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please help me think of songs (sorry for long post)

affro

affro

Aug 8, 2001
229
44
tasmania, australia
#1
hi guys
i have just joined a new band (which i am very excited about).
we are basically the standard 4 piece (bass, drums, vocals, guitar). we have a female singer, which is a first for most of us in the band and we are all very excited, because she is a very good singer and our stuff is sounding really good. :bassist:
at the moment we are just a cover band, and we have no real theme (like, genre or age of stuff we play), as long as its a good song, it gets a go.
we already have about 15 songs, but we have sort of learnt all the ones that came up in our original 'braim storming' and over the next week or so we have decided that we all get ideas for as many songs as possible, anbd bring them all to the next rehersal and decide which ones we are going to do.
so anyway, i need some help because im kind of stuck and have never been in a band with a female signer before. i need some help/suggestions on songs we could do. do give you guys an idea, here are the songs we already play:

torn - natalie imbruglia
sunday morning - no doubt
holy grail - hunters & collectors
harder to breathe - maroon 5
complicated - avril lavigne
hit me with ya best shot - pat benatar
i love rock n roll - joan jett
bitch - meredeth brooks
i dont wanna be - gavin degraw
better - screaming jets
papa dont preach - madonna
breathe - michelle branch
youre so vain - carly simon
dont call me baby - madison avenue
knockin on heavens door - gnr

although some of those songs have male singers, our singer is more choosy' with those songs so i would prefer more suggestions that already have female singers
thanx :D

p.s - yes, i have tried the search function
 
#2
Look through your music collection - you've probably got a whole bunch of stuff ripe for the picking rather than getting suggestions that are going to take time and money to track down. With my cover band, we've been going about two and a half years and have built up a pretty large repetoire of tunes just by digging into our collections - every few months, one or two people will compile a CD with 10-15 tracks that they think will work and we'll typically try a few of those and adopt the strongest into our set.

Of course, that's been a great way to discover new music and quite a lot of what I've purchased during that time (CDs or eMusic.com downloads) has been following up leads from the band CDs and that, in turn, opens up new material.

It might also be a good time to think together as a band about what direction you do want to take. Cover band with a theme? General covers band? Cover band that puts your own spin on the songs (that's where Lovesjones fits - all of our tunes are covers but we play the jazz-funky card and some of them end up very different to the original!)? Original music (in which case, time to start writing!)?

Once you make a decision, that will inform where to look for new material, so that might be worth considering at this point.

Wulf
 
#3
yeah ive already tried the cd collection thing, but as i said, ive never been in a band with a female signer before. all my other bands have been more on the rock/heavier side of things, so most of my cds are that type of music, which we have already been through in the band and decided what we will and wont do.

the band is just a general cover band, but it is starting to take the more funkier route, with a bit of rock and pop thrown in. think no boubt, maroon 5, etc. we also are playing some of the more solid rock type stuff (hit me with ya best shot, etc) to give our sets a bit of edge.

i didnt mean i wanted help on the whole thing and i had no idea, i just thought that if i posted here then some other people might come up with some ideas that i hadnt thought of or am not aware of.
 
#4
Here's an idea. Go to somewhere you can look up artists, listen to sound clips and find related stuff - for example, amazon.com. Start with what you've got already and then follow up the "people who bought this also liked..." links. Although you're only getting 30s snippets rather than full songs, that may be enough to give a few clues about what to get next.

Also, if you're sure you've exhausted your cd collections, how about asking friends, family and even fans of the band. Your profile puts you at university so there's probably hundreds of hours of suitable music scattered in dorm rooms across the campus. The advantage of personal networking is that you can borrow the stuff and give it a good listen for free.

Wulf
 
#5
You could try:

Carnival - Natlie Merchant - cool groove.
Ironic, You oughta Know - Alanis Morisette
Move Over - Janis Joplin - a fun song for all!!
(Not sure of the exact title) - I don't want to wait - Paula Cole

Joan Osborne - no particulars here, but she did a COOL version of one of the MoTown songs on Standing in The Shadows of MoTown.

