Songs you just won't play

[whero]

The Proclaimers - I’m gonna Be. Learned it for a saint paddy’s gig...

You learned a song by a couple of brothers from Scotland for the festival day of the patron saint of Ireland?

Jessie’s Girl; that song (and a few others) is a deal breaker for me.

In the mid-late 2000s I was in a band that specialised in early-mid 80s pop rock covers. Yep, Jesse's Girl. And Africa, All You Zombies, Come On Eileen, Dancing In The Dark, Girl U Want, The Lebanon, Long Hot Summer, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Money's Too Tight, New Year's Day, Promised You A Miracle, Radioactive, Rebel Yell, Running In The Family, She Talks In Stereo, Stand Or Fall, Summer of '69, That's Entertainment, This Charming Man, Wouldn't It Be Good, You're The Voice... We got a lot of work. Private parties, corporate gigs. Plenty of people love that stuff. People who were in their prime in the 80s, and have good memories tied up in those songs, and are earning good money now.

I play stuff I like for fun. I'll play anything for money.

 

[The Mogpipe]

Someone noticed a sticky note on our rehearsal space wall which said "Waterloo" and mistook it for the ABBA song.

No, not that Waterloo!

The sticky was for The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset" ...but my band has not played that one yet either.

Waterloo Sunset's a cool tune!

 

[Ric5]

- sympathy for the devil
- war pigs
- johnny b goode

 

[Ric5]

rap

hip hop

disco

 

[Ric5]

bitch

 

[Ric5]

Elvis

 

[BBassBassington]

When I was a wee little lad still playing on a small six string bass there was lots I'd never play.

One day while watching a promo video for the Fender Dimension after seeing Katy Perry's bassist playing one I had some thoughts. First was people play real instruments for Katy Parry? Then was the realization that I would in a heartbeat take a job like that.

I'm not hugely motivated by money and in many different professional settings I wouldn't "sell out" but if someone wants to pay me to play music I'll play whatever they want.

 

[peter nicholas]

there are lots of crap-ass "classic rock" songs i hate to death but i'll grit my teeth and play them if most of the other material is good, but i would never, ever play a billy joel song, not for a million dollars, not to cure cancer. no.

 

[Element Zero]

Can’t think of a specific song or genre. I’m VERY MUCH NOT a fan of Johnny Cash, or stuff that’s blatantly anti-Christian... other than that it’s pretty fair game.

 

[Son of Wobble]

there are lots of crap-ass "classic rock" songs i hate to death but i'll grit my teeth and play them if most of the other material is good, but i would never, ever play a billy joel song, not for a million dollars, not to cure cancer. no.

not even the punk stuff???

 

[2tonic]

This, plus any songs promoting marital infidelity (eg, "Me and Mrs. Jones"), drug use (eg, "With A Little Help From My Friends") or illegal street racing (eg, "Little GTO").

And don't forget Dont stand so close to me(pedophilia) I love the dead ( necrophilia)
And Take the money and run (larceny)!

Killjoys!

 

[Thumpin6string]

Nillson's Lime in the Coconut. The bass line is too hard.

 

[DoctorZee]

Listen, I’ll play it if someone pays me to, but I’ve come this far without ever having to play Smashmouth’s All Star, and that’s a good thing.

 

[Tony In Philly]

Actually don’t stand so close to me was one i had in mind. My sherona is a bit pervy too.

The perviest, creepiest, most out of date song ever is Gary Puckett's "This Girl is a Woman Now". I can almost picture him pulling up his zipper as he's singing it. Yuk!

 

[Tony In Philly]

I would rather have my toenails pulled out than play "Sweet Caroline" in front of a bunch of rubes chanting "so good, so good!".

 

[Son of Wobble]

The perviest, creepiest, most out of date song ever is Gary Puckett's "This Girl is a Woman Now". I can almost picture him pulling up his zipper as he's singing it. Yuk!

I feel the same horror in "The Straight Life" when Bobby Goldsboro sings of "Treating the ladies to corn on the cob." No matter how loudly the fans bray for my cover version, it ain't happening. Not on MY watch. Not with my cob.

 

[SactoBass]

Anything by:
Foreigner
Skynyrd
Clapton
Seger
Sting
U2

And no:
rap
hip hop
country
metal
I, IV, V blues progressions

No exceptions. No matter what.

 

[Llewellen]

Totally intended to be lighthearted conversation, and not serious discussion. Play what you like.

However, there some songs I just won't play. Ever.

1. Anything from Lynyrd Skynyrd.
2. Radio country.
3. Eye of the Tiger. (My high school's mascot was a tiger and I was in the marching band, jazz band, pep band, all the bands. We played this horrid song a zillion times and if I never hear it again it'll be too soon. In fact, just recently I left a restaurant while waiting for a table because it came on the overhead. Grrrr......)

So, what won't you play?

Louie Louie

 

[JimmyM]

I will play anything if there's money involved. My artiste days ended when I was 21.

 

[peter nicholas]

I will play anything if there's money involved. My artiste days ended when I was 21.

condolences.