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Songs you just won't play
- Thread starter Scott Loveless
- Start date
I'll play whatever, over-played hits, polka, country, metal, whatever. I have no shame, if you hire me to play I'll do my best at whatever the gig is. There were a bunch of little kids boppin around in front of us at a recent food truck fest the 80s cover band I'm in played, so we busted into "baby shark"
This ^^^^ is the right attitude for those that play in a cover band and are getting paid to entertain. If someone is in an "originals" band and are trying to establish themselves as some specific genre band, I would expect them not to play other genres
I really can't understand anyone not wanting to play any song by a band that has had tremendous success, a 50+ year career, and are loved by millions. If a crowd I'm playing for wants to hear a song by a band with multi platinum album sales and a 50+ year career, I'm in. Heck, I'd even play a Springsteen song if it was requested, and I'll break a leg getting to the remote / volume / power, to turn Springsteen off if one of his songs comes on my device.
Check clears = song plays; no exceptions.
Theres plenty of stuff I don't play on my own time for me, but it just seems a little amateur-hour to have a list of songs I wouldn't play if asked. I guess I get more out of maintaining the "up for whatever attitude," than I would out of never having to play Danny Boy again.
And I know, that there is that level of "pro," where people are so booked that they can do this sort of stuff, and they've all worked for that freedom, so I don't want to take anything away from that.
Ugh, I can't figure out a way to say what I mean that doesn't sound holier than thou. Everybody has to make their own career and find their own way to enjoy and play music, so more power to you if you have a no-fly list and it helps you with those goals, that's honestly awesome. It just isn't for me.
Theres plenty of stuff I don't play on my own time for me, but it just seems a little amateur-hour to have a list of songs I wouldn't play if asked. I guess I get more out of maintaining the "up for whatever attitude," than I would out of never having to play Danny Boy again.
And I know, that there is that level of "pro," where people are so booked that they can do this sort of stuff, and they've all worked for that freedom, so I don't want to take anything away from that.
Ugh, I can't figure out a way to say what I mean that doesn't sound holier than thou. Everybody has to make their own career and find their own way to enjoy and play music, so more power to you if you have a no-fly list and it helps you with those goals, that's honestly awesome. It just isn't for me.
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?
I won't play something if I think the crowd won't like it. I will play anything that they do like. In other words, it's for them and not me.
I haven't gigged in a long, long time, but friend of mine and I have been discussing putting something together. He's currently playing a one man acoustic guitar and vocals act at local bars. One of the ideas we've kicked around is having a Stand in the Fire set. We'd probably not try to reproduce it note for note, but it would definitely be the same songs in the same order as the album. A free beer for the first audience member who figures it out!
Back in the ancient days (80's) I was a prog head that fell into a performance job doing covers with some seasoned musicians. It's a fair bet that I didn't like any of the songs I played very much, but I discovered that listening to music and playing music are different things. Now, I do get tired of playing the same songs over and over, but part of the whole "job" part, for me, included the idea that I was there to at least look like I was having fun. And, who am I kidding? For the most part, I had an absolute blast, so that part was easy.
My drummer and I have a murder/suicide pact around "Brown Eyed Girl".
If your in a weekend warrior cover band sometimes you have to bite the bullet and suffer thru songs you hate. Many moons ago I was in a band that played, among many others, TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, HANG ON SLOOPY, and KEEP ON ROCKIN' ME. I detest all 3 but the damn dance floor would always fill up when we played them so I just kept my mouth shut.
On bass I play whatever is called at open jams or whatever the BL wants. Sometimes I cringe and very occasionally voice an objection, but I always play them. If I am singing/playing acoustic guitar I don't take requests and let the chips/gigs fall where they may.
I'll refuse Wonderwall.
Made that clear one day at an open stage and one of the guitar/singer guys ran out of material so he launched into it. I put my bass in the stand and left stage - along with the drummer.
The audience had a good laugh at that.
But I had to discover that I'm cheaper than I thought. I've subbed for a band that does play rather expensive gigs for the upper crust. 50% of the playlist consisted of songs I don't like at all and the rest was even lower in my regard - let's just say there's not an adjective strong enough that passes the TB filter to exactly desctribe my feelings towards the second half of the playlist.
The pay was good and I knew the musicians played on a high level, so I went through with all of it and played a dozen songs that would otherwise have ended on my list for this post. Did I mention the pay was good ?
I try and keep a professional attitude. When you hire me to play the bass, I'll do so. When you pay me to play root notes for four chords in straight 8ths all evening, I'll do it. I can even make it look hard, if you desire so.
As soon as I'm part of 'the band' and my name gets associated with the creative process, these things will change, though.
Made that clear one day at an open stage and one of the guitar/singer guys ran out of material so he launched into it. I put my bass in the stand and left stage - along with the drummer.
The audience had a good laugh at that.
But I had to discover that I'm cheaper than I thought. I've subbed for a band that does play rather expensive gigs for the upper crust. 50% of the playlist consisted of songs I don't like at all and the rest was even lower in my regard - let's just say there's not an adjective strong enough that passes the TB filter to exactly desctribe my feelings towards the second half of the playlist.
The pay was good and I knew the musicians played on a high level, so I went through with all of it and played a dozen songs that would otherwise have ended on my list for this post. Did I mention the pay was good ?
I try and keep a professional attitude. When you hire me to play the bass, I'll do so. When you pay me to play root notes for four chords in straight 8ths all evening, I'll do it. I can even make it look hard, if you desire so.
As soon as I'm part of 'the band' and my name gets associated with the creative process, these things will change, though.
You know, if it's just one or two songs in the set list, I'll play them. They're part of the show, and lets face it, it's only 3 or four minutes, then they're over. If it's several songs, I'd start to wonder why I'm in that band.
That said, I will refuse to play anything from Philosophy of the World.
That said, I will refuse to play anything from Philosophy of the World.
And the chord (singular) structure is too complex.Nillson's Lime in the Coconut. The bass line is too hard.
I'm pretty sure I couldn't play any of that even if I wanted to.
Pretty much anything that would be categorized as a club-band-cover-tune.
After 40 years of playing those types of songs I am sick to death of them and will only play with musicians who are doing original songs or VERY VERY unique arrangements of covers.
After 40 years of playing those types of songs I am sick to death of them and will only play with musicians who are doing original songs or VERY VERY unique arrangements of covers.
You just say that because you don't have the chops to play "My Pal Foot-foot" note for note. Normal humans can't count that stuff.
Better than the Beatles. Even today.
Lyrics are difficult to remember too.And the chord (singular) structure is too complex.
Strange maybe, but the one song I can think of is Smells Like Teen Spirit. Not because I don’t like it, but if there’s ever been one song without any reason to cover it, and if there’s ever been a song that can only turn out cheesy when covering it, to me it’s that one.
Other than that, I’m cool with most anything.
best
Sidecar
Other than that, I’m cool with most anything.
best
Sidecar
