Songs where the artists just throw themselves into it

My favorite example of this is The National’s “Available”. For the first two thirds of the song there’s an obvious control to the message, but then towards the end it all lets go.

When you compare Bette Midler against Lorraine Ellison on ‘Stay with me baby’ there is really no comparison

Grace - Jeff Buckley
The Who - Won't get fooled again - This clip shows what I mean - now that's how to get completely committed drumming
Candy Dulfer, from the 'Live at Leverkusen show' the link should take you to the right timestamp.

Not bad entertainment, just sax and drums - turn it up very loud

Her trumpet man is pretty good too - check it out from around 2:20

I love Jennifer Hudson but Jennifer Holiday OWNS that song, and she had all the belters from that era, Patti, Aretha, Chaka, etc singing her praise. Listen to the original broadway cast album…goosebumps.
There’s a lot of gospel which does exactly that. Too many to mention here.
But in keeping with the POP sentimentality of the thread,
The end of **Michael Jackson’s **Earth Song after the bridge where he shouts like a preacher and sings his ass off.
Prince; the second half of “Temptation”
Teddy Pendergrass “Turn off the Lights” live.
Gladys Knight; “Neither One of Us”

“Without a song” by James Cleveland! in fact, anything by James Cleveland- probably the most influential singer amongst 70s gospel and soul singers.
**Aretha Franklin **“Mary Don’t you Weep” 1972
“Hold The Light” **Rev Lawrence Roberts & The Angelic Choir **

As I said, too many gospel songs to mention here.

I would nominate any song from the original Blues Brothers movie. Belushi and Ackroyd just threw themselves into the music, and the rest followed. I love watching the scene were Cab Calloway does Minnie the Moocher. The musicians, who have played with lots of famous people, were clearly in awe of his talents.

My favorite was Queensryche’s Take Hold of the Flame. Geoff Tate starts the song by belting out the first two title words in what sounds like five minutes without taking a breath. First time I heard that it blew my mind. This was during the hard rock era where most other bands were screaming with talentless gravel voices, but here was Tate showing off a perfect voice and ten gallon lungs.

Thus the inspiration behind my name. :cool:

Good choice. One of my favorite bands. Seen them in concert 4 or 5 times. The part that you mentioned, Geoff Tate’s singing the first two words, starts at about the 1 minute mark.

And here’s the Sam Kinison cover.