So one of the things I love watching is artists performing other artists songs.
Even better, watching artists performing other artists songs in front of those artists.
It’s a big deal to do that.
A song is so much more than just music and words, it’s about connecting to the story behind the song – often a personal situation the writer experienced or faced – so to just ‘play the notes’ does everyone a disservice.
A while back, I wrote about how the band Heart played ‘Stairway To Heaven’ infant of Page, Plant and Jones and how it obviously deeply affected them because they didn’t just capture the magic of the song, but elevated the drama of it all.
In the post I asked, what must be going through their heads while watching it.
Was it the amazement that a song they wrote in early ’70, was still being played – and loved by people of all generations?
Was it that the shock that a song they wrote in early ’70, could still have so much energy?
Or was it that a song they wrote back in early ’70, was being played for the President of the United States?
The emotion of knowing it literally couldn’t get ‘bigger than this’ or the simple realisation his impact on World history was assured?
Well I recently saw another video of an artist performing another artists song in front of them and this had a totally different energy to the Heart/Led Zep one.
This was pure extravaganza.
A mixture of energy, entertainment and sheer-bloody-power.
Unsurprisingly, it features two of the World’s most incredible performers … Beyonce and Tina Turner.
To be honest, while I’ve always admired Beyonce., I probably haven’t recognized just how great she is.
That changed with this performance.
Don’t get me wrong, I always knew she was an amazing talent, but it’s the way she delivers her performance that really got me.
Somehow, she has managed to recreate the force of Tina Turner.
It smacks you in the eyes.
You feel it inside your bones.
Part of it is because it feels the music is always about to run faster than the lyrics … the other is the backing singers routine is short, sharp and precise, keeping the energy of the music alive visually as well as sonically.
For me, Beyonce’s performance of Tina Turner’s classic ‘Proud Mary’ is a revelation and by the look on Tina’s face, it’s both a recognition of the impact she has made on culture and the realisation that the door she opened – at great personal sacrifice – was worth it.
Watch it, it guarantees you will enter the weekend with a huge smile on your face.
22 Comments
ive now literally seen it all on this blog.
Comment by andy@cynic March 30, 2018 @ 6:23 ambeyonce must be fucking over the moon. will you feature her album on your next pentagram mindfuck borefest?
Comment by andy@cynic March 30, 2018 @ 6:24 am❤️ Beyonce.
Comment by Katerina March 30, 2018 @ 6:30 amfor fucks sake k, run away from here. run as fast as your ruski spy legs will take you.
Comment by andy@cynic March 30, 2018 @ 6:33 amWith terms of endearment like that, you wouldn’t last 2 seconds in modern corporate America. To be honest, I’m amazed I have.
Comment by Rob March 30, 2018 @ 7:34 amNo problems Robert, I never pay attention to what he said. But I still love you dear Andy.
Comment by Katerina March 30, 2018 @ 7:44 amKFTW
Comment by DH March 30, 2018 @ 7:47 amYou had a chance to escape K. Why do this? Why?
Comment by DH March 30, 2018 @ 6:48 amI love you K.
Comment by Rob March 30, 2018 @ 7:33 amBeyonce’s stellar career destroyed in one blog post. I bet she didn’t see that coming. Then neither did I.
Comment by DH March 30, 2018 @ 6:47 amThat is worth adding to the CV.
Comment by Rob March 30, 2018 @ 7:36 amWonder what John Fogerty thought about it.
Comment by John March 30, 2018 @ 7:00 amI guess when an artist does a performance like that, it’s a sign of true respect towards the artist and song they are expressing. I’m a Beyonce fan.
Comment by George March 30, 2018 @ 7:20 amHappy Easter.
Comment by George March 30, 2018 @ 7:20 amAnd you mate. Still in shock America doesn’t have an Easter holiday. Then it only has 1 day for Christmas. For a nation that bangs on about how religious it is, it sends out a lot of mixed messages.
Comment by Rob March 30, 2018 @ 7:36 amFor someone who is living in paradise, you sure find a lot of problems with it.
Comment by DH March 30, 2018 @ 7:40 amWhat an amazing tribute. It did put a smile on my face.
Comment by Lee Hill March 30, 2018 @ 8:24 amI think Nancy Wilson wins both in terms of vocal performance and the fact that she was 58!
Comment by John March 30, 2018 @ 12:44 pmIt’s not a competition John.
Comment by Rob March 30, 2018 @ 3:43 pmJust a preference.
Comment by John March 30, 2018 @ 4:17 pm[…] via Beyonce Makes Everything Better … — The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!] […]
Pingback by Beyonce Makes Everything Better … — The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!] – 1KMEGpr June 23, 2018 @ 7:25 pmYes Beyonce turns everything she touches into Gold. Quite an amazing skill.
Not only did she make that tribute better, but she makes talking about money better. Her latest song has some great money lessons. Check it out here http://theslimfitwallet.com/reasonable-doubt-are-there-money-lessons-in-jay-z-and-beyonces-apeshit/
Comment by Slim Fit Wallet July 11, 2018 @ 12:26 pm