MTV Unplugged is coming back to TV! Well, sort of: Come Monday, the first episode of the newly revived show, featuring throaty-voiced Briton Adele, will air on MTV’s morning video block AMTV–only it’ll air in chunks, with snippets of the six-song set as well as interviews and other backstage footage being meted out over the course of AMTV’s six hours. In order to watch the whole thing, you’ll have to fire up your browser and huddle in front of your computer while Adele performs “Chasing Pavements” and other selections from 19. New episodes will come out monthly, with next month’s installment featuring the Silversun Pickups.
I’m not sure how this snipped-to-bits version of the nearly 20-year-old show will do as far as awareness goes, although I understand MTV’s reticence toward taking entire half-hour blocks from The Phone in order to promote music. I guess even more surprising than the way it’s being presented is the news that Ne-Yo did an episode of the show during its most recent reboot two years ago, only of course all anyone could talk about at the time was the one where Korn and Robert Smith collaborated.
Please feel free to use this space to discuss your favorite installments of MTV Unplugged. Extra points for a) YouTube embeds and b) mentioning the Kiss episode!
MTV Unplugged [Official site]
Programming Notes
“Unplugged” Gets Rebooted For Our Attention-Span-Challenged Age
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Programming Notes
Programming Notes
I owned four episodes: Nirvana (on tape); Alice in Chains; Eric Clapton (on tape); and…Kiss! Biggest Unplugged disappointment for me? Both R.E.M. episodes.
Whoa! Silversun Pickups? Pulling out the big guns, MTV. I guess that means a Kings of Leon episode is inevitable. (sigh) Hey, let’s hope they ask Jay-Z to do another one. First is a stone classic.
Yes, because I’d much rather sit in front my TV for hours on end to catch snippets of something I’d like instead of watching an hour of programming dedicated to quality performances by talented artists.
Some favourite Unplugged episodes which come to mind are…
Eric Clapton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-o5kcqhZ_s
10,000 Maniacs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxmaqliSdzY
Paul McCartney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyw4PLhQBIo
Rod Stewart (feat. Ron Wood)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYe6d0sXTyw
Oasis (sans twitty Liam):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjPZufbOjbE&feature=related
Live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKy8OCxa0UM&feature=related
Believe it or not I enjoyed Hole’s performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XlCuVlev60
There, that should hopefully keep ya entertained for a while.
p.s. MTV and other supposed “music” stations have all but dropped quality music programming from their lineups, in favour of shite reality programming and horrid hosts. I remember when tv music stations really had something to offer. Those days are long gone.
Uptown Unplugged! Mary J. killed it. Yo! Unplugged Rap was also pretty classic with Tribe, De La Soul and LL. The Beastie Boys really ought to do one of these.
I also remember the Aerosmith one being pretty great.
I think the most interesting of the Unplugged shows overall were the one’s during the first year or so. Great White, Black Crowes, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc… I do think the Kiss and Nirvana episodes are the 2 best. Mainly because they reinvented some of their songs(the Kiss classic “Coming Home” for one). One that I think is kind of overrated is the Pearl Jam episode. I’m a fan, but it was almost like they were trying to hard. My dream Unplugged would be Soundgarden during the Badmotorfinger era.
I will definitely watch the Silversun Pickups episode/various installments spread around a few hours. I really like them.
While I think Bruce Springsteen’s “plugged” was pretty mediocre, it does contain my favorite version of Thunder Road that I know recorded.
I bought it upon a Bruce rediscovery because it contained Atlantic City, and while I don’t despise the version of it on there, it certainly highlights the ‘blah’ness of it over all.
Aside from that, 10,000 Maniacs. For life.
@TheRunningboard7: Yeah, I think the problem with that show is that not only was the band underrehearsed, but Bruce played around with everyone as he would have with Little Steven or Clarence, and it just looked a bit awkward. That Unplugged does have a few decent stories though (but the VH1 Storyteller is what Bruce’s Unplugged should’ve been).
@jt.ramsay: Wow, really? I loved those REM ones! BUT I will say the From the Borderline boots are better versions of the same thing. I’d seek those out now!