Songs I do not want to play

[KevInDaBassment]

I've never played in a tribute or cover band, but I completely quit praise and worship bands because I could not stand the music. Yes, there are some good tunes out there, but the stuff just came off as very anemic to me, but I don't care to do covers regardless.

 

[GwenOnBass]

At an awards dinner circa 1983-4 (my best memory, lost my complimentary cognac glass) Tennessee Ernie Ford said he is often asked if he gets tired of singing Sixteen Tons. "It made my career, I' m delighted to sing it."

Nae problemo when it pays ....

 

[lz4005]

Why? Is it just too simple and easy, or is it overdone?

It's a horrible song. Sappy cliched BS of the highest order. It regresses us as a species. I walk out of a room if it comes on the radio and I can't change the channel. Anyone who likes it probably kicks puppies when nobody is looking. It's a bad song, man.

 

[bryan gibson]

Don't like to play Wagon Wheel? No problem. While the rest of the band is playing it, see if you can sneak in "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" instead. LOL

 

[Gordonymous]

I don't want to hear Wagon Wheel. I should note that I'm from NC, so it's extremely overplayed around here. Drunk girls love it though. At this point, it's really no different than Sweet Caroline and Don't Stop Believin'.

 

[EdO.]

I have always hated that song ... and many other disco songs

also

Johnny B Goode ... a worthless throw away song
Brickhouse ... terrible
Sympathy for the Devil ... boring ...
Wonderful Tonight ... really boring lame song

Agreed. But Wonderful Tonite fills the dance floor for us every time. Told the BL when I joined that I hated the song but that I wouldn't refuse to play it. I don't get it but it works.

 

[Richland123]

One of the guys in my band refuses to play Jessie's Girl. I used to sing that song in my previous and it always packed the dance floor.

 

[Les Ismoor]

Stormy Monday for me. Both of my last 2 blues bands hosted blues jam nights (probably 6 years all totaled), and almost every week someone wanted to play it, usually with a few of us playing the rhythm section. To my best recollection I've never seen anyone dance to it, and I have come to hate it. Last time I had to play it, I took a vow to never play it again.

I've played in a few blues bands over the years, it is my favorite genre to play live. Stormy Monday is a $50 song for me: bills in my hand, or it's a guitar/vocal/drums "experience".

 

[Gab124]

Such a funny topic - the cover band I am in struggles with picking songs because A). we are not sure what kind of band we are really B). We all have different musical likes and backgrounds - which is kinda what this thread is all about, trying to get a band to agree on songs when everyone has their list of "I will not play" songs is a real pain.
I used to have two strong rules. First no southern rock, specifically anything by Skynard, and then no country. That kinda left me in classic rock bands which there are way to many of. Years went by and I loosened up a great deal and many bands later - then one band I was in we kept getting asked to play modern country which we would refuse to do. Eventually we did and man did playing end up more fun with more people happy with what we played which in turn made gigs way more fun. Now I even do Lynard Skynard, which I still despise but I have fun that others are enjoying it and I do my best for them. I think I tried to remember that time when I was young just learning an instrument and it just felt so good to play any song with people, doing that and watching people do goofy things on the dance floor brings back the fun without my musical ego getting in the way and ruining it as often.

 

[GregT]

I would never play songs with foul language. Other than that, I'd play most anything. I sing songs like You Can Leave Your Hat On, Pink, and the like. They are suggestive without using obscenities.

 

[Ekulati]

Fun thread. One of my bands is a Beatles trib, and I can't STAND playing Yellow Sub, or our namesake song, All Together Now. Just hate playing them. Over the years in lots of other bands, lots of other songs, but as several have noted, even crappy dance songs have some redeeming value if the scenery improves on the floor.

 

[lamarjones]

I actually get turned off with musicians who have these kind of lists. It took me long enough to convince a few players to do any top 40 covers, and if I had to do it again I would not join a band where some people want to be able to do cover gigs and there are people who need coaxing. Way past that. This is for an R&B funk thing. +1 to most people not even being able to do play that funky music right.

In my other gig, super heavy metal stuff, I doubt we will ever do a cover. I'm sure it'll be super random if so.

 

[lz4005]

Don't like to play Wagon Wheel? No problem. While the rest of the band is playing it, see if you can sneak in "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" instead. LOL

I throw Duff's fill (the one he played in every song) from the GnR cover into Heaven's Door in every version of it a band I'm in plays.

Then again I try to throw that fill into at least one song in every covers set when I'm bored. It makes me laugh and nobody else notices unless they're a bass player in their 40's.

 

[wilberthenry]

I play songs that cause me to immediately change the channel if they come on my radio. Peaceful Easy Feeling is one that I dislike strongly, but in my experience the singer calls the tunes for the most part.

 

[engedi1]

I will walk off the stage rather than play Wagon Wheel.

Wagon Wheel is no problem. Just play the lick once and tell your looper to repeat it. Go take a piss, get a drink, talk to some girls at the bar, and then turn loop off just as song ends.

 

[Inky13]

Im Canadian, and my choice will likely only hit home with my fellow Canadians, but I generally refuse to play anything by The Tragically Hip. Just so overdone and ive never been a big fan of their music.

I thought it was Canadian law that you had to love those guys!

 

[tubedude]

No coldplay, journey, or 60's tv themes. And i'm grateful there dead!
I might be a tone slut, but I'm not a song whore.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Does it get you gigs? Then play it, or play in your garage.

 

[Inky13]

I will walk off the stage rather than play Wagon Wheel.

The band I'm in plays this and I'm just realizing now that every other band plays it as well. Who knew? I gotta get out more often.

 

[Ekulati]

Wagon Wheel: there's a reason Dylan threw it away unfinished. The added/fleshed-out version didn't save it.