Nightbird Live????

[TheWILDheart]

Any MP3's of this. IMO, it's better than the album version.

[Nixxxed]

I've always disliked that one - Stevie seems to be playing for the camera rather than singing the song. SNL was much better - tighter, more passionate.

I don't have the Solid Gold mp3s, but here are both the SNL ones:

Nightbird (SNL): http://download.yousendit.com/13DDFC535EC55D4B

Stand Back (SNL): http://download.yousendit.com/FC2310DE2969021F

[Kris10723]

I like the performance, but like Nixxxed said, she does seem to be more interested in the camera than in the song at some times. She sounds good though, but then again it IS Stevie.

[steviefan59]

hi all...yes she does play it up for the camera but her singing and harmonizing is spot on...where did they tape this...it looks professional and i'd love to get a copy...take care...pat

[SpyNote]

I couldn't care less if she's playing up to the camera. The woman look gorgeous and sounds great, bottom line, hitting some quality notes.

I really like when she sings, "See...I wear boots all summer long" and at the end when she sings "Somewhere..."

[ontheEdgeof17]

I love the two live versions of this song. I wish it was a bigger hit for her.....If she did another leg of the WH Tour like she was suppose to with this song, I think it could have hit big.

[golden braid]

I think I prefer the Solid Gold version. I so wish she would do Nightbird on her current tour. Since Lori has been performing with her again I think it would be a great addition to the set.

[Sorcerer386]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

I've always disliked that one - Stevie seems to be playing for the camera rather than singing the song.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, really I don't, but what IS with Stevie always hamming it up for a camera when it's around? She doesn't do it so much anymore, but it's especially prevalent on the Whole Lotta Trouble video. She just won't stop looking into the camera! It's like the opposite of trying to a cat to look into a mirror...that little bastard will refuse and refuse to look into it, and she seems to refuse to look away from the camera. But, I love you Stevie!

[DeeGeMe]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer386

I don't mean to hijack this thread, really I don't, but what IS with Stevie always hamming it up for a camera when it's around? She doesn't do it so much anymore, but it's especially prevalent on the Whole Lotta Trouble video. She just won't stop looking into the camera!

Uh, maybe she had a thing for the camera guy?????

[PenguinHead]

There are two big differences in the two live Nightbird performances.

The SNL one was all live, with a full band. I prefer this version because with a live backing band the song gained a little grit.

On the Solid Gold performance, the vocals were the only live instrument. You don't have to listen very carefully to hear it's the exact backing track from the album. The band was just faking it. Stevie did a good job, ad-libbing a bit. I think she was just really nervous, hoping that she doesn't stray far from the song and screw it up.

In a clip from Europe (Germany?) she does a similar thing, singing live with the girls to Rooms On Fire. In that clip it's just the three of them on stage alone singing on top of the backing track, no pretense of a band.

It's very uncharacteristic of her to do that. She seems to like to keep things authentic. I'm sure there are a lot of business factors in play into it. Not that I would ever want to see Stevie lip synch, especially on live TV! She could never make it all the way through!

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

EDIT: Listening to the mp3, the SNL "Nightbird" is a lot better than I gave it credit for. Seeing her look so blowsy colored my impression. Nixxxed, I don't quite see how the SNL one is tighter? Her voice is smoother and more acrobatic, sounds higher and lighter (forgive me - no musical knowledge here). The instrumental part of the song is different on the SNL version, no? A bit more prominent synthesizer, drum machine and piano work? It could just be the recording, but the SNL version has more of a groove and musical flair.

That's what I meant by tighter - since it was with the live band like PenguinHead said - Stevie's right on top of the groove. The SG one is a little more airy and "happy," which just never fit the intended mood of the song to me. I do like a few of the flourishes and ad libs of SG, and of course she looks amazing, but it just never worked for me.

I also think the fact that SNL was live at night - nearly 1:00 AM (East Coast), whereas SG was probably recorded some afternoon made a big difference.

I love when she wraps herself with the blanket (figuratively) after the "I was not ready for the winter..." line. And one last thing: Flip Wilson rules!!!

[BlackWidow]

That was good!!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by golden braid

I think I prefer the Solid Gold version. I so wish she would do Nightbird on her current tour. Since Lori has been performing with her again I think it would be a great addition to the set.

Totally... the Solid Gold version is so vastly superior to SNL (speaking of which, why do people automatically assume that she was coked out on that performance?) For one thing, she looks wonderful in white. But there is also a definite sadness in her eyes and her voice on Solid Gold- very much in the sad spirit of the song. On SNL she just seems to be going through the motions a bit, as marked by the clipped phrasing and her seemingly expressionless affect. I remember watching (and recording) this episode of Solid Gold; unfortunately it was on a UHF channel, which had crappy reception, so the picture was awful quality. But I remember being so thrilled that she was actually singing the vocals live. In the history of that show, besides the hosts, I don't think I've ever seen anybody singing live on that show. Even Christine McVie lip synched! But then again, I do remember Deborah Harry doing a very off-key live rendition of "The Tide is High" when she guest-hosted one week.

[sparky]

I just love that Solid Gold performance. The last 45 seconds make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Lori really shines on this. Her vocals are unreal, and she is so beautiful. Riveting. God I was in love with her. Stevie sounds fantastic, and looks magnificent. This is my favorite of all Stevie TV performances ever. Was she coked up? Umm, did she ever go onstage without coke between Tusk and Betty Ford? Who cares?

Brilliant. Jaw dropping brilliant it is.

[MacMan]

I like them both... But I prefer the SNL version just because it's got the live band... It's amazing her little band can sound pretty much just like the album version.