Learning songs you REALLY DON'T LIKE

[10cc]

Hmmm ... so tens of thousands of highly educated and conservatory trained musicians are trying to pass Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, etc, etc off as their own works? If you make a false assumption at the outset your conclusion can only be skewed. We forgive you.

There are many differences between catching a symphony by say The New York Philharmonic led by Alan Gilbert echoing Beethoven and say "Hammered Down" pounding out Jessie's Girl in a bar.

The 99% derivative theory is also false. I think it's something fellows who play covers like to say when becoming defensive about their bands. Kinda like " Well the Beatles played covers" yep and they also started writing a poopie ton of songs. Which is the only reason why they are considered the greats. Not because of the cover songs.

As for the OP, this is just something that's in the job description. Either do your job or quit. I'd have to say you've got a lot more patience than me because if that's the only song really getting on your nerves and its Meatloaf then there is probably a pile of others on y'all's set list that I'm guessing would make me throw up.

 

[10cc]

Integrity ?
LMAO

I have NONE.
I'm a whore.

It's ALL about the Benjamins baby....
SHOW me the money.

Learning songs I dislike is only achievable through motivation.
I am motivated by the money. PERIOD.


Now learning some Sucky original tune, that NOBODY wants to hear, resulting in NO MONEY.

OH HELL NO.

Let me tell YOU what you can do with your SH!TTY song Feller.

Have you ever been paid out that much money in one gig?

 

[xgator4u]

Have you ever been paid out that much money in one gig?

NOPE, but even a whore needs dreams.

 

[10cc]

NOPE, but even a whore needs dreams.

Haha. It would be nice to have one of those if only once every week or two. I tried to count looks like around $2400

 

[mikew31]

This is why i dont play in cover bands.
Ive played music for close to 20 years now, always originals.
Never understood the appeal of learning a craft, spending money and time just to copy someone elses hard work and try to pass it off as your own.

This is code for I'm not good enough to play what someone else wrote so I'll make up my own art.

See? Making a sweeping generality like yours really makes you look like the back end of an equine. I'd never be that presumptuous to assume I know the motivation of another player. My statement above is just an example of how ridiculous general statements can be.

I play in both a cover band and an original band. (hope this doesn't cause some sort of rift in the space-time continuum) Both are equally fun and I do them because I enjoy playing music with others. There are songs in both groups that I don't really care for, but my job is to play them - so I do that to the best of my ability.

 

[biobass]

Sometimes the craft is the performance and not the content.

Yes, indeed! I love to play for people who are dancing and having a good time. I dare say that I can only think of one song that I actually listen to on my own for pleasure (Ain't It Fun by Paramore) in the repertoire of both of the bar/corporate/banquet bands that I work. I'm sure that will wear thin soon, as well.

We rarely take a note for note approach except for signature lines, rather we generally take well known songs and give them our own little twist. Related to the Bar Owner's letter to Musicians thread, a bar band is in the alcohol/food business, and we are all in the entertainment business.

We will each have our own song(s) that we don't like. I really can't stand Livin' On a Prayer, but it gets people up to dance and sing. I actually kind of like Paradise By the Dashboard Light because of its theatricality. Then again, I do a lot of, and thoroughly enjoy playing, musical theater.

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[xk49w]

I suppose I could play the OP's hated tune. Maybe as long as I don't have to act like I like it, or do dance steps or anything.

There's even a Blue Grass band that does covers of 70s rock classics.

Also Run C&W - a bluegrass band that did parody Motown covers in the Flatt and Scruggs style. All pretty famous players actually. I could play this, not sure about the purple suit though...

 

[Revolver]

You can always tell them that you're not sure about playing this song, but that you'll "sleep on it" and "give them an answer in the morning"

 

[xgator4u]

I could play this, not sure about the purple suit though...

I dunno, THIS dude LIKES it.

 

[Oci-One Kanubi]

I was going to title the thread "Learning songs you HATE", but HATE is a strong word. I've been subbing in a rock/pop cover band for a little extra money. They are a fairly popular local act and always get a good turnout. Their regular bassist seems to be out of town more often then not, so when a sales rep I deal with at work learned I play bass, he asked me to fill in on some gigs. Halloween, New Years, Thanksgiving weekend...the typically busy gigging dates for this type of act. No rehearsals. They send me the set list and I learn the songs. This is the ideal gigging situation for me, as I'm an employed family man. I've been doing this with various bands locally for the last 8 years or so. I have other musical labors of love that suit what I enjoy playing as well, but those projects gig less and are more for each members own musical enjoyment and friendship.

