Live music or studio version?

66Mustang

Do you enjoy listening to songs being played live, or do you prefer listening to the studio copy?

By "live" this doesn't mean you have to be there in person, it could be on YouTube or on the television. I have never been to a live music concert myself but I always prefer the live version of a song and will try to find footage of it being played instead of buying the studio copy.

Looking forward to hearing peoples preferences.

durhamjaide2001

Studio

I find them live is to noisy for me but when I'm listening to them I prefer it it's more relaxed. 

Rosie_Scope

Studio

Ooh interesting!

I like watching live music either in person or on TV as I think you get more of the experience and rawness of it, but I much prefer the studio versions if I'm just listening. Especially if there's crowd noises in the background, I'd rather just hear the band! 

Albus_Scope

Live

See this is very tricky!  I love live music, but can rarely get to gigs these days. I really miss playing gigs, but that's not happening any more!.  Seeing the raw emotion of a live set will always be more exciting for me.  Way more emotive, but sometimes hearing the full studio version can get more of the artists vision across. 

Recorded shows like MTVs Unplugged series are personal favorites of mine.

66Mustang

Live

Interesting comments everyone, thanks for voting and sharing  

WelshBlue

Live

I've voted live but it can depend on the artist/ band

Eg.  The Killers - studio.  Was most disappointed live, they sounded awful IMO, whereas Pink or Stereophonics are fantastic live

I've been lucky to go to a lot of gigs, sadly those days are gone ... would go into total melt-down with all of those people.  

Would maybe risk it for Elle King. or The Shires

Me and Alexa churn through a lot of music  ... currently listening to the Life album by Boy George.  Well worth a listen.  Brilliant production that only a studio can give ... 

66Mustang

Live

@WelshBlue I came across The Killers recently, I like the song called "Somebody Told Me" and I agree it sounds better in the studio than live!!!

This one sounded OK though I thought

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLIJ_vY4uQQ

Albus_Scope

Live

Oh totally right there @WelshBlue. The writing and performing can be amazing, but if the production is rubbish, it can really ruin the whole album.  A great producer can save an awful live performer too. 

Same goes for live music, if the soundman isn't on the ball, it can turn an epic performance into a muddy wash of noise and feedback. 


But some performers cant even be saved by a good soundman.  Yeah, I'm looking at you Gwen Stefani! 

michael57

Mmmmm 2 of the best live singers would be eva Cassidy  or Aaron neville or my bestest of all Bridge over troubled water studio version tho 

WelshBlue

Live

@66Mustang ... you'll enjoy all of the albums if you get a chance to listen to them.  All pretty uplifting stuff

@Albus_Scope ... couldn't agree more.  Producers are the gods of the music industry. You've only got to look at Jim Steinman ... what a legend.

My daughter moonlights at gigs from her job as a paramedic.  The best performance this year so far she reckons is Sabaton - true to the studio and one of the most emotive concerts she's been to, in her words ... lots of F words to describe how good it was

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgGhhnQB1gw&ab_channel=Sabaton

Takes a lot to be better than MotorHead ... 

I'd never heard of them but have all the back catalogue now.  

Albus_Scope

Live

Oh I loved seeing Sabaton live!  They certainly know how to put on a show AND can play their instruments brilliantly.  though in the same style as Sabaton, seeing Disturbed perform The Sound of Silence is definitely one of my all time best concert moments. 


 My first gig was The Cure, back in 1990, now that was a magical experience. 

OverlyAnxious

Studio

If I'm listening to music in bed or in the background while doing something else then I always prefer the studio version.  As above, I often find live versions have too much other noise which spoils it and can even put me off the task I was trying to complete.

But, nothing beats the atmosphere of actual live music, either in person or watching it on TV. 

bg844

Studio

Both but Studio edges it for me due to the kind of music I like, I also find that when I'm home music tends to relax me.