Top Music Videos This Week: Coming in Live
As fun as it is to listen stream the latest album of your favorite artist whenever you want, there is truly nothing like hearing them live. That being said, it isn’t always the easiest option to attend a concert of festival. Artists like these take the power and authenticity of a live performance and allow us to appreciate their raw sounds in a much more accessible way. This week’s top picks explore some of the best live video recordings recently released, that truly allow audiences to feel and see emotion their favorite songs are meant to carry.
“Golden” by My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is letting fans experience their iconic 2004 Bonnaroo performance once again in their new documentary Return To Thunderdome. Their groundbreaking performance through sunshine and rainstorms made culminated in a momentous moment for the band, with their earthy, indie-folk sound making the perfect pairing for their elemental surroundings. This specific clip of their performance of “Golden” features the band pre-storm, playing to a crowd devoid of phones or cameras and just appreciating their music. The film makes for an interesting time capsule of concert culture as much as it does of the band’s history. Make sure to catch My Mornign Jacket as they continue on their world tour and check out Return To Thunderdome.
“labour” by Paris Paloma
Released in March of this year, Paris Paloma’s single “labour” quickly became a viral feminist anthem that backed a multitude of TikToks from women expressing their frustrations with patriarchal double standards and oppression. This live recording at the famed RAK Studios shows Paloma performing the powerful song in its rawest state. “labour” plays with the idea of generational acts of misogyny and the pitfalls many women are forced into, with lines like “If we had a daughter, I’d watch and could not save her” capturing the feeling of helplessness as generations of women endure the same acts of oppression. This specific performance works strongly with the song’s subject matter as Paloma’s raw emotion shines through. You can still catch the final dates of her tour to see more live performances like this one.
“Descending To Nowhere” by Rodrigo y Gabriela
In between shows in Paris, guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela decided to film a live version of their song “Descending To Nowhere,” off of their new album In Between Thoughts…A New World, at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord. The result is a haunting duet in an empty theater, the musicians entering in and out of light and dark and they passionately blend the sounds of their respective instruments. The recording also gives a sweet insight into the backstage life of touring. The whole performance is as real as it is magical, and is definitely worth watching along with the song’s original arrangement. They will be continuing their world tour through November, which you can get tickets for here.
“Bruises Off The Peach” by Ryan Beatty
Ryan Beatty’s latest live recording is a truly powerful rendition of his single “Bruises Off The Peach,” off of his most recent album Calico. Beatty’s strong yet melodic vocals can really shine through in this rendition, as we see him become fully captured by the emotion and intensity of his performance. The single is already a heartfelt ode to love and feeling lost, but this rendition adds a beautiful human element that makes it that much more genuine. Beatty will be going on a North American tour this September titled “California In Every Color,” with tickets still available here.
“Saturn’s Rings” by Annabel Gutherz
Standing in a sunflower field at golden hour, Annabel Gutherz’ emotional rendition of her single “Saturn’s Rings” has every element of a perfect breakup anthem. “I wanted the production to reflect the push-and-pull dynamic of the lyrics and the discordant emotional undercurrents contrasting each song section,” said Gutherz. The Montreal native pairs her stunning vocals with a simple acoustic accompaniment, adding a very authentic level to the song’s already personal lyrics.
A live performance can have the power to elevate a song to a whole new place. Each of these artists use their live abilities to capture the essence of their songs and vocal abilities. If you liked this selection of videos, make sure to stay tuned for next week’s top picks!
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