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

[Gaius46]

Never heard it, watched the thing on youtube.

GEEZE.

Ok, where to start? Here I go.

This is all about "who am I?" and about the band "what are we?". We all have to compromise in a band, but there's also sometimes the band within the band (the seat of control). We would sit in band meetings and share lists of possible songs. We were similar enough to not have any total and absolute "NO" items on lists, with rare exceptions. The "I'm actually going to hurl and later quit if you want us to even consider practicing this horrid crap" look would engender respect and withdrawal of the proposal. This was very rare.

Otherwise, it's an opportunity. We made our BL pay for "Lucky Ones" and "Next To You" with a Sabbath MEDLEY, 3 extra Zep songs, an improvisational blues jam in E that got quite extreme indeed, and held off after pressing for all of that. Bottom line is respect, cooperation, knowing each other's limits, and being willing to grow and stretch - and keep an audience!

All of that being said, if I was in a band that wanted to play that stuff out for a paying audience, I would either refuse the gig or quit the band. That song is simply beyond the limit of "who am I?" and "what are we?". Taste is taste. "If your momma raised you on manure, you'd develop a taste for it." I wasn't raised on that kind of crap, and to me, it's beyond crap. WAYYYYY beyond.

The OP wasn't talking about bandmates wanting to do the tune. He was talking about playing a private party where the people paying the bill asked that they play that song. Completely different situation. If the guy writing the check wants a particular song and if it's at all possible to pull it off he gets it. Especially considering that private party gigs are usually easy and stress free and pay better than bar gigs. I did one this past Sunday. Nice people, nice yard, they fed us, told us we could use the pool between sets and paid us $250/man for a 3 hour gig. I'd have played a three hour Yanni medley if they asked for it.

 

[malthumb]

That's cool, I honestly don't see what difference where or how much you play it for... if you played it on a gig, you played it on a gig. Would you play it on the $500 gig if it wasn't rehearsed?

Absolutely not. My reputation as a musician and our reputation as a band is worth more than $500, so why risk both on the possibilty of screwing up an easy song? Again, that gets us back to how this whole thing even started.

It's like that old joke: a guy asks a woman if she'll sleep with him for a million dollars. Hesitantly, she say yes. Then he asks if she'll sleep with him for ten bucks.

"What kind of girl do you think I am" she replies angrily.

"We've already established that, now we're just haggling".

I've always liked that joke.....never expected to have it used against me.

This came up at the rehearsal because we have Usher's "Scream" on the setlist. Yeesh. And we're trying to make the most of it, as usual. How many songs can you make ffom four chords and "Ooh, baby, baby"?

We had that one on the "consider" list. It got killed. Wasn't me that killed it, but I shed not one tear.

 

[Big Brother]

Our BL suggested some horribad lyrics about a 'rival band' (in his mind) - telling them to stop spamming Craigslist looking for a singer and calling their leader a douche with references to him being some kind of pornographer or something.

We are one of 8,200 bands in San Diego, nobody cares. I've never even seen or heard this band but our fearless leader and singer continually badmouthed them in practice.

After 3 emails hinting that it is inappropriate with alternate suggestions for a theme, and getting nowhere, I basically said straight out that the song was petty, embarrassing, and I refuse to play it live.

Guess what, I am no longer with the band.

 

[malthumb]

Our BL suggested some horribad lyrics about a 'rival band' (in his mind) - telling them to stop spamming Craigslist looking for a singer and calling their leader a douche with references to him being some kind of pornographer or something.

We are one of 8,200 bands in San Diego, nobody cares. I've never even seen or heard this band but our fearless leader and singer continually badmouthed them in practice.

After 3 emails hinting that it is inappropriate with alternate suggestions for a theme, and getting nowhere, I basically said straight out that the song was petty, embarrassing, and I refuse to play it live.

Guess what, I am no longer with the band.

One of the best reasons I've seen in this thread for not playing a particular song. Right up there with racist, misogynistic, and otherwise violent themes.

Good job standing up for what's right.

 

[redheadedstrngr]

"Call me Maybe" -- Are there really "bands" that play that type of "stuff" other than a disney cruise band maybe??
WHo would even request that other than an 11 year-old girl birthday party??

It is a very popular song. Bands that choose to play the current hits are out there playing it. Likewise, the fact that it is a very popular song would, indicate that more than the 11-year-old birthday crowd likes it. It should come as no surprise that the public at large often has different tastes than discerning, educated musicians.

To answer the OP's question, I would pretty much only refuse to play a song that was contrary to my morals or ethics.

 

[Atoz]

When I read the title of this thread, I immediately thought of "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace.....

I thought of "Afternoon Delight," "Hotel California," and "Mmmbop."

