The Motels - 'Total Control' (Live)

[@jakeg.7562]

I mean, what can you say? Almost unreal, it is THAT good. Those musicians are playing with incredible restraint, the mark of pros. And the singer? Besides being a true beauty, the restraint of her on-point vocals matches the players perfectly. On top of all that, the lyrics themselves are as identifiable as any of the great, old standards, maybe more so. Who amongst us has not desired total control over both our lover and ourselves? We all know that no one singing today can equal this, not this kind of raw, blanketed emotionalism. But who could from the past? Probably no one as well.

[@Tanner.Bananner]

Well said. For years I've been looking for the perfect song. A song with just the right tone, the right speed, the right emotions. Then I heard this song and I was crying. The lyrics said all the things ive wanted to say without wanting to say them. This song is one of a kind

[@lavielemond]

An absolutely phenomenal comment, mate...I couldn't agree more with everything that you've written...& the only other thing that I might also have mentioned is how bizarre it is now, more than 40 years later, to see that cigarette in her hand while she sings...LOVE IT!! Obviously, you could NEVER get away with that now, in this day of age of PC this & tight control of virtually everything but I'm also blown away that smoking didn't damage her beautiful voice! But back then, I imagine that HEAPS of the greatest singers were smokers...anyway, cheers & best wishes from "Down Under", campionissimo...Matt.

[@alandwyer2144]

Yeah Jake, that's what I meant to say:) How fantastic

[@StilettoCutsQuick.]

@@lavielemond that cigarette is everything. Just shows a very raw personal emotional performance

[@lavielemond]

@@StilettoCutsQuick. Absolutely, Ann...mjf.xo

[@Beerlust_AUS]

A very special band. Given the combined talents they had, they should have gone on to do some really special things muscially over a good period of time. I am grateful for what they did do though. The Motels were very well received in Australia when they first released their music. I've never forgotten them & still enjoy listening to the music they created back then. Hearing Martha Davis sing is a priviledge.

[@benpotaka5893]

Martha Davis is one of the most sultry voices ever 🖤

[@TheAgeOfAnalog]

Holy crap. That's by far the best Motels live performance on KZbin. Incredible.

[@blakewhittington4336]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX2li52ap7CGprs

[@virginiacabezudovivanco3195]

Motels inferior control

[@burpvom]

Great performance and great footage .

[@crashburn3292]

I'd sell my soul for total control over time travel so I could go back in time and see The Motels live in 1982.

[@marthaedwards5492]

I did 😊. But I’d like to go back to 1982

[@johronok4067]

My favorite track by them, timeless masterpiece.

[@timothylanders3189]

That slow, steady rhythm & hot singer ~ What a performance & the expression in face & voice in some verses = absolute bliss

[@flamencoprof]

I am here for Martha's performance, but would like to commend the admirably restrained yet tasteful contributions of the guitarists. Not to exclude that saxy solo with Martha on her knees!

[@TheNesianscribe]

wow...the smoking is very sign of the times, this song is rough and ballsy and obsessive and I love it!!

[@veteran20002001]

That's the 80's!

[@blakewhittington4336]

My mom was smoking when she gave birth to me

[@johnj7477]

I love it too, alwats have!

[@annettejacobsen6035]

Yeah it was orsome to have a siggy in a bar

[@lavielemond]

@@tonyboleno8191 You MUST be a fellow Aussie with that post, mate!!

[@GoodMrDawes]

This footage had me hypnotized at age 10 when first aired. Love at first sight and sound, The audience new they were witnessing a classic

[@gregorchard7881]

I remember when this was released. Martha Davis was an absolute sensation.

[@flamencoprof]

I gave up cigs years ago, but even now, though Martha just lets one burn away through the whole song, I still want one,

[@albertoeinstein7663]

Martha Davis is a incredible woman.

[@benpotaka5893]

Davis

[@ronaldmichaels7108]

Martha gave the best performance I have Ever Seen........This tops the biggest stars. Genius, and inspirational to me as a singer.

[@damianbowyer6258]

Stunning was Martha, Singing Her Heart-Out with The Guys.

[@a.schroederkathleen5080]

Holy crap. That's by far the best Motels live performance on KZbin. Incredible. Good lord she is mesmerising!

