What are your top 5 most requested nursing home songs?

I'm now working with another guy as a duo. Two guitars and 2 vocals. I wanna compare my list to some of yours.

I'm finding as I get older the music is shifting. 10 years ago the old jazz standards were the common fare. Being out there again, I'm finding only the most popular timeless songs from the great american songbook are recognized. It's seems to be trending to the 50's and early 60's with some 70's adult contemporary in there.

I don't play NH gigs, Mikey, but, a friend who does work in that field, showed me this site that offers great suggestions.

http://www.seniorsentertainer.com/songs.html

On a lighter note, (pun intended) here are some songs that should work for those over 50...like Chas, and Diki...and Fran, and Donny...and me, of course!

Let's Get a Physical
Ain't No Burrito Mild Enough
Johnny B. Olde
How Do You Mend a Broken Everything
The Lack O' Motion
Hair Potion Number Nine
Doctor My Eyes (And Ears and Joints and Back and ...)
To All the Girls I've Disappointed Before
A Hard Day's Nap
Knock Knock Knockin' on the Bathroom Door

Thanks Ian, nice site....

So essentially, stop at the sixties, no seventies hardly at all...

And how old was the people you're entertaining at the NH during the sixties? That's really some years ago now....
I think you'll be surprised about what songs to be appreciated, even 70's, 80's and more up to date stuff.

Keep on rockin' and rollin'


Cheers
GJ

5 most requested tunes?

Tennessee Waltz
NY, NY
In The Mood
An older gospel song
God Bless America

I don't necessarily play all of them every show, but usually 2-3...

The tunes I've been playing over the last few weeks have included everything from Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Play that Funky Music, You are my Sunshine, Jailhouse Rock, Look what you've done to me, I shot the sheriff, to old Hank Williams stuff and even a George Straight tune called "The Fireman" (which was a request.) I'm also performing a song based off a very old love/folk song called "The Water is Wide" which is going over very well..

Plenty of oldies, 70-75% upbeat, pace the show to have peaks and valleys...keep them guessing.

With your skills and personality, Mikey-you should nail it.

Wow bill your top 5 surprised me. I remember ny, ny being a biggie and maybe in the mood.

I love water is wide. My favorite version is Karla bonoff / James Taylor

Thanks for responding to my post.

Mike every facility is different just pick and choose out of you repertoire on each gig to suit the audience & theme. Getting them involved on every song is a must also.. Good Luck

Carolina In the Morning

Let me Call you Sweetheart

It's a Sin to tell a Lie

Sweet Caroline

Thats Amore

It won't be long before nursing home requests will be for oldies from The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beach Boys, Abba, MC Hammer, The Bee Gee's, Sting, etc.

Carolina In The Morning? naahhhh we wanna hear After Midnight by Eric Clapton.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart? What? How about All Out Of Love by Air Supply.

That's Amore? ha-ha can you play Another One Bites The Dust, or anything by Queen?

You get the picture...times are changing, including Nursing Homes

You're exactly right...

Dont worry by that time you'll be in the ground ..... don't kid yourself a merengue, cha cha, tango, etc, will always be just that even 50 years from now...it's how you do your songs.

Larry, I think this was what I was trying to get at in my original post. I see that after being out of there for the last 10 years. The requests seem more contempory. I don't think its another one bites the dust quite yet. Most of the classics from crooners are staples but I play a couple homes that there are some residents in there 40's and 50's for either rehab or mental disabilities. I get john denver, neil diamond, and peter paul and mary requested often

They would tie me to my seat and not let me leave if I didn't do "God Bless America". I find that classic hits of any era go over big because they are so familiar - it's how you deliver them that matters. My top five might be:

Put Your Head on My Shoulder
Have I Told You Lately
It's Not Unusual
How Sweet It Is
Wonderful World

Most of the time, residents of the NH don't request songs--that's pretty much left to your discretion. There are times the AD will have a particular theme for that day, luau, Hawaiian day, St. Patrick's Day, etc.., which will pretty much mandate some of the songs, but not all. I no longer perform 40s songs at NH, assisted living and retirement communities--it would put most of them, and me, to sleep. They love late 50s, 60s, 70s and some early 80s songs, mostly upbeat with an occasional ballad thrown in.

