As a lifelong hater of song and dance characters, I'm often met with the response that bardic performance can be reflavored in the player's imagination. You could think of it as an inspiring speech, an emboldening war cry, war drums or a dance (lol). Different versions of D&D and pathfinder actually stressed this point, insisting that the exact nature of bardic performance should be up to the player's immagination.
With that in mind, could we get some kind of shout option for bards? The little musical notes above the character's head sort of kill the class for me. Shallow, I know. But still... The game is full of yelling/roaring effects, and the musical note icons above the character's head look a little out of place in the underdark or Sencliff where bards are still sorely needed.