Liz Phair on Letterman - Supernova

[lonepilgrim007]

i`ve always loved her but god bless her..the girl can`t sing..being a dylan fan i guess it doesn`t matter

[altroval]

Liz Phair was a terrific songwriter in the 90s which makes this very painful to say...

I don't think she has much of a voice and I'm basing that on having seen 4 of her shows during the past 18 years. Yes, she has terrible "stage fright" but some of that might arise from the self-realization that her voice is weak.

This is still a great song, though.

[doctorfuse007]

She got ambitious, didn't she? Shoulda taken Wilde's quote to heart: "Ambition is the last refuge of the failure".

[flyboyu777]

I agree with Britneystakes-love me some Liz

[jojo11427]

she's kind of nervous. listen to that voice.

[MrJumpmanJunior]

Seeing this makes me kind of sad. Liz was so badass back in the early 90s and I thought she would be making great music for years to come. I love her performance here. Yeah she's nervous but so fucking what. It's real and she actually gave a shit about her music at the time.

Then she lost her fucking mind and decided to sell out and make shitty music. She wanted to be Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne. And it was just so sad. What a waste. At one time she really did have a lot of talent.

[tittyj2020]

not much of a guitar solo...lasted like 5 seconds

[TheMasterGouki]

her voice sounds like she's really nervous

[mickdimas]

Does Paul aways have to look like a muppet?

[jpau1006]

I luuuurrrrve Liz Phair!

[scienceisgod1]

Just another pretty face!  Boring!

[winestella]

They don't just let any skimpy non-sexy chimp grace the cover of the Rolling Stone. Decade after decade...those eyes, that voice, those songs. Gotta luv an icon, she's platinum unforgettable.

[itsstillfriday]

Hey THAT's my guitar!! :-) I proudly own my Dad's '65 Fender Musicmaster II !!! :)

I LOVE that old guitar... and mine is just like that.. red, with the mo-of-pearl pick guard!! And hey, that's a strat neck there!! :-)

[robram818]

She's somewhat attractive but her voice is weak as shit...and her band is WEAK! Thank god for the late night band backing vocals on the vamp outro..otherwise this would have been a complete waste of 3:34! :>"

[derekmok]

@robram818

Liz Phair didn't come into her own as a studio singer until Whitechocolatespaceegg...four years after Whip-Smart. On record, it's like two utterly different singers. Could also be the choice of producers -- Whip-Smart producer Brad Wood (Veruca Salt) is known for his raw, seemingly artless sound, while Whiteschocolatespaceegg producer Scott Litt (R.E.M.) is very polished and smooth.

[slshusker]

Babe with talent!  Beat that Conan, you tool!

[ladbrady]

Brilliant Liz!!!!!!!!!

[TheAdultChild101]

This is terrible. Did she leave her auto-tuner at home?

[VcrRocker]

oh yeah...you have to appreciate the early stuff...very raw....A+ girl!

[davinci5152]

She got off to a wobbly start, but she fought hard and managed to get her voice somewhat under control.

I remember watching this performance back then and it was the first time I'd ever heard or seen Liz play live.

Her stagefright back then has been well documented..

I think it was a mistake to have her walk on-stage, rather than just start playing.

You can see she was scared to death. Deer In Headlights look..

Performance aside, my god was she ever hot then. wow.

[bigmanincirclepines]

This was a great performance! Rock and roll and a great song!

[boomboom48]

Awful!!!

[rickman33]

@boomboom48 Not a terrible performance. Just not a great song.

[rcdowdy]

Liz is great as well as orginal. Its hard to see how she can play a Fender Mustang. It not because of the money. Never have seen live but would love to.

[garion333]

Nervous? Most likely. Doesn't sound as terrible as some of you guys make it seem.

[GeGeMus12]

i wish she would sing her single, "hot white cum"LOL

[TurtleWeasle]

Liz Phair ROCKS !!

[lemurianchick]

Please, please, please: when you post stuff, include the DATE so we can place it historically, 'mkay?

[jimzazz]

This is a good contrast to the studio/radio version. Studio was very well polished and this has a much more raw feel since it's live.

[drawrings]

Plus, she plays a Mustang. Nice.

[tbs7duke]

that drummer is a ham

[ZeroPointLibra]

is that leonard nimoy on bass? lmfao!!!!!!!

[Richieb75]

Reading all the comments.. this was a great performance..! I listen to this alot and prefer this live version over the studio. She has a vibrato effect to her voice and being nervous and still able to pull it off is pretty outstanding. Also heard her sing for a Chicago (White Sox?) game I believe was America the Beautiful. Very good singer and songwriter..

