ubit Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 We are torn between playing stuff we like and playing stuff the baying masses like. Myself and the drummer want to play rock music, the lead guitarist and accordion player think everyone wants to hear traditional stuff and the acoustic guitar player will do whatever he's told. What we've ended up with, I hope, is an eclectic group of numbers that will please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time as the old adage goes. Trouble is when we play dances, functions etc. we are forced into playing some horrendous dirges, which seem to go down really well. We have to gauge what kind of audience is in that night and then you know whether you are going to feel great about your art, or feel like a machine, going through the motions, although, I will say, some of the best nights we've had, have been playing old standards to a more mature audience. We've also found that if you give them their basic fare of brown eyed girls and wagon wheels, that you can throw in a couple of rock songs and get away with it. It's a funny old game being a cover band, certainly in the west of Scotland. I do , however, have certain songs I will never touch. Mustang Sally Money for nothing Walk of life American pie Anything by the Doors Anything by the Beatles I think there's a couple of others but they have been burned from my memory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423692640' post='2688095'] Holy crap, I'd forgotten about some of these horrors! Every morning I get down on my knees and thank God I'm not in a cover band. At the moment. [/quote] Its all music. I can remember the unbridled joy of playing heavily syncopated runs into an odd meter of (usually 5/4 it was the 90's) for whole rehearsals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1423673424' post='2687808'] There are still bands out there who think Mustang Sally is cool and fun! [/quote] It's a long time since I played it but I bet there's still crowds at functions who love it Think I'd rather play mustang than 500 miles , but it's all so subjective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1423679753' post='2687901'] Why? Because I have an option that differes from others in this thread. Is it only bass players that have this high and mighty attitude I wonder? I understand some people hate certain songs, I have no issue with that, but why do some make blanket statements that something someone else likes is crap? What gives certain people the feeling that they know better than others? If these songs weren't so popular we wouldn't have to play them. But then the general public are idiots and have no idea what they should like aren't? No having a go at you personally, it just gets my goat when I'm told by someone better than me that what I like is wrong ;-) [/quote] Blimey Dave! Of course you're entitled to an opinion but so am I. I'm not suggesting that mine is better than yours, but II can't stand middle of the road "dad" rock, and I'm really not keen on C&W, so this song is complete anathema to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckinthepod Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='dumelow' timestamp='1423668999' post='2687717'] once learnt "rockstar" by nickelback for a band. eurgh [/quote] I did also. Thankfully it didn't make it on to the regular set, so I only cried myself to sleep that one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423694598' post='2688133'] I remember those, so depressing! Nothing worse than hearing some faceless session band kill a number you didn't want to hear by the original artist in the first place! [/quote] Oh I don't know, they had their plus points; [URL=http://s30.photobucket.com/user/KevB64/media/22HotHits11_zps67a766f1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/KevB64/22HotHits11_zps67a766f1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Alright by Supergrass Gravity by Embrace Riders on the Storm by The Doors Fix You by Coldplay This is how it feels by Inspiral Carpets All songs in our repertoire - and now songs that everyone in the band refuse to play (except our keyboard player) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzy Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I was in a band that decided it would be amusing for a bunch of blokes in their 40s to play an "Ironic" version of Like a Virgin. This horror was in the set for about 6 months before the "joke" wore thin. The band split up about 15 years ago but I still cringe whenever I hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='Buzzy' timestamp='1423753203' post='2688639'] I was in a band that decided it would be amusing for a bunch of blokes in their 40s to play an "Ironic" version of Like a Virgin. This horror was in the set for about 6 months before the "joke" wore thin. The band split up about 15 years ago but I still cringe whenever I hear it. [/quote] Ha, this is on a set list for a new 80s functions band we've got going, although we have a female lead who can pull it off . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1423759030' post='2688737'] Ha, this is on a set list for a new 80s functions band we've got going, although we have a female lead who can pull it off . [/quote] Ha. You might want to rephrase that - or maybe not Edited February 12, 2015 by mr zed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1423658873' post='2687506'] we were recently asked for a special request at a wedding rita coolidge - all time high got to be a serious contender for worst song ever recorded [/quote] I just went to YouTube to find out about that one. Now considering blocking you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1423761649' post='2688777'] I just went to YouTube to find out about that one. [/quote] So then I had to as well... God it's a bland song, is it not?