These 1980s rock songs were always great, but they were made legendary thanks to iconic performances. Without these key moments, these hits would likely still be success stories, but there’s no doubt we think of these live moments more than the studio versions. If you, somehow, haven’t seen these performances, rectify that today.
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Videos by American Songwriter
“Radio Ga Ga” — Queen
Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga” was a standout moment in the highlight-filled Live Aid 1985. When we think of this iconic musical event, only a handful of songs first come to mind. For many, it’s this Queen staple. This song speaks to the power of music, making it the perfect choice for this type of multi-genre collaborative event.
“I’d sit alone and watch your light / My only friend through teenage nights / And everything I had to know,” Freddie Mercury sings of the impact music has had on his life. When we watch this performance, we get a similar feeling of gratitude for the power of this medium.
“Bad” – U2
Staying with the Live Aid theme, we have to revisit U2’s “Bad”. This rock song was extended during this iconic performance to the point where Bono went out into the crowd and danced with an audience member. It was the perfect touching moment to drive the emotions of this song home. This is the kind of once-in-a-generation performance that we look back on in wonder.
You wouldn’t immediately peg this emotional track as a crowd-pleaser because of its content. “If I could throw this lifeless lifeline to the wind / Leave this heart of clay / See you walk, walk away,” the lyrics read. Nevertheless, this became a standout moment at Live Aid, bringing the thousands in attendance together. Moreover, it unites those of us who can only see it in hindsight.
“Wanted Dead Or Alive” – Bon Jovi
When we think of Bon Jovi, we don’t think of intimate, stripped-down performances. Nevertheless, one of their most iconic performances ever was at the MTV VMAs, where the band sat the audience down with no airs and delivered raw emotion with this rock song.
The lyrics “I‘m a cowboy / On a steel horse I ride / I’m wanted dead or alive / Wanted dead or alive” carry even more mystique when delivered in a stripped-back setting. It feels like a quiet musing from a whiskey-soaked cowboy in this atmosphere.
(Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
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