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13 Iconic Live Performances You Watched Growing Up That Are Impossible To Forget

There were so many awards shows and events where performers would be asked to sing their most popular songs as a way to trick people into watching. When an event knows that they aren't the most entertaining content wise, or want to bring in a bigger audience they spice it up with all the best pop stars.

The shows they put on were truly incredible. If you try to think about the amount of time and money that went into designing the set pieces for some of these it'll make your head spin.

How many of these iconic performances do you remember from your childhood?

Slave For You - Britney Spears - 2001

Britney comes in in a cage with a tiger, dances while holding a snake and generally just destroys the VMA's with her awesome performance that people STILL talk about.

Wild Wild West - Will Smith - 1999

Because bringing a horse into an auditorium was a great idea. There are just so many characters involved in this whole thing. Everyone from Sisqo to Stevie Wonder are all decked out in their western gear and it's the very best.

Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil Kim, Maya, Missy Elliot Featuring Patti Labelle - 2002

It was really quite the event. They had so many big names of the time, and then they brought out the one and only Patti Labelle to bring the house down.

Like A Virgin - Madonna - 1984

The cake, the dress, the whole thing was really nothing short of iconic. Madonna really knows how to put on a show!

The Star Spangled Banner - Whitney Houston - 1991

If you had to pick one definitive version of the Star Spangled Banner, this would absolutely be it. People still talk about it to this day because honestly, how could you not? She's a complete super star and nails every moment of this song.

You Oughta Know - Alanis Morrisette - 1995

Alanis was huge in the 90s. She was the angry anti-pop star a lot of people needed. Her greasy style hair and scream-singing were totally different from everything else out there.

What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner - 1985

Her hair is enough to make this performance memorable, but it also helps that she is just fantastic. She didn't need a whole bunch of back-up dancers or stunts. It was just her alone on the stage singing her heart out and it was so magical.

There are even more iconic moments you totally forgot about. Click to the next page to see the rest!

I Have Nothing - Whitney Houston - 1993

Everything she did was immaculate, but this heartbreaking song is actually such a powerful performance, you need to see it.

Like A Virgin / Hollywood - Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliot - 2003

How was Madonna going to top her original performance? Well she was going to bring in two of the biggest pop stars in the world to perform with her. .Britney and and Christina start it off doing a cover Like a Virgin then Madonna comes in to sing Hollywood With the others dancing and singing with her. It also had THAT infamous kiss between Britney and Madonna that people put up a huge stink about.

Straight Up / Cold Hearted / Forever Your Girl - Paul Abdul - 1989

She got to do three songs while tap dancing with some amazing 80s hair and shoulder pads. She really was looking about as 80s as humanly possible while she belted out her big hits. She also does some full on circus-style stunts that will make you dizzy.

MTV Medley - Michael Jackson - 1995

One Michael song isn't enough, so he does a whole bunch at once to really make it last. Honestly it's a 15 minute performance of all of his biggest hits and it is absolutely outstanding.

Vogue - Madonna - 1990

Once again Madonna proves that she is not to be out-staged. Her Victorian style performance of Vogue has unbelievable costumes, set decorations and is the definition of excess (in a good way). Although, watching the video ago it doesn't even look that they are pretending she is singing, there is no pretend microphone there at all. It's still great though!

I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy, Sting, Faith Evans, 112 - 1997

This was a tribute to Biggie and it was pretty sad to see his good friend Puff Daddy perform for him.

Which was your favorite performance? Let us know in the comments!