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Ever hate a song so much you'd risk being fired?

#22
howardkohler said:
Now I remember why I stopped listening to pop music.
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Yup, you and me both. What a sonic turd that was.

To the OP: If it's a decent paying gig, no, I wouldn't risk getting fired over a piece of fluff like that. Basically, if they're paying, I'm playing.

My personal way of enduring crap: making up filthy lyrics in my head to replace the inane ones on the original. Try it! Everyone will think you're having a good time as you grin along with the music!

If you're working for nothing more than beer money or just playing for kicks, then I'd bail. Life's too short to bother with z-grade pap for $0.

GT
 
#23
Never heard that song before, had to look it up, it's typical bubblegum disposable pop. It's a pretty awful song, but not worth quitting a band or pissing off fans or booking managers for.

I know the feeling of hating a song that much But over the years I've learned that I can learn something from nearly every song or artist. I'll give any song a chance now. But I don't promise to play it verbatim.
 
#28
here is an idea, Go with me on this, Learn tell me baby by the red hot chili peppers and the next time someone asks for that god awful mess of a song just say oh sorry we misheard what you asked for. Song titles are close enough, Problem solved.
 
#32
A cover band I played in from 98 to 2002 had a 300 song catalog. With a list that long there are bound to be songs that various members like more than others. You guys know the drill I'm sure. There was only only one time where I (and the drummer) refused to play a song. It was Hootie and the Blowfish's "Let Her Cry". I just had a real beef with that song- probably from over exposure. I heard it the other day on the radio and thought "why was I so dead set on not playing this song?"

But here's the thing- the rhythm player (who suggested the song in the first place) was voted down PRIOR TO THE GIG. He wanted to play it. the rest of us said no. He sang lead on about 50% of the songs (with me and the lead guitarist each singing 25%). So at one point in the night he finishes singing a song and goes into "Let Her Cry"!! I thought we'd already made out positions clear that we WERE NOT performing that song. So the drummer and I stuck to our guns and remained silent. The lead guitarist kind of caved and limped along. I don't know if the crowd even noticed. That song can work without drums and bass. But after the set the rhythm player was so mad! He threatened to quit. started spouting about how he plays songs he doesn't like and how could we do that to him and blah blah blah. The difference is- he tried to be sneaky and force it on us- thinking we'd be shamed into playing it because we were in front of a crowd. Guess what? joke was on him- I wasn't budging.

We played 75 songs in a night (5 15 song sets) usually. There were always songs I loved and songs I hated in every set. but the set list was always made and approved ahead of time. We took lots of requests as well. Those requests were occasionally songs that nobody wanted to play, but we either got tipped out to play them (Freebird, brown-eyed girl) or we'd gauge the crowd to determine if it was worth it.

So had we agreed as a band to play that song- I would have played it.
Had we gotten tipped out to play it- I would have played it.
If the crowd was clamoring for it or it was special request from like the owner or something- I would have played it.

But I'm NOT playing it because somebody's trying to pull a fast one on me.

Just my .02
 
#36
malthumb said:
My disdain for this song could very well be irrational, but it's real and growing. We will do it at this party and I will try like mad to get it stricken from our set lists.

Anybody else have a similar situation?
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No I don't. If I get enough requests to play a song, then I play it no matter how much it makes me want to punch kittens.

I hate 'Sweet Home Alabama'. Disgusted at it's first 5 notes I will turn off a radio that plays it, and have threatened to launch a prybar through someone's stereo when it was turned up. But if I am in a classic rock band and it gets requested by the patrons of the bar in which are PAYING me to be there, I play it. I don't like it, I stand perfectly still, but I play it without fail.

We are entertainers. When we are at a gig we are no different that being at our day jobs when the boss comes to us and says "I need you to do 'x'," when 'x' is a mundane and vile task that you would rather claw out your own eyes than do. But seeing that it is in our job description, we do it.

Playing what the patron wants is in our job description. If you don't, the customers won't come back and subsequently, neither will you.

*Qualifier* - If your band plays rock, your job description would be rock music. So if you are asked to play Conway Twitty, well, that's out of your job description and you get to decline. If you get asked to play 'Mustang Sally', well then hunker down and play it.

If you want to try and use a last ditch effort to not play it, put it to an audience vote. If you get a cool response, you are spared. If there are cheers, knuckle down, bite your tongue and get to it.
 
#37
IT'S JUST MUSIC, GROW UP!!! If you're getting payed to play a certain song and it's getting requested by the audience "PLAY IT." If it's not politically, morally or religiously offensive then to not play it is a mark of an amateurs, IMHO. I can't begin to tell you how many songs I get called to play that I can't stand, but I make it my own and I'm mature enough to get beyond my personal dislikes and play to both the crowd and the paying party.

IT'S JUST MUSIC, GROW UP!!! :hiding:
 
#40
troy mcclure said:
If I were the bandleader, and the song was in a genre you normally play, I would tell you to learn the song or get a new gig, I don't care how good you are..you are their to satisfy the audience.
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The song is not in a genre they normally play. Besides, they all agreed before the gig they were not playing it except that one time for the private party.

The band leader is a weenie and needs to stick to what he agreed to.
 

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