tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post1886955171015761628..comments2024-02-13T10:20:04.888+00:00Comments on David Hepworth's blog: Why would a band not play their hits? *Any* hit David Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05973053694541321308noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-20296835997074977692012-12-10T12:56:16.955+00:002012-12-10T12:56:16.955+00:00I've always been disappointed by McCartney'...I've always been disappointed by McCartney's steadfast refusal to sing any of Lennon's songs. Instead of the obligation filling American songbook album, an album of The Beatles' songs where John sang the lead vocal or, even, Working Class Hero would be the album his followers would *really* want to hear.John Meddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547777949324509522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-13459834458527393282012-12-08T11:25:05.009+00:002012-12-08T11:25:05.009+00:00I assume that David is referring to the Mutton Bir...I assume that David is referring to the Mutton Birds. A great piece of writing and some good responses. My take on it is that music like other art forms is self expression delivered through artisanal means: in music's case, musicianship. <br /><br />Many musicians believe they are true artists, and that may be so during the creative and recording process, but becomes another thing when the music is performed to an audience. Then it begins the transition to entertainment. <br /><br />David makes the point well with Def Leopard and their re-recording their songs, believing that they are making better versions of the originals. He is right, once it is in the public domain it belongs to everyone. <br /><br />So to with the performance. Performance is FOR an audience and that audience must be respected. They have paid their money and given up their time to hear the performer so I believe performer is obliged to deliver. <br /><br />Yet some artists instead of respecting their audience, pander to it, thus losing repeat for themselves and their work. The manifestation of this is the sing-along in the middle or the shameless encouragement of the audience to clap. We know the guilty ones!<br /><br />The most successful artists like the Stones, McCartney Springsteen, U2, Coldplay to name a few understand that, respect their audiences, give good value in their concerts while maintaining their integrity as musicians and artists. They feel no shame at putting on a showEd Haysomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01760318006190855820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-8658936648499014472012-12-07T17:50:11.630+00:002012-12-07T17:50:11.630+00:00Don't Fear The Reaper - which must be the trac...Don't Fear The Reaper - which must be the track you mean - is a great cover, so it's really odd the drummer found it embarrassing. Maybe that attitude suffused the band and was the reason they never really made it big. Or at least one of the reasons.Nigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252766855035438100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-77721347390374270302012-12-06T18:56:22.950+00:002012-12-06T18:56:22.950+00:00I saw Dodgy when they performed at The Lexington e...I saw Dodgy when they performed at The Lexington earlier this year. Their set consisted of songs exclusively from their new album. For the encore they played an old hit and a cover version.<br /><br />I remember being very impressed by the conviction they showed in their new material. They didn't sheepishly shoehorn in a few new songs partway through the set. They got up on stage and effectively said: 'This is where we are now as a band.'<br /><br />I thought about this on the journey home and reached the conclusion that I don't really care what a band plays. I just want them to play like they mean it.<br />backwards7https://www.blogger.com/profile/04902342759719621771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-26811325080739388362012-12-06T17:20:58.799+00:002012-12-06T17:20:58.799+00:00It wasn't Cook Da Books was it?
I wish they wo...<i>It wasn't Cook Da Books was it?</i><br />I wish they would reform for a tour.mutikonkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08013127024190330396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-71951085664281116512012-12-06T16:57:42.152+00:002012-12-06T16:57:42.152+00:00It all depends, seeing Morrisey and whatever bunch...It all depends, seeing Morrisey and whatever bunch of bricklayers he has behind him plod through 'How Soon Is Now?' wasn't that good.<br /><br />The one time I've seen the Pet Shop Boys they opened with 'West End Girls' which struck me as a "get this fucker out of the way" move to stop people in the crowd shouting out for it later. londonleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431179744928331353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-72221630618064112482012-12-06T15:10:38.829+00:002012-12-06T15:10:38.829+00:00It all depends on where the band are in their care...It all depends on where the band are in their career, artistically, which of course is very subjective. If they are still on the up, then fans are only to happy to hear the latest stuff. E.g. I saw Richard Hawley recently who played a lot of "Standing at the Sky's Edge" which was superb. Contrast that with REM 3 or 4 years ago - they played a fantastic selection of their extensive back catalogue. They also played a couple from Accelerate, which at the time was a fairly recent release - fair enough but if they'd played all of it and left out Man on the Moon or Losing My Religion, the crowd, including me, would have been thoroughly pissed off.Huwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14743262251212584449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-80446908478924122972012-12-06T14:29:37.740+00:002012-12-06T14:29:37.740+00:00What if you are Paul McCartney and can't possi...What if you are Paul McCartney and can't possibly fit them all in?<br /><br />And festivals are a different thing. Hits all the way there are an obligation but if it is a tour to promote the new album... Well it has to be promoted, doesn't it!<br /><br />Unbelieveably Jonathan Richman never plays Roadrunner anymore and i always leave feeling just a little cheated as a result.<br /><br />Babararacucudadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07508003810002190076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-58733004445865593112012-12-06T14:00:00.840+00:002012-12-06T14:00:00.840+00:00It wasn't Cook Da Books was it?It wasn't Cook Da Books was it?Jon Peakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04471926651090670258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-40309157353304291722012-12-06T13:47:23.846+00:002012-12-06T13:47:23.846+00:00It was vetoed by *the drummer*?! Well, there you a...It was vetoed by *the drummer*?! Well, there you are then.Do You Do Any Wings?https://www.blogger.com/profile/16464188169541771585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-90177291929537180172012-12-06T13:40:22.383+00:002012-12-06T13:40:22.383+00:00Famously Elton John at Wembley 1975 when he follow...Famously Elton John at Wembley 1975 when he followed a Beach Boys greatest hits fest by playing Captain Fantastic from start to finish...didn't go down too well.jon saliburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08018614865001680082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-27815656527153725612012-12-06T13:29:38.379+00:002012-12-06T13:29:38.379+00:00Would the band in question hail from New Zealand?