Among the older songs they love are:

Polka medley (Beer Barrel Polka, Too Fat Polka, PA Polka, Tavern In The Town)
Shake Rattle & Roll
Kansas City
As Time Goes By
Unforgettable

More recently I've introduced:
Black Velvet
Green Green Grass Of Home (Elvis version)
Have You Ever Seen The Rain (CCR)
Proud Mary
I'm Pretty Good At Drinking Beer
Workingman's Bar
Mustang Sally
and lots of newer country songs--all of which they love.

What is really neat about doing the relatively newer songs is the staff usually gets involved as well, frequently dancing with the residents. At one location we have a wheelchair dance, where residents that can dance whirl those in wheelchairs around the floor while I play a waltz, usually Englebert's Last Waltz. Others songs where the staff gets into the action include: Hot Hot Hot, YMCA and similar songs.

Good Luck,

Gary

We're already there.

My first request would be "Dead Flowers", then "Angie"

Cheers
GJ

Hey Gary, that one I can't recall. Interesting title.

Cheers
GJ

Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer
Billy Currington 7-2010
CW shuffle 2/4 bass F
Intro.: | (D) (A) | (G) (A) | x 2

(1) I wasn't born (5) for diggin' (4) deep (5) holes
(1) I'm not (5) made for (4) pavin' long (5) roads
(1) I ain't cut (1/7#) out to climb (6m) high line poles
But, (5) (4) I'm pretty (5) good at drinkin' (1) beer (5) (4) (5)

(D) I'm not the (A) type to (G) work in a (A) bank
(D) I'm no (A) good at (G) slappin' on [A] paint
(D) Don't have a (D/C#) knack for makin' (Bm) motors crank
No, (A) (G) but I'm pretty (A) good at drinkin' (D) beer

(G) So, hand me one more, (Gm) that's what I'm here for
(D) I'm built for havin' a ball
(G) I love the nightlife, (Gm) I love my Budlight
(D) I like 'em (F#) cold (G) and (A) tall

(D) I ain't (A) much for (G) mowin' thick (A) grass
(D) I'm too (A) slow for (G) workin' too (A) fast
(D) I don't do (D/C#) windows, so (Bm) honey, don't ask
(A) (G) But I'm pretty (A) good at drinkin' (D) beer

(D) A go (A) getter, (G) maybe I'm (A) not
(D) I'm not (A )known for (G) doin' a (A) lot
(D) But I do my (D/C#) best work when the (Bm) weather's hot
(A) (G) I'm pretty (A) good at drinkin' (D) beer

(Chorus)
(G) So, hand me one more, (Gm) that's what I'm here for
(D) I'm built for havin' a ball
(G) I love the nightlife, (Gm) I love my Budlight
(D) I like 'em (F#) cold (G) and (A) tall

1) I wasn't born (5) for diggin' (4) deep (5) holes
(1) I'm not (5) made for (4) pavin' long (5) roads
(1) I ain't cut (1/7#) out to climb (6m) high line poles
But, (5) (4) I'm pretty (5) good at drinkin' (1) beer (5) (4) (5)

(Tag)
(5) (4) I'm pretty (4) good at drinkin' [1] beer

Outro: | (1) (5) | (4) (5) | --- repeat
(Spoken) Oh, hand me one more, boys
'At's what I'm here for
| (D) (A) | (G) (A) | ----- repeat times to fade

DonM
P.S. Sorry for the mixed chord designations.

Thank's Don,
now I'm going to serach to see if I find something to lead me to the melodyline.
You'll never know what pops up when dig into the archive.....

Cheers
GJ

Found it