Bluesy stuff:
Bonnie Raitt
Susan Tedeschi

You could also do some male vocal songs and just adapt them to your band.

Hope that gives you some ideas.
 
#8
Bad_Habit_Bassist said:
He's doing excatly that...by asking his TB friends.
Click to expand...
I was talking about people who could invite him round for a drink and say "listen to this". Tasmania's just a little bit too far for me to travel. Short of illegal file sharing it's a bit harder to pass on listening material to someone you hardly know round the other side of the planet.

Having said that, one band with a female vocalist that caught my ear this week was Naked Blue. I haven't listened to them that closely but you can check out samples at:

http://www.nakedblue.com/music.htm

Wulf
 
#9
Uhh...

Jefferson Aeroplane, Fleetwood Mac, Who were some of those 70's singers... Cindy Louper and dang - I can just picture their faces, but...

Oh! I love that song that goes "gonna make you, make you, make you notice!.. ...I need some of your attention, give it to me!" - now who was that? That is a great tune.

There's a ton of good late-70's/early-80's stuff. Hm - my memory seems to be a little wiped-out from that period; others who were there said I had a great time though.

Joe
 
#10
Joe P said:
Oh! I love that song that goes "gonna make you, make you, make you notice!.. ...I need some of your attention, give it to me!" - now who was that? That is a great tune.
Click to expand...

"Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders. Good tune except for the "I'm special" parts, IMHO ;)

Anyways, to affro - man, doesn't have to have been originally sung by a woman to be covered by a woman. If you all like a song, any song, have the singer try it, it may be awesome.

(I think women rock the hell out of vocals better than men almost every time. Joss Stone doing the White Stripes is the most recent example I can think of where a woman has torn a song a new @$$, taken it to a new level. And I thought the song was ok to begin with, too.)

Great females/female-fronted bands to listen to for material - even if you're more "pop" and the source is not, you can always glean ideas from anywhere:

Tori Amos
Curve
Heart
Venus Hum
Ani DiFranco
Fiona Apple (my best friend's wife pulls Fiona out at karaoke, and people DIG it a LOT)
Esthero
Lords of Acid
Siouxsie and the Banshees
 
#13
Tom Petty's breakdown sounds great with a female singer,
Bonnie Raitt-give me one reason
Bill withers-ain't no sunshine (again, cool with a female)
Joni Mitchell-big yellow taxi or clouds
also people get ready, or some kind of wonderful
 
#14
Chuck in some disco there's plenty
Donna summer - Last dance , Carwash , Disco inferno ,
Sister sledge - we are family ......etc


Then there's soul you know Aretha Franklin
Patti labelle
Pop Pink
Britney
Ashley Simpson :D ( we'll maybe not )
Sheryl crow's -all I wanna do is have sum fun is a easy number

But you get the idea get a variety of styles Rock, Blues, R&B, Funk, Disco ,PoP etc
I mean there is always someone in the crowd that will ( Depending on the type of crowd ) want something to their liking
Another thing if you guys can help out with harmonies it will make you guys even better but that's a perference of your choice
Anyway Guys good luck
 
#16
GrooveSlave said:
You could try:

Carnival - Natlie Merchant - cool groove.
Ironic, You oughta Know - Alanis Morisette
Move Over - Janis Joplin - a fun song for all!!
(Not sure of the exact title) - I don't want to wait - Paula Cole

Joan Osborne - no particulars here, but she did a COOL version of one of the MoTown songs on Standing in The Shadows of MoTown.

Bluesy stuff:
Bonnie Raitt
Susan Tedeschi

You could also do some male vocal songs and just adapt them to your band.

Hope that gives you some ideas.
Click to expand...

