I think it would be really fun to find out from everyone on this board:

What songs are your 'most requested' tunes?
What songs are your 'personal' favorites?
What songs do you really hate performing?

Please be sure to specify your music genre specialty and target audience as well.

Here are 'my' answers:

My gig venues are mostly adult (over 30) private/corporate parties, weddings, and senior retirement communities:

Most Requested Songs:
In The Mood (big band swing medley)
Sinatra (just about anything he does)
Jump Jive Wail
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
Brown Eyed Girl
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
We Are Family

Personal Favorites:
Too Close For Comfort/Witchcraft (Sinatra)
Route 66
Midnight Sun
Wave & One Note Samba - (Jobim)

Songs I really 'hate' performing:
Macarena
Mambo #5
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
New York New York
My Way


Scott,

San Francisco Bay Area, California (USA)


[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 10-31-2000).]

Let's take a shot.
Most requested are probably:
Wonderful Tonight
In The Mood (amazing isn't it)
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Old Time Rock n Roll
Boot Scoot Boogie
Unchained Melody

My favorites change quite a bit but include:
Suspicious Minds (I admit it, I like Elvis)
Every Day I Have The Blues
Almost Like A Song

Least favorites:
These require extra $$$$$ in the jar.
Feelings (all time worst)
Perfect Country and Western Song (You Never Even Called Me By My Name)
Last Date (just played it too many times)
San Francisco

I have a really diverse audience. Motel guests ranging in age from 21 to 80 and with widely-varying tastes in music, from Country to Standards to Rock n Roll.
DonM

[This message has been edited by DonM (edited 10-31-2000).]

Most requested -
1.YMCA/Volare`/Zing (My Disco Version)
2.Quando Quando (merengue)
3.Mambo #5
4.Peobody Medly
5.Tango

Most Fav-
1.Make the World Go Away
2.Just a Gigalo
3.The Way You Look Tonight
4.My Way
5.The Last Waltz
6.A Man Without Love

Least Fav-
1.Hokie Pokie
2.Alley Cat
3.Macarena
4.Pasadoble`

Otherwise what am I complaining about ? :>)
I could have a "REAL" Job......YIKES!!!!!

Donny

Hi, My name is Jack Mitchell and I just got recommended to this group. I don't perform professionally but I do do volunteer performing at a nursing home at least once a month.

I usually play Broadway songs and that is my forte. My favs include
1. Close Every Door
2. If I Can't Love Her
3. The Vaults of Heaven

My request mostly are for hymns like Amazing Grace, Battle Hymn etc


These are also my least favorite

Here they are in western Michigan:

Most requested:
Sunny side of the Street
In the Mood
Tuxedo Junction
Elvira
Crazy
For the Good Times
New York New York
Proud Mary
Green Green Grass of Home

My favorites
All the things You Are
But Beautiful
Route 66
I Saw Her Standing There
Green Dolphin Street
Sunny Side of the Street
Lady is a Tramp
Ticket to Ride

I Hate
Sentimental Journey
I Left My Heart in S.F.
Misty
Feelings
Tennesee Waltz
Jean (really hate)

Tom

Jack, glad you made it to the forum. Welcome aboard.
DonM

I'm new to the forum and you know what is really weird! I haven't played out in almost 8 years and all the songs,for the most part,are the same!!!!!!

JCKeeys,
Strange isn't it?
There seems to be a core set of songs that stand the test of time (for better or worse). There are also those songs that go in and out of favor (nostalgia era trends (50's, 60's, 70's etc), TV/movie songs, etc ). And then there are the prerequisite "current hits" (Backstreet Boys w/ vocalizer, etc) you are expected to perform, but my favorite songs are the ones that survive the test of time to become "classic" standards.

Scott

Uncle Dave,

If you're referring to . . .
"I Left My Heart In San Francisco",

I agree that it a beautiful 'classic'standard, but...

if you had to perform it "every" night (year after year) like me (as I live in SF and cater to the tourist trade), you'd soon grow sick and tired of performing it too


Scott

Hi Don,

Wow, "Every Day I Have The Blues". I'll never forget the privilege and honor I had to both sit in and sing (that song) with the late "great" blues singer, Mr. Joe Williams (both one of his signature tunes as well as BB Kings) when he visited our fair city (about 10 years ago). What a legendary blues/jazz singer and wonderful human being. I'll cherish those memories "forever".

Scott

SF Bay Area, California

Scott, I heard B.B. King do it one time and have loved it since. What's amazing to me is that I can do this song for ANY audience, from Country to Big Band, and it always goes over. It transcends genre.
What a thrill it must have been for you to work with Joe Williams. Some of my best memories have come from sit-ins or shows with some really big names. I'm not much of a hero-worshipper, but the stars are just people like us who have had a little more luck musically. (Or maybe a little more talent?!)
To have a celebrated musician even accept an offer to sit in with me more than validates the respect issue we are discussing under the other string. They wouldn't get up there if it didn't sound good.
Don