MTV Unplugged was one of music’s great institutions in its time, stripping back songs and performers to the sheer talent at their core. 

In 1993, Canadian phenomenon k.d. lang performed at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York for an MTV Unplugged set which included a stunning rendition of her yearning anthemic pop hit, Constant Craving, matching the studio recording in opulence – and then some! 

Constant Craving was the closing track on lang’s 1992 LP Ingénue. The album, which was co-written with her collaborator Ben Mink, steered away from her country-tinged roots, mixing timeless, elegant production and contemporary pop arrangements into heart aching anthems centred on love and longing; universal themes that resonated loudly, turning the former cult icon into an international superstar. 

Watch her deliver a breathtaking rendition below! 

k.d. lang | ‘Constant Craving’ [MTV Unplugged]

Constant Craving has been tugging at the heartstrings of listeners since it was first released. While it may not even register these days, in 1992, the idea that an openly gay woman could rise to the ranks of pop idol on the back of an anthemic lamentation to desire wasn’t just unusual, it was entirely unheard of. But k.d. lang’s undeniable, rich, deeply nuanced and effortless talent smashed through those ideations – confirmed by a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1993, along with Best Female Video from the MTV Video Music Award and even a nomination for Song of the Year.

GET k.d. lang ALBUMS, HERE.

Listen to k.d. lang on Spotify:

Listen to k.d. lang on Apple Music: