I'm back!! After a month in which a lot has changed, I'm making a conscious effort to get this done every few weeks. (For those of you who actually care haha) So, I was looking for tickets to see my favorite band, O.A.R., but sadly they won't be around Philly this fall. Then, on the way to work this morning, "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" came on my iPod shuffle. (RIP Steve Jobs) I listened to it and re-realized how great of a live song it really is. So I thought of all of the concerts that I've been to, and decided to rank...
The Top 5 Favorite Songs I've Seen Performed Live:
5 - "I Feel Home" - O.A.R. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30eI2MxriTI)
O.A.R is one of those bands that have a great following, but will never get the respect they deserve. I've been listening to the band for a long time, and I have seen them live eight times. The best thing about this band is their live show. The second best thing is the lyrical content. "I Feel Home" makes the Top 5 because this can be considered my group of friends anthem. There have been many drunk nights in basements singing along to this song. And on a couple of occasions, we've been fortunate enough to be at the O.A.R. shows together when they have played this rare tune. They do not play it a lot, but to hear one of our favorite songs live, and all be together is something pretty special.
4 - "Konstantine" - Something Corporate ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwJWWnn-cw )
I've only seen Something Corporate perform live a few times, but I've only seen this song live once. It was pretty awesome. Lead singer Andrew McMahon taps away at the piano like a mad man, and goes through this ten minute song with ease. The funny thing is that not many of the people in the audience knew the song. That might be because they never actually release the song on one of their albums. ("Konstantine" was on their EP Songs for Silent Movies but that was only released in Japan.) This is one of those tunes that you can actually see the passion in the person singing it. This is a deeply personal song to McMahon, and it seeps through his performance. This song is not played much by Something Corporate, so to see it live is a rarity, and a pleasure to witness.
3 - "Piano Man" - Billy Joel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sFlBJ1Jk3w)
The top three songs on this list should, and usually are always played in the artist's encore. I think you'll understand why when you read along. It was the summer of 2009. I had two floor seats to the Billy Joel/Elton John Face 2 Face tour at CBP here in Philly. I had no one to go with, so I got my buddy Fett, and we headed down to the Park. We knew we were going to see an unbelievable show, but unbelievable would be an understatement. They each played a set by themselves, sandwiched between two sets of them playing on the same stage at the same time. Absolutely unreal. The best though, was "Piano Man." This was when upwards of 50,000 people sang along and turned Citizens Bank Park into the largest karaoke bar in the world. It was amazing to hear Billy Joel play this track live, and I've had the fortune of seeing it done twice. I also saw Billy Joel at the then Wachovia Center. (Now known as the Wells Fargo Center here in Philly.)
2 - "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" - O.A.R.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XyQ8XDgUf4)
I have seen O.A.R. eight times, I've seen them play "Poker" eight times. I have upwards of seven or eight live versions of this song on my iPod. Yet, every time I hear this song live, it seems like it is better every time. When someone first starts listening to O.A.R., they usually hear "Poker" or "Hey Girl" first. They are staples of the O.A.R. catalog. Known to be upwards of twenty minutes long, I have seen "Poker" described as "a reflection of the stages we go through as people." (Compliments of track notes on O.A.R.'s Any Time Now) I completely agree and relate to this. One minute we are busy, on a fast-paced track, and then all of a sudden things calm down and we can relax a little bit. But, as soon as we get comfortable, we hop right back into the fast-paced world. What is the best part of this song? It is always changing. Marc and the boys have done many different versions of this song, adding improv, intros, and outros. These guys are ridiculous musicians and Marc Roberge is a mastermind of improvisational verses. I don't know if I have a "favorite" version, but I grew up on Any Time Now's version. If you get a chance, see these guys live. You will not regret it.
1 - "Livin' On a Prayer" - Bon Jovi
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQvF9s7ZyxA&feature=related)
As many times as I've seen O.A.R. live, I've seen Bon Jovi more. At a baker's dozen, (13 times), I've seen them the most of any band. They put on an amazing live show. I have told people before, "trust me, if you go to a Bon Jovi concert, you will have an amazing time." Every person I've ever gone to a Bon Jovi concert has agreed with me after the show. Sure, highlights of most shows include hits like "You Give Love a Bad Name", "It's My Life", and "Runaway", but THE highlight of every show is when they play "Livin' On a Prayer." I've seen this song live 13 times, and it becomes a bigger spectacle every time I see it. To be in Giants Stadium, and hear 80,000 people singing the chorus just goes to show you how powerful music can be. Nowadays, Jon does an acoustic intro. The only beat is his boot stomping on the stage, and he starts the chorus with, "They say we gotta hold on..." By the time he gets that out, every person in the stands is on point, they finish the chorus, and the band starts the song with the ever so familiar piano strokes. This really is the ultimate song to see performed live.
Wow, now I want to go to a concert. Just thinking about all of the great shows I've been to gives me the urge. What are your favorites? Has a live song ever gotten you choked up? Let me know your thoughts. Happy Monday, everyone. I'll be kicking back, sipping beers. You should join me!