I like to think that I have a good attitude and while I wouldn't call my self a professional musician by definition at this point in my life, I make sure to take a professional approach to these "for hire" situations where my talents are requested. I don't complain, I show up on time, keep an open mind, learn the songs correctly and get paid. Easy.

But...

...every once in a rare while, I'll be asked to learn a song that goes against everything I consider to be my own personal musical integrity. I don't think I'm uptight about material. I'll learn pretty much whatever the particular band asks of me...from Katy Perry to Slim Shady...not much really bothers me and I don't consider myself "selling out" to my own musical roots by doing certain material. After all, I'm getting paid, it's a job, shut up and play yer guitar, what's the issue? There's plenty guys that will step in and take the job, etc, etc, etc...

But this particular song just bothers the hell out of me. I learn songs at home, usually with a headphone amp. The music itself is not the problem and while the song has many parts, isn't complicated. I plug in my bass, turn up the volume on my iPhone, the song starts...

...and before the first verse is over, I can feel my blood pressure rising and a deep, dark sense of doom comes over me. I try to fight through it and go into robot mode..."Just get through it" I tell myself, "You're a grown up, what the hell is the matter with you? This isn't the first song you didn't like playing and it won't be the last. Learn it and cash your check, dummy".

By the third verse, the headphones are off and I'm searching Youtube for James Brown remixes to play along to. The gig is on Halloween. This is the first time I've had such a mental block on a song...almost like it's too traumatizing to endure playing one more note, before my blood starts to boil and I give up.

Think I have some issues?

I have one rehearsal to cover the amended set list from this particular band Wednesday night. This is my second time playing for them. I'm almost seriously considering telling them "Sorry, no amount of money on the planet is going to make me play this song" and just deal with it. Maybe I'm not the guy they (or most bands, I'd wager) would want for this gig. Let the chips fall where they may...

I feel pretty silly even sharing this, but I just needed to vent before I put the headphones back on. Are there any other TB'ers who were asked to learn a song that was like having a root canal while having your finger nails ripped out with needle nose pliers? Again, it's not that it's difficult material, it's just that I REALLY, REALLY DO NOT LIKE THIS SONG and I have a feeling this band is going to treat it like a highlight of the set...in fact, it's long enough to take up a quarter of a set!

I know, I know...put on my big boy pants...

Well, I feel that way about any Peter Frampton song.

In 1973 or '74 my band, Whetstone, was one of the first acts booked into Washington DC's newest downtown hot spot, My Mother's Place. The following week we were off, but on Wednesday we got a call from the owner (gigs ran Tuesday through Saturday in those days); the band in there after us had to cancel because their drummer broke his arm after the first night on the job.

So we said "sure, we'll do it" (like we'd say "no" to the guy who books one of the city's best gigs?), loaded up, went downtown and set up. The bartender and waitrons told us how glad they were that we were back; the band the night before were awful*, and they'd much rather work to our mix of covers and originals.

Sometime during the second set, in walked that band's leader, who turned out to be Peter Frampton, accompanied by the biggest "underground" DJ in town, Barry Richards! "Oh man!", we thought, "exposure to the DJ who could potentially do more for us than anyone in town!"

Then Frampton staggered up to the front of the stage and started screaming how we sucked, how we didn't deserve to be on "his" stage, how we didn't know how to play (tho' I would argue today that our guitar player was far more technically proficient than anything I ever heard Frampton record). Richards was right there, with his nose all the way up Frampton's ass, nodding and agreeing and wishing he could suck Frampton's dick.

We did all right for another year or two, probably no worse than if Frampton and Richards had never come into the place, but certainly not so well as if Frampton had been honest and gracious so that we might have sat down and befriended Richards during our break (am I a hypocrite for wishing we could have befriended that douchebag because he could have helped us professionally?)

So I try to never play a Frampton tune, but I've mellowed in recent years; if I join a band that already has a Frampton tune on its list, I'll play it. But if I am a full member of a band and we are adding new songs to our list, I will refuse to include a Frampton tune.