Having a female singer is cool. We do Carnival, Ironic, and several Bonnie Raitt tunes.
 
#17
You need to figure out her range and strengths. I play with a female singer that can go from Janis to James Brown to Robert Plant to Sheryl Crowe convincingly.

Think Pretenders (lots of good bass parts here), think Janis Joplin, think Etta James, think Blondie, think Aretha, think Supremes (or Gladys or other motown stuff - GREAT BASS PARTS!!!).

I much prefer playing with a female out front.
 
#18
Partially just seconding some suggestions here and throwing in some of my own (I'm a female, but I only sing backups, but these are songs I'd love to listen to if I went to see a cover band):

Love is a Stranger or Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
Gigantic - The Pixies (it's the one Kim sang - LOVE it)
I'm Special - The Pretenders
I Touch Myself - DeVynls
Spiderwebs - No Doubt (I like that better than Sunday Morning)
Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
Joey - Four Non Blondes (?)
Everyday is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow
Take it Off - The Donnas
Peek-a-Boo - Siouxie & The Banshees (this could be difficult for you to pull sonically though)
Any of Aretha Franklin's greatest would be fun
Blondie, but not the one w/ the rap
Carol Kane - the song off Tapestry that I don't remember the name of
You Got It - Bonnie Rait covered it on the Boys on the Side soundtrack and it was originally by a man...great song on a female (It's that "anything you want...you got it...anything you need...you got it...anything at all, baaaaaby" song)


And I agree - if she can pull off Robert Plant, that would be cool.

Happy Song selecting!
 
#20
Funk
James Brown – It’s a Man’s World
James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
James Brown – Think
James Brown – Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
Stevie Wonder – I Wish
Stevie Wonder – Superstition
Stevie Wonder – I Believe When I Fall In Love
Stevie Wonder – I Was Made To Love Her
Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke
Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground
Ohio Players – Love Rollercoaster
The Gap Band – Burn Rubber
Commodores – Brickhouse
Village People – Macho Man
KC & the Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight
KC & the Sunshine Band – That’s the Way I Like It
Sly Stone – Thank U
Kool & the Gang – Get Down on It
Kool & the Gang – Jungle Boogie
Peaches & Herb – Shake Your Groove Thang
Dee-Light – Groove is in the Heart
Lipps, Inc. – Funkytown
Rolls Royce – Car Wash
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
EWF – September
EWF – Shining Star
War – Low Rider
Kool & the Gang – Ladie’s Night
Archie Bell & the Drells – Tighten’ It Up
Rick James – Superfreak
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
Lee Dorsey – Everything I Do Gohn be Fonky
Quincy Jones – Midnight Soul Patrol
Ike and Tina Turner – Sexy Ida
The Meters – Cissy Strut
Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces
KC & the Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty
The Trammps – Disco Inferno
Bee Gees – Staying Alive

Jazz
Miles Davis – All Blues
Miles Davis – So What
Joe Zawinul – Mercy Mercy Mercy
Weather Report – Birdland

Soul/R&B
Barry White – Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
Doobie Brothers – Long Train Running
Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter 23
Bill Withers – Use Me
Dobie Gray – Drift Away
Marvin Gaye – Mercy Mercy Me
Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrel – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrel – Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing
Gladys Knight & the Pips – I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Martha & the Vandellas – Dancing in the Streets
Four Tops – Bernadette
Four Tops – Reach Out (I’ll Be There)
JR Walker & the All-Stars – Shotgun
Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing
Isley Brothers – This Old Heart of Mine
Temptations – Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
Johnnie Taylor – Who’s Making Love
Wilson Pickett – Funky Broadway
Wilson Pickett – Mustang Salley
Wilson Pickett – Land of a Thousand Dances
Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine
John Cougar Mellencamp – Wild Nights
Aretha Franklin – Baby I Love You
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Aretha Franklin - Think
Parliaments – I Wanna Testify
Otis Redding – That’s How Strong My Love Is
Pee Wee Ellis/Jaco Pastorious – The Chicken

