Live Music at Wrestlemania

[Sexcellence of Sexecution]

Having music stars perform at WrestleMania has always been part of the event, and it's something that in my opinion really adds to the spectacle of WrestleMania. Not all fans seem to see it this way though, and in the past a lot of live performances have been criticized by fans for taking away from the matches and whatnot.

So I decided to make this thread and pose a few questions to you guys:
1. Generally speaking, do you like seeing live music performances at WrestleMania? Does it add to the show?
2. What are your favorite/least favorite performances in WrestleMania history?
3. What do you think is the proper way to integrate live music into WrestleMania?
4. Who would you like to see perform at WrestleMania 30 (or a future WrestleMania)? What song? How would you incorporate the performance into the show?

I guess I already kind of answered the first question, I do think it adds to the show. When I watch the show with friends who may not be the biggest wrestling fans in the world they always enjoy this aspect of it. As far as my personal favorite performances, definitely MGK for John Cena's entrance because he got the crowd so riled up, he played off of the atmosphere perfectly. Living Colour doing CM Punk's theme last year was awesome too, that was probably the single best live performance at a WrestleMania.

Just sending a band or artist out there to play a song or medley isn't the best way to go about suing them, I think they have to be more woven into the show. Having a live entrance song is a great way to do this, or maybe having like a live soundtrack to the video package hyping the main event. To me, those are the best ways to utilize a musical guest.

As for who I'd like to see at a future WrestleMania, I'm a huge fan of Macklemore, and if there's another Mania in Seattle (WM19 was there for you kids keeping score at home) then I definitely think he should perform. "Can't Hold Us" is a perfect hype song for a WrestleMania.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

They add to the overall experience when they're performing somebodies entrance music. That gives the show a big time feel. But I've never seen the point in Puff Daddy, Flo Rida or Kid Rock singing songs just for the sake of it. Dedicating 20 minutes to people like that seems to be done purely so WWE feel more legitimate, like a real entertainment company. People aren't going to buy Mania specifically for those artists performances and I'm sure most people would prefer the matches that are cut short to be longer. Because for some reason, WrestleMania is the most poorly managed show of the year and there is always a match or two that's too short to have an impact and is a missed opportunity.

 

[Kidpolean]

The live performances are more for the live crowd than the tv audience. I loved the performances at WM28, I was there live, they made the match feel much bigger and were entertaining. As far as watching them on tv goes, they probably seem dumb but like I said its something done to get the live crowd hyped.

 

[Eddie Menuek]

I'm not really a fan of any musical performances at Wrestlemania, but particularly the more random ones such as Diddy at 29 or MGK/Flo Rida at 28, as has been mentioned. When it comes to entrance music being performed I think it depends on the song, and the nature of the character that is walking out to the live performance. With that being said, even some of the ones which should be good, such as Motorhead performing 'The Game', have managed to be unmemorable.

If you're trying to give somebody a larger than life entrance I'd rather see them go down the John Cena/Triple H/Undertaker route and do something unique with the set. I'd much rather see Bray Wyatt do something of this nature than see some band that I've never heard of play his music while he walks out.

 

[thebarber]

I generally dont like the live music/big stage set up for bands at Wrestlemania, but in saying that I just watched Wrestlemania 19 again and Limp Bizkit were awesome performing Undertakers classic ring entrance. Made the overall match with Big Show and Albert better only for the introduction, otherwise it was a forgettable shite match.
Motorhead performing for HHH sometime back was good also. I guess pefforming a ring entrance Im fine, but some shit band performing songs like Kid Rock or Sean Combs, leave me out of that. When guys get bumped from the card to fit in a C List muso, it really takes away from the specialness of Wrestlemania, in my opinion.

 

[Dagger Dias]

1. Generally speaking, do you like seeing live music performances at WrestleMania? Does it add to the show?

No. I personally find it annoying and a complete waste of time. If it's the band who wrote a wrestler's entrance theme playing it live, that I can understand, but a random performance added to the show just takes up time that could have been given to wrestlers that otherwise might be left off the card.

2. What are your favorite/least favorite performances in WrestleMania history?

I do not have a favorite. I don't like any live performances from any Wrestlemania event. The worst of all was Kid Rock at Wrestlemania 25. He is to blame for the Tag Team Unification match getting bumped to a preshow event, he then cost us the divas entrances for their match, and he's the reason the Intercontinental Championship match being shorter than JBL's promo. All of that time thrown away for a stupid performance that not a single person in attendance at the event cared about. I was there and remember thinking it would never end.

3. What do you think is the proper way to integrate live music into WrestleMania?

Either do it for a wrestler's entrance or don't do it at all. It's pointless in any other capacity.

4. Who would you like to see perform at WrestleMania 30 (or a future WrestleMania)? What song? How would you incorporate the performance into the show?

Nobody. As I have already stated, I do not like having live performances incorporated into the event. I may be in the minority here, but I don't even like it for a wrestler's entrance. Maybe as part of the pre-show or something but it takes away time that should go to the wrestlers otherwise.

 

[gbast]

I like seeing live bands play a wrestlers' entrance theme, like Motorhead for Triple H or Living Color last year for CM Punk. But I absolutely hate bands just playing a song for no match, just to have a song, like Kid Rock has done a few times. It's just a total waste of 10 minutes or so, and it's almost always edited out of the home video release anyway so it's extra pointless.

 

[MCMG]

I don't mind it for entrances. It only adds a couple of minutes max and can add to the entertainment of the show. Something like Kid Rock, however, is something I'm against. He just wasted time with his average music.

I can't think of any bands that can perform this year. It should not be something similar to Kid Rock because time is limited unless they get a MASSIVE name and I can't see Bieber or One Direction turning up. Maybe they could get an orchestra to play in Bryan, that might be quite cool.