Legendary rock star, cancer survivor and LGBTQ+ icon Melissa Etheridge sits down with us to share little-known stories behind some of her biggest hits and most influential live performances, including the Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge - Thunder Road duet.
Etheridge’s rock anthems about love and heartache dominated the airwaves throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s and her unique style and voice helped shape the sound of that era.
“Come to My Window” - Etheridge unpacks her Grammy-winning song from the album “Yes I Am” (1993.) She discusses the relationship that inspired the song and the meaning behind the “window.” Just before releasing the “Yes I Am” album, Etheridge had come out as a lesbian at an inauguration ball for President Bill Clinton. Despite her record label’s fears, she was embraced by fans and “Yes I Am” became her best-selling album to date.
“I’m the Only One” - Etheridge talks about another hit single from her “Yes I Am” album. She deconstructs the fist-raising power of the lyrics and the relationship that inspired them.
“Thunder Road” duet with Bruce Springsteen “MTV Unplugged” performance - Etheridge reflects on how her dream came true when MTV set up a duet performance with her rock idol, Bruce Springsteen, for her episode of MTV Unplugged in 1995. The duo’s acoustic version of Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” is one of the most popular renditions of the song, with more than 10 million views on KZread. Etheridge discusses the excitement of performing with her musical hero and how the Boss was actually nervous.
“Piece of My Heart” Grammy Awards performance - Etheridge discusses her iconic tribute to Janis Joplin at the 2005 Grammy Awards where she shocked the audience by coming out with a bald head after months of chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. Etheridge describes why she insisted on taking the stage in that condition and what her performance meant for other cancer survivors.
“Bring Me Some Water” - Etheridge explains why “water” and not “whiskey” is a key lyric in one of her earliest hits, from her 1988, self-titled, debut album.
“Like the Way I Do” - Etheridge discusses one of her earliest hits and all-time favorite songs, “Like the Way I Do,” also from her debut album. She describes the complicated relationship that inspired the song, and how it has become the closer at her live shows.
To date, Etheridge has released 16 studio albums and produced a critically acclaimed solo Broadway show, “Melissa Etheridge: My Window,” in the fall of 2023.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Melissa Etheridge Rewinds Her Career
0:24 The Story Behind Come to My Window
2:07 The Story Behind I'm The Only One
3:42 Thunder Road With Bruce Springsteen
5:19 Piece of My Heart Grammy Performance
7:14 The Story Behind Bring Me Some Water
8:58 The Story Behind Like The Way I Do
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