pop songs... tips for playing them?

[spots]

hi guys,
this friday at my HS we're having a knockoff of American idol and I'm gonna be in the stage band. Here are some of the songs we're playing (behind singers of course).
How do I live?-Leann Rhymes
I wanna love you forever-Jessica Simpson
God Bless America
Ain't no mountain high enough-marvin gaye

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for playing bass in this style. I play mainly funk and jazz so this whole pop music thing is a weird (but very interesting) experience. If anything I've realized how well composed some of these songs are. I've been sticking mainly to outlining/arpeggiating the chords and being very meek in my approach to bass playing.
I could use some tips to playing this style
thanks.
~spots

[seanm]

Originally Posted by spots

Ain't no mountain high enough-marvin gaye

This is not a song for a meek bass line. The bass line drives Motown. Try to listen to the original with James Jamerson and copy it! You can't go wrong.

[Lyle Caldwell]

Well, if you play jazz, listen to the recordings and do what the studio bassist did and use that as the starting point.

But on Aint No Mountain High Enough, that's a James Jamerson classic, and every bassist will have his mental arms folded waiting to hear what you do. I strongly suggest really learning his part and just put your all into it. It's a chromatic tour de force, and should be familiar to you if you've ever listened to Ray Brown.

Actually, since you play funk and jazz, you should adopt this song as your bible for awhile until it lives inside you.

[BMGecko]

My tip... Don't.

[quote=spots]hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for playing bass in this style. I play mainly funk and jazz so this whole pop music thing is a weird (but very interesting) experience.