# Songs where the artists just throw themselves into it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007 "2015-08-16T18:42:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/1 "2015-08-16T18:42:12Z")
I want some music where the artist just throws themselves headfirst into it and goes completely bonkers with it. Like, those fundamentalist Christian denominations that flail around “feeling the spirit” would go “woah, okay, chill man.” I don’t just mean “over the top” or “a bit bombastic”. They can go hand in hand, but any third rate hair metal band can be a **bit** bombastic. Like, don’t get me wrong, I adore the sound and bombast of Nightwish’s rendition of [Over the Hills and Far Away](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAYVDLqkqHU), but they just don’t (over)sell it enough. I don’t just mean “emotional”, because lots of songs can be wonderful, earnest, moving, and emotional but in a more subdued or complex way. I mean full-on psychotic Alanis “the world is over and there is naught but pain” Morissette in [You Oughta Know](https://youtu.be/NPcyTyilmYY?t=2m10s). Or [Meatloaf-anything](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QGMCSCFoKA&feature=youtu.be&t=4m9s) (seriously, I think the guy may have been about to pass out and/or explode right there!) stuff. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/2 "2015-08-16T19:27:10Z")
You mean like Swans’ [Beautiful Child](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EayNRh_PkBc)? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/3 "2015-08-16T19:47:23Z")
Sinead Oconnor, Nothing Compares To You [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6MNvjrScyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6MNvjrScyo) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/4 "2015-08-16T20:44:15Z")
Nels Cline’s guitar solo on Wilco’s “[Impossible Germany](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I79m7_kAnA)”. (Solo starts around 2:45.) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/5 "2015-08-16T20:58:11Z")
This is why I always loved Janis Joplin’s version of Piece of My Heart. You can hear the tissue ripping away in her voice. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/6 "2015-08-16T21:07:23Z")
Just about any Guess Who song that is sung by Burton Cummings. Particularly, “These Eyes” and “No Time” and “Hand Me Down World.” He just goes ape-shit on the outro for those in particular. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/7 "2015-08-16T21:07:31Z")
[Nothing else even comes close.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoC8RTaUZMc) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/8 "2015-08-16T21:19:02Z")
A couple from the White Stripes: [Jolene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m5KrPXL4wI) [Seven Nation Army and Death Letter Medley - Grammy Awards](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi8KdTk0u0g) Both of those just blow me away. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/9 "2015-08-16T21:22:59Z")
Well look at live Nirvana preferably early, in England I think. It’s total commitment. Painful to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/10 "2015-08-16T21:28:26Z")
I remember watching a video of Laura Branigan in concert. When she came off stage she had to use an oxygen mask to recover. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/11 "2015-08-16T21:30:33Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Just about any Guess Who song that is sung by Burton Cummings. Particularly, “These Eyes” and “No Time” and “Hand Me Down World.” He just goes ape-shit on the outro for those in particular. Agree 100%. One of rock’s great singers. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/12 "2015-08-16T21:33:02Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Agree 100%. One of rock’s great singers. I love Burton Cummings but he was very poised. His codas were vehement but not all in to me. What about Paul McCartney in Hey Jude, I’m Down or She’s a woman? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/13 "2015-08-16T21:38:16Z")
John Lennon screaming “Twist and Shout.” He must’ve been hoarse for a month after that. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/14 "2015-08-16T21:38:20Z")
Bowie sings Heroes - especially the French and German versions - like it’s the last song he’s ever going to sing. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/15 "2015-08-16T22:04:15Z")
Neil Young on SNL delivering “Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World”. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/16 "2015-08-16T22:14:38Z")
Joe Cocker’s cover of [With A Little Help From My Friends](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRzKUVjHkGk). Like it or not (personally, I prefer the original), you can’t deny his commitment to the role. > [@drad\_dog](#): > > What about Paul McCartney in Hey Jude, I’m Down or She’s a woman? Also, “Helter Skelter”. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/17 "2015-08-16T23:18:54Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > Joe Cocker’s cover of [With A Little Help From My Friends](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRzKUVjHkGk). Like it or not (personally, I prefer the original), you can’t deny his commitment to the role. > > Also, “Helter Skelter”. Dude, Where were you when we needed your vote. Cockers version beat the Beatles, right here! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/18 "2015-08-17T00:46:18Z")
Anything with Keith Emerson. [Nutrocker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y30jjHw0ecw) Elton John on his 11/17/70 album, especially “[Burn Down the Mission](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6-KXUImTZQ).” ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/19 "2015-08-17T02:59:00Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > This is why I always loved Janis Joplin’s version of Piece of My Heart. You can hear the tissue ripping away in her voice. YES. It always brings tears to my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/20 "2015-08-17T03:11:31Z")
Bette Midler “Stay With Me, Baby” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007.md?page=2)