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

#666
You are hired to play music. So no matter what the song is, you play it. End of story.

When in a cover band your tastes in music shouldn't matter as to whether you play a song or not. It is unprofessional not to IMHO.

Plus bands can easily make songs their own (ie.. A cool reggae version of "Wagon Wheel" I once heard and "Hit me Baby One More Time really rocked up) and have a good time in doing so. I personally don't like those songs, but they can be made to have fun with easily.

Music is music and that's what you get played to play. If you're in an all originals band then that isn't a problem and you don't get paid as much as cover bands. That's simple economics.

I will never understand cover band musicians whining about playing a song that is requested. You get played to play your instrument in this great country. Is life really so hard?
 
#667
sethlow3 said:
You are hired to play music. So no matter what the song is, you play it. End of story.

When in a cover band your tastes in music shouldn't matter as to whether you play a song or not. It is unprofessional not to IMHO.

Plus bands can easily make songs their own (ie.. A cool reggae version of "Wagon Wheel" I once heard and "Hit me Baby One More Time really rocked up) and have a good time in doing so. I personally don't like those songs, but they can be made to have fun with easily.

Music is music and that's what you get played to play. If you're in an all originals band then that isn't a problem and you don't get paid as much as cover bands. That's simple economics.

I will never understand cover band musicians whining about playing a song that is requested. You get played to play your instrument in this great country. Is life really so hard?
Click to expand...

I am sorry but I cannot agree with your post. I am able to make a decision on if I like or not a song and if I start getting other songs added to the list to the point it is not fun and fulfilling for me, I will bail out period. I do not get played to play, I play to get paid... And if I do not like what I play to get paid, I will find something else...:)
 
#668
I threw an audition when the band asked me to play The Age Of Aquarius. I hate that song.

The band went on to have several top 20 hits but I never wished I was part of it. Their songs sounded just as bad.
 
#669
First line of sethlow3's post.....

sethlow3 said:
You are hired to play music. So no matter what the song is, you play it. End of story.

.......
Click to expand...

First line of sethlow3's signature.....

"If you don't feel it, don't play it." ---James Jamerson

f547e33542cff181f7478931000810c7_zpsdf2946ba.gif
3127de715818d66c8697a1818bd2d6f5_zpsee8e17ea.gif
 
#670
When I do wedding gigs, folks always wanna hear
"Sweet Caroline". I hate playing it and I don't understand
the mass appeal of that song. Is it because they play it
at baseball games and people just wanna
shout in unison "So Good, so good, so good...." ??
 
#671
Lol and I mean that in the best way. What Jamerson did is a completely different thing than "call me maybe" in a cover band. He was playing originals, and I think what he meant by that quote was to be more like what notes and groove you actually GIVE a song. It has been noted Jamerson much preferred Jazz over the music of Motown. So if he didn't feel like playing Motown he didn't get a check. That's the root of what I'm saying. If you don't like certain style or song that much, so what?! You're getting paid to make others happy. I think making it your own and grooving your way is a great way to be. The negativity and acting like you're too good for a song isn't professional.
 
#672
FrenchBassQC said:
I am sorry but I cannot agree with your post. I am able to make a decision on if I like or not a song and if I start getting other songs added to the list to the point it is not fun and fulfilling for me, I will bail out period. I do not get played to play, I play to get paid... And if I do not like what I play to get paid, I will find something else...:)
Click to expand...

That's perfectly fine for you. Some one else may get the gig based on that quandry. I'm just saying why not make it your own, have fun with it some how, and still get paid!?! What's so bad about that?
 
#673
sethlow3 said:
Lol and I mean that in the best way. What Jamerson did is a completely different thing than "call me maybe" in a cover band. He was playing originals, and I think what he meant by that quote was to be more like what notes and groove you actually GIVE a song. It has been noted Jamerson much preferred Jazz over the music of Motown. So if he didn't feel like playing Motown he didn't get a check. That's the root of what I'm saying. If you don't like certain style or song that much, so what?! You're getting paid to make others happy. I think making it your own and grooving your way is a great way to be. The negativity and acting like you're too good for a song isn't professional.
Click to expand...

Glad you got a laugh out of it. It was meant to be funny....not a dig at you. I pretty much understand youR signature....I just found it ironic, compared to your post....and thus the cartoon.

You are reading way too much into this (the bold underlined part). What makes you think anyone believes they are "too good for a song"? Carly Rae Jepson is way more famous than I'll ever be. She is a very good singer. If she is not too good to record that song, I don't think that I would consider myself too good to record that song. And if someone paid me to record that song I would rock it.

Thing is....
a) the people who pay me don't pay me to play any one specific song. They pay me (us) to play 3 sets, 45 songs....that we choose....based on what our followers like. We keep getting invited back to multiple venues, so apparently not playing one particular song that I (and others in my band) cannot stand has not been viewed as unprofessional and hasn't cost us any gigs or revenue.

b) the person who requested the song doesn't put a quarter in my pocket and yet happened to have enjoyed most of the other 45 songs I and my band members played that night. Her happiness was not made or broken on whether or not I agreed to play a rather sucky song. She danced her ass off.

c) every night we play, I play at least a handful of songs that I don't like and I'm cool with that, and I play them. Well.
 
#675
Singer suggest last night at rehearsal that we consider "What Is Love?". She said it with a straight face, too, not a hint of irony. I turned to the keyboardist and said, "It's all you, Bubbu", with my own appropriately straight face. Ga' head... I dare you try to find another bass player who's willing to surrender his man card on that one in this redneck town!

But back to reality, she is a former Miss Mississippi, a completely kick ass singer, seems to know everybody with money in 5 states, and gets us some awesome bookings. So what's a feller to do? I'm sure I could have fun with it, in an ironic sort of way. Or not. What 'evs. There's plenty of stuff we do or have done that I'd never pick to listen to. But the only reason I'd be embarrassed to play it or anything else is if I couldn't pull it off and walk away with my head held high.
 
#679
I've never hated any one song enough to risk getting fired. I HAVE hated enough of the (moldy oldie) songs on a band's list to get myself fired.

Thought to keep in mind: if the BL has posted on FB "I hate the new country!", you are taking a risk by continuing to suggest new country songs. Trust me on that one. :p
 

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