[danstipe]

I love liz phair! Great song!

[chrisput1024]

Dave wanted some of that action. I don't blame him.

[12stepfailure]

How could you not love Liz!

[roosterIX]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!

[pjmst46]

I thought she looked and sounded great.

[ibcannonball]

I feel so bad for her. shes trembling! you can see it in her chin. you can tell shes so nervous she wants tojust get outta there.

[ytown1971]

she was scared she used to have a bit of fear of performing she admits she has had to work through. she is tiny and cute

[brandonedge]

"need a lawyer?" lol. prettiest girl to ever play guitar? mebbe.

[bigskyn842]

she looks gorgeous and like she has wings of fire.....fly high!

a major trailblazer, that one.

[VoodooCramps]

She's so tiny! (Physically. Not in regards to personality.)

[tittyj2020]

The drummer looks like he smelled a bad fart

[superH9234]

i just love her ^^ she does sound really nervous though

[stymye]

she always a terrable live performer

[KonradAdenauer]

It was so nice of her to hire a "special needs" drummer.

[chrischeyari]

LMAO!!!

That's just wrong, but so fuckin' hilarious!

He does look like he just got off the short bus x D

But I have to say, Liz Phair is fuckin HOT! Look at that face and those thighs!!

And Paul Schaffer's band does an excellent job backing up the bands. Makes the music sound fuller and actually better than the CD.

[mymusicdiscovery]

I've just discovered her after hearing her name for ages ha ha but she is an amazing writer. She must be freaking nervous here, or he foldbacks aren't working, as she is outta tune! But the tune (studio version haha) is amazing with all kinds of twists. She's brilliant. Love it.

[eggheadvogue]

Yeah, the story I have always heard is that she had such horrid stage fright -- especially in the early days -- that she toured as little as possible. This perf was probably one of her first big exposures on national TV.

If she's scared out of her mind, which is kinda how it seems, then it makes me all the prouder of her for doing it. But then, I am a Liz Phair phan. . .

[dboz33]

poor girl does look and sound nervous. she seemed to loosen a little after the unvocalized fuck line, but even after the song was all over she still hadn't relaxed enough to immediately get Dave's lawyer joke. Like you said tho, brave of her to do it all if she had stage fright

[RorkesDrft]

@eggheadvogue Well said! That fits what I have heard, too.

Anyway, she looks hot. And Dave cracks me up.

[britneystakes]

Fuck all yall. Liz Phair doesn't have the strongest voice on CD or live - thats part of her charm - at least she fucking doesn't lip sync and there's nothing sexier than a hot chick who plays guitar and sings rock music, you fucking deadbeats.

[mymusicdiscovery]

Fo sho! Und ... Her "beats", as someone wrote on another clip, are REAL "BEATS", from a fucking drum, not from a computer with some drug smoking moron in a baseball cap punching a button.

[KonradAdenauer]

"here's nothing sexier than a hot chick who plays guitar and sings rock music, "

Or even one who doesn't.

[ivyjeanmusic]

@britneystakes I agree, she's incredible, so raw - I wish I was a fraction as amazing as she is, what a songwriter!

[generatrix999]

@britneystakes

Yeah there's something sexier, a woman who plays bass and sings R&R music

[runzie100]

stoned

[FallenGemini]

I notice that Liz Phair sucks when doin stuff live when compared to the songs sang in her cds. I am a fan of hers but of all the songs I seen her do in concerts(online vids) and unplugged stuff, she is awful.

[mr6uldv8]

I've been following her since 95. She used to have bouts of stage fright, and yes, you can tell. Then again, a lot of bands sound bad live! Look at Van Halen when David Lee Roth went way over the hill! Ouch. That was painful to watch.

[Hypersentience]

eek. good album, crappy performance in a song with a very easy vocal range. she's pretty nervous.

[animalroxanna]

hmm no.. Not a good performance.

[hackersville]

i can't see whoopi goldberg clearly at the end =(

[davem4110]

She's cute, but she has always been a poster-child for the term "overrated."

[asphyxiafeeling]

how is she overated? she's every hipsters favorite person to hate. more like the poster-child for "sell out" (accord to the likes of pitchfork)

[underdogBA]

The reason that "hipsters" hate her is because she associated herself with some very excellent underground/indie artists, then launched a career by writing uninspired and mediocre pop songs decorated with a superficial veneer of indie sound. All the while writing and portraying herself in a gratuitously sexual manner. Textbook sellout poseur if you've ever seen one. It's ok if you like her music, but it's mental to think that it has any artistic merit.

