This is astonishingly good. Peter Gabriel has had some great backing vocalists in his time–the best, I think, was probably Paula Cole–but none sounds more like him than his daughter, Melanie, which makes sense when you think about it. Here she is from her father’s Growing Up Tour, where they do a “Downside Up”/”OVO” medley with a really neat stage stunt:
Peter Gabriel – Downside Up – Live 2003
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Melanie Gabriel’s solo stuff doesn’t sound anything like her father’s–it’s acoustic guitar love songs–and in some ways I think that’s a shame. Selfishly, because I know it must be frustrating to live in a parent’s shadow like that, but I’d personally be thrilled if she did an album of her father’s old stuff. I can almost hear her version of “Mercy Street,” and it sends chills down my spine.
And for that matter, Genesis still needs a new lead vocalist…
Okay, enough fantasy album production. Here’s some more Peter Gabriel. Performing John Lennon’s “Imagine” at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. Trivia: He had the flu at the time. Other trivia: I have the flu right now, too, which is why I’m sitting here watching Peter Gabriel videos on YouTube instead of working:
Oh, and here’s “In Your Eyes” (with the awesome, and vastly underrated, Youssou N’Dour) from 20 years ago:
Some folks say “In Your Eyes” is the best love song Gabriel ever recorded. It may be, but I’m partial to “Secret World”: