The rap against them isn't that they are "bad" per se: It's that they lack originality and all their songs are basically the same (both musically and lyrically).
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What's with the Nickelback requests?
- Thread starter theinfamous
- Start date
I acknowledge the power and popularity that they may have, and realize why people like them, but I refuse to spend any mental energy on learning even one of their songs. Please, if you're going to learn something harder modern rock that is on the radio, don't learn Nickelback. (there is more interesting stuff out there) You may resonate with a certain crowd, but a lot of people will absolutely HATE it. You'd actually probably reach the same demo with a Foo Fighters or Queens of the Stone Age cover, and have more fun.
There's a lot of reasons to hate Nickelback, but mostly why I dislike them is because their music is VERY formulaic and repetitive. Their entire catalog sounds the same, the chad singer isn't pleasing to listen to, they've been shoved onto mainstream radio by music execs who have no interest in art and only selling music as a commodity... I think honestly they may not deserve all the hate they get, but they have become something of a figurehead (and therefore a lightning rod for rage) on the sad state of modern rock and roll.
I hear your gripe but remember if you are a cover band it is what the audience wants to hear not what you want to play. sounds like time to learn a niklebac song. now if you are a tribute band too bad for them if they want to hear something else
You know what, that's reasonable. I've always kinda wanted to have freebird in my back pocket so if some idiot shouts it out trying to be clever, we can play it.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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Musicians will get in their head that they hate certain bands and songs that the public likes ... Audiences like Mustang Sally, Brown eyed Girl, they like Creed, they like Nickelback, THEY EVEN LIKE FREEBIRD.
You just got to learn that not everyone has the same taste in music that you do.
This is a debate that I do not wish to get sucked into- Play what you want vs. play what the audience wants. The big problem with playing what requesters want is that the people that enjoy your music and COME BACK NEXT TIME YOU PLAY are not the ones requesting crap that you don't like to play.
My bottom line is this: My employer is the bar owner/manager. He is the one that pays me, so I make HIM happy. If there is a problem in that department, then it is time to revise how I do business and what I play. I do not rely on the opinions of the one loudest, braying drunk donkey in the audience. And I never play mustang sally unless I absolutely have to. That song can go to hell.
My bottom line is this: My employer is the bar owner/manager. He is the one that pays me, so I make HIM happy. If there is a problem in that department, then it is time to revise how I do business and what I play. I do not rely on the opinions of the one loudest, braying drunk donkey in the audience. And I never play mustang sally unless I absolutely have to. That song can go to hell.
I never heard anyone hate Nickelback until I came on TB. I still don't understand it other than the herd mentality; monkey see, monkey do. They are no more derivative and generic than lots of other bands who are nowhere near as popular. YMMV.
We feel its a good way to operate. All the songs that have been overplayed really still go over pretty well. So why not at least know them in case......I realize some guests can get out of hand but most patrons "deserve" at least the effort to satisfy their request. As stated above these are the people paying your band indirectly. JMO
Edit: I respect you for sticking to your guns and you need to be true to your vision as a band. Maybe just once in a while try to appease a Drunken requester.
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As a drunk 45-year-old woman, I find this thread offensive. I like what I like, so just play it.
A big reason that I don't like to play the overplayed songs is this: The area where I gig has had a very bad couple of years for the music scene. A lot of the younger college kids that were here and liked to go see live music left or had families, and no crowd moved in to take their place. Also, venues were hard to work with and bands broke up or moved on. What was left were some very mediocre cover bands that all played the same exact set lists. This is a small population, people started to get fed up with it, and stopped responding to live music. There are only so many consecutive weekends you can hear different bands fumble through the same twelve tunes before you stop going out to that particular venue.
Understood. Only you know if playing a quick song for the above described 45 yr old drunk lady will help or hurt your overall performance. In a perfect world, you can play exactly what you want to a full room of people who love everything you do.
I cried on both "Photograph" and "Far Away" on two seperate occasions, and I am not ashamed... Those are actually the only two songs I like from them xD Also, if you need further proof that people like Nickelback, go to their Youtube and look at the like/dislike ratio. Ignore the comments, only people who dislike actually comment on stuff.
And yeah, I agree they are pretty repetitive, but it doesn't change the fact that people like them.
And yeah, I agree they are pretty repetitive, but it doesn't change the fact that people like them.
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Numerous people are requesting Nickleback? Learn some Nickleback then!
I sure wish I had been in a band with a signer as good. I think he has a fantastic voice for rock.
We used to play "Never Again" by Nickelback and it went over very well.
To the haters: Please post your setlist so we all know the kind of songs that are cool to play. I bet there's more than a few cringe-worthy tunes included...it all depends on who's judging.
When an audience member requests a song my band doesn't play I will say, "Oh, that's in the next set, stick around." Either they forget or they leave. Works like a charm.
