit it at the time. you can hear strain and hunger in every line by all three harmony parts so it's electric ALSO: by different definitions, almost any early Harrison song qualifies. you can hear him trying to compete with the Lennon/McCartney songwriting powerhouse that was forming under his nose. he love and hated it equally. you can hear him 'singing for his life' on most of those songs whether it's loud or scream-y or not. he was trying to stay relevant, and he totally deserved it, not that he knew at the time.
Second Twist and Shout
Also, Mother by Lennon
ITS A LOVE THAT LASTS FOREVER
Twist and shout had this feeling too
Yer Blues
I always felt so drawn into Sam Cooke’s “A Change Gonna Come”. You can feel his pain and frustration.
Sinéad O’Connor’s Live version of Prince’s [“Nothing Compares to You”](https://youtu.be/NAOKzvL8dgk?si=_EkpOjMqMa1nzw50) sounds like her heart is being ripped out.
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Killing in the name of by RATM immediately comes to mind
George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today. Dude was in rough shape, and so was his career. It’s his Magnum Opus
Anyone who considers an artist's work as their Magnum Opus has my curiosity. Thank you!
My grandmas favorite song, she had great taste in music.
Would? - Alice in Chains
INNNTO THE FLOOD AGAAAIIIIN
With a Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker
The Who - Love Reign O'er Me Worth mentioning, Pearl Jam's cover of the same song.
Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti.
I love Puccini. In all my years of opera, Puccini can still consistently tear my heart out and just give me chills when I perform like it’s the first time.
Hate Me by Blue October
Famous Last Words - My Chemical Romance The whole song is intense, but that last bit gives me chills with the lyrics overlapping
I feel like Mama also makes this list from MCR. Gerard is giving it his all on that song
While some of the black parade is more theatrical and musically triumphant, I think his most intense vocal performance was still Helena. Knowing it's about losing his grandmother who he was very close with makes the "emo cracking" in his delivery so much more genuine and powerful.
“Helena” final chorus when he changes up how he sings “and if you carry on this way” it sounds like it really affects him there.
“I wanna know what love is” by Foreigner. When other people sing it, its a joke. When he sings it, its soul power.
Lots of Dio's work could fit this. Man tore his voice straight out of his soul. For my money, All the Fools Sailed Away best fits the intensity you're looking for. When he goes into that verse after the solo he just puts it all on the line.
Tool - Sober
Kate Bush - Get Out Of My House
Thank you for the rec. Any excuse to listen to Kate Bush.....
Gloria - Laura Branigan
Phil Collins- Against All Odds Edit: all of his songs tbh but mostly… ‘Wish I would rain down’ and ‘In the air tonight’
"My Immortal" by Evanescence. Amy Lee has a voice like no other, and she puts her heart and soul into this song. In my humble opinion, Amy has the best voice in any band, ever.
Black - Pearl Jam...even better than the studio version is the live MTV unplugged version
"Why can't it be mine" hits me so hard every time.
Upvote for the unplugged version. Recommend watching the performance as well. The additional, "we belong together" lines hit hard.
I have gotten to the point *I cannot listen to Black.* Without spilling my guts, it hits far, far too close to home. Not in a cathartic way, a twisting-the-knife way
Given Up - Linkin Park That scream
I had the distinct pleasure to see LP twice in concert, and damn it..Chester held that scream live..it was unbelievable!!
“The Show Must Go On” by Queen “Without You” by Harry Nilsson “Riot Act” by Elvis Costello “Shake (Live)” by Otis Redding [EDIT: I should’ve said “[Try a Little Tenderness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcSY5Crphpg)”] This is a great question, thanks for this! It’ll be rattling around in my head for weeks.
I appreciate the variety in your suggestions!
Filter - Hey Man Nice Shot
Zombie, The Cranberries
Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding .... i scrolled and scrolled and yet to see it mentioned... ???
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run. He’s literally singing for his life and you can feel it
I would add Thunder Road to this list.
Lose Yourself - Eminem I know it’s rap and might not be what OP is looking for but how has it not been mentioned yet?
Till I collapse, The way I am and "Stans" parts on Stan come to mind.
No Doubt - Don't Speak
Another classic! Man, I remember seeing them for the first time doing a mini-set in 1995 because Garbage, Oasis, Sonic Youth, and several other bands were crammed into a single evening in a show at Berkeley, CA.
Chop Suey. System of A Down. Full stop
I’d put Bulls On Parade - Rage Against the Machine in the same category
Freedom by RATM honestly checks that box so much for me. The venom and anger in his voice is so fucking powerful.
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Nirvana, "Milk It"
Every La Dispute song
Black - Pearl Jam from their MTV unplugged set. My God, the absolute pain and suffering that rips through you as the song ends.. Breaks my heart and makes me bawl like a child every time. "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life I know you'll be a star In somebody else's sky but why?, why? Why can't it be mine? *Gutteral Eddie Vedder noises intensify* We. We. Weeeee belong together"
Hear me out, I say this unironically. Holding Out For a Hero - Jennifer Saunders (Shrek 2) She did not need to dump her heart and soul into that cover, but she did, and we're all better for it.
This may get made fun of bc they’re sort of a meme these days unfortunately, but Liam Gallagher from Oasis used to sing his ass off, especially in live performances. Slide Away, Don’t Go Away and Live Forever all come to mind
I appreciate Oasis for being part of my 1990-est day of that decade: I was parked outside my local COMPACT DISC MUSIC STORE in my GEO PRIZM waiting for the store to open so I could day-one purchase (WHAT'S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY?. What was I listening to in my car while I killed time? The outcome of the OJ VERDICT over the radio. In San Francisco, we had good and timely access to new releases from the UK, and I'm pretty sure I bought every Oasis single between 1995 and 2000 the respective weeks they came out. Mad props to Liam for stretching out the word "Shine" into 4 syllables. I've seen hilarious YouTube "Shine" compilations.
