I've had last-minute calls with no time to rehearse or learn songs. If you know the blues, then you'll have no problem playing this one. Yacht Rock Song List. This is one of those '80s songs that is both loved by 30 and 40-somethings and popular with the younger folks, especially the girls. But as many have said, people just want to hear something familiar. Hey, me and my two buddies want some suggestions for some songs to play at an upcomming bar show. "What I Like About You"—The Romantics, 42. I'd like to see what your list would look like for wedding/party dance bands. So, while some of you "musicians" are tired of playing Mustang Sally, the audience isn't going to complain. I prefer my originals as my satisfaction from music comes more from creating than mimicking. A lot of musicians will roll their eyes when a band leader suggests playing "Brown Eyed Girl," but the truth is that music fans (both serious and casual) will sing along, no matter where you are. The intro to Led Zeppelin's Rock And Roll is tough timing wise unless you know this one tip: Think the guitar intro to Johnny B Goode. Although "Heaven" and "Everything I Do (I Do It for You)" were his best selling singles, they're much better suited for a wedding band or corporate event. First I should add that I'm also a published songwriter, and presently, I do practically ALL original stuff. Every (and I am serious here) EVERY single cover band plays the same tunes. I'll send you a list of some more current (less overplayed) songs". Jeezus! So, whether you're a solo player, a hired gun, or a member of a full band, take a look at this list of the most played, requested, and successful songs in rock history. Upbeat yet smooth. It's true that some of the greatest songs are born in the simplest moments. One of the defining songs of the early '90s Seattle grunge era, "Man in the Box" makes a great late-night power track to get the diehards pumping their fists and buying shots. Some of the songs on this list are the ones that define their band to the general public. New USA Merch! There has never been a truer statement than "As fellow bassist and successful band leader/musician Dave DeMarco once told me the only problem being in a band is you have to work with musicians." Right-click the cover art. Steve Witschel (author) from New Orleans, LA on July 23, 2013: Thanks Rebekah! They are timeless, iconic, and classic. Many more songs as well of course, pretty much the guitar rock and country rock of the day. Key features. Not every band will play all of these songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZxN9iQM7OY. Hand-in-hand with talent and presentation (attire, lighting, segues, etc. @Rebekah from Tampa Bay, we do that song, we also want to rule the world. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu. I used to drive an hour every weekend to see a fabulous cover band. Everyone will have a much better experience. If I played these 50 songs tomorrow in my city, I would never be asked back. Updated Mar 29, 2019 ... (tour premiere, cover of a song by Virginia's Bill Deal & the Rhondels) 2. It works. All summer long doubles the length of sweet home Alabama and adds a little newer edge. Christina Garibaldi 07/21/2015 As fellow bassist and successful band leader/musician Dave DeMarco once told me the only problem being in a band is you have to work with musicians. To this day, it remains one of Aerosmith's most popular songs and is played by most cover bands at one time or another. Weaved throughout the set was their rendition of Radiohead's "Kid A," mashed up with Gillian Welch's "Wayside / Back In Time." When crafting a set list, the following elements … Wow! The 1979 version from Live at Budokan was the band's biggest selling single, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Here's a list of 15 great country music covers of popular songs over the years. As a band leader/lead vocalist/bassist of a cover band for the last 20 years or so, I have to put in MTCW. Excellent post and very cool list. Hi. all but 4 on that list i haven't played at one time or another. "'69" reached #5 on Billboard's Top 100 singles chart in 1984. covered the track in the mid-'80s, the song crossed genres in a way that had never been seen before. Everyone wants more cowbell! Sign In Listen Now ... Travis Scott’s Astronomical Set List Apple Music. "What I Like About You" is one of those songs. … I have no problem with artists who do a cover of a song in concert, or because they are just starting out and don't have enough original material of their own for a full set of songs. You'll be paid revenue for these vid I would guess that most of people bashing the list are still wet behind the ears, so to speak, and have not yet learned the things that a lot of us have. This is a CLASSIC ROCK cover band list. Even guys in bands have been known to get away with singing this tune, and it's a must if you have an '80s-music-lovin' audience. You could clear them off to make room for the likes of some other great songs like 'Freebird', 'Hotel California', 'Carry on Wayward Son', 'Satisfaction', 'Don't bring me down' (ELO). If you're in a cover band, no one cares who you are or what you like. Jon Fellowes. Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Tell them what you LIKE about their show. The Cover Band offers an extensive song list and can perform a variety of styles depending on the occasion. I just turned 70 and I’m still playing regularly. This song is always a winner. "Moondance" works well for a more mellow gig, but this tune is the one you always want to have in your back pocket at a rock show. People LOVE to interact with the band. Great list! Your music database for originals of cover songs and sources of musical quotations and potpourris People freaked out; turnarounds all over the bar the instant I started with, "Now what you hear is not a test." Song Catalog. whenever Paul McCartney plays a song by The Beatles it should be annotated as @Song[The Beatles] as it just doesn't feel right to list "Eleanor Rigby" as a "Cover". Any cover band song list is always made better with some Stereophonics. I think I've played this song more than any other one in my career. Sometimes a great cover is a faithful rendition, borne out of love and respect for the original track. Diamond's 1969 ode to John F. Kennedy's then 11-year-old daughter has sold nearly two million digital copies in the Internet age, and is often requested and played by bands all over the world. Turn on any classic rock radio station and you can hear these ad nauseum. As a convert to bass guitar (25+ years of guitar playing sidelined due to left-hand issues) I think I know where BassShredder is coming from. ), a well-crafted set list can help a novice come across as professional, and a professional come across as remarkable. It's a pretty reliable crowd-pleaser no matter what the gig. No disrespect. Fun to read! It's easy and fun and it showcases the vocalist's pipes. If that's not feasible, no worries, if you have prepared yourself, most of the time you'll be able to "feel the crowd out". Zola Jesus has shared a cover of the Armenian folk song “Krunk.” Proceeds from the Bandcamp exclusive single will go toward the Armenia Fund, … You're not a rock star. It's hard to say who's fault it is...every cover band and musician for playing the same songs, or the crowd for wanting to hear them. Steve Witschel (author) from New Orleans, LA on January 31, 2016: This is not intended to be a set list. Journey sucks I don't care what anyone says they are terrible, although I know so many fanboys out there would love to hear the crap. Nikki Lambert from Western Mass on April 23, 2017: Yes, these songs are overplayed. This tune is singable, danceable, and works well in a medley with songs like "R.O.C.K. It's also a tune that can be stretched out and jammed on if the band needs to fill up some set time. View your lyrics so you can access them during practice or gig time. You'll find this box in the lower-left side of the window. Believe it or not, it makes the audience feel a little like part of the show... a little more important if you will. A great tune for the mellow stoners in the room, "The Joker" is a timeless classic that often gets the crowd singing along. My band plays none of these regularly, and only 3 under duress. also, no one is going to hire your band anyway w/o knowing what songs you are going to play. Awesome list. The Song Buffer drop-down list (top right) can add 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45,r 60, 75 or 90 seconds per song to help provide an accurate calculation of total set duration. This was Benatar's biggest hit, back in 1980, and still remains popular with the party crowd. 24.11.2020. THIS IS A CLASSIC ROCK COVER LIST! Yes, I've played "Smooth" with several bands and it's a great tune that goes over well. I get where you're coming from with this list. This list is GOLD in that regard. Do you understand the difference? This is like two bald men fighting over a comb. In honor of the Talking Heads frontman’s courageous and confounding cover, we’ve compiled a list of cover songs that equally confused the hell … I've got a lot of songs to enjoy listening to know as well as picking up my guitar for a jam! I would call the first 3 bands alternative, either way not classic rock. All that happens when you do that is that you cut the effect of every song in your set. