# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/21 "2015-08-17T11:05:13Z")
Ben Harper, “[Please Bleed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZpR2Bq5DBw)” live. he starts all controlled and mournful, things get ominous, building to a hoarse shriek of raw emotion, oh yeah and it’s just him by the way. Here he is doing [the same song](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xna8y_ben-harper-please-bleed-live-rtl_music)in some French radio station. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/22 "2015-08-17T12:12:14Z")
> [@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. Hell, Joe singing happy birthday at his niece’s sixth birthday would probably count. RIP, Joe. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/23 "2015-08-17T12:19:57Z")
**Tom Waits** singing just about anything. _Tom Traubert’s Blues_ (aka Waltzing Mathilda) is a fine example. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FhykXGQHt6M/hqdefault.jpg "Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhykXGQHt6M) ---
**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 17, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/24 "2015-08-17T15:25:55Z")
Harry Nilsson - [Jump into the Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siIukVsG3vs) ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/25 "2015-08-17T16:03:09Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Nels Cline’s guitar solo on Wilco’s “[Impossible Germany](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I79m7_kAnA)”. (Solo starts around 2:45.) Wow… that was fantastic! I’ll offer Davina and the Vagabonds covering Etta James’, “[I’d Rather Go Blind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzWAePrAJsw)” ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/26 "2015-08-17T16:07:46Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Dude, Where were you when we needed your vote. Cockers version beat the Beatles, right here! Even better [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cSk6o5x5HlM/maxresdefault.jpg "John Belushi as Joe Cocker With A Little Help From My Friends") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSk6o5x5HlM) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/27 "2015-08-17T16:15:54Z")
> [@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. Yeah, baby! That’s the first example that always comes to mind. And this is exactly why I always disliked Natalie Merchant’s version of _Because the Night_. She sings it so mechanically. Patti Smith, on the other hand, does pour herself into it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/28 "2015-08-17T16:22:05Z")
Roger Daltry in “Won’t Get Fooled Again’” Yeeeeaahhhhhhhh!!! ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/29 "2015-08-17T16:30:23Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > 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. Similarly, Mary Fahl, on the first October Project album (which, holy crap, was released over 20 years ago now). ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/30 "2015-08-17T16:32:30Z")
I saw Tina Turner do Proud Mary live once, and she left NOTHING on that stage. She was one female human tornado! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/31 "2015-08-17T16:41:37Z")
[Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats](http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/nathaniel-rateliff-the-night-sweats-sob/2888764). Man can this guy preach it! ---
**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 17, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/32 "2015-08-17T16:53:48Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Even better > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSk6o5x5HlM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSk6o5x5HlM) I saw that live, (on tv). Yeah I like Joe a lot, but to idolize him means that you just never heard Ray Charles. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/33 "2015-08-17T17:05:50Z")
If you like Nightwish’s Over the Hills and Far Away, but it just isn’t quite enough, then you probably need to head over to Hollenthon, Interlude - Ultima Ratio Regum. I should also nominate Blade by Frame Shift, for which I can’t seem to find a link to the music. Over the top doesn’t even describe it. I think of it as the soundtrack to Braveheart that should have been. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/34 "2015-08-17T17:16:49Z")
Seether - [Rise above this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP6JDLQF23g) The singer wrote the song for his brother who had suicidal depression, and it was an attempt to help him out of his funk. The brother ended up committing suicide while he was on tour with his brothers band (jumped out of a hotel window). The music video was made after the suicide. So basically song was supposed to help his brother with his depression, video ends up being about brother’s suicide. You can see the expressions of pain on the singers face all through the video. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/35 "2015-08-17T17:27:56Z")
John Lennon - Cold Turkey Sly & the Family Stone Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love The Who - Listening To You/ See Me Feel Me (particularly live) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/36 "2015-08-17T22:29:16Z")
[Who knew a bunch of clean-cut white boys could have so much soul!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3kZEjD3Gr8) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/37 "2015-08-18T01:19:51Z")
I think Janis’ Piece of My Heart trumps all others. Nonetheless… [The Beatles - Oh! Darling](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zs7iISYi8) [Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXYz0gtJeM) (start it at 4:15 if you’re pressed for time) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/38 "2015-08-18T01:27:06Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > [The Beatles - Oh! Darling](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zs7iISYi8) [QUOTE=Wikipedia] McCartney later said of recording the track, “When we were recording ‘Oh! Darling’ I came into the studios early every day for a week to sing it by myself because at first my voice was too clear. I wanted it to sound as though I’d been performing it on stage all week.” He would only try the song once each day; if it was not right he would wait until the next day. According to sound engineer Alan Parsons, McCartney once lamented that “five years ago I could have done this in a flash”. In a 1980 interview with Playboy magazine, John Lennon said, “‘Oh! Darling’ was a great one of Paul’s that he didn’t sing too well. I always thought I could have done it better—it was more my style than his. He wrote it, so what the hell, he’s going to sing it.” [/QUOTE] I can’t help wondering how it would have sounded with John on lead vocals. ---
**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 18, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/39 "2015-08-18T02:13:16Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I can’t help wondering how it would have sounded with John on lead vocals. He ad libs a version about his divorce, in the studio. It appears on the Anthology. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007/40 "2015-08-18T02:24:55Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Sinead Oconnor, Nothing Compares To You > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6MNvjrScyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6MNvjrScyo) I was thinking of her, but with Just Like U Said It Would B [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-artists-just-throw-themselves-into-it/728007.md?page=3)