10 Most Iconic Moments At Live Rock Shows
5. Jolene Under Blackpool Lights
It was raw, it was messy. It was The White Stripes.
Not only was this one of the most inspired covers of all time, it was the live performance that epitomised and immortalised The White Stripes as one of the greatest rock acts of the last 30 years.
This cover tells your everything you need to know about The White Stripes. Jack White showcased what a musician can do when they don't conform to the typical narrative of what a great vocal performance is. It was as close as you could get to allowing the innermost and personal emotions someone could feel, come to the surface, without it boiling over into utter madness.
The guitar and drums did the bare minimum required to set the stage for this song. The character injected into this live performance, created the perfect atmosphere for Jack White's, almost delirious lyrical delivery, to resonant above the seemingly chaotic but perfectly balanced outburst of guitar and erratic drumming patterns.
Set to the back drop of an iconic British institution, The White Stripes performing Dolly Parton's Jolene, under the Blackpool Lights is as about as iconic as something can get.