What's wrong with "Mustang Sally?"

[billjr]

Yesterday I read another post slamming the song "Mustang Sally." My question is what's wrong with that song? I love it, and think it has a great groove and sound. To me it just seems like a great party song. I am just trying to figure out why so many on this site don't like it.

[Tony G]

I think the only reason it might get slammed is because it is one of the widest played cover songs. I hear almost every cover band I see play it.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by billjr

Yesterday I read another post slamming the song "Mustang Sally." My question is what's wrong with that song? I love it, and think it has a great groove and sound. To me it just seems like a great party song. I am just trying to figure out why so many on this site don't like it.

I like the song, but get kinda tired of playing it. So, being in a 3-piece, I put in fills and walkups and have fun with it. The crowd loves it!

Cherie

[Bruce Lindfield]

Over -familiarity!

[pointbass]

There are songs that, after you've played them maybe 100,000 times or more, have lost their appeal ....

Mustang Sally is one of them, as is Brown Eyed Girl, or Satisfaction, or Margaritaville or a ton of other very popular cover tunes. But the plain truth is that the crowds like them (a lot!!!) and so they get into most set lists sooner or later ...

[Bayou_Brawler]

great song! but it's been played 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000 times

[billjr]

So let me see if I understand this. You play it too much?

I've often wondered what it would be like to be in a touring rock band and have to play the same group of songs night after night after night... Even though they are your own songs.

I saw an interview with Blues Traveler and they don't play the same songs two nights in a row. They each get to pick some songs and then they make up the show as a group. The only problem with that is if your a fan, and only see them once in a while, you probably have a couple of songs you really want to hear, and they might not get played.

Well, I just didn't know if people thought the song sucked or something.

[cheezewiz]

It's actually a good song. Songs don't last that long, and become that popular, if they don't have something going for them. Familiarity is the answer. You just get sick of playing it after a while, although for me, seeing the dance floor packed eases the pain.

Again, I quote my buddy, Bovine host.

Q. Who played bass on Mustang Sally?
A. Me, about a MILLION fuggin times!

[jive1]

In addition to playing the tune about a 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times, it get's requested 2,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. Out of the millions of songs ever written, out of the thousands of killer tunes out there, out of the hundreds of tunes that I know, this is the one people ask for time and time again. It sort of depresses me that most people's musical tastes consist of liking Mustang Sally, and nothing beyond that. I can't tell you how many times people have asked us to place this song twice in a night (as well as twice in a set).

It's the McDonalds value meal of music. (Sorry Mack, it's not you, it's them )

[SBassman]

I have played the tune a zillion times. I'm not sick of it, because:
- it's a good tune
- people Always dance to it. Always.

[driver800]

Originally Posted by jive1

...(Sorry Otis, it's not you, it's them )

Otis? Did you mean Wilson?

yeah, the song defines "overdone". BUT, I still enjoy it because I try to play something a little different everytime and keep the same feel.

it turns it from a monotonous 3-note-riff into a woodshedding session in front of a crowd. ...keeps it interesting.

besides:

Originally Posted by SBassman

...- people Always dance to it. Always.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by driver800

Otis? Did you mean Wilson?

I was wrong on Otis, my apologies should be to Mack. Actually the song was covered by Wilson Pickett, but written and performed by Mack Rice.

[buliwyfff]

always hated it, women driving pshh

[driver800]

Originally Posted by jive1

I was wrong on Otis, my apologies should be to Mack. Actually the song was covered by Wilson Pickett, but written and performed by Mack Rice.

thanks to you! I did not know of him. here's his website: http://www.sirmackrice.com/

he also wrote ""Respect Yourself" and "Cheaper To Keep Her".

and he's still performing.

[Matt Till]

I was a n00b in the cover scene (got out), but I did play Mustang Sally about 1000 times in the year I was playing. I didn't mind it, like said, it was a crowd favorite.

I don't get the whole appeal of... WHOOO It's that song I've been hearing since the 50s!!! WHOOOO!!!

[jsbachonbass]

Originally Posted by xgabriel

.....it is one of the widest played cover songs. I hear almost every cover band I see play it.

Correction, it is one of the widest played cover song played BADLY by almost EVERY COVER BAND.

The version I always see downloaded actually has a cool groove, but nobody ever learns it. Nothing worse than playing a cover tune BADLY every night.

[Sundogue]

17 posts about a song that has been played by bands (and on the radio) for decades, millions of times and requested even more...

What's wrong with it? Obviously nothing. It's a great song. I've had fun with it every single g**dam time I've had to play it.

The real question is...What's wrong with all these people requesting it?!!!!!!!!!!!

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

The real question is...What's wrong with all these people requesting it?!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen

The equivalence of going to a buffet of the world's greatest foods, and bringing a baloney sandwich.

[invader3k]

I honestly don't get the appeal of the song. I guess it's just not my "thing."

[RareBear]

Ain't nothing wrong with no Mustang Sally.