[@dbyzant]

Heard it when it came out , heard it again today , never fails to give me chills....

[@sirius6113]

it´´s a great version..and performance by martha... she was..wrecked out at that time and still one of the most emotional/authentic singers i´d ever seen!

[@rmsmith2396]

wow, she sounds great live,. not many of today's singers do that

[@markstanton63]

Heartfelt and almost confessional in it's honesty

[@joealfaro8412]

I saw the Motels as a student at the Stanford Coffeehouse in 1979, before they released this. I remember being stunned by this, almost not knowing what to do, other than pick my jaw off the floor. Martha had such an incredible presence. I knew I was watching greatness.

[@MasKistershi]

Good lord she is mesmerising!

[@veteran20002001]

What?

[@lavielemond]

@@veteran20002001 What's there to "What?" about?! She IS truly mesmerising in this video, is she not?!

[@ВеселаАнгелова]

Stunning was Martha, Singing Her Heart-Out with The Guys. Brilliant. remember seeing them in Darwin in the 80's and this song has always been a fav :)

[@oldhippie81]

The Vamp of the 70's. Beautiful.........

[@tonebox2767]

WOW Martha and the motels, always gonna love it, beautifully raw.

[@sirius6113]

the more often i look at this i´m so sure she´s drugged and so into this song..i love her and adore so much for her musical and survival power

[@TheOrganist007]

what a great band this was

[@Carmeladior]

You can tell this song really has a lot of emotional meaning to her. You can see her eyes close whenever the lyrics are most passionate

[@samjezewski3196]

looking counter clockwise.... knowing what could happen...

[@TheLemon714]

1980 @ Madame Wongs Chinatown Los Angeles, super fantastic memory! Great voice!

[@angelinamarina8992]

Gets your soul deep 💘

[@grahamking8186]

Just brilliant - the song, the singer, the band & could put on repeat for ages

[@kathysemrau2301]

Martha really is an emotional singer. I just love her. Then and now. Lucky West Coast, the Motels are going on tour all up and down there this fall. Go see them!!!

[@lavielemond]

May I please enquire whether you ended up seeing them perchance, Kathy?

[@larciabella]

I JUST SAW THEM IN NYC..........SHE WAS AMAZING!ROCK ON MARTHA!

[@PinkGuitarWoman]

i agree great song, wow does this bring back some memories, long live the 80's

[@POPARTPRODUCTlONS]

One of my all time favorites and a trully awesome song!!!!!!!

[@enriqueestradasjournal]

Martha Davis is beautiful....her voice hits me at my heart

[@nikitafaie]

love this band......wish they was around now like then...

[@reginahelenanepomuceno3764]

A música tem uma batida perfeita, saxofone + teclado = nostalgia de blues perfeita. Musica assombrosa, hipnotizante, eu preciso ouvir no último volume no meu quarto para esquecer tantos momentos. Porque aprendi que a vida é feita de momentos, nao vivi intensamente esses momentos porque eles nunca existiram. Pedem que eu viva intensamente, mas meus dias são somente de lágrimas. A musica me faz sonhar, me desperta, é meu abrigo do mundo... Nos 3 minutos não há nada além da plenitude, preenchendo com o sax, o teclado e a voz sensual, agridoce a minha solidão!!! 😢💔😢💔💔💔

[@adrianmarriner5742]

Thank you for a cool tune on the radio.

[@OU-qe5pp]

Awesome gazzobaphone solo.

[@scirocco09]

This song is drug

[@Mahnynames]

Favourite song ever ❤

[@COTTERO]

BEAUTIFUL.

[@dainstokes212]

you know, oh those memories...thanks for the song, I always Loved it most.

[@alandwyer2144]

There is only one Martha Davis, wow

[@lindadote]

Found it! Thanks Martha (and Motels) I loved this track and many more of yours, still play the music. Thanks for the post.

[@brettdavies5239]

Masterpiece 🙌🏼

[@leecook6854]

Just absolutely brilliant ❤

[@TheFourOfNine44]

100 Stars.... My Last Year Of High School. Thanks for posting.

[@angel1329us]

Full spectrum, in color, memory brought to full life. Time warp!

