/thread
Seriously. OP, I feel the same way as you do about the song, but I won't stop my cover band from playing it if that's what it comes to (furiously hoping it does not!!).
PLEASE read posts 48, 55, & 107. That is all. Thanks!
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Ever hate a song so much you'd risk being fired?
- Thread starter malthumb
- Start date
PLEASE read posts 48, 55, & 107. That is all. Thanks!
I haven't read the whole thread.
I guess I don't get it.
My band was booked at this bar for a wedding anniversary and prior to the gig the owner requested we play
The Rose.
Their paying us, they requested it, we play it.
Am I over simplifying the issue?
I guess I don't get it.
My band was booked at this bar for a wedding anniversary and prior to the gig the owner requested we play
The Rose.
Their paying us, they requested it, we play it.
Am I over simplifying the issue?
Not really. The question is is there a song that you would fall on your sword rather than play. I take it your answer is probably "no". Mine is, as stated in the op "Call Me Maybe".
If I'm wrong and you do have one that you'd fall on your sword rather than play, please post it. Thanks!
Edited the op to hopefully clarify (??) that the whole point is asking YOU ALL if there is a SONG that you have SIMILAR HARSH FEELINGS ABOUT and if so, WHAT IS THE SONG. As opposed to "yeah, CMM sucks" or "If you're getting paid to play it just play it" et cetera, et cetera.
Once you start a thread you don't have any control over it. When you start a thread like this where people have strong opinions, they'll voice them whether it directly pertains to your thread, or are indirectly related. That's kind of how the internet works.
I don't play in a cover band so not wanting to play songs doesn't come up for me, but if I did I think that song "International Harvester" would be it for me. I actually kind of like the music but I hate the insipid stupid lyrics. My gym has the radio tuned to a station that plays that song at least once an hour so I hear that song at least twice every time I go there. I walk around with that stupid voice in my head all day.
Op can always quit and start an originals band, then you never have to worry about playing songs you don't like every again. The way I see it, if you're in a cover band, your playing for money. So buck it up be a PRO and play the damn song and get paid, or find something else to do. Nobody likes their Job 100% of the time. Whats a few minutes out of your life? Is it a pride thing? Are you too cool to play a cheesy song you don't like? meh.
Once you start a thread you don't have any control over it. When you start a thread like this where people have strong opinions, they'll voice them whether it directly pertains to your thread, or are indirectly related. That's kind of how the internet works.
I know, but it's fun trying to herd the cats
I've never been asked to play a song I objected to so much that I flat out refused, nor can I think of one I would not at least try get into. But I think "bad" songs can be tremendous fun to play. The worse the song, the more you can play up the irony, or reinterpret for your own creative satisfaction. I say this after we laid down a version of "Moves Like Jagger" by paid request. We totally re imagined it, and it was fun. Our drummer however flat more like the OP...
I can empathize with the OP being nauseated by a particular song or songs. I don't make music for a living, so I have the luxury of choice when it comes to what I will and what I won't. I am a bit surprised, though, at how many people are willing to play complete dreck as long as it pays. I guess money isn't that important to me.
I'm also amazed at how many people seemingly willingly play in insipid cover bands. I don't understand: how can it be satisfying to play music that you have no passion for, in order to be paid enough to continue to play this same music? What's the point? Why wouldn't you just work a regular, uninspiring job, and skip the late nights and load outs? Not trolling here, I'm genuinely confused.
I'm also amazed at how many people seemingly willingly play in insipid cover bands. I don't understand: how can it be satisfying to play music that you have no passion for, in order to be paid enough to continue to play this same music? What's the point? Why wouldn't you just work a regular, uninspiring job, and skip the late nights and load outs? Not trolling here, I'm genuinely confused.
Not at all relevant to the point of the thread, but I'll respond anyway.....
Every cover band I've ever played in gets paid to provide music at a venue. And every coverband i've ever played in has honored some requests from PATRONS and has passed on others. The VENUE pays us to provide entertainment that WE THINK the audience will enjoy and if the audience enjoys what we play, we get invited back. And sometimes we get invited back with better pay.
The VENUE DOES NOT hire us to play A SPECIFIC SONG. If a PATRON at the VENUE asks for a SPECIFIC SONG, we can play it, or we can not play it. In the course of a 3-set 45 song night, if A PATRON wants to get po'd because we didn't play THEIR REQUEST, I will still collect my $$ from the VENUE as they book us for the next set of dates and i will sleep very very well. Sometimes PATRONS will ask us to play songs we DO NOT KNOW. So we don't play them. Sometimes patrons will ask us to play songs WE DO KNOW but for whatever reason choose not to play (not prepared, don't like, don't have the appropriate personnel or pieces). The beautiful thing is the PATRON doesn't know why we didn't play their request unless we tell them. And if they enjoyed most of the other 45 songs played that night, my guess is they also sleep very very well that night.
Private parties, like the one where we WILL play the song in question, are a different matter. They are paying us....they asked for the song.....they'll get the song. It's really that simple.
You guys act as if the song were as bad as Rebecca Blacks "Friday." Even then I'd still play it if I'm getting paid to do so. But my band would take a different spin on it.