-Kanubi

* To be fair, in those days it was not unusual for a member of a successful group to negotiate a solo contract, THEN recruit a band, grub up some material, and hit the road to learn the material and tighten up the band. Frampton had just left Humble Pie (if I remember the timing properly) and My Mother's Place might have been one of his first gigs, shaking down the new group.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Example of songs that I never like to hear that enjoy playing at gigs:
Silly little love song - McCartny
123 - Jacksons
September - EWF

 

[xgator4u]

Example of songs that I never like to hear that enjoy playing at gigs:
Silly little love song - McCartny
123 - Jacksons
September - EWF

I must concur on Silly little love songs. THAT is a gas to play, but...
Most importantly....
THE audience LOVES it.
Here is another. YOU don't think so,
YOUR loss. CHICKS eat THIS up.
I hate the song, I LOVE the results.

 

[Not yet]

Used to refuse to play songs

Now that I'm steadily gigging realize anything that makes em dance and come back (even close to our blues rock genre) is a good song

Seriously dislike playing Gimme three Steps every time but sure love the floor show

 

[wideload]

X Those were the $100 tip songs back in the day (or free if you were a girl with nice legs).

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Used to refuse to play songs

Now that I'm steadily gigging realize anything that makes em dance and come back (even close to our blues rock genre) is a good song

Seriously dislike playing Gimme three Steps every time but sure love the floor show

I loath playing ANY Skynard. LOATH IT. But refuse? Is there work you REFUSE to do at your employer? Nope. So I'd play it.

There's a reason I decided to leave the cover band thing behind me - I just don't enjoy playing music that I didn't even like in high school- in the 1978!

 

[Treadstone71]

Much like everyone else from this thread, I usually have no problem with any song my band wants to play. We have very similar tastes, and I accept the band is known for covering certain songs in their past, but there's one I loathe as much as Harry loathes Skynard. One of the staple covers the band did before the drummer and I joined was Shonen Knife's "Ah Ah Ah". There was some discussion of reinstating it into the roster.

I hate it. I don't even know why. (FYI, you've probably never heard of them. They're only known because Kurt Cobain loved them.)

It's structurally quite simple, but I just can't get into it. I can barely force my hands to play it. This is it:


That said, my band is very accommodating, and since the drummer and I both were very meh about it, they were ok dropping it. I don't even count it as a win. I'm just glad it's off the table.

 

[Baird6869]

I play many songs I hate. Mustang Sally comes to mind as does Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Home Alabama and so on.

More people dance to these stupid songs than almost all of the songs I actually like.

In any case, no bar is going to pay me the same $$$ to play Queensryche, System of a Down, Rush, Yes, etc., so my job is to make bar patrons happy and keep dancing and drinking.

 

[mellowinman]

This is code for I'm not good enough to play what someone else wrote so I'll make up my own art.

See? Making a sweeping generality like yours really makes you look like the back end of an equine. I'd never be that presumptuous to assume I know the motivation of another player. My statement above is just an example of how ridiculous general statements can be.

I play in both a cover band and an original band. (hope this doesn't cause some sort of rift in the space-time continuum) Both are equally fun and I do them because I enjoy playing music with others. There are songs in both groups that I don't really care for, but my job is to play them - so I do that to the best of my ability.

I've written songs I'm truly proud of. Some of the ones I'm most proud of seem to be songs that not many people like. Some of the ones that are most derivative seem to be the ones people like the most. But I'll tell you right now, we end every single show with Freebird, and I couldn't be more proud. We play it with conviction, and people like it. We added it as almost a joke, and the punchline is ITS JUST A GREAT SONG.

I've never insulted other bands for doing something I don't want to do. See, THEY do it, and I DON'T.

There are posters right here on this page that have insulted my band, but I've never insulted theirs.

What song is it you wanna hear?

 

[mellowinman]

There are many differences between catching a symphony by say The New York Philharmonic led by Alan Gilbert echoing Beethoven and say "Hammered Down" pounding out Jessie's Girl in a bar.

There are many differences between my aunt and your uncle.

There are many differences between bread and water.

There are many differences between Gatorade, and a thimble full of sour milk.

There are many differences between a green hat suspended from a streetcar going around a bend at speeds high enough to make a cat cynical, and a lobster directing traffic in the lobby of the Paris Hilton.

But most decent folk are far too polite to point 'em out.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I told a band that asked me to play with them that I would under one condition...no Bon Jovi. I would rather set my bass on fire than play Bon Jovi. If Bon Jovi called and asked me to play I would tell him sure, as long as we don't play any Bon Jovi. I loathe Bon Jovi. This is an issue for me since I live in New Jersey, which is of course, Bon Jovi central. The band agreed initially, but eventually they started getting requests. I refused. Eventually I quit the band for other reasons, but if I ever go the cover band route again the rule will be the same. No Jovi...ever. (Guns N Roses is negotiable).