Last week, MTV announced that they would be reviving their venerable music show MTV Unplugged this fall. Shawn Mendes and Bleachers have been announced as the first two performers for the new season.
Since it started airing in 1988, the show has been produced its share of memorable moments, with performances by Nirvana, Eric Clapton, Alice in Chains, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys all ranking as some of the most important pieces of music television from the past 25 years.
The return of Unplugged has got The Young Folks’ music staff thinking about artists that they would like to see on the show sometime in the near future. Here are a few of the acts we think would be the best contenders:
IMAGINE DRAGONS
Now here is a band that consistently just blows their performances out of the water. I have yet to see them live in concert but after watching a number of their live performances both with a full band and in a smaller acoustic, intimate setting through YouTube, they are just simply phenomenal. I feel like the Imagine Dragons constantly craft songs that are just hits but for some reason aren’t the most talked about band which baffles me. Maybe the MTV Unplugged stage will help bring their music to a different audience but regardless, their unique acoustic sets are not one to miss. – Camille Espiritu
PANIC! AT THE DISCO
Panic! at the Disco are one of the few acts on this list who were both actively performing and popular the last time that MTV got serious about Unplugged. As a result, it’s kind of a surprised that they were never asked to do one, particularly when they were promoting Pretty. Odd., an album full of songs seemingly built for acoustic renditions. Even though the band’s down to just Brandon Urie from their most popular period, it’s better late than never to put Panic on the show. 11 years after they broke through, they’re still one of the most popular rock bands going, and it would be a treat to hear stripped down versions of their more synth heavy later tunes like “Death of a Bachelor” and “Victorious” alongside classics like “Nine in the Afternoon” and “I Write Sins”. They’re definitely a name I’m expecting to come up this season. – Ryan Gibbs
BASTILLE
It would be an interesting concept to see Bastille perform on MTV. The mega hit
alternative band that shot to fame with “Pompeii” has commonly done covers of songs
such as “No Scrubs” from TLC. Their originality in song choice makes for an interesting
and varied performance. Commonly seen on their albums is a large orchestra, and their
utilization of these string instruments creates an ambience that can only come from the
violin or cello. Having seen them live before, I can testify to their illuminating aura on stage – their quirkiness and music mastery shines through each song. It would be wonderful to see Bastille take on old songs with a fresh new twist and to even hear an old tune with their special touch. – Reagan Harrison
DEMI LOVATO
Demi Lovato’s powerhouse vocals and catchy music leave listeners feeling, dare I say, confident (pun intended). Her music is not only one that music lovers dance to but her songs are one that you can equally enjoy acoustically as well. Once the beat is stripped away, listeners can truly enjoy Demi’s unique and edgy voice that’s paired with heartbreaking and honest lyrics. Her music speaks to many generations and has messages about gaining body confidence and how to rise from heartbreak that everyone can relate to. – Camille Espiritu
KESHA
MTV Unplugged is not only about celebrating the artist’s career, but also about the specific time in their trajectory it comes, so it’s kind of a no-brainer that Kesha, the unstoppable warrior, the woman who’s been through absolute hell and managed to return with a triumphant masterpiece of Pop as redemption, could be a perfect fit for the format. It’d be fascinating to hear cuts from Rainbow like “Hunt You Down” or the Dap-Kings Horns-assisted “Woman” with a fully acoustic ensemble, but we can be even more excited about the stripped-down versions of hits from her EDM-party-pop era, and who knows what new kinds of wonders are hidden in a completely unfiltered take on “Praying”. Miss Sebert has proven once and for all that she’s a beast of a live performer, but a big, MTV-backed main event would be her moment of consecration. – Leonel Manzaneres
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MIKE POSNER
FINALLY, there is an outlet where Mike Posner can sing his beautiful acoustic renditions of his songs and it can reach a wide audience. I mean – sure, he did release a full acoustic album called At Night, Alone. But did you know about it? Probably not. So, I honestly hope MTV picks Mike Posner to have a set on MTV Unplugged because everyone can finally listen to the beautiful and heartbreaking acoustic version of “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” and I can finally shut up about it. Because seriously guys, why aren’t more people talking about him and this song?! – Camille Espiritu
LORDE
If you believe the hype — and of course we do — Lorde created a pop record that can define an entire generation of young people, and if the Unplugged format is known for something, it’s for showcasing artists at the peak of their powers expanding on the relevance of their most recent creations. During the apex of the Grunge movement, MTV gave some of its most iconic bands the opportunity to seal their place in the decade’s musical universe, and it could do something similar with the New Zealand singer and the end of the 2010s. Besides, who wouldn’t want to hear a more melodramatic Melodrama? That acoustic setting could make it possible. – Leonel Manzanares
KENDRICK LAMAR
How amazing would a Kendrick Lamar Unplugged be? Especially if it features all or some of the incredible jazz, funk, rock and hip-hop instrumentalists that have performed on his albums, including bassist Thundercat and saxophone virtuoso Kamasi Washington. Also, some of the best Unplugged moments from the past have been courtesy of rappers performing with a live band, from LL Cool J’s electrifying 1991 performance of “Mama Said Knock You Out” to Jay-Z playing an entire set with The Roots in 2001. Acoustic versions of songs like “Alright”, “DNA” or the Untitled series could easily match the greatness of those performances and make a Lamar Unplugged must-watch television. – Ryan Gibbs
Who would you like to see on MTV Unplugged this season? Let us know in the comments!
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