I've enjoyed sharing & comparing our song repetoire list favorites http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/005946.html
but I think it's time now to narrow things down.

1) List your 10 'most frequently' requested songs.

2) Which of these songs do you enjoy or hate performing?

3) What technique(s) do you do use to make the songs you dislike, more bareable?

3) List 10 obscure tunes (the ones less likely to be recognizable by 'your' audience) that you consider your 'personal' favorites. What is it about them that provides 'special appeal' to you?

I'm hoping this topic will stimulate new song possiblity ideas, as well as assist people new to gigging in determining which 'essential' songs are needed to have under your belt before hitting the streets.

I look forward to reading everyone's responses. I promise not to offer my response till I at least hear from a few others first.

Scott

The request I get most frequently is - to stop playing.

Jerry

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jam on,
Terry
http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Right at the top of the list are:

1. Unchained Melody
2. Unforgatable
3. In The Still of The Night (Five Satins)
4. Crazy
5. Have I told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
6. Margarettaville
7. For The Good Times
8. Girl From Epanema
9. Help Me Make It Through The Night
10.Devil Went Down To Georgia

Much of the requests depend on the audience you're playing for at the time. If you're at the "Blood & Guts Saloon," also known as the local American Legion, the requests will vary from doo-wop to country and a little old time rock & roll. You're sure not gonna' fire up with rendidtion of Billy Jean while playing at the local senior center, but they'll jam the floor if you kick off with YMCA, Electric Slide or some country line dancing tunes. Every job is different, but the songs I listed sure seem to be in demand no matter where you play.

10 Songs I hate to play:

1. Heartbreak Hotel
2. Have Nagila
3. Georgy Girl
3. Dance To The Music
4. All My Ex's Live In Texas
5. Africa
6. A Tastte of Honey
7. Battle of New Orleans
9. Sunrise Sunset
10.Spanish Eyes (like the song--just can't sing it.)

Keep in mind that I sing nearly every song on my master song list, therefore, most of the songs on that list I enjoy performing. Some, however, are requested that I just don't know, and I usually have no problem telling the person requesting it that it's just one of the few songs I don't know well enough to perform, and is there something else that I can play for them. Usually, their response "Oh, just play something nice and slow so I can get my husband or boyfriend to dance with me."

Cheers,

Gary

[This message has been edited by travlin'easy (edited 02-25-2003).]

ooooh...let's not forget "House of the Rising Sun"

Scott, you beat me to the punch on this one, however I was going to ask for those songs which are the biggest crowd pleasers. You know, where everyone screams and throws money!

Now, I'm just starting (restarting) and have only done a few nursing and assisted living places... and so for not much screaming a no money thrown. But anything "audience participation seems to go well.

Participation in YMCA, even if it's staff people, seems to go over well. Also, with Tie A Yellow Ribbon", at "the whole damn bus is cheering" everyone cheers, with some prompting. They like that.

Glenn

I have the unpopular opinion that the musical tastes of audiences in general is poor, cliche' and force-fed from years of being trained what to expect. Not only that, but every damn time I get so many requests for a song that I finally learn it, the requests magically stop.

So here's my list, mostly in order:

1. Laura's Theme from Dr Zhivago (learned it and they stopped asking for it)
2. Musicbox Dancer (I'm NOT learning that!)
3. Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet (maybe learn in a new arrangment)
4. Love Theme from Love Story (see #3)
5. Everything from "Phantom of the Opera" (not going there either)
6. Margaritaville (sigh, played that as much as JB has)
7. Moonlight In Vermont (learned it - you know the rest)
8. Stars Fell on Alabama (don't like - substitute Moonlight in Vermont)
9. New York, New York (sick of - thinking of creating a reggae version)
10. I Left My Heart In SF (only get requests for this when someone else asked for NY, NY).

One word...

F R E E B I R D !!!!

Ugh!

Al

Oh sorry - now my fav songs and why:

1. Someone To Watch Over Me (I have a super cool new modern version that has me jazzed up)
2. As Time Goes By (same as #1)
3. Take Five (the 4/4 spaced-out version by Dancing Fantasy)
4. Pure Imagination from "Willie Wonka" (same as #1)
5. Beautiful (Gordon Lightfoot song done same as #1)
6. Summer Breeze (same as #1)
7. Can't Help Falling In Love With You (same as #1)
8. Fly Like An Eagle (I use the Hip-Hop arranger pattern for this)
9. Kiss From A Rose (note-for-note perfect, you don't hear this everyday)
10. Angela from "Taxi" (Bob James - just to show off both chops and good taste)

Hey - I want to do this reggae too, then go latin for the fast part ala' Santana's "Black Magic Woman"... it'll slay 'em, trust me !

Well I don't play enough yet to know the most request.

But anyone hearing the tenor-man (Moore)withthe Ray Browm's Quartet playing "Stars Fell On Alabama" who plays a wind instrument would want to play that tune and would enjoy it.