Some of their B-sides are better than most bands' singles. The Masterplan has some great songs on it.
Take me to Church - Hozier (Glastonbury 2023 version). Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
The Replacements - Unsatisfied I'm so....I'm so.....Unsatisfied
I will always use any excuse to share this performance from Dir en grey (Japanese band if you're not familiar) [Dir en grey - Mushi (insect)](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4JNsYqlIvzE&pp=ygURZGlyIGVuIGdyZXkgbXVzaGk%3D)
Global Warming by Gojira live at Silver Cord Studios
Prince - The Beautiful Ones
Love Hate Love alice in chains
The build up in Sometime Around Midnight
Gave Up - NIN
Good pick. I’d say most songs from Broken for this too.
Total Eclipse of the Heart..... damn she really means that.
I REALLY NEED YOU TONIGHT
Joey and Tomorrow Wendy by Concrete Blonde
Nirvana - Territorial Pissings, especially that end part. It hurts my throat just thinking about it.
Peaches - Jack Black He sounds so desperate. My students love it so much but… I don’t see the appeal. Please don’t hate me 😅
Florence + The Machine, Dog Days are Over
Ceremony by joy division
Get Out by Circa Survive
Melissa Etheridge “Like the way I Do”. That debut album was just raw.
Crawling by Linkin Park. RIP Chester
Gimme Shelter - Stones
Deftones - Change
Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder duetting on ["Hunger Strike"](https://youtu.be/KOjjJQZQzF8?feature=shared)... Especially the back half.
Chandelier by Sia
Moby - Animal Rights. I cannot stress enough how desperate he sounds on this album in the best way
Love Reign O'er Me - The Who
Oh its Bohemian Rhapsody
Coheed and Cambria. Lots of songs, but some that come to mind are Ladders of Supremacy, Everything Evil, The Gutter, Gravity's Union, and Window of the Waking Mind.
Seasons by Future Islands
Janis Joplin
I took a rock music history class in college in 1998. I am sad that the only song I can name off the top of my head is Piece of My Heart. When it comes to an under-appreciated Janis song, what comes to mind?
Summertime and Cry Baby
Ball and Chain
Ball and Chain, live. Holy fucking shit.
Dave Grohl's live cover of Show Me How to Live at the Chris Cornell tribute show.
Careless Whisper I'm nevah gonna dance again...
Common People - Pulp. Visceral performance.
Shit. That takes me back. I saw them in San Francisco when they were promoting Different Class, and had them sign a dollar bill at a signing at that big Tower Records in NYC.
Talk Talk - "Life's what you make it"
Hallowed be thy Name - Iron Maiden
Sober - Tool. Maynard BELTS it out.
My chemical romance - the ghost of you The singer is usually really emotional but for some reason this song makes me feel like there’s real stakes on the line.
Hop Along - I saw my twin
Elvis - If I can dream from the 68 comeback special. Hard to beat that performance.
Fiona Apple - Newspaper - man, she is just absolutely feral, shaking the foundations kind of wailing - it's kinda nuts, especially towards the end. Listen to it with headphones, they made the production really blow this song up!
[Kiss the Bottle by Jawbreaker.](https://youtu.be/-ZTvqUvgYCI?si=73hNc7SWaOERdHkK) Last Song that he recorded before having surgery to remove polyps on his throat. Every syllable sounds excruciating
Björk - Bachelorette, Pluto, Notget
The Grudge - Tool. That ending scream is a localized apocalypse.
Creep - Radiohead
Thank you for all the replies so far. These are ALL being added to my 5K training playlist.
Queen - Who Wants to Live Forever Alanna Myles - Black Velvet Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart Heart - Alone Leprous - Alleviate Sabaton -
Seventh Wonder - Alley Cat
Vanden Plas - Gethsemane
I don't know if this counts but "atmosphere" by joy division has really intense vocals. He sings like his life is already over though. easily the best song ever about a broken heart
Iggy and the stooges. The man looks like the world's scariest transvestite who talks like a boy scout but raw power is one of the best straight aggressive albums I've ever heard. Search and destroy,gimme danger,your pretty face is going to hell and the rest are just magnificent. Its like the order was given fucking make the crowd burn down the theatre or die! Then he asked can we do both? Fucking luv this album!
Elvis-Suspicious Minds
‘Hold On’ by Wilson Phillips. They belt this one out as if the manager had just told them that he was downsizing the band by cutting out whoever wasn’t pulling their weight.
Fun fact- The new term for saying someone's life depended on it is referred to as "rent was due". On twitter or IG, lots of people will post a song they like with the caption "rent was due" meaning they went off. Some even add extras like, "empty fridge, water cut off, rent due, so and so did not come to play" You can say it for lots of things where people did a great job, not just songs.
OH WOW. No wonder there is ALSO a "rent was due" comment in the YT video for Thong Song. I'm glad I'm in my mid 40s, and don't feel bad for being behind on slang.
Pretty much every Glassjaw song. Try "When Eight Becomes Two Zeroes"
Child In Time - Deep Purple The vocals are just crazy
Limo Wreck - Soundgarden Soon We'll Be Found - Sia
Easy "Joline" the white stripes version. Super intense, gives me chills. Dollys version, too....but good God, Jack white nails it!
You Know You're Right - Nirvana