[DBprep8]

No..shes just incredibly good looking..fuck hipsters..they worship asian women who steal things from other hipsters

[KonradAdenauer]

underdog

What you said. She and I were in the same year at New Trier High, and she was one of the "brainy kids" at that time. Then she was all over the Chicago alt scene with her "look at how naughty I am" schtick. Now she writes songs like HWC and portrays herself as a cum-guzzling whore. And all the while makes money.

Actually, still sounds brainy.

But how much street cred are you going to earn with alt rockers if you wite a song with "fuck" in it, and then don't sing it on TV?

[madeyes4u]

Dude, get over yourself.

100% of people appear differently to other people than what the really are on the inside. Who gives a fuck if she was "brainy". Oh so, you can't play rock music and be hella smart at the same time?

In regards to her so-called naughty act, every Liz fan knows that a lot of her songs are written in a joking manner and obviously HWC was all in fun.

It was the MEDIA who glorified her use of the F-word, not her.

[miasm]

yeah she blew it here. total suckage. good album though.

[CourtyardPigeon]

oh man...her voice is AWFUL here

[pallenk]

i don't think it was a bad performance. i love the noise addict tshirt the guitar player was wearing. i used to love that band. and she sang on ben lee's debut. i loved that song. 1995 was a good year.

[amysacrifice]

From the comments, I was expecting a worse performance.

[sandmanstranger]

I saw her live in a small venue once, she was awesome. I get the nervousness. Or anxiety. I play great until I hit the record button, and then I'm concious. Hey wait, that might be a great song lyric.

[whato1986]

lol no it wont, stay away!

[Davemech]

hahahaha, oh my god...

This is song is way too low for her ;)

This is painful to watch

[videostrategies]

Remember when Letterman used to blatantly bear-hug every halfway attractive female guest as soon as they walked out to sit down? I always found it funny but I can understand why the women might not. And I guess he figured Liz wouldn't put up with it. Her performance here reminds me of some of Sheryl Crow's: They sound tough on the studio recording, but in front of an audience you just don't see the fire in their eyes. Gotta SELL the song, not just play it!

[gavsouthern]

Very poor performance.

Very nervous.

I'd fuck her though

[Mcgrup420]

yeah really really bad performance. but i would love to hump her

[blatspanner]

how is it that when liz phair is crap,which seems to be about half the time,she's still brilliant.very few people have that quality.

[Methos5000plus]

That's one of those comments I'd never make but I'd agree with.

[blatspanner]

is it me or does liz phair have a weed face? she always looks like she's been asleep for about 15 hours. also,whip-smart is way under-rated,dammit.

[cvkline]

She's always had a lot of stage fright; back when this album was first out she was probably completely terrified to be on Letterman. Wonder if that's what the look on her face is.

[tittyj2020]

Liz Phair....I fucked her!

[MichaelFrances]

Let me guess...and she ran?

[manarfd]

rly?

[blatspanner]

did you honestly,honestly fuck her? and if so,how was it? be nice.

[SynthiaSensate]

This brings me back to 1994.

[stoningtonj]

i love this...i love david letterman...but i hate how paul and the band has to butt in on every band that plays on the show...its kinda shitty..

[calaisk9]

i know that's awful for the visiting artists. Thank goodness they stopped doing that...

[DreadedEd]

wow she musta been nervious (2 b on tv)

she was shakey and off key in the beginning

kinda off-key thru-out, singing too low for her vocal range

good thing shes a looker huh?

[wyganter]

> kinda off-key thru-out, singing too low for her vocal range

That's part of what makes Liz and her songs special. She's not one of those Christina Aguilera-wannabes on American Idol.

[bradyclaire]

Liz is in Minneapolis tonight! She's performing at the First Avenue Nightclub.

[philbio66]

Did you go to the show?

[bradyclaire]

10 years ago, I would have. Now with a wife and 3 small kids, it's a little more difficult.

The venue for concerts at First Avenue is very good. She's a talented lady. It would have been enjoyable.

[ObsessedWithAqua]

she looks like katy perry.

[jhuntpdx]

Wow, so many flat notes.

[thorbix73]

wow!!noticed right away

[SaltyMasterGunnz]

She's so cute in this video, so many years ago. She aged better than Sheryl Crow though.