I like:
1. Give Me The Simple Life (Vocal)
2. I've Got My love To keep Me warm (Vocal)
3. Soul Seranade (Sax)
4. Desifinado (Sax)
5. Someone To Watch Over Me (Vocal)
6. I Can't Get Started (Vocal or Sax)
7. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (Sax) Great melody!!
8. I Only Have Eyes For You (Sax)
9. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (Vocal)
10. Georgia (Vocal - This is one of the very few Midi's I use. I play piano on top of it. Brother Ray's version. Super midi file!!
11. Just The Way You Look Tonight (Vocal)
12. Making Whoopie (Vocal another super Midi Brother Ray style)
13. I Don't Know Why I love You But I do (Vocal - Clarence Frogman Henry. They play it in the beginning of Forrest Gump I think. I lived a half mile from the Frogman's house when in New Orleans and been to his house a time or two.)
14. Pretty Woman (Vocal)
15. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Vocal - Neil Sedaka slow ballad)

Sorry Scott! I got carried away,
Boo

Number one request for me(from strangers) has always been :
1)Crazy ....or ANY Patsy Cline songs really
2)My Way ...... ar any Frank
3)Elvis .... another "generic" request

after that ... it's a toss up. Depends on my venue - if it's a bar, it's Billy Joel, Elton John, Jimmy Buffett, Van Morrison

In a supper club - mostly broadway requests, and if they know my work .... it's always a bet that they want my Phantom routine or the Les Mis medley. I love making 7-8 minute medleys from specific shows. I also do Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls and South Pacific ..... all have special costume changes and some have lighting effects. Breaks up the monotony when you play the same place for a lengthy engagement.

All in all - I could make a nice living and never play a song newer than 1985. I'd be bored stiff, but it IS possible.

Hmmm, now that sounds interesting. When you do perform that, you should record it and share it with us. I had a great conversation last night with my band mates about re-arranging some of our songs and/or new songs with different harmonies and beats.

The only problem I see with FreeBird is with the Cigarette lighters being waved around to a latin beat! LOL

Regards,
Al G

Most requested (remember I play in a Big Band)

1. In the Mood
2. Satin Doll
3. Crazy
4. Cab Driver
5. Proud Mary
6. Spanish Eyes
7. LeRoy Brown
8. Alley Cat
9. San Francisco
10. Mack the Knife

Some of the more obscure tunes that I like

1. Wave (not obscure to us but to the general public)
2. Green Dolphin Street
3. But Beautiful
4. Nancy (with the ugly face)
5. Oh Darling
6. Here There and Everywhere
7. At Last
8. A Nightingale Sang
9. Because (Dave Clark Five)
10. Maxwell's Silver Hammer

1. Let's stay Together
2. Here's that Rainy Day
3. When Sunny Gets' Blue
4. One Note Samba
5. Lady Blue
6. What Are you Doing For the Rest of Your Life?
7. Popsicle Toes
8. Moondance
9. Masquerade
10. Suicide Is Painless
11. Four
12. God Bless the Child
13. You are the Sunshine of My Life
14. But you don't Know me
15. You Made Me Leave My Happy Home

Bet you're not getting these from playing the nursing homes!

My favs, in no particular order:
Have I Told You Lately
Wonderful Tonight
Margaritaville
How Long Gone - Brooks & Dunn
That's What I Like About You
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
Best of My Love
It's Not Unusual
Mustang Sally
Before You Accuswe Me

just hate playing -
8 verses of Spanish Eyes
YMCA
Under the Boardwalk
Achy Breaky
I left My Heart in S.F.

I only know two verses of Spanish Eyes.
*
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*
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But that's enough.
DonM

My most requested have pretty much been covered here and most similar to Tom Cavanaugh's. But there is another category of songs that almost always work really well...those that are forgotten favorites..or re-arranged hits to fit the predominant age of the audience.

Some forgotten favorites:
Meditation (one Sr. lady once requested it but called it "Medication".)
Volare
Cab Driver
Teach Me Tonight
Blueberry Hill
Changes in Latitudes
Wind Beneath My Wings
L-O-V-E
Your Momma Don't Dance
Gimme Three Steps
Takin' Care of Business
I Just Want To Dance With You
....just a few...but there are many more that I will do right after the dreaded request for a Tango or specialty dance that appeals to a minority.
Eddie

I thought I'd see "Brown-Eyed Girl" all over these lists. Gee, what a relief!

I live on the south coast in the UK and it has been a favourite spot for weekly senior citizen holiday breaks who travel down from the north for many years. There are plenty of hotels where they stay that organise evening entertainment for them and these have provided me with varios jobs from time to time in between residencies (Ok - I admit it - I'm too lazy to cart around equipment).

Although I get a lot less requests now for these (as I get nearer and nearer to their average age the requests have changed) I used just hate playing the following TYPES of songs at these events even though the audience loved them 'cos they could dance to them:

Pride of Erin Waltz
St Bernards Waltz
The Valleta
Mayfair Quickstep
Military Twostep/Lancers
Progressive Barn Dance
The Birdie Dance (Aaaaarrrrrghhhhh)

Boy, was I glad to leave those behind !!!

I also disliked the usual stuff like Spanish Eyes etc but at least you could vary the rythmn or tempo.......

I like the Captain's idea of playing "two for them and one for me"

KF

Hmmm, I LIKE playing "House of the rising Sun", especially with a good organ sound. Freebird too. I like the songs best that allow us to express ourselves a little on our instruments.

We're more blues and rock based than anything else, but we will do the slow tunes and the classics if the venture calls for it. Normally, we aren't expected to because we bill ourselves as a blues and blues rock act.

AJ

GlennT...you're right...never played a nursing home in my life...at my age today, that hits a little too close to home!

captain Russ
"junior member"

Aw...try it. They might call you "Sonny" !
(then again, they might recruit you !)

Just stay clear of the TV screen when "Wheel of Fortune" or Jeopardy" comes on ..... it's a like a cult following with the "seasoned" citizens !