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Celeb News: RS: 50 Greatest Live acts right now (Bruce #1, Bey #33)
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/8/2006
Posts: 42,086
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RS: 50 Greatest Live acts right now (Bruce #1, Bey #33)
50. Fiona Apple
49. Taylor Swift
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She's a kiddie feminist heroine who knows just the right dose of hooks, glitter, and stories about her famous exes to whip arena crowds into a teary frenzy. Swift has grown into a live powerhouse by stepping up her singing chops and making every fan in the house feel like they have a very tall, very talented BFF who just wants to hang for a few hours and gab about boys 'n' stuff.
Showstopper: Swift descends from a grand staircase for a fully choreographed "I Knew You Were Trouble" (and somehow manages a costume change onstage before the biggest bass drop)
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48. Green Day
47. Sigur Rós
46. Tool
45. Lady Gaga
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Gaga isn't content to just put on conceptual pop spectacles; her concerts double as refugee camps for her Little Monsters, the masses of queer kids and outcasts that drape themselves in police tape and bubble wrap as an homage to their fearless, fashion-forward leader. Gaga never stops thinking big: huge sets, massive choreography, epic speeches about overcoming obstacles. And her ability to dance in foot-high platforms is matched by her killer pipes and effortless piano playing.
Showstopper: "Bad Romance" is a reliable singalong, with Gaga conducting the stadium like a beautiful mad scientist.
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44. Janelle Monáe
43. Mumford & Sons
42. Skrillex
41. Tame Impala
40. Eric Church
39. Rush
38. Queens of the Stone Age
37. The National
36. Florence and the Machine
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At this point, Flo in concert is the pop equivalent of an appearance by Princess Kate. Her pipes are regal, and her sense of ceremony is impressive (see 2012's Ceremonials).
Showstopper: The big beat Brit-soul choral chant of "Shake It Out."
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35. Bruno Mars
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Anyone from the age of 5 to 95 can walk out of a Bruno Mars concert feeling like the show was designed just for them. Mars walks the old-school walk (occasionally in James Brown's funky shoes) and talks the sexy talk (sometimes in Prince-like come-ons), but he also nails the hits, leads a super-energetic nine-piece soul band, and rips a mean drum solo.
Showstopper: Mars caps his Moonshine Jungle sets with a spectacular version of "Gorilla" featuring enough pyro to impress Mötley Crüe.
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34. Foo Fighters
33. Beyoncé
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Beyoncé's vocals are so pristine live, she could sing while standing stock-still for two hours and get standing ovations. But Bey isn't just the Voice; she's also the Body, the Hair Flip, the Don't-****-With-Me Snarl. Her choreography is pristine, her all-girl band is perfect, and her confidence is punishing. Don't forget, this is a woman whose mane got caught in a fan at a recent show and she still never skipped a note.
Showstopper: B's been expertly poppin' her booty to "Crazy in Love" onstage at least 10 years before Miley Cyrus even heard the word "twerk."
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32. Sleigh Bells
31. David Byrne
30. Madonna
Quote:
Madonna sets the gold standard for pop tours, combining the precision of a Broadway spectacular with the theatricality of an action flick and the raunchiness of a burlesque show. She always sings live and dances her well-toned ass off, reinventing her catalog with goodies for every drag queen, soccer mom and tween in the house. "My first Madonna show was in 2006, and when she came out I started crying," says Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara. "She is truly the master of the pop-icon show."
Showstopper: "Like a Prayer" isn't in the set every tour, but when the Queen trots it out, it never fails to deliver pure ecstasy – no Molly required.
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29. Muse
28. Patti Smith
27. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
26. Leonard Cohen
25. Phish
24. Dave Matthews Band
23. Pearl Jam
22. Tom Waits
21. Red Hot Chili Peppers
20. Kanye West
Quote:
West's whole life may seem like performance art, but the stage is where his brilliant vision is laid bare. He melds high art with high anxiety – ranting, raving, pleading, and preaching in front of innovative video productions and entrancing stage sets like a man on the brink of genius or madness (and very often, both).
Showstopper: In recent years, "All of the Lights" – which comes with that spine-tingling horn fanfare and a synapse-sizzling light show – has been guaranteed to raise the room's collective heart rate and risk of seizure.
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19. The Roots
18. Metallica
17. Nine Inch Nails
16. Alabama Shakes
15. Paul McCartney
14. The Black Keys
13. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
12. Wilco
11. U2
10. My Morning Jacket
9. Rage Against the Machine
8. Jack White
7. Radiohead
6. Jay Z
Quote:
With a live band keeping him on the toes of his fresh Louis boat shoes, the only predictable thing about a Jay Z show is you won't see the same one twice. "He makes a real personal connection with the audience at every show. "There is an inclusive aspect to the show that is exhilarating," says Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy. "He'll go down as a legend, on par with the Beatles and the Stones."
Showstopper: The raucous "99 Problems" thunders like a Zeppelin throwdown – and on Jay's Legends of the Summer tour, Justin Timberlake handles the cranky cop's lines.
