Weekend Rock Question: What Is the Greatest Vocal Performance in Rock History?

John Lennon; Bob Dylan; Tina TurnerJan Persson/Redferns; Evening Standard/Getty Images; GAB Archive/Redferns

An impassioned vocal delivery can elevate a song to amazing heights. Would "Twist and Shout" be as memorable without John Lennon's shredded vocal cord screams? Can you imagine "Like a Rolling Stone" without Bob Dylan's nasal delivery of "How does it feeeeeeel?" A lot of people have sung "River Deep, Mountain High," but nobody hits the notes quite like Tina Turner. 

Now we have a question for you: what is your favorite vocal performance of the rock era? Please vote for a single artist and song. Tracks like "Unchained Melody" have been covered by a lot of people, so specify if you're voting for the Righteous Brothers, Al Green, Sam Cooke, etc. Please only vote once and only for a single song. If we get 9,000 votes for Biz Markie's "Just a Friend," we'll know something's up. 

You can vote here in the comments, on facebook.com/rollingstone or on Twitter using the #weekend rock hashtag. 

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Nicki Minaj Cancels V Fest Appearance Because of Strained Vocal Chords

Nicki Minaj performs on NBC News' "Today" show in New York City on August 14th, 2012.

The V Festival in England has lost another artist from its line-up. After Frank Ocean abruptly cancelled his appearance in the festival along with several other European dates last week, Nicki Minaj has now pulled out as well. The singer, who was slated to headline the V Festival's 4Music stage this weekend, cited trouble with her vocal chords as the reason for her cancellation. 

"Nicki Minaj regretfully cancelled her performances at UK's V Festival (Highlands Park, August 18th and 19th) due to strained vocal chords," said a statement from the singer's representative. "Despite doctor's orders, she performed on a bruised vocal chord in NY on August 14. As a result, the chord has gotten worse. After her most recent x-ray the doctor advises she rest her voice for a few more days."

The V Festival's organizers announced today on their Facebook page that LMFAO would be taking Minaj's place as the 4Music headliners. 

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Nicki Minaj Cancels V Fest Appearance Because of Strained Vocal Chords

Nicki Minaj performs on NBC News' "Today" show in New York City on August 14th, 2012.

The V Festival in England has lost another artist from its line-up. After Frank Ocean abruptly cancelled his appearance in the festival along with several other European dates last week, Nicki Minaj has now pulled out as well. The singer, who was slated to headline the V Festival's 4Music stage this weekend, cited trouble with her vocal chords as the reason for her cancellation. 

"Nicki Minaj regretfully cancelled her performances at UK's V Festival (Highlands Park, August 18th and 19th) due to strained vocal chords," said a statement from the singer's representative. "Despite doctor's orders, she performed on a bruised vocal chord in NY on August 14. As a result, the chord has gotten worse. After her most recent x-ray the doctor advises she rest her voice for a few more days."

The V Festival's organizers announced today on their Facebook page that LMFAO would be taking Minaj's place as the 4Music headliners. 

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Adele on Vocal Troubles: 'It Felt Like Something Popped in My Throat'

Adele performs at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony will mark Adele's first vocal performance since her career-saving laser throat surgery last fall – and the evening will also include her first interview since the dramatic operation.

Adele's interview with 60 Minutes, set to air at 7 p.m. EST on CBS, will include her first words about the health scare. "It felt like someone put a curtain over my throat," the 23-year-old soul star tells Anderson Cooper, according to Us Weekly. "It felt like something popped in my throat." The damage came from a hemorrhaged polyp on her vocal cords, which Adele fears could happen again under similar career strain: "If I decide to go on a 200-date world tour, it would happen again," she says.

The British singer managed to find ways to amuse herself during the recovery process, though. "I had an application on my phone that you type the words into it and then it speaks it, but the great thing is I love to swear," she tells Cooper. "Most of [the apps] you can't swear on, but I found this one app where you can swear, so I'm still really getting my point across."

Adele is nominated for six awards at Sunday's Grammys, including Best Pop Vocal Album for 21 and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Rolling in the Deep."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Adele on Vocal Troubles: 'It Felt Like Something Popped in My Throat'

Adele performs at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony will mark Adele's first vocal performance since her career-saving laser throat surgery last fall – and the evening will also include her first interview since the dramatic operation.

Adele's interview with 60 Minutes, set to air at 7 p.m. EST on CBS, will include her first words about the health scare. "It felt like someone put a curtain over my throat," the 23-year-old soul star tells Anderson Cooper, according to Us Weekly. "It felt like something popped in my throat." The damage came from a hemorrhaged polyp on her vocal cords, which Adele fears could happen again under similar career strain: "If I decide to go on a 200-date world tour, it would happen again," she says.

The British singer managed to find ways to amuse herself during the recovery process, though. "I had an application on my phone that you type the words into it and then it speaks it, but the great thing is I love to swear," she tells Cooper. "Most of [the apps] you can't swear on, but I found this one app where you can swear, so I'm still really getting my point across."

Adele is nominated for six awards at Sunday's Grammys, including Best Pop Vocal Album for 21 and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Rolling in the Deep."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »