After 44 years of broadcasting the best music videos around, beloved MTV has announced the end of its music channels’ long run.
Launching in 1981, with the slogan ‘Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll’, MTV was loved by thousands all over, with some of the most well-known artists claiming fame from their music videos appearing on this platform.
However, an aspect of this channel that holds a special place in many audiences’ hearts is the ‘Unplugged’ section where musicians play a set that is stripped back acoustically, giving fans a version of these songs that have never been heard before. In honour of MTVs closure, here’s top ten of the most memorable MTV Unplugged performances.
10. The Cranberries (1995)
Promoting their album ‘No Need To Argue’, iconic Irish rock band The Cranberries performed a legendary set with the Electra Strings Quartet, giving a relaxed ambience with tambourines and soft strings, contrast to the groups’ usual electric guitars and drum kits.
Dolores O’ Riordan’s vocals shine throughout this concert, delivering angelic vocals, particularly in songs such as ‘Linger’, and ‘Ode To My Family’. Listeners were blessed with chart-toppers like ‘Zombie’ as well as a few unreleased songs, including ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ which in fact, was just written the day before the Unplugged performance.
Unlike other artists on this list, the musicians didn’t bring out any special guests or perform crowd-pleasing covers, they just played their loved songs stripped back, with less intensity to showcase Dolores’ unique voice, making it all the more special to fans.
9. Kiss (1995)
At this particular time in the bands’ career, Kiss were dreaming of making a comeback. Therefore, when the idea of an Unplugged performance was broached, they eagerly accepted. Since Kiss had been reduced to only performing acoustic sets to their own fan conventions, MTV pressed the band into bringing back original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley to gain more publicity.
While the stars only came out for the encores of ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’, ‘Beth’, and ‘Nothin To Lose’, it’s a bittersweet moment, watching one of the biggest glam 80s rock bands of all time humbly reunite with an acoustic set. Paul Stanley sung powerfully, in his typical high-ranging tenor voice, blending smoothly with the accompaniment of soft drums and unamplified guitars in songs like ‘Comin Home’, as well as ‘C’mon And Love Me’. The whole set is a beautiful, nostalgic gift to fans, watching the original band all come together to rock out to irreplaceable renditions of their songs.
8. Neil Young (1993)
Despite this star playing Unplugged performances of his tunes long before MTV began airing them, Young is very much a perfectionist, walking out of his first attempt playing Unplugged at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theatre as he ‘wasn’t happy with the performance’, therefore wouldn’t allow it to be released.
Luckily, for fans, Neil was less self-critical in this concert, so listeners have the opportunity to hear stripped back versions of some timeless classics like ‘Old Man’ and ‘Harvest Moon’. As many artists do in acoustic sets, Neil picks up an unexpected instrument which in his case, was a pump organ, and began captivating audiences with a haunting solo of ‘Like A Hurricane’. The rockstar’s unforgettable guitar skills and raw, tender vocals create a spectacular, soulful musical journey that fans are thankful he finally let air on MTV.
7. Oasis (1996)
In the prime of their Britpop glory, the Gallagher brothers were well into their ‘What’s The Story (Morning Glory)’ tour when approached about the taping of MTV Unplugged, however, the typical roles were reversed in this particular performance. Liam backed out due to a ‘sore throat’, leaving Noel to take over vocal duties with the risk of eliminating Oasis’ famous sound.
Despite the initial surprise, Noel enchanted audiences by singing these tunes in his own style, performing a breathtaking, unaccompanied version of ‘Morning Glory’ . Performances like this gave fans the opportunity to hear Noel’s voice front and centre, unshadowed for the first time. Meanwhile, the shadow was lurking in the audience, downing pints, and heckling his own band. This was something never before seen in rock history, a lead singer mocking his own group, never mind his own brother.
Nonetheless, Noel shrugged the judgement off and performed one of the most popular acoustic sets to date without breaking a sweat, marking this the first realisation that Noel can do it all on his own. Some standout songs include ‘Whatever’, ‘Talk Tonight’, and ‘Some Might Say’, which were all accompanied by unexpected instruments like cellos, violins, and even brass instruments, giving these indie anthems a completely new, astonishing sound.
6. Alicia Keys (2005)
Not only did Alicia perform memorable versions of some of her most beautiful songs like ‘Fallin’, and ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ she also played the piano herself for almost the entirety of her set. Yet, the episode could have gone in a completely different direction, as Bruce Springsteen was supposed to join the R&B singer for a spellbinding cover of his classic, ‘New York City Serenade’. If schedules hadn’t conflicted, Springsteen joining Keys undoubtedly would have went down as a historical musical moment.
Despite the letdown, this didn’t stop Alicia from bringing out some famous faces. Adam Levine from Maroon 5 joined for a duet style cover of Rolling Stones’, ‘Wild Horses’, while Mos Def and Common rapped along to ‘Love It Or Leave It Alone’, making an unforgettable entrance by dancing down the aisles beside the audience. Alicia gave viewers a fabulous finale as Damion Marley and various dancers joined her on stage for a surreal performance of ‘Welcome To The Jamrock’, which largely contributes to this episode being one of the most-loved in Unplugged history.