[allanosterm]

I saw her in New York right around the time of this appearance. She was really nervous the first night, apparently, but not when I saw her.

[skiingguitarist]

I saw Liz play last night in Boston! unbelievable! she played "Guyville" in its' entirety! awesome!! she sounded great. so relaxed and connected to the audience!! she was looking right at me for an entire chorus of one tune. one of the best shows I've seen in a long time!!

[Krom75]

She is so HOT!!! Every mans dream cum true!

[kiwidunca]

she's so cool. Her voice is distinctive and cool

[slipthejab]

Doesn't get any better than this for girl-next door rock!! Damn... I guess I must have lived in the wrong house. :D

[uninvitedsaint]

oh my god she is so nervous here

[rockhardcore1]

lol i know! at first it was hard to watch, but she pulled it off like she always does...

[sabotoged]

She's perfect.

[jimzazz]

I think the raw voice makes her stand out - you can tell she can sing, but not super-polished.

[MikeLitton]

I <3 her!!!

[stymye]

not bad , with a little vocal training this could be quite good. I notice most people replying don't see beyond her legs tho.

[Philip8510]

naw

i like her voice shakey

its her trademark

[friedbrownball]

Liz was and is great - had not seen this video before - wow, her legs are amazing. Here's to her being indie again.  And she still looks great. Yeah, I have had a crush on her for 18 yrs - so sue me.

[friedbrownball]

Ooops - typo - meant 14 yrs - since she showed up on the cover of Rolling Stone - and put out Supernova - that got me to discover Exile.

[thehibtones]

letterman must have such an extensive record collection.

[mezzofondo]

Well spoken gospel truth

[twistajones53]

damn letterman is young...

[dagospeltruth]

Once upon a time... Liz Phair was awesome.

[cd101284]

omg her legs are amazing.

[jeffreycalilung]

Haha, she smiles right before, "fuck like a volcano."

[beefingfraeulein]

love her. thanks for posting this!

[rollopuente69]

talented and beautiful. shes the perfect woman :·3

[twikirobot]

I love this performance...!

[alkunamy2k]

what u fuck on u on about my band and the bbc for? were did u get that from?

and why don't u stop sending me stupid comment you ugly rat faced bastard and go an comment back to some of the other people who said she sounds shit!!

Fucking yanks...all as thick as fucking pigshit!!

[frankc32]

limey punks with no balls (and bad teeth, LOL!), all as thick as fucking pigshit, I got the dope on your great band from one of your own other idiot posts, you fucking moron. Typical limey punk, spouts off and loses track of his own bullshit. I am done wasting my time making you look like a jerk-off, you do a fine job of it yourself, wanker!

[frankc32]

man, maybe we just got off on the wrong foot, eh? I applaud your passion, I am willing to say let's let it all go, otherwise, piss off, motherfucker. Seriously, I don't want to pick fights with people I have never met. I am willing to say sorry for inappropriate angry bullshit.

[frankc32]

alkunamy2k (3 weeks ago) Show Hide Marked as spam -2 Reply | Spam I've already done it with my band on the BBC! so, yeah i could u smarmy cunt!

Here you go, pally wally...

[frankc32]

alkunamy2k (3 weeks ago) Show Hide Marked as spam -2 Reply | Spam I've already done it with my band on the BBC! so, yeah i could u smarmy cunt!

Got any more questions about your posts, pally wally?

[frankc32]

that's OK, pally wally, you have already exposed yourself here as an irrational, ignorant jackass.

Now go brush your tooth, you scumbag limey punk. You and your "BBC" boasts about your loser band are a joke, congrats, wanker, we have all enjoyed a good laugh at your expense!

[frankc32]

in fact, I find you so laughable that I am going to put some of my London/UK people on locating you, pally wally with the big mouth, and perhaps then we will see exactly what your punk ass has to say.

[alkunamy2k]

some of your london people!! lol!! don't make me fucking laugh!! Firstly i live in fucking wales!! and secondly, if some twat from london came down my way, me an about 30 of my mates would kick the living fuck outta em!

[AshMonday]

Ahh..message board threats. I love'em! Here's to unrequited hostility gentlemen!

[frankc32]

yeah, me and alkunamy got into it a bit, I am embarrassed to say. Lots of tough guys on the anonymous internet!  I tried to bury the hatchet with my limey pal, but he was having none of it, so I carried on. I regret it, there's enough static in the world; no need to perpetuate it with stupid feuds on the internet. Tho' I did think my "brush your tooth" line was pretty funny, if not wholly original! Oh well, cheers Ash!

