Way Back Wednesday: Studio Vs Live Performances - The Lava Lizard

Jul

18

2012

Way Back Wednesday: Studio Vs Live Performances

Written by TriniTrent | Filed under Aretha Franklin,Beyonce,Christina Aguilera,Mariah Carey,Way Back Wednesday,Whitney Houston

Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross and Beyonce

The most awkward moment in singers’ careers occurs when they fail to perform their hits live. However, while that experience is incredibly embarrassing for acts, who run the risk of being labelled frauds when critics judge their studio vs live performances, it is even more confusing for heir loyal fans.

This week’s Way Back Wednesday special highlights vocalists who have delivered stunning incredible live showings that were far better than the recorded versions of their hits. Whether they increased the tempo, added well-placed runs or sang even higher, these performers have proven their worth.

Listen to the studio recordings of some of the industry’s truly talented singers and compare them to their live performances below:

Aretha Franklin – ‘Respect’ (Studio)

Aretha Franklin – ‘Respect’ (Live)

Beyonce – ’1+1′ (Studio)

Beyonce – ’1+1′ (Live)

Luther Vandross – ‘Love Won’t Let Me Wait’ (Studio)

Luther Vandross – ‘Love Won’t Let Me Wait’ (Live)

Mariah Carey – ‘Yours’ (Studio)

Mariah Carey – ‘Yours’ (Live)

Whitney Houston – ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ (Studio)

Whitney Houston – ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ (Live)

The best way for a singer to perform a song better than the studio recording is not to attempt to recreate the arrangement. In most cases, the original studio compositions entail vocal layering or effects that were achieved with multiple takes or with the aid of technology. So, trying to recapture those elements live are almost impossible.

The top live singers understand the difference between studio and live settings, and develop new arrangements for their songs either extemporaneously or with careful planning. Undoubtedly, Aretha Franklin is by far the most talented vocalist in that department and basically revamps her entire catalogue every time! In fact, I would argue that the above performance of ‘Respect’ is one of the greatest vocal showings ever delivered!

So, now that you’ve observed a few singers who have demonstrated the skill of translating their songs live, watch Christina Aguilera butcher ‘Fighter’ with unnecessary runs, grunts, squeals and failed high notes below:

Christina Aguilera – ‘Fighter’ (Studio)

Christina Aguilera – ‘Fighter’ (Live)

Thoughts?
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Keys: aretha franklin, beyonce, christina aguilera, luther vandross, mariah carey, way back wednesday, whitney houston
- Chimier
  
  Whitney was just so incredible. She never sang a song the same way twice. Same for Ree.
- Jeff
  
  Whitney ate that shit!!.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSOeAIY52sk&feature=related Matthew Charlery-Smith
  
  Looking 4wd to tucking into this one! I don’t think I even know those 2 songs by Mariah and Luther…Maybe MJ’s “Rock With You” from the “Triumph” tour could have been included. Anyway…*Gets ready to view*
- Liberiangirl
  
  Great post! Luther is alllllllllll that and then some!!!
- Terrence
  
  WOW you seem really easily bothered by Christina lol. Thats always funny.
- olly_tei
  
  Nice post, I never liked that american Idol performance by beyonce. I would have compared Me Myself and I studio vs the AOL live session version.
- LegendTina The Goddess Of Music
  
  So Fighter by Christina Aguilera is a rockish pop song ofcoarse she would do that and with that song only… Fighter from Storytellers was her live and her last performance of it alone! Why could’nt you put her ballad performance or more pop songs like You Lost Me, Aint No Other Man or her last live performance which was a few months ago when she had a cold and sang The Prayer! YOU ARE SUCH A HATER…. Just because Xtina is a threat and is competition to everyone!
- LOVE!
  
  This is such a great post! Aretha is the Queen and everyone else are her children!!! I grew up on these great singers and they comtinue to inspire me and others. I really wish Christina would get some vocal training before she ruins her voice completely!!!
- Kingphoenix
  
  All great performances, that Christina shade wasn’t even needed…brought down the morale.
- MyCooL
  
  You had to post one of Mariah’s worst live performances, Trent… LOL
- Theman
  
  Mariah’s skill level is amazing….. The way she glides through a song is unparalleled. Whitney is great and of course Luther. Mariah’s performance was/is great. The ersatility is what mattered.
- The Boss
  
  Great post. You should have used Beyonce’s Listen performance with Alexandra Bruke during X-factors finale. She ate those vocals.
- Agent_Mariah
  
  DEAD at you silly gals dragging XXXLTinas lack of vocal training.
  
  LMAO. I Live.
- kayla
  
  Mariah, Yasssss!! Another good live performance was we belong together/fly like a bird performance. I think that was at the grammy’s. She killed it!!
- X
  
  you should have got the one from vh1 storytellers you fucking hater.
  
  does “stop singing my part now, babyy” ring any bells? hahaha
- Kendall
  
  Whitney was just genius. I watch in true awe. There has never been a voice w/ such raw clarity & precision. The Voice indeed.
- https://twitter.com/#!/_feeniix_ Ronnie (_feeniix_)
  
  What was the point of posting Xtina? She has done many of her songs justice live yet you failed to mention that. Pressed as usual.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSOeAIY52sk&feature=related Matthew Charlery-Smith
  
  They were all great. But Beyonce’s 1 + 1 was a semitone lower than the album version making it easier for her to sing. I didn’t think it was that amazing. Whitney tore the house down, proving why she’s the voice. Mariah’s was good esp her whistles. Luther continually makes life hard for other male singers. Aretha was great but I prefer the album version, it’s more controlled and it doesn’t feel like she’s over lapping the next line with extended vocals from the former line. I think the Jackson 5 (Michael Jackson’s) live version of “Who’s Loving You” should have been included too.
- Felecia
  
  Yes Beyonce’s performance of 1+1 on American Idol was not my favorite performance of that song HOWEVER when she sang it right before that in her dressing room as Jay Z recorded it, it was nothing less than amazing. I really think she was nervous to perform that song for the first time on live tv that night. I really don’t know what happened when it was time for her to sing for her televised performance and if it wasn’t for thr Jay-z recording I would have assumed that she coudln’t sing that one live because it seems like a difficult song to sing. At any rate, the dressing room rehearsal video solidfied to me that Bey’s a bad b*tch.
- sam
  
  Whitney tore that up! She’s one of the greatest live performers of all time! She was the perfect mix of powerhouse & songbird. Beauty, raw power, range, soul & emotion. You can’t get any better than Ms. Nippy Houston.
- olivia
  
  the american idol performance is my least fav 1+1 performance because she just seemed nervous the dressing room is my fav along with the ones from revel
- http://twitter.com/aspire91inspire Adrian
  
  X you were wrong for that! lmao. I love this post. You never fail to deliver with your Music Minutes Trent!
- China
- China
- China
- ni
  
  There will never be another Luther… Just simply Amazing…
  RIP. :””(
- http://www.twitter.com/gReEnGuY_4 Ben
  
  Umm maybe it’s because I’m not the producer, songwriter, music theory and musical scholar that everyone else is on Twitter, but I really didn’t see anything wrong with the Xtina performance (except the end when she tried to hit that note and was out of breath)… And we all know Xtina and pitch don’t have the best relationship. lol
- PJ
  
  Okay Trent you’ve officially outted yourself as nothing more than a Christina hater. You of all people know she has KILLED 99% of her songs in live performances. I can pull up a bad live performance of Bey, Mariah, Whitney and alot of others. You either do this to get a rise out of her fans or you really do have it out for her because while some of your remarks have been valid, others have been just plain crazy. Please act like you have some sense. I know you do.
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