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Kickstart Your Pride Playlist with These 25 Songs, Underrated Love Songs Valentine's Day Playlist, The 50 Best Pop Country Songs of the Last 20 Years. Unless you're playing in a Kiss tribute band or you're really into Kiss, this is the only Kiss song that you'll ever need to know. Others completely reimagine the original tune, rendering it almost unrecognizable (in a good way). Unlike many related sites, we try to be as complete as possible (not just performer and song title, but also songwriters and original releases) and order the data in a reusable and maintainable way. A great list. I play in a covers band and we do a few of these songs. That's great. Why? This is basically a 12-bar blues tune, played with ferocity and fire. into the mic). By far the most widely recognised song in RENT, "Seasons of Love" appears in three incarnations throughout the show. I'd like to highly recommend the pop-rock tunes "Every Cloud and Silver Lining" and "Blue Eyes" created by Jett Allen. Select a different song from your library and then Lyric Pad will jump back to the same set list position afterwards "Jenny Jenny (867-5309)"—Tommy Tutone, 40. I bet you're gonna love these music tracks if you have a listen to them . The setlist had songs off their most recent album All Ashore and 2015's The Phosphorescent Blues, opening up the show with deep cut "Little Lights." It rocks from start to finish, and is a great upbeat song to include in your set. With video hits such as "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs," MTV made ZZ Top a household name in the '80s, but it's this 1975 single that gets the most play by cover bands. Oh well, I guess I'll keep my trumpet packed away a little longer. They also worked in their most performed song to date - "Rye Whiskey." When it was first released, I was happily flabbergasted to see people dance to a thrash band! While Slash was goofing around with a guitar exercise, the rest of the band started jamming along. It's not that these are not great songs, although some of them are not, it's that the bands butcher them. Try it; the basslines match up beautifully. "Jessie's Girl" won Springfield a Grammy and was an instant hit way back in 1981. Because, "without love, where would you be now?". Order songs easily by dragging and dropping them in the setlist. The top 5 songs might surprise you. E.g. So, if you sing or play bass or drums, you need to be able to pull this one out. "Friends in Low Places" and "Killing in the Name" were two of our largest draws (especially because I went into the crowd with the wireless mic during the Rage tune so people could yell, "___ you, I won't do what you tell me!" If you decide to sing your cover song using your own flare, then you have the opportunity to make it really stand out. Bands often encourage the folks in the room to join in on this song's line, "woke up this morning and got myself a beer!" I've never played this song where there aren't people singing along. As Elton John's farewell tour continues -- the three-year extravaganza he's calling Farewell Yellow Brick Road -- you may wonder what songs he's playing from his 50-year career. So many people here bitching about how some of these songs were done 'better' by some 'funky' performers prior to the cover. List is really outdated. good songs never go out of style. After a few beers, I doubt the ones that have are going to care (if it is a good band) that they have heard it a million times before. But there should be a wide variety in any bands' inventory to select from based on the venue they're playing. (And, yes, I'm female. I don't know about the Tears For Fears song. Rock on! You shouldn’t have four slow songs followed by four fast songs. It was the song that put Tears For Fears on the US charts. Elton John's Farewell Tour will be every fan's dream, see it if you can. So listen to your audience. Singing Cover Songs Using the Second Method. Free Download here http://www.facebook.com/chesterseefanpage Piano and Vocal by Me Dancing by D-trix http://www.youtube.com/thedominicshow EVERYTHING ELSE!! Sit Down, I Think I Love You - THE MOJO MEN (Mono) (December 1966 US 7" single on Reprise 0539, A-side - Buffalo Springfield cover, song written by Stephen Stills) 23. But as a working musician I have played many gigs with bands that I had never rehearsed with or even met, and I've found in those cases that it was essential to know every track on this list. This is most likely because it allows us to maintain a certain degree of our youth. Why this song? Need 4 more minutes to fill out a 45-minute set? Aside from this hit, "Walk This Way," the 1975 release also featured "Sweet Emotion" (another cover band favorite) and helped the band break into the mainstream. has a few good "standards" in here but this list is way outdated. Access setlists and songs on your Android device. When girls ask to hear Def Leppard, they're talking about "Pour Some Sugar on Me." It's also surprising what songs from other genres the classic rock crowd goes nuts over. There's nothing better than hearing a great musician's fresh take on a classic song. Steve Witschel (author) from New Orleans, LA on April 28, 2014: Can you