5. Alanis Morisette (1999)
Post-‘Jagged Little Pill’, Morisette takes the stage in a laidback manner, casually perched on a stool while belting out some of the most gut-wrenching lyrics she’s ever written. A delivery from Alanis which differs entirely from other performances is her gentle vocals, singing mainly in her head voice, which contrasts with her usual powerful chest voice.
Yet, Morisette’s well-loved voice isn’t the only instrument that captures listeners in this performance. During the second song, ‘Head Over Feet’, the alternative singer channels her inner Bob Dylan by bringing out her harmonica as well as strumming her guitar along with bandmates. A further unexpected moment of this set is when Alanis begins playing the flute during ‘That I Would Be Good’, proving that the stage of Unplugged is the perfect place to display her endless number of talents through a range of instruments.
4. Eric Clapton (1992)
This soulful performance won best-selling live album of all time, selling over 26 million copies worldwide, and after watching the immensely talented musician’s performance, it’s extremely clear why.
Opening with fan favourite, ‘Signe’, Clapton steals the show with just two guitars and a triangle joining him, the perfect set up for audiences to get a closer look at his natural finger-plucking talent. Using his impeccable guitar skills, Eric sings a heartbreaking, acoustic version of ‘Tears In Heaven’, written about his son, Connor who tragically passed away at the age of 4.
If the lyrics weren’t heavy-hearted enough, the clear sign of Clapton’s bandmates looking out for him throughout the performance, nodding in reassurance is a tear-jerking sight that heavily adds to the song’s emotional value. A cover from this set which remains popular and even loved more than the original by some is ‘Layla’, written by Derek and the Dominos as Clapton brings a slowed down, powerful mix of rock and blues version of this anthem.
3. Alice In Chains (1996)
While these rockstars played a handful of gigs following this one, it’s often remembered as the band’s last true great moment with lead singer Layne Staley. Due to the singer’s struggles with addiction, Alice In Chains struggled to promote their latest music at the point of being approached with the idea of Unplugged.
On this particular night, however, all the tough times were forgotten, and the band played an incredibly beautiful set for MTV that is known as one of the best live performances from a grunge band. A song that stands out from this emotional show is ‘Nutshell’, a raw, authentic ballad about addiction which has been described as ‘a man singing at his own funeral’.
Layne pouring his heart and soul into the lyrics ‘I’m fighting all my own battles’, gives the lyrics a whole new meaning knowing that he tragically lost his battle with heroin addiction just six years later. Nonetheless, this version is tear-jerking perfection and highlights the amazing talent that we lost. Another moment which gives viewers goosebumps is the stripped back rendition of ‘Rooster’. Starting off with just 2 acoustic guitars and Staley’s raspy vocals, Alice in Chains successfully turn their headbanger anthem into a dramatic melody, until the drums kick in, adding an edgy rock vibe to this interpretation. Alice In Chains captured the whole meaning of MTV Unplugged perfectly, giving audiences a completely incompatible look into the struggling band behind the tough exterior of their songs.
2. Pearl Jam (1992)
Pearl Jam were only just beginning to gain national recognition when they performed Unplugged. Having just finished their European tour, the grunge artists barely had any prep time yet managed to pull off a euphoric performance that engages listeners from start to finish.
Lead singer Eddie Vader clearly struggles to sit still during this performance, as it completely differs from his usual rockstar style jumping around the stage, however it doesn’t stop him from delivering top-notch vocals. Playing some of the band’s now biggest hits like ‘Alive’ and ‘Even Flow’, Pearl Jam have since said that they wished they had more time to prepare a set list with more variation and cover.
Although, listeners were certainly not complaining as the rock band perfectly performed acoustic versions of songs that would have been unimaginable if not for this performance. If anything, it makes the concert even more groundbreaking, knowing that it was a product produced in little to no time.
1. Nirvana (1993)
Unlike many claim, this performance wasn’t technically Nirvana’s last concert, in fact, they performed the rest of their In Utero tour and two months worth of concerts following this. However, as Kurt insisted the stage look like a funeral with dark petals and candles, this set has been believed to be Nirvana’s final statement to the world.
In contrast to their usual ‘Teen Spirit’ smashing instruments, and protesting to typical artist stereotypes, the band approached the set calmly, skipping over most of their predicted hits, and played many slower, stripped-down covers. Kurt gave profound vocals that have made his versions of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ by Bowie and The Vaselines’ ‘Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam’ world-famous in remembrance of his legacy. A moment from this set that sticks in listener’s mind when watching back this performance is Cobain’s acoustic rendition of ‘Come As You Are’, singing through gritted teeth ‘No I don’t have a gun’.
In a sense, this was Kurt’s way of saying goodbye to fans, ditching his regular rockstar persona to be vulnerable and belt these heartfelt lyrics while clearly struggling. This performance is heartbreaking to consider everything going on at that time, but it is also so important to music history and will always be remembered as arguably the best Unplugged appearance of all time.
Featured Image Credit – Wikimedia, MTV Networks
Estimated reading time: 0 minutes