 

[malthumb]

Our BL suggested some horribad lyrics about a 'rival band' (in his mind) - telling them to stop spamming Craigslist looking for a singer and calling their leader a douche with references to him being some kind of pornographer or something.

We are one of 8,200 bands in San Diego, nobody cares. I've never even seen or heard this band but our fearless leader and singer continually badmouthed them in practice.

After 3 emails hinting that it is inappropriate with alternate suggestions for a theme, and getting nowhere, I basically said straight out that the song was petty, embarrassing, and I refuse to play it live.

Guess what, I am no longer with the band.

Was he trying to start one of those infamous rap battles?.......where the unknown disses the established star, resulting in a public battle that gets the unknown some free publicity.

 

[spade2you]

I thought of "Afternoon Delight," "Hotel California," and "Mmmbop."

I dunno, the chick in Hason was kinda hot.

 

[pedro]

When I started back in the mid 60's bar bands were expected to play 'Top 40' stuff. Now I've not made a scientific study of other bands in the area but based on what I've heard bar bands in this area seem to fall into the following categories (non of which includes 'Top 40')

In no particular order:

1. Blues bands

2. Classic Rock

3. Oldies

Obviously 'oldies' and 'classic rock' covers a lot of ground but the point is I've never heard another band in town doing current top 40 and I'm curious if there are bands in your area doing 'todays hits'. Call it a survey of sorts.

 

[buzzbass]

anything by;
the dead
the allmans
clapton(in any form)
van morrison

will get an instant "F-you" from me.

 

[brainburst]

No song, no matter how bad, is beyond redemption.

Hey Dude, don't make it sad.
Take a bad song and make it better
The minute you let it under your skin
Then you begin to make it better.

If you can't work with it...

 

[Big Brother]

Was he trying to start one of those infamous rap battles?.......where the unknown disses the established star, resulting in a public battle that gets the unknown some free publicity.

One of us would have to be known for that strategy to work.

We both play out here and there but it is a big county, we aren't full time pro's and nobody cares.

In BL's eyes though we were the top band of our genre in SD so this was high drama. He was a little blind to anything happening in front of his monitor though so he never noticed that there was an invisible rope around the dance floor that required a .30 BAC to cross. The people who got close to the stage were generally looking for something to lean on.

Our set lists were just boring and lifeless and the crowds yawning never registered with him. Wild changes in key signatures, playing way too fast, weak PA, all things I tried to mention nicely but were perceived as personal criticisms instead. The song lyrics were kind of a last straw and I finally spoke up and stood in the way of his authority and he resented that. I lasted a month after the douche-song but that is the day it all really ended.

 

[Big Brother]

No song, no matter how bad, is beyond redemption.

Hey Dude, don't make it sad.
Take a bad song and make it better
The minute you let it under your skin
Then you begin to make it better.

If you can't work with it...

Challenge Accepted. Here is a tale about some guy in a cover band who advertises on Craigslist, as told by my former band leader.

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VERSE #1:
X (low) C Bm D
Hey sister I saw your ad, once again it made me mad
X (low) C Bm D
Trying to disguise yourself, because you know the word is out

PRE-CHORUS #1:
E D
You’ll never find the perfection that you seek
E
[You] don’t really want (I wanted “don’t have a clue about”, but it doesn’t work with the music)
E D B L A H A H H RG (this is the single notes descending riff thing)
Talent or key, just sex and greed

CHORUS #1:
X (high) C Bm D
Stop your spamming!! I can’t take anymore
X (high) C Bm D
We all know, what you’re looking for (ALT: you’re looking for a whore)

VERSE#2:
Rumor is you’re into porn, video and maybe more
[Just] lookin for a girl to smooch, no wonder you’re such a douche

PRE-CHORUS #2:
You’ll never find a girl who’s hot enough for you
[You] don’t really want (I wanted “don’t give a damn about”, but it doesn’t work with the music)
Talent or pitch, just need a bitch

CHORUS #2:
Stop your spamming!! I can’t take anymore
We all know, what you’re looking for
You’re not fooling, me or anyone
Stop your spamming!! We’re all just really done

INSTRUMENTAL STOP/START PART (need something better here)

GUITAR SOLO (over verse music)

PRE-CHORUS #1 or #2:

CHORUS #2

Disclaimer: I have hidden key chords throughout the song and altered solo progressions, now nobody can possibly know what creative genius once lurked beneath those X's. Also these lyrics are too valuable to be given away, you can read them but you must kill yourself afterwards.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Absolutely not. My reputation as a musician and our reputation as a band is worth more than $500, so why risk both on the possibilty of screwing up an easy song? Again, that gets us back to how this whole thing even started.

I've found that if you try a song you've never played because it's requested and simply mention that you're trying this song that you've never played before because it was requested, people normally cut you slack... and if you do it well, that usually blows them away. Just having the ____s to try it usually gets style points IME.

