An invitation to perform on MTV Unplugged used to be a privilege, something that bands had to work for and earn. Like headlining a summer tour or releasing a best of album, it was something that took years of hard work, fan devotion and acclaimed releases. It was a chance for a few lucky fans to get a live, personal look at some of their favorite artists stripped down, non-effects laden and passionate. What made this performance special was that you got to see bands that normally produced raucous shows tamed down and at your own level.

After 8 seasons, Unplugged hung it up and only produced shows on special occasions but this week MTV has pulled Unplugged off the shelves and dusted it off. Now the question is: If you were MTV who would you put on for the come back show? Who do you think has earned the right to perform at this exclusive show? Green Day? Linkin Park? Slipknot? Well here’s the line up for the next couple of shows Adele performed today, Silversun Pickups in July and Katy Perry in coming months. I have a couple of big problems with this line up. First and foremost is that none of these performers have earned a slot on this elite show. Adele has released one album which I was excited to hear and was disappointed once I did. My other problem with the Adele performance is that she plays the piano, not the keyboard, the piano. It’s already unplugged! I know what you’re saying “Well, Tori Amos plays the piano and she did an MTV Unplugged” and my response to that is “Shut up I’m on a roll here.” With Silversun Pickups, although I have been obsessed with Swoon, have also not earned this right, yet. And don’t eve get me started on Katy Perry, she’s a novelty act.

One of the other things that made MTV Unplugged great and anticipatory was waiting to see how the stage design was going to be set up in order to enhance the music. They were elaborate and yet simple at the same time. Pearl Jam and Korn’s sets were very dark while Alice in Chains was candlelit and Nirvana had a rose hue about it with floral arrangements strewn about. Each set was complimentary to the bands sound. But if you watch the Adele performance it looks like there are about a dozen people there, all sitting on the floor in someone’s living room. There are some ultraviolet lights lazily put on stands, a couple of fake book shelves and a fake wood banister stair case. Adele sits on a stool that is on a shag rug surrounded by microphones. It’s all very slap dash and messy.

Let’s take a look at a few of the great acts that have appeared on MTV Unplugged and what they had accomplished prior to appearing.

• REM (first performance) – had released 7 albums, 2 Gold, 3 Platinum and Out of Time went triple Platinum in the U.S. that year
• Nirvana – By this time they had released all three of their albums, Nevermind (aside from single handedly masterminding the grunge movement) was certified Platinum in 1991 and went Diamond in 1999 while In Utero is certified 5x Platinum
• Alice In Chains – Had released all three of their CD’s by this point, Facelift was certified 2x Platinum, Dirt 4x Platinum and Tripod 2x Platinum
• Korn – had released 7 albums, all of which went multi-Platinum

This is just to name a few, I’m not even going to get into Eric Clapton, Kiss, Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam or Bruce Springsteen. This is an exclusive club that it is an honor to be a member of.

While the unplugged concept was a great idea in the 90′s, this new criterium for the chance to appear steals away from those few bands that received this honor during the first 10 years of it’s existence.