80s Pop
Gary Numan – Cars
Genesis – In the Air Tonight
George Michael – Faith
Joan Jett – I Love Rock N Roll
John Cougar Mellencamp – Hurts So Good
Kinks – You Really Got Me Now
Modern English – I Melt With You
Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
Rod Stewart – Hot Legs
Rod Stewart – If You Think I’m Sexy
Stray Cats – Rock This Town
Stray Cats – Stray Cat Strut
Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself
Billy Idol – White Wedding
Black Crowes – Hard to Handle
Brian Adams – Summer of 69
The Cure – Love Song
The Cure – Close to Me
Rod Stewart – Stay with Me
Black Crowes – Hard to Handle
Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
U2 – With or Without You
Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
Billy Joel – Still Rock and Roll to Me
Beastie Boys – Fight For Your Right
Beastie Boys – No Sleep Til Brooklyn
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Devo – Whip It
Adam Ant – Goodie Two Shoes
Dexy’s Midnight Runner – Come On Eileen
Young MC – Principal’s Office
The Police – Don’t Stand So Close to Me
The Police – Every Breath You Take
Dead or Alive - You Spin Me (Round)
Genesis – I Can’t Dance
The Pretenders – Back on the Chain Gang
Love in an Elevator – Aerosmith
Maneater – Hall n Oates
Guns N Roses – Sweet Child of Mine
Tom Petty – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Billy Joel – You May Be Right
The Knack – Sharona
UB40 – Red Red Wine
Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun
John Cougar Mellencamp – Authority Song
Georgia Satellites – Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Romantics – What I Like About You
The Klash – Should I Stay or Should I Go
The Cars – Just What I Needed
Cheap Trick – I Want You To Want Me
Tommi Tutone – Jenni/867-5309
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

90s Pop
Hootie and the Blowfish – Let Her Cry
Lenny Kravitz – Always on the Run
Ben Harper – Burn to Shine
Counting Crows – Mr. Jones
Fastball – The Way
Matchbox 20 – Push
Sublime – What I Got
Down – 311
Longview – Green Day
Smooth – Santana
Ben Harper – Stealing Kisses
Sublime – Santeria
Tori Amos – Cornflake Girl
Dave Matthews Band – Too Much
Dave Matthews Band – So Much To Say
Dave Matthews Band – Stay

Current Pop
Flake – Jack Johnson
Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones


Novelty
TV Theme – The Jeffersons
TV Theme – Barney Miller
TV Theme – Dukes of Hazzard
TV Theme – Welcome Back Kotter

Blues
Blues Brothers – Soul Man
BB King – The Thrill is Gone
Bobbi Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe
Etta James – Sweet Little Angel
? – Sweet Home Chicago
John Lee Hooker - One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer
George Thorogood – Bad to the Bone
Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason
Junior Wells – Messin’ w/ the Kid
Dinah Washington – Bad Case of the Blues
Some guy – Johnnie B. Goode

Country
Lou Ann Barton – You Can Have My Husband
Soggy Bottom Boys – Man of Constant Sorrow

Rock
Eagles – Hotel California
Santana – Put Your Lights On
Santana – Europa
Santana – Oye Como Va
Santana – Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
Santana – Evil Ways
Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix – Red House
Jimi Hendrix – Pride & Joy
CCR – Fortunate Son
Beatles – One After 909
Beatles – Come Together
Mammas and the Papas – California Dreamin’
Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Squirrel
Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky
Ritchie Valens – La Bamba
CCR – Proud Mary
Lenny Kravitz – American Woman
Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock
Bob Marley – No Woman No Cry
Lynard Skynard – Sweet Home Alabama
Johnny Rivers – Secret Agent Man
Jimmy Buffet – Margaritaville
Charlie Daniels Band – Devil Went Down to Georgia
 

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