• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

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

#82
PimasterPearson said:
........................ .
If you're playing music for fun, then by all means refuse to play the song and deal with the consequences. But if it's a job, you need to buck up and remember that pretty much every job makes you do things you hate. Your job as a cover band musician is to entertain people and play songs that they want to hear. If you don't want to do that, your band leader will find someone who does.
Click to expand...

Read post #48 and post #55 and then get back with me.
 
#83
'Tighten Up' by The Black Keys. The band already did this before I got involved.

It's just generally an awful song (IMHO) that's boring to play and turns off the crowd.

This is on top of the "No Brown Eyed Girl or Mustang Sally" clause. And despite the above song, Van Morrison's is the only version of 'Wild Night'. Period.
 
#84
That song is no worse than any other pop song. All you need is a 40 year-old chick whose voice is gone and likes to dress like she's 17.

Musically, the song makes no sense, but that makes it no worse than any other pop song.
 
#85
Hired guns play what they are told or leave. I'm not good enough to be a hired gun.

Bands I have been in have always had a very laise fare approach, if someone really doesn't like a particular tune, there's plenty more to choose from.

What tune would I quit/risk being fired from hired gun job? If I was good enough to cop any bassline well enough to not be laughed out of the band, nothing comes to mind. I'd play with it and take a little bass solo on every fill, no matter what. Have fun with it.

The question is really, do you have the chops to dictate your own NO playlist? If I was that good I would have enough influence not to be doing tunes I didn't want to in the first place.

Better getting bandmates who have good taste and the sense to not take on tunes you can't play well.
 
#88
If I know the song is a crowdpleaser, even if I don't like it, I suck it up and play it. I got so sick and tired of playing All Right Now, Margaritaville, Brown-Eyed Girl, etc. but they always got the crowd going when we played them and I feel like we play better when the crowd is into it. Now, if it's some obscure song that most bands don't play and we play it and the crowd response is kinda iffy, we vote to drop it from the setlist. But no, I would never refuse to play a song if it meant getting the boot. If we're gonna play Dancing Queen and I'm getting paid well, by golly, we're playing Dancing Queen!!!!
 
#94
malthumb said:
We have a private party gig coming up later in the month. The hiring party has specifically asked that we play "Call Me Maybe". There are not words to define how much I hate that song. But since the hiring party specifically asked for it, we'll play it.

Our BL mentioned this request and suggested we learn it (ok) and maybe play it at our next gig (hell to the naw). My other band members felt the same way. So we left the rehearsal AGREEING that we would do this song at the private party and then bury it.

So, as we're setting up for last night's gig, BL says..."word has gotten out that we're working on "Call Me Maybe" so don't be surprised if we get a request for it". I said " They can request but I'm not doing it"

So, sure enough, one table starts asking for it. BL says "think we oughta give it a shot?" I say "hell no". I don't usually curse, so when I do, be sure that I mean it. So he starts polling the other band members so I cut in..."Maybe you misunderstood me....hell f^%}ing no. I'm not playing it."

So then we announce and then play our last song. We had skipped several songs because the venue wanted to close a little early. The small crowd that's left shouts for one more. In between the shouts for one more are the three words I'm coming to dread. "Call Me Maybe". I gave the BL a "don't even think about it" look and suggested doing a song we had skipped. We did it and it went well and we finished and packed up.

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?
Click to expand...

I get paid to play songs, not to like them, so I have not really been in a situation exactly like the one you describe.:)
 
#98
I only read the first page so I apologize if this has been said before, but if your BL is willing to perform this crap anywhere but the private party, then watch out for what other crap songs will be next.

You need to either learn to deal with it and just play (my least favourite option of the three), play it your own way so that it is enjoyable to you (and do this for the next song), or just deal with it for now while you look for another band that's more to your liking.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back