Why is Wild Horses such a go to Stones tune?

It's just a really well written song, imho. One of my favorites to listen to and perform. Keef wrote the first two verses and left it unfinished, then Mick came up with the 3rd after his breakup with Marianne Faithfull.

Also, it's not a "rockin" tune, it's basically a Country ballad, might be the bands include it to cover that "space".

 

I've never liked it.
The couple of times I've played it, or seen it played, it's lost the crowd.

 

Back in the day our bluegrass band covered it, and I thought it came together well in that context. I was the banjo player, and I always enjoyed playing it. I liked that you can make that song sound pensive and thoughtful and melodic in a way that doesn't quite match someone's expectations for a Stones cover. But I agree that if you're looking for higher energy, there are a lot of their tunes that better fit the bill.

 

It's just a good slow song that around here didn't seem to get played much. Every band does "Wonderful Tonight" or at least it seemed that way to us.

So this seemed a better alternative.

 

I’ve heard it and played it bluegrass a bunch. Pretty much a standard in that context.

 

The women like it.

 

I have never played Wild Horses and never thought to add it.

 

Always fond of the song, even more so since adding to our master list.

 

Probably because its within the capabilities of pretty much anyone who owns a guitar...

 

I like the song, women in the audience like the song, but I'd never have it as my only Stones tune in a mainstream pop rock dance party cover band.

 

Then again, it might be just the ticket for a downer shoe-gazer pseudo-country cover band.

 

I think it's one of those songs (see also Tennessee Whiskey, Wagon Wheel, Etc.) that many bands/players think is really easy and in fact can be dumbed down enough to still be passable. Enough liquor and a self medicated crowd won't care either. As with most of them, there is often a lot more to the song than chopping at open chords and barking lyrics.

 

Our go to Stones songs are Sympathy for the Devil, Paint it Black, and Honkey Tonk Women. That is, of course if someone in the crowd requests the Stones. Never played Wild Horses as part of a band.

 

I recently learned it on guitar. I think the key to making it sound right is the open G tuning.

 

Their 1995 "Stripped" version is substantially better than the original.

 

Maybe the bands are playing Garth Brooks.

 

I've never heard any band play it. The only Stones covers I've heard are "Satisfaction", "Brown Sugar", "Waiting On A Friend" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash"

 

so that Stones Fans dont attack the band like this person did