elaborate, BassShredder? No one's suggesting that this is a set list, but as a list of "songs every cover band should know," like the title says, I totally agree. Check out our list of the Best Cover Songs Of All Time… A good cover song should do one of four things: (1) radically change the song structure to bring new life to the tune. I recorded the whole album with covers on my favorite songs. Serious guitar players even include the talk box in their rig to help authentically replicate one of the greatest rock songs of all time. If you've ever played at a club, you know that someone will inevitably request a Guns song, and "Sweet Child O' Mine" is the song that they want to hear. There's a good reason that bands still play these songs and that people want to hear them. they all sound the same anyway :). There's SO much great music out there, and people still know all the words. I have done "Purple Rain" into "Word Up" though... that's also pretty cool. But what if you get a song request? Either that, or they are like a lot of musicians I know who think they already know everything so there is nothing else they need to learn. Click Here for a printable sample setlist with lyrics. Trouble reading? Half of these up there own arse types playing 3 chord crap they write and can feel lol .empty any bar . Or so they always told us. I'm not suggesting that these songs should be your set list. Okay... now I seeing why. From the 1980 multi-platinum masterpiece, Back in Black, "You Shook Me All Night Long" remains one of the band's biggest hits, and is performed by cover bands all over the world. The greatest guitar player in rock started playing keyboards. hub-DanielKennedy from Adelanto, California on June 02, 2014: Thanks for this. It's the most downloaded song of the 20th century and the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history. I can assure you that there are many more talented, happy and successful musicians playing in good cover bands than there are in original bands. We all have different tastes and opinions. And, I'm not even a cover band singer. Steve's been an online music writer for seven years and has personal experience organizing his equipment for gigs. Learn them so they are in your rock arsenal. "Me & Bobby McGee," "Mustang Sally" (of course), and 3 or 4 others, and that's it. into a mic. A well-crafted set list can mean the difference between a superb, decent, pedestrian, or down-right awful performance. By Esquire Editors. I don’t judge a tune on who wrote it or sang it. Here are 10 of our favorite alternative covers of ’90s songs. And, fatty: Journey sucks? You must know it—and know it correctly. I think it would probably make it into the top 100. It's probably hard to make a list like this. Singers with musicality, this is your forte! While not technically a rock song (although it was covered brilliantly by Stevie Ray Vaughan), this 1972 Motown hit gets the crowd dancing and drinking and fits in well with the classic rock repertoire. This song will help you decide for sure. It's one that guitar players learn when they're just starting out, due to its easy three-chord structure, and it's one that every band knows how to play. rebekahELLE from Tampa Bay on July 26, 2013: One of my favorite cover bands played this great song from the 80's. I’m in a Blondie Tribute Band and we discuss this all the time. Sorry, but I'd have to call this the SOS list: same old shite. This Is What The '80s Billy Joel Cover Band's Set List At The Catalina Wine Mixer Would've Been 6. Our band plays several different venues locally; however, we are finding that the patronage at each venue is slightly different and each requires a slightly different set list. I totally agree that most of these songs are overplayed, and that it would be nice if we could play interesting and elegant songs in cover bands, and sometimes we can. 15. But, as a working musician, I have played many gigs with bands that I had never rehearsed with or even met, and I've found in those cases that it was essential to at least know every track on this list. Sound Clips. I can promise you, if you do this, they will come back. Leave out the negativity unless it's constructive. Having played all over the country in hundreds of different bars and clubs, I can honestly say that this is the song I've heard covered the most. Again, it's not really a rock song, but it's an extremely popular song and it gets folks dancing. Now...to all the assholes that think playing only original music is the only way to be expressive and is the key to musical success: go fuck yourself. (Follow the playlist on Spotify! People who are drinking don't care and (mostly) aren't musicians. Hokus Bonus, a vinyl-only compilation of ‘bonus tracks’ from special and international editions of previous albums, is ... Read more. Great "pro tips" as well. 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