[volkl78]

She's Hot!

[commventam]

her vocals on this clip don't sound good. However, I still love Liz. Great songs, unique writing and performances attitude. She's a classic. If you aren't familiar with her, don't judge her just by this particular appearance.

[Qube8787]

omg that sucked donkey balls

[alkunamy2k]

that was fucking awful!! dont think she sang a note in tune!

[unclethursday]

At the time of this recording, Liz had notorious bouts of stage fright. You can see it here... she doesn't come on stage till she is announced, and you can see her trying to look anywhere but the audience.

But, I'm sure you could do better on television in front of a studio audience as well... right?

[alkunamy2k]

I've already done it with my band on the BBC! so, yeah i could u smarmy cunt!

[frankc32]

yeah, alkunamy2k, a.k.a. giant douchebag, I am sure your band is a real big hit with the BBC, we are all impressed (LOL!). You fucking delusional asshole loser. Liz Phair would kick your ass, punk.

[alkunamy2k]

why the fuck can't you make a comment on youtube without some inbred yank cunt making a stupid comment back! Im my opinion she's sounds bloody awful on this clip, and if you don't realise that then u obviously know fuck all about music.

[frankc32]

nice! I am not inbred, for the record. I know Liz sounds terrible here, we all know that, does not take a sound engineer to figure that out; what bothers us is the judgmental tone of your post, as if you and your loser band who rocled the BBC (please, LOL!)were so much better. Get over yourself, asshole.

[frankc32]

you fucking ignorant self-absorbed limey prick.

[musicluver287]

um, 'why cant i' sounds way better then this song

[vonniehero]

She's playing guitar and singing on live television which is incredibly difficult. Too bad people have to resort to sexist comments on top of having no clue as to what musicianship is all about.

[jgeston11]

nice piece of ass terrible talent

[moonswaterfalls]

everytime she sings on a show her voice sounds worse than karaoke! she sang the national anthem all fucked up too. liz, just keep it in the studio where they can digitaly enhance your voice like j-lo please stop making yourself look bad.

[coocooi]

Liz>Jlo

There is a difference between being a produced artist and being a musician. She is still one of the most influential women in rock history.

[aschoenack]

Oh my God! Do you lick your mamma's pussy with that mouth?!?

[MrBoofoo]

her music sucks but I'd still fuck her in the ass

[surfercrow]

Nice legs, Liz!

[5stringofFernandoSor]

What a fucking shit performance. Liz has bags under her eyes that make her look 50, the guitar sounds like shit, even Dave Letterman looks bad! Oh well, at least she's playing guitar in a slutty little dress. (her TM)

[vainerpaper]

She's still getting over her stage fright here. Not her best song, imo.

[oscarillus]

oh my god what is that music i heated buuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

[Freepablo]

Holy shit. Who listens to this? I don't like death metal or emo or goth rock or southern hip hop but I can at least picture somebodylistening to it. But I can't picture anyone enjoying this.

[graniteminer]

Paul Schaeffer bobbing up and down like a wack-a-mole. Can't stand his fruity weird ass.

[JuveStriker]

She can't sing live. The lower tones are completely off.

[historybuffwannabe]

I'm sorry. I just don't get it. I like music that gets no radio play, but I don't understand what people see in Liz Phair's music. It's just not very good.

[0BALLINN0]

ok really...this song is lame, lol!

[ryan06105]

Look at those legs!

[HtotheB]

OMG I'm nostalgic gor the 90s! I never thought that would happen.

[MrPaulPott]

HtotheB--I know what you mean. Nostalgia . . . it means we're getting older.

[WonkaZone]

Seconded! I went to see the Mighty Van Halen a few weeks ago. I got there and thought to myself "What are all these old people doing here?" Time is indeed a tyrant.

[sinik75]

The album is good but this performance on stage sounds shity

[JollyBrownGiant]

"Your kisses are as wicked as an M-16, and you FUCK like a volcano..." GIDDYUP, that gave me a boner!!

[JollyBrownGiant]

a bit pitchy...

[cockmunkey]

and... SHE LOVES TO DRINK CUM! lol.

[tonytwister18]

for real?

[cockmunkey]

Oooo yea. im not jokin,juz go punch up her song H.W.C.,it'll prove what i said 100%.

[stevencool104]

SO much better before she failed in trying to become Avril Lavingne.

[sonofsam70]

I think its the other way around. But yeah her older stuff is better.