I can honestly say that my reputation and the reputation of any band I've ever played with never hung on a single performance of one song. Obviously YMMV. Do you really think that one trainwreck will overshadow everything else you did on a gig? I haven't found that to even come close to being the case. Especially if "you" don't act like it's the end of the world.

I've always liked that joke.....never expected to have it used against me.

Me too.

Well, money did seem to be a factor.

We had that one on the "consider" list. It got killed. Wasn't me that killed it, but I shed not one tear.

I wouldn't either if it got scratched. I really don't like mindless house music... but the audience will never know.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Our BL suggested some horribad lyrics about a 'rival band' (in his mind) - telling them to stop spamming Craigslist looking for a singer and calling their leader a douche with references to him being some kind of pornographer or something.

We are one of 8,200 bands in San Diego, nobody cares. I've never even seen or heard this band but our fearless leader and singer continually badmouthed them in practice.

After 3 emails hinting that it is inappropriate with alternate suggestions for a theme, and getting nowhere, I basically said straight out that the song was petty, embarrassing, and I refuse to play it live.

Guess what, I am no longer with the band.

Your band leader clearly had issues. Was he hoping that word of his opus would get back to the other guy?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Challenge Accepted. Here is a tale about some guy in a cover band who advertises on Craigslist, as told by my former band leader.

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VERSE #1:
X (low) C Bm D
Hey sister I saw your ad, once again it made me mad
X (low) C Bm D
Trying to disguise yourself, because you know the word is out

PRE-CHORUS #1:
E D
You’ll never find the perfection that you seek
E
[You] don’t really want (I wanted “don’t have a clue about”, but it doesn’t work with the music)
E D B L A H A H H RG (this is the single notes descending riff thing)
Talent or key, just sex and greed

CHORUS #1:
X (high) C Bm D
Stop your spamming!! I can’t take anymore
X (high) C Bm D
We all know, what you’re looking for (ALT: you’re looking for a whore)

VERSE#2:
Rumor is you’re into porn, video and maybe more
[Just] lookin for a girl to smooch, no wonder you’re such a douche

PRE-CHORUS #2:
You’ll never find a girl who’s hot enough for you
[You] don’t really want (I wanted “don’t give a damn about”, but it doesn’t work with the music)
Talent or pitch, just need a bitch

CHORUS #2:
Stop your spamming!! I can’t take anymore
We all know, what you’re looking for
You’re not fooling, me or anyone
Stop your spamming!! We’re all just really done

INSTRUMENTAL STOP/START PART (need something better here)

GUITAR SOLO (over verse music)

PRE-CHORUS #1 or #2:

CHORUS #2

Disclaimer: I have hidden key chords throughout the song and altered solo progressions, now nobody can possibly know what creative genius once lurked beneath those X's. Also these lyrics are too valuable to be given away, you can read them but you must kill yourself afterwards.

For a song this lame (yes, it even looks lame in print) I'd suggest lots of well placed Pete Townsend windmills, maybe even wear a cape. Even if the BL didn't get it, you could indulge in something I'd call LMFAOI... the "I" stands for internally. Externally I'm all game face. It's an art... and you'll have another amusing anectdote to add to the gigging arsenal.

 

[Big Brother]

For a song this lame (yes, it even looks lame in print) I'd suggest lots of well placed Pete Townsend windmills, maybe even wear a cape. Even if the BL didn't get it, you could indulge in something I'd call LMFAOI... the "I" stands for internally. Externally I'm all game face. It's an art... and you'll have another amusing anectdote to add to the gigging arsenal.

A cape might be the only thing that could save it

 

[BawanaRik]

There was some stupid half wit reaggae wannabe song some thing like I don't practice Santa Maria or some such thing..

There was one guy that just had to play it. He would whine for hours until he got this song. Take over the whole practice with his whines.

I left that band.

 

[malthumb]

.....

I can honestly say that my reputation and the reputation of any band I've ever played with never hung on a single performance of one song. Obviously YMMV. Do you really think that one trainwreck will overshadow everything else you did on a gig? I haven't found that to even come close to being the case. Especially if "you" don't act like it's the end of the world.

....

Good point....I've been in trainwrecks a time or two in my day....still standing.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Good point....I've been in trainwrecks a time or two in my day....still standing.

Yep... I know people who are petrified playing live because they constantly worry about this. What's the worst that could happen... a disgruntled listener nukes the site from a low orbit?


Nah. IME if you laugh it off, so will the audience. Heck, more often than not the audience doesn't even know you screwed up. That's where a game face (yeah, we meant to do that!) comes in handy versus the folks in the band who love to give the stink eye to anyone human enough to make a mistake. Those are the folks I'd rather not play with.