Songwriter Jules Shear hosted the first 13 episodes. The MTV show titled Unplugged, drawing on this phenomenon, was created by producers Robert Small and Jim Burns. It was believed that the show was inspired by a 1989 MTV Video Music Awards acoustic performance by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora however, the show was already in production. Many of these performances were subsequently released as albums, often featuring the title Unplugged. The show featured musicians performing unplugged versions of their electric repertoire. In most cases, the bass (or bass guitar) is amplified, and a Hammond organ is sometimes used. The term 'unplugged' has come to refer to music that would usually be played on electrified instruments (such as an electric guitar or synthesizer) but is rendered instead on instruments that can be played without electricity, for example acoustic guitar or traditional piano, although a microphone is still used. The show received the George Foster Peabody Award and three Primetime Emmy nominations, in its original form.Ī limited-run reboot of MTV Unplugged came in 2009, featuring six acts, which won the Emmy Award for Best New Approach.Īs of 2021, several episodes are available to watch on Paramount+.

Some of these albums produced successful singles as well, including Mariah Carey's No. 2.0 (2001), Alicia Keys' Unplugged (2005) and Ricky Martin's MTV Unplugged (2006). Other Unplugged albums that went platinum include Mariah Carey's MTV Unplugged (1992), Rod Stewart's Unplugged.and Seated (1993), 10,000 Maniacs' MTV Unplugged (1993), Tony Bennett's MTV Unplugged (1994), Page and Plant's No Quarter (1994), Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York (1994), Alice in Chains's Unplugged (1996), Shakira's MTV Unplugged (1999), Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged No. Eric Clapton's Unplugged (1992) sold 26 million copies worldwide and became the best-selling live album of all time. Many of the artists who appeared on the show in the 1990s released their Unplugged session as an album, and some of these albums were commercial and critical hits. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes online only. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. MTV Unplugged is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments.

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