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The dreaded moment has come: choice between two Skynyrd songs

BillyRay

BillyRay

Jan 20, 2008
1,671
75
Quebec
#1
My band wants to incorporate some Skynyrd in our setlist. I have a strict no Freebird policy. Not because it's a bad song, but it's one of Skynyrd's weakest hit IMHO and there's a lot of other songs that would suit better.

So, the lesser of two evils:

a) Sweet Home Alabama
- Everyobdy knows it/ Been played to death
- Still gets people dancing
- Guitarist probably won't be able to sing and play at the same time (or play it at all) and I'm stuck singing about the South... Not good. Same reason I don't like singing Sabbath, the lyrics.

b) Tuesday's Gone
- Ballad, doesn't get people dancing (but we have very few slow numbers)
- Not as well known
- One of Skynyrd's strongest song IMHO and I like playing/singing it. I might even sneak in an harmonica solo instead of the piano one.

I would've really liked going for I Know a Little but we already have originals and other covers who sound like straightforward high-energy blues and the other band members won't to go for it.

What's your pick ?
 
#8
No offense, but I would guess you're twenty-something, correct? Lighten up, dude. Lines in the sand only lead to trouble. Give a little and you get a lot.
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It's not that I find it overplayed or cliché, it's just that there's so much better songs in Skynyrd's catalogue. Frankly, playing Freebird in QUÉBEC (we aren't in the South, people don't request it) shows lack of imagination. Same thing for Simple Man (and I frankly find that song grating).

The demand for those songs simply isn't there: people ask for GREAT rock songs from GREAT ROCK bands. This includes Skynyrd, so we play some. I like covering more obscure songs from very well known bands because it adds a little flavour. Same reason we play Detroit Rock City and TNT instead of Rock and Roll All Night and Thunderstruck, they are still great bar songs but they aren't heard very often. They make for a change.

Needle and the Spoon is out since the band doesn't like it either. Gimme Three Steps would be nice.
 
#10
Of the two you mentioned, I'd go with Sweet Home Alabama. I add just a touch of funk to it, and it always goes over well. It's got the better sing-a-long chorus.

Happy Gilmore fans will apreciate Tuesday's Gone, though!

And BTW, if you do Skynard AT ALL, you're paying some amount of tribute to the south. That's just how it goes! So don't rule out a specific Skynard tune 'cause it's "more southern" than the rest. Besides, you're in Quebec, almost everthing you'd play is from south of you, including Rush! ;)
 
#16
IMO, if you *have* to play one of those two (which is why again?), catchy as it is, "Sweet Home Alabama" is, IMO, a tad overplayed.

IME, playing any song that any band member doesn't want to play is not ideal. I was in a goth band; the drummer hated our one cover, "Piggy". It showed. So, even though I love the bass part, I joined him in having it dropped.

Good luck!

--Bomb :bassist:

badlands2233 said:
gimme back my bullets
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That's one of the last things an ex said to me! Less awesome. :hiding:



Valerus said:
Wait, people in different countries sing Sweet Home Alabama?
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:bassist:
 
#17
SHA - easy to learn, big crowd sing along, and towards the end you can do a nice few funky things. If you put some stops in you can fit a nice wooten-esque slap/hamer/pop/hammer thing (open A->D open G->D, open A->C open G->C, open E->G open D->G) into the outro... Crazy, but trust me it works.

It's not something my regular band would do, but I have a couple of side projects where we just throw anything it, and SHA is a crowd pleaser at some of the places we play.

Ian
 

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