Tina Turner’s most unforgettable tracks
As the world mourns Tina Turner, we look back at some of her most indelible musical moments
Music Lists Tina Turner
Tina Turner performing in 1990 Photo: Rob Verhorst / Contributor
Tina Turner died today, ending one of the most electric careers in the history of modern music. Turner lived a long and complicated life, moving between rises and slumps, scandals and celebration, and a huge number of styles and public personas. But nobody denied that, when she was on—whether in her early days with ex-husband Ike Turner, or the solo career that saw her shoot into the stratosphere from the 1970s onward—nobody could match Tina for sheer power behind the mic, or on the dance floor.
And so, we offer up this list of some of the most potent musical moments of Turner’s career, stretching from her earliest offerings, through the latter days of her career.
25 Comments
The fact that this list doesn’t contain “Better Be Good to Me” is making me very angry.
this, and ‘typical male.’
I’d also like to point out that’s Cy Curnin of The Fixx in the video. He and his bandmate Jamie West-Oram also played on I Might Have Been Queen. If you listen to it, it sounds like a Fixx song.
I had no idea Knopfler wrote “Private Dancer,” which is what made me a Tina Turner fan. I was too young to have heard any of her stuff with Ike the first time around so it was “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” that served as my introduction to her, and I didn’t care for it (neither did Tina, initially), but the melancholy tone of “Dancer” really works for me.
I did know, and apparently Knopfler felt a bit stupid singing it to her given its subject matter.Also What’s Love Got To Do With It was turned down by Donna Summer, and then recorded by the UK’s 1981 Eurovision-winning act Bucks Fizz. But before they did anything with it, Turner recorded it and released it, and they realised their version would not get a great deal of love after that.My reintroduction to her was Let’s Stay Together – one of those covers where I love equally the cover and the original.
I like that song OK but not a favorite of mine. Also like you, that was my introduction to her as a kid.
Where’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero”, “Better Be Good to Me”, “Typical Male”, “Goldeneye” or “I Don’t Wanna Fight”?
Also, I know it’s definitely lesser known and maybe not one of her best, but I always loved this very 80’s track of hers from the Days of Thunder soundtrack (which I also loved as a whole album)
Can anyone verify that Sade was originally offered “I Don’t Want To Fight” who declined the song and suggested Turner record it?
I’ve never heard that before, but now I wanna hear her version of it. Tina’s version rocks though.
tina made it special for sure. but i absolutely HATED that type of 90’s beat. every 70s/80s pop singer was using it (sting, phil collins) for some mediocre song that would inevitably win every grammy.
I was just listening to that yesterday and I totally agree.
I know that Lulu co-wrote it, but she doesn’t exactly say who it was originally written for.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/23546335.lulu-tribute-tina-turner-reveals-song-wrote-star/
In 1985 it felt like “We don’t need another Hero” was on near constant rotation.
One of the great soundtrack original songs. For a Mad Max movie, no less.
Thunderdome and I Don’t Wanna Fight are GLARING omissions.
Where’s It’s Only Love?
I know the Billboard Hot 100 isn’t a meritocracy, but how in the hell did “River Deep – Mountain High” only make it to Number 88? It wasn’t like the people of 1966 didn’t know great music. In that year, Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman,” The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black, and The Beatles’ “Paperback Writer” were back-to-back-to-back Number 1 hits.
That song is just an absolutely powerhouse. Seger’s version is a personal favorite as well.
Tina covered Alice Cooper’s “Only Women Bleed.” In a way, it kinda skeeves me that you know Ike made her sing this song. An abused woman singing about an abused woman. But Tina owned it.
Some feedback for AV Club….. I’m getting less and less inclined to open up one of your daily lists/slideshows. I don’t come to this website for clickbait. Please stop.
Her best work came before Private Dancer. “Funkier than a Mosquito’s Tweeter” is her best song, hands down. I’m glad she had later success, and was able to cash in. I just feel her best work is her funk stuff.
I don’t know that Show Some Respect is in the “unforgettable” category but she did have Conan the Keyboardist (Tim Cappello, sax dude from The Lost Boys) as a touring musician at the time.
gimme some thunderdome any day
Can’t we get beyond Thunderdome?