...Would the band in question hail from New Zealand?<br />Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058258068826981596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-54130922006751307932012-12-06T13:07:39.321+00:002012-12-06T13:07:39.321+00:00I suppose it's a question of making the right ...I suppose it's a question of making the right judgement call. I saw OMD at Latitude in 2011, when it was miserable and raining and those of us not using artificial stimulants were feeling a tad glum. But Andy McCluskey bounced on stage and immediately announced: "Dont worry folks, no experimental stuff today, we're going to play you 17 hits!" A drenched and subdued crowd went instantly wild and this announcement alone nearly brought the house (tent) down before they'd played a single note!Rob Hadgrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09257836780611488927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-86132358592730523512012-12-06T12:58:11.760+00:002012-12-06T12:58:11.760+00:00There's a balance to be found, and it partly d...There's a balance to be found, and it partly depends on whether the crowd only know the "hits". Julian Cope can get by just fine without playing "World Shut Your Mouth". But I remember Blur being mocked when they insisted on making their most recent (and most difficult) album "13" the basis of their set when playing festivals, and then contrast that with acts like Echo and the Bunnymen, who are reluctant to play anything they've recorded lately, even in front of their own fans.Nation Stole My Robotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15880449432878254427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-51952859148305515032012-12-06T12:41:38.088+00:002012-12-06T12:41:38.088+00:00It has always been extremely arrogant and disrespe...It has always been extremely arrogant and disrespectful to an audience to deliberately avoid playing stuff that is popular and well-known. I think it must have developed from the late 60s once certain acts found that vast popularity brings with it certain annoyances and inconveniences. Mass adulation led to complacency and they took their eye off the ball. Acts suddenly started finding it necessary to show people there was more to them than just their hits, they were deep, and they were cool. Amazing really, because they were basically saying: "I'm bored with that old song, and I don't care that you've paid to see me perform it. I'd rather play something newer, which suits me and your requirements are not important!" Rob Hadgrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09257836780611488927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-67212749904184255232012-12-06T12:37:21.096+00:002012-12-06T12:37:21.096+00:00I suppose they consider themselves artists rather ...I suppose they consider themselves artists rather than entertainers. Misguidedly. Nick Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306895117095971417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-71921691309629001892012-12-06T12:30:25.213+00:002012-12-06T12:30:25.213+00:00Just one thought: Hi Ho, Silver Lining.Just one thought: Hi Ho, Silver Lining.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213105154054399018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-52945524199031122272012-12-06T12:09:44.972+00:002012-12-06T12:09:44.972+00:00I'm now picturing Kevin Eldon as Ralph McTell ...I'm now picturing Kevin Eldon as Ralph McTell in the very funny <i>Big Train</i> sketch.<br /><br />STREETS OF LONDON!Tim Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09278785725464944786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-74483505200438575172012-12-06T12:07:12.121+00:002012-12-06T12:07:12.121+00:00I think some actors are like that as well; they wa...I think some actors are like that as well; they want to be recognised for their "serious" work and not for, say, the popular sitcom role that made them a household name.TheStuffBloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04734011189949401334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-34408448585694402142012-12-06T12:06:50.802+00:002012-12-06T12:06:50.802+00:00Too true.
In fact, the only way this blog post c...Too true. <br /><br />In fact, the only way this blog post could be improved would be if you'd included some of your greatest ever coverlines from Smash Hits in it.Michael Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06170302599006273553noreply@blogger.com