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 (edited) I was in a very short-lived 80s band and found myself having to play 'Sit Down' by James and 'Walking on Sunshine' by whoever the hell it was sang it. Both are 'switch off or change channels' tracks for me if they came on the radio, ordinarily. Luckily we only lasted 2 gigs. Edited February 12, 2015 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 I must say, I am slightly jealous of all the players who can choose which " good " songs to play.If we played the songs we liked, we would get hauled off and never get another booking. I was told years ago, you have to play what the people want to hear. We ignored this advice and played songs we liked. Over the years we gradually learned which songs to drop and which went down well. It's amazing, the rubbish that people want to hear again and again, especially at functions. What we have to remember is, some of these people don't get out much and don't have the " pleasure" of hearing these songs over and over and over, so they demand brown eyed girl and they dance to it and we have to put up with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 For me, its not good songs or bad songs, its more 'overdone songs' - 50 odd years of electrified pop music to draw from, much of which people have danced excitedly to, I'm amazed that many set lists distill down to such a narrow band of songs; with the same material cropping up in set lists across the land. If you set list isn't to your liking do something about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1423819299' post='2689295'] I must say, I am slightly jealous of all the players who can choose which " good " songs to play.If we played the songs we liked, we would get hauled off and never get another booking. I was told years ago, you have to play what the people want to hear. We ignored this advice and played songs we liked. Over the years we gradually learned which songs to drop and which went down well. It's amazing, the rubbish that people want to hear again and again, especially at functions. What we have to remember is, some of these people don't get out much and don't have the " pleasure" of hearing these songs over and over and over, so they demand brown eyed girl and they dance to it and we have to put up with it. [/quote] I 100% agree, but I cant help feeling I should daw a Venn diagam here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 [quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1423678988' post='2687888'] ^^^^ Denise LaSalle - 1985 I have it on a cd..........I'll get me coat........... [/quote] [quote name='Norris' timestamp='1423679272' post='2687892'] Saddo And of course Frankie including the twee bass intro (which my sister named her daughter after!) [/quote] I have both of these 'classics' on the "Hits 3' Album - on vinyl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 +1 for No Lust In Jazz's comment; 2 or three generations of great pop songs and you can hear Brown Sugar in a pub near you tonight. It is possible to have a good set without resorting to the old standards. Laziness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Mcfly ,five colours in her hair , it make me cringe everytime we play it ,it's need to be dropped from set list as I'm a bit old for that kind of thing lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 my old originals band used to drop a toy keyboard fuled version of nelly furdado's maneater in our set. At christmas once we covered Meriah Cary's All I want for christmas is you, cheesy but actually quite fun as a one off as our singer could do it justice (abet in a scottish brogue) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Ah, good old chart stuff. They don't write 'em like they used to, etc. Shouldn't grumble too much. They help pay the bills after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1423874693' post='2690087'] my old originals band used to drop a toy keyboard fuled version of nelly furdado's maneater in our set. [/quote] That sounds amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoRhino Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 [quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1423664503' post='2687627'] One of the members of the band seem to like suggesting songs from 'Dads Rock 100' type CDs you see on fathers day or the playlist from a karaoke machine. [/quote] Ha ha. I've just started rehearsing with a second band whose whole mission is to play songs "from one of those Father's Day CDs" We'll see what transpires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 [quote name='NoRhino' timestamp='1423933525' post='2690555'] I've just started rehearsing with a second band whose whole mission is to play songs "from one of those Father's Day CDs" We'll see what transpires. [/quote] Better hold off on the e's and wizz until you see the set list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 [quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1423919718' post='2690366'] That sounds amazing! [/quote] It was pretty good Yamaha PSS9 - actually not awful sounding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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