It is impossible to do a second take on live TV, and that is precisely why certain performances have survived their airings on TV. There have been some performances that have attracted huge audiences, while there have been those that were timely. The following are examples of three such performances.
The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, 1964
On 9 February 1964, CBS viewers saw The Beatles play American television for the first time, live on The Ed Sullivan Show. Smithsonian Magazine puts the audience at 73 million, over 60 per cent of everyone watching TV in the US that night, though it does not say where the estimate comes from.
They played five numbers – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “She Loves You” and three others. For most of the people watching, it was the first time they had seen the band on screen.
Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV, 1991
“National Anthem” was performed by Whitney Houston on 27 January 1991 at Tampa Stadium, ten days after the first attacks by the US against Iraqi bases during the Gulf War.
According to Wikipedia, “National Anthem” became a single in February 1991; the song’s sales were dedicated to the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund, and it peaked at number 20 in the Billboard Hot 100 in that year and at number six upon its re-release in September 2001.
Celine Dion at the Paris Olympics, 2024
Celine Dion ended her appearance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony held at the Eiffel Tower on 26 July 2024 using Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour.” According to CBS News, it was the first time she had performed publicly since 2020, when she revealed she was suffering from stiff-person syndrome.
Those looking to see her perform live should know that 10 additional dates at Paris La Défense Arena in May 2027 have been added. Tickets can be found through sellers other than the authorized sellers, who may sell at prices above or below face value; for instance, Celine Dion 2027 concert tickets via Fanatix.
What Makes a Performance Unforgettable
The three examples differ in era and style, but they share a few ingredients. Looking at them together points to what tends to make live television stick in memory:
- The Beatles had the people: a huge common audience of 73 million viewers, which amounted to more than 60 per cent of the US audience watching on that night.
- Whitney Houston had the moment: an anthem being sung ten days into the Gulf War in front of a full stadium and national TV audience, that would eventually become a charity song for the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund.
- Celine Dion had the story: a comeback on stage following sickness, from the Eiffel Tower, and her first live performance since 2020, nearly two years after her announcement of the disease.
Not every great broadcast ticks all three boxes, yet the ones that do rarely fade. They become reference points later performers are measured against, which is why people still discuss them decades later.
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