[@zhengsulin9219]

Thanks for posting this clip. Great song

[@TheTuggerrype]

Brilliant. remember seeing them in Darwin in the 80's and this song has always been a fav :)

[@carlbaskerville5331]

For my husband: I will always love you wow, she sounds great live,. not many of today's singers do that

[@KayZee1957]

On an album full of winners. This might be the quintessential. Minimalist, moody, slightly dark, emotionally honest and a great turn on the sax by Marty J.

[@TFMB]

I lost it to this song.

[@MaleCrystalBall]

what an honor to see this LIVE clip! THANK YOU!

[@benpotaka5893]

Sultry voice 🖤 Martha Davis 🖤🔥

[@camdite2506]

Always have room for the motels

[@westerngerry]

wow, a vid with no dislikes! that's how good it is

[@askidbarrett]

Saw them do this in a club on Charing Cross road,London 1978……It was a good 10 minutes. I wish I could have said the same for the rest of the show.

[@andyfredericksen3224]

Background music is awsome Thats why i love the song she could have total control over me

[@k98k9]

Thanks for posting this clip.

[@cs292]

This needs to be in the U.S. Library of Congress..

[@bhagyashrishelke9125]

Background music is awsome Thats why i love the song

[@GoodMrDawes]

The audience knew they were seeing a classic. I did at age 10 seeing it on tv. I told myself and friends that it was a joint she was smoking. I know it wasn't now.

[@gregstarkey3586]

Then she sang dont tell me the time, greatest ever ❤

[@ericsanchez3599]

I will always love the motel s

[@rebel2rebel]

Such Beauty...Love this song~

[@brankotopal2802]

Beautiful

[@peterlindstrom4912]

this is great!!!

[@snatchdawg]

as long as we are sharing.... I was just writing an assignment....and as Martha said control..i wrote demonstrates "control" of media and skill......at the exact time she said it.....shit story i know ..but was awesome....ahh and then i found 20 bucks.......

[@Eladiovillarejo]

Great song

[@flamencoprof]

Proof that expression of sensuality does not require exposure of body.

[@goatfish07]

Well said 😊

[@TheTuggerrype]

brilliant!! thank you. so smooth.

[@HansumRob100]

wow.... wish i was there...

[@gitarrengurt7868]

Das waren noch lebendige Zeiten, damals.

[@OctozoidPRS]

Elegantly wasted and a beautiful performance.

[@STEADY599]

This so makes me wanna be in a smoky blues club in the late 70s.

[@lavielemond]

YES!!

[@richardshepherd4157]

just brilliant

[@RaymondScott-q3c]

Feelings,lost now nowadays inthe world of love

[@pgroove163]

back when even bad habits were allowed..freedom

[@Manoftheswamp]

Sublime.

[@dainstokes212]

get it togetha, will ya, Marhta, lol, you are the BEST.

[@johnm2631]

Awesome

[@W103WWRW]

@fretts She was like this before and after the hits...just who she is...Very talented!

[@aidanmargarson8910]

I bought the album on vinyl in the day .. still listening

[@dataglasses]

Yes six years for me but i might change back to my old ways ..........for martha !

[@kevengray1319]

So too the fans. Enhanced experience

[@flamencoprof]

Martha picks up a guitar at the end. I'd love to hear what came next.

[@danielaskar2949]

I swear the hottest singer ever, the way she moves

[@rwfrench66GenX]

Man, I bought so many Kleenex in the 80s because of Martha and Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High!

[@brianbarcus5853]

EXCELLENT! CLASSIC! She's so passionate about what she sings - and so damn sexy!

[@gregorchard7881]

Marty Jourard just as sultry on the sax.. What a combination!!

[@reactor4]

what the fucking hell.. that is awesome!

[@MiqueCapel]

Cool

[@megajay7065]

~PERFECT REAL NATURAL~

[@kimnguyen-dq9mg]

HAHAHA 171-0 nobody have ever seen this in a game,football,baseball,basketball,youtube,Never!! For my husband: I will always love you

[@FrankLennon1970]

Great tone on that Les Paul.

[@dainstokes212]

hi again Martha

[@erniemaalat3588]

awesome classic goth😁