Live singing

I usually don't like live recording because the artists don't live up to it. But Lea Michele, who played Wendla on Spring Awakening... oh my god, she sounds JUST as good live as on recording. :)

YouTube - Lea Michele sings "Touch Me" at Upright Cabaret

This is an up-octave female version of my favorite song of the play. It's very beautiful, goose-bump making. Kills me that she left the play. The new singer isn't as nearly as good. =[

This recording from Leona Lewish is always INCREDIBLE live. She's singing Summertime, one of my favorite songs.

YouTube - Leona Lewis - Summertime 2006

Skip to 1:30

Show us some incredible live performances.

Nationwide Mercury Prize

Go to 2008 highlights and listen to Adele. Much better than her studio recordings imo. I'd love to be able to find the full thing, which is lovely, but sadly I can't. Elbow - who won this year - was pretty incredible as well. They're not the best live performances ever by any means, but I can't think of any more atm.

edit: Er, I didn't actually mean the singing in elbow x))) Just read the thread title again...