Have you ever played a song for a girl/guy?

[Wambemando]

Yes.
13 years ago.

We've been married for 12 years now.

 

[pcake]

As someone who was a young girl long ago, I never liked it much when guys made me guess about their thoughts or feelings. If a guy played a song for me, I would wonder if it had some sort of meaning, or maybe he just thought I would like the song. It never made me feel closer to him, just made me wonder if he liked me but didn't want to tell me that. And that was a thought that made me uncomfortable.

So my advice is this. If you like this girl, just tell her.

when i was younger, a few guys tried playing me a song. mostly i wasn't sure why unless they said somethingr. nearly always it wasn't a song i liked, showing they didn't really get me. always it was awkward and uncomfortable, two feelings that don't really lend themselves well to starting up a romance.

Funny you mention that. Back in my day, we used to make cassette mixtapes and give them to the girls you liked. Worked for me.

good that it worked for you. but again, doing this can be easy to misinterpret. years ago my best pal, a gay man, made me tapes, but he definitely wasn't sending me a message. and unless you know someone's taste, you risk sending them a tape (mp3/cd) of songs they dislike.

Years ago, confusing time, so I split the difference. Played "Lola" by the Kinks.

LOLOL

I'm just impressed by how many people ignored the advice from the only female.

yeah, i noticed that, too. although now there are at least two females in this thread...

That's the whole point of playing music, to be able to go outside of your comfort zone for a girl you are into. If the two of you cannot laugh at that, run.....

From an old friend who divorced three times:

"Far better to find out early on than to hold it inside only to find out five years later that you made the wrong decision."

i'd prefer before a relationship has even started NOT to have someone's vulnerability and feelings pouring out at me. imo when you're in a relationship is the time to slowly let your guard down with each other as you learn you can trust each other.

 

[Michedelic]

Yeah, usually had Marvin, Luther, and the Rev Al Green on the B side...

My only real experience with playing a song for a love interest happened 2 Christmases ago. For her Christmas present, Mrs. Thumpenstein wanted me to sing "All I Want for Christmas is You" for her, accompanied by my guitar. I am neither a vocalist nor a very competent guitarist, but I can sing a little, I precticed hard and did my best. From the gig report posted on this very website: "The atrocity of the singing was exceeded only by the discordant clamfest that was my playing. I was a bag of nerves!" I've done gigs in front of 1500 people, and I generally feel more excited than nervous about performances, but this was WAY harder. Nevertheless, Mrs Thumpenstein was thrilled with the effort, if not the performance itself, and a Merry Christmas was had by all.

What, no Barry White? That would seal the deal.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I wanna hold your hand.....

 

[rtslinger]

I wrote some songs for my wife, but she knew they were for her no guessing, I said I wrote a song for you
and played it. I think using someone else's song to get across your feelings can be easily miss interrupted imo

 

[Unmost]

It could go wrong in so many ways, from a broken heart to public humiliation... unless you are crazy talented, have a thick skin or have a strong sense of self-mockery.
@JakobT got it right : get the girl first, then sing her a song.

 

[tlite]

Ha! Yes- was on a pub crawl in college. It was getting cold outside and was about a quarter of the way through the pub crawl. Broke off with said girl as we passed by her apartment so she could get a jacket. We were talking music.

Turns out her favorite song was a "little known" old Led Zeppelin song called Bron-Y-Aur. The powers that be smiled upon me: she had an acoustic guitar at her place, I had had plenty of liquid confidence, and I knew how to play the song. Plus it's an instrumental, which helped as belting out my Robert Plant impersonation surely would not have turned out well.

Goofy/corny as it sounds, it was a great feeling playing a song someone really cares about for an appreciative audience of one. It was a cool moment there before we ruined it by returning to our pub crawl and getting stupid-arse overserved.

In other news, my wife has now heard me play YYZ at half speed about a hundred times and she still hates it/me.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm planning on playing Darkness by sweet trip for this girl online and want to record it and upload it on youtube. You know? getting that you know what? Joking aside, have any of you guys/gals ever played a song for someone you like? If so, any advice for a 26 year old trying to pickup a girl? Assuming you guys are a lot older than me; you must have more wisdom in this kind of situation.

Here's the song

How old is the girl? If she's over 20, and not already your girlfriend or wife, it's probably a bad move.

 

[Dr. Keebs]

I've played lots of songs for lots of people. Not in that context. Yeah, there was a mixtape in my teen years, but we were already a thing and both liked to dance to those songs. I'll echo all responses saying to be direct and unambiguous.

 

[Dr. Keebs]

Also, is this Talkbass or Talkserenade? Welcome to TB?

 

[lermgalieu]

As someone who was a young girl long ago, I never liked it much when guys made me guess about their thoughts or feelings. If a guy played a song for me, I would wonder if it had some sort of meaning, or maybe he just thought I would like the song. It never made me feel closer to him, just made me wonder if he liked me but didn't want to tell me that. And that was a thought that made me uncomfortable.

So my advice is this. If you like this girl, just tell her.

I love this reply. Are you probably already know, @LBS-bass, most men have no clue what we are doing, and the only reason we find partners is dumb luck or the efforts of the counterparty.

 

[Sid Fang]

Somebody *else's* song? Never. I *have* written a few songs myself over the years, for gals I had a bad crush on, recorded them, and shared them with the muse in question. They were impressed - but I never scored with any of them. Some of my better compositions, though. Just can't tell my wife where they came from...

 

[Ron Berenato]

Back in the '80's, the lead singer/guitarist in our band went out on a date with a new girl and immediately went home and wrote a half dozen songs for her. He gave her the tape telling her that she was the inspiration for the songs.

There was no second date.

 

[zon5string]

Absolutely. My "special friend" has requested songs, and I play them for her.

I have, however, never spontaneously thought, "I should play her a song." It has only been by request.

 

[eb3mike]

Haven't read through the entire topic, but I sing Wonderful Tonight and always dedicate it to my wife of 26 years when she comes to see us. I'm always glad to hear from couples who come up and say it was their favorite song.

 

[BOOG]

 

[james condino]

Reading through 116 replies to this thread, it is obvious why so many of you complain about the bass player never getting laid.....

 

[Chris Olsen]

Last night I played Green Day's "Brain Stew" for my dear wife. She was touched.

 

[pcake]

Last night I played Green Day's "Brain Stew" for my dear wife. She was touched.

my husband and i used to play that in a cover band...

 

[dougjwray]

I once played some of a Bach cello suite for a girlfriend.
Also, I was naked at the time.
Those were simpler, more innocent times.