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5. Neil Young
4. Arcade Fire
3. The Rolling Stones
2. Prince
1. Bruce Springsteen
Quote:
Springsteen has always brought nearly superhuman levels of energy to his shows, but his current Wrecking Ball tour stands as one of his greatest and most thrilling. (It even featured the longest Springsteen show ever - four hours and six minutes, in Helsinki, Finland, on July 31, 2012.) For more shows, Springsteen shreds the pre-planned setlist and collects request-bearing signs from the crowd, leading the band in impromptu renditions of covers by everybody from The Ramones to Jackie Wilson. "I don't look at the setlist very much during the night," he recently told Rolling Stone's David Fricke. "I'm listening to the song we're playing - it's talking to me about what to play next. And I'm watching the audience. Sometimes it's the look in someone's eyes about how bad they want to hear that song they've written on a piece of cardboard or their head."
Showstopper: Each night's highlight is different – a beautiful thing with Springsteen shows.
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http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...t-now-20130731
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Member Since: 5/20/2012
Posts: 11,332
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When I saw the title I was like, how is Bey so low? But seeing the other names, I kinda understand.
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Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 7,635
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This is a great list. 
I see some pop girls missing though. 
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Member Since: 5/27/2010
Posts: 37,025
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ginger.
This is a great list.
I see some pop girls missing though. |
I know, I'm about to go back and double check.
Cute list.
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Member Since: 3/5/2011
Posts: 15,589
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Quote:
35. Bruno Mars
Quote:
Anyone from the age of 5 to 95 can walk out of a Bruno Mars concert feeling like the show was designed just for them. Mars walks the old-school walk (occasionally in James Brown's funky shoes) and talks the sexy talk (sometimes in Prince-like come-ons), but he also nails the hits, leads a super-energetic nine-piece soul band, and rips a mean drum solo.
Showstopper: Mars caps his Moonshine Jungle sets with a spectacular version of "Gorilla" featuring enough pyro to impress Mötley Crüe.
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Member Since: 1/8/2012
Posts: 11,352
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Rihanna.
Kanye above Bey? I thought he was a bad live performer.
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Member Since: 2/4/2012
Posts: 7,821
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Where is Queen Tina Turner? 
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Member Since: 2/2/2012
Posts: 26,226
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Madonna being the highest charting pop girl
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Madonna sets the gold standard for pop tours, combining the precision of a Broadway spectacular with the theatricality of an action flick and the raunchiness of a burlesque show. She always sings live and dances her well-toned ass off, reinventing her catalog with goodies for every drag queen, soccer mom and tween in the house. "My first Madonna show was in 2006, and when she came out I started crying," says Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara. "She is truly the master of the pop-icon show."
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Member Since: 5/27/2010
Posts: 37,025
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Quote:
Originally posted by WFL
Rihanna. |
Is making her first appearance in this thread with your post.
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Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 7,635
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Quote:
Originally posted by WFL
Rihanna.
Kanye above Bey? I thought he was a bad live performer. |
I don't see her name there. 
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Member Since: 4/7/2010
Posts: 894
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Yesss for my King at number 2!
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/8/2006
Posts: 42,086
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Quote:
Originally posted by WFL
Rihanna.
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Maybe if they extended the list to top 500
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Member Since: 1/1/2013
Posts: 13,978
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Quote:
44. Janelle Monae
38. Queens Of The Stone Age
36. Florence + The Machine
29. Muse
2. Prince
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Member Since: 12/29/2011
Posts: 8,072
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Very accurate list indeed
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Originally posted by MrPeanut
Is making her first appearance in this thread with your post.
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Member Since: 6/15/2011
Posts: 5,842
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Quote:
Originally posted by Desert Rain
When I saw the title I was like, how is Bey so low? But seeing the other names, I kinda understand.
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Yeah, for once RS's ranking doesn't leave me scratching my head. Though I think they left out some important performers who deserve a mention.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 12,539
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Where's Bjork? The biophilia tour is one of the most innovative ever.
Bur great list, Gaga should be higher.
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Member Since: 7/7/2011
Posts: 6,937
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Quote:
Originally posted by Chemist
Maybe if they extended the list to top 500 |
.... or top 1000 
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 4,235
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''Rolling Stone'' magazine.A magazine which always bring down female empowerment and put female at second at best. Report me as a flamebait or abrasive or disruptive. In the end , you will see or you could realize it sooner. Who need a recognition from this kind of thing AKA magazine.Stop being gullible people.Skrillex above Lady gaga, yeah right.
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Member Since: 7/7/2011
Posts: 6,937
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I dont agree with Jay & Kanye being above Bey. There's only so much hip-hop acts can do on stage.
btw, why was the queen of the underdogs omitted ? 
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Member Since: 5/27/2010
Posts: 37,025
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bey'Knight
.... or top 1000 |
At that point they'd have to let Cassie in.
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