Top 10 LIVE Performances That Changed Careers Overnight

#10: “Like a Virgin” at the 1984 VMAs

Madonna

It seemed as if everybody had something to say about Madonna as the Material Girl began her seemingly inevitable climb to the top of the cultural conversation. This upward mobility reached even more people during the 1984 Video Music Awards, thanks to Madonna’s controversial and electric performance on the MTV stage. This was the burgeoning music channel’s first-ever awards show, and Madonna made it count by intentionally subverting ideas of female sexuality and gender roles with her performance. This was the moment where Madonna could no longer be ignored, but instead took her place as the ultimate tastemaker for the ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond.

#9: The 2011 Brit Awards

Adele

“21” was an album that dominated the charts in the wake of its release back in 2011. This was the same year its composer, Adele Adkins delivered what was quite possibly the performance of her life at the Brit Awards. Her stark and emotionally-charged performance of “Someone Like You” assisted “21” in achieving the over 31 million copy mark it enjoys today. But it wasn’t only about sales figures when it came to Adele’s performance on this night; it was about the singer’s connection to her audience, and how “Someone Like You” struck a nerve with those fans. It was a night that frankly made Adele into the star she is today.

#8: Going Electric at Newport

Bob Dylan

The Newport Folk Festival is one of those living legend musical festivals, an annual get-together that’s been going strong since 1959. It also served as the site for many a landmark musical moment, such as the then-controversial decision for Bob Dylan and his Band to “go electric” on July 25th, 1965. Fans can be heard booing during the set, but it’s Dylan’s dedication to going even louder that helped make this performance a defining one for the man’s career. Bob Dylan may not have returned to the Newport Folk Festival stage for 37 years, but this night was more than enough to make him feel he was emerging from the shadow of being “just another folk singer.”

#7: Performing Live at Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash

The Man in Black’s performance at Folsom Prison wasn’t the first time Johnny Cash performed in a correctional facility, but it was a gig that helped revitalize the country music icon’s career. Cash’s gig at San Quentin back in 1958 occurred during his early days, while the Folsom Prison show took place after a battle with substance use disorder. Yet, it was these personal struggles that enabled Cash to embrace this darker image, while the gig itself reminded fans just how much they admired the man’s music. Johnny Cash emerged from Folsom emboldened, and with a career that was about to enter certified “legend” status.

#6: Tina Turner at the Ritz

Tina Turner clearly felt like she had something to prove back in 1983, when she headlined a solo gig at the Ritz in New York City. Something to prove not only to herself, but to fans and the music industry that seemed to doubt her continued relevancy, outside of reliving her days with ex-husband, Ike Turner. Yet, members of the audience on this night included such musical luminaries as Keith Richards and David Bowie, two fans that knew all too well how hard Tina Turner could rock. And rock she did, leaving the stage with a new lease on her musical life, and a destiny that was finally free from the “Ike & Tina” moniker.

#5: Elton John at the Troubadour

Every famous musician can probably remember that all-important gig that changed everything; one that represented a seismic shift in popularity. Elton John’s six-night stint at the Troubadour in West Hollywood was one of those shows, a 1970 showcase for a U.K. singer/songwriter who was still working on making a name for himself around this time. Contemporary critics, such as Robert Hillburn of the L.A. Times emphasized John’s rockstar prowess and command of the stage. Meanwhile, the co-signing of such heavyweight musical hitters like Neil Diamond and Quincy Jones enabled these Troubadour dates to cement Elton John as a future star in his own right.

#4: On Fire at Monterey Pop

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Woodstock Festival may exist as a cultural touchstone for the 1960s, but it wasn’t the only music festival to change an artist’s career overnight. The Jimi Hendrix Experience literally set the stage on fire during this iconic performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival back in 1967. It was an image that emboldened the psychedelic rock era and inspired it to new heights, as Hendrix offered up his Fender Stratocaster as a ritual sacrifice. A legend felt born in that instant, as he played up the rising flames from his guitar and took his rightful place as a figurehead for 1960s hard rock.

#3: Debuting the Moonwalk

Michael Jackson

The past met the future back on this 1983 television special, titled “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.” This wonderful musical retrospective was highlighted not only by a brief Jackson 5 reunion, but also by that group’s lead singer, Michael Jackson taking his first steps into superstardom. Steps that included Jackson doing “The Moonwalk” on stage during a performance of the then-new tune, “Billie Jean.” The “Thriller” album was still a few months away at this point, and the energy in the room frankly feels palpable as Jackson bowls over the audience with his moves. MJ’s legacy may be complicated at this point, but there’s no denying the importance this evening had to his career back in the early ‘80s.

#2: The ‘68 Comeback Special

Elvis Presley

The King of Rock ‘n Roll’s foray into motion pictures wasn’t without merit, but it also took Elvis Presley away from what helped originally make him a star: performing. This was what helped make Presley’s 1968 “Comeback Special” so important, not only to Elvis, but to his fans. The special reminded those who loved Elvis why they loved Elvis, while the King’s back-and-forth interactions with his band underlined how unique Presley was as a singer and arranger. Additionally, this “Comeback Special” also served as a reintroduction of sorts, particularly for younger pop fans who might have missed Elvis’ OG heyday on programs such as “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

#1: Beatlemania on “The Ed Sullivan Show”

The Beatles

“The Ed Sullivan Show” was responsible for broadcasting many classic musical moments into the living rooms of families all across the United States. Moments such as the birth of Beatlemania after the Fab Four performed songs like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “All My Loving” to an audience that was, quite frankly, going bananas. A youth market seemingly sprung up overnight, as young kids everywhere started garage rock bands of their own and started growing their hair, all the while buying up Beatles records like crazy. George, Paul, John and Ringo would eventually embark upon more musically progressive and experimental works near the tail end of the 1960s, but it was this television performance that helped change everything for the Beatles.

Did you watch any of these moments live? Let us know in the comments!