My band performs a version of "you're the one that I want" from the Grease soundtrack and people go nuts. I got over it.
I can empathize with the OP being nauseated by a particular song or songs. I don't make music for a living, so I have the luxury of choice when it comes to what I will and what I won't. I am a bit surprised, though, at how many people are willing to play complete dreck as long as it pays. I guess money isn't that important to me.
I'm also amazed at how many people seemingly willingly play in insipid cover bands. I don't understand: how can it be satisfying to play music that you have no passion for, in order to be paid enough to continue to play this same music? What's the point? Why wouldn't you just work a regular, uninspiring job, and skip the late nights and load outs? Not trolling here, I'm genuinely confused.
I like playing cover bands for two reasons:
- The songs I suggest are songs that I DO like and DO like to play
- The songs my other bandmates bring in are often songs I've never heard of before, and that introduces me to new artists and genres and expands my playing palette
The money is not the object at all to me. Beer, gas, and strings money at best. Being in this band has introduced me to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Ingrid Michealsson, Zak Brown Band and a couple other artists not on the top of my mind yet. And it's introduced my band members to The Gap Band, Rose Royce, Sly & The Family Stone and others.
Man, lots of hate for Call Me Maybe here. I'm not a fan or anything, but it's definitely ultra-catchy and has gotten stuck in my head on at least a couple occasions. I'm not about to suggest it to my cover band, but if somebody else really wanted to do it I wouldn't complain TOO much; there are plenty of ways to improve it. I'd certainly rather play CMM than, say, anything by Nickelback (which I probably would quit my band over if necessary, but we all hate them so it's not a concern).
The closest song in my current band to "I'd get fired rather than play this" is Takin' Care of Business
Luckily the singer hates it too, so between us we're able to keep the guitarist/BL from putting it on most setlists and I only have to suck it up on rare occasions.
A long time ago, I filled in for a band that played "How You Remind Me", "Sweet Home Alabama", "Takin' Care of Business" and a few others I can't recall...might've considered falling on a sword over some of the those if it was a permanent band, but as it was just a fill-in I was doing as a favor for a friend, I tolerated them.
The closest song in my current band to "I'd get fired rather than play this" is Takin' Care of Business
Luckily the singer hates it too, so between us we're able to keep the guitarist/BL from putting it on most setlists and I only have to suck it up on rare occasions.A long time ago, I filled in for a band that played "How You Remind Me", "Sweet Home Alabama", "Takin' Care of Business" and a few others I can't recall...might've considered falling on a sword over some of the those if it was a permanent band, but as it was just a fill-in I was doing as a favor for a friend, I tolerated them.
"You get on the radio by writing your own songs. But we had the dilemma of not being able to play anywhere because we weren't able to play anything that anyone wanted to hear. So we learned songs that we thought that we could do without puking."
Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer
I have had this conversation many times with many musicians, may as well share it with you:
Unless you are the person who started the band from scratch and picked the songs, and if you are in the more likely position that you joined an established band and were immediately responsible for learning up to four hours of music that you did NOT choose, the chances are excellent that you are learning at least a few songs that you really don't like, in many cases you're learning more than a few songs that you really don't like.
But you learn them and play them just the same.
Which gets to the heart of the matter: If you are willing to learn and perform up to four hours worth of music you did not select, and some of which you can't stand, what are you playing this music for? Is it for the satisfaction and edification of the band leader or the other string puller in your band who DID pick the songs?
Or do we have a higher calling?
My answer has always been, "If I'm going to play music someone else picked out, I think I'd like it to be music my audience picked out, because at least that way I will get some return on my investment of time and energy playing songs someone else picked out, and that return will likely be in the form of appreciation, acceptance, money, regular gigs, higher profile and respect in the entertainment community, etc. (put your specific audience-centered gratification here)."
Until you are writing songs that attract people to you like metal shavings to a magnet, this is what makes the most sense to me.
Not all musicians are willing to understand and accept this principle.
Unless you are the person who started the band from scratch and picked the songs, and if you are in the more likely position that you joined an established band and were immediately responsible for learning up to four hours of music that you did NOT choose, the chances are excellent that you are learning at least a few songs that you really don't like, in many cases you're learning more than a few songs that you really don't like.
But you learn them and play them just the same.
Which gets to the heart of the matter: If you are willing to learn and perform up to four hours worth of music you did not select, and some of which you can't stand, what are you playing this music for? Is it for the satisfaction and edification of the band leader or the other string puller in your band who DID pick the songs?
Or do we have a higher calling?
My answer has always been, "If I'm going to play music someone else picked out, I think I'd like it to be music my audience picked out, because at least that way I will get some return on my investment of time and energy playing songs someone else picked out, and that return will likely be in the form of appreciation, acceptance, money, regular gigs, higher profile and respect in the entertainment community, etc. (put your specific audience-centered gratification here)."
Until you are writing songs that attract people to you like metal shavings to a magnet, this is what makes the most sense to me.
Not all musicians are willing to understand and accept this principle.
No, but I was in a band once where the lead guitarist threatened to quit if we learned "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy." We gave in, scratched the song, and he quit a few months later anyway.
