I Have Changed, So Change Things Must:

Mr Grumpy said:
I can honestly say, this is the worst song, and worst video, by the worst singer, doing the worst whistling, wearing the worst cap, in the worst group, from the worst country, in the history of mankind or any other species in the known (and unknown or possible) universe(s)!!!

'

Worse still, when drunk, I can't help myself but sing along.

The next morning when I awake with a raging hangover in a police cell in a foreign country, clothes drenched with blood and feces, then start to recount the horrors of the night before, the murdering, pillaging, drug taking, hooliganism and debauchery, it is all overshadowed by the shame of singing along with, and even attempting to whistle to, The Winds of Change.
Click to expand...


 
BlackSG91 said:
I've been playing guitar now for 30 years and I can't play entire cover tunes completely. I refuse to because I don't feel like copying other people's tunes. I like to develop my own style and I totally improvise these days.

People in the past always asked me to play Stairway To Heaven which I played well. It's a great tune but after hearing it for a million times on the radio and playing it, it is time to give it a rest. I would have to say to any guitarist...develop your own classics and stop imitating others. There will be never another Jimi Hendrix, etc.

Be yourself and put some effort into developing your own style. I'm simply getting tired of cover bands because they are riding on the coattails of someone else's fame. Be original...I know it's hard to do but it can be done. If you want to be a copy-cat then so be it.


;>)/
Click to expand...

I appreciate you taking the time to post this and I wanted to respond.

I grew up playing covers. That's how we got to play assemblies and half time shows. Each time I play a cover from that era, I relive those days over again in my mind.

I have developed my own style and I just don't really like it. I still write and record my own stuff, but I don't like my creations. They don't bring me the same joy playing a bunch of 80's covers do.

Right now, at this stage in my life, I want as much enjoyment as possible....
 
Mr Grumpy said:
I can honestly say, this is the worst song, and worst video, by the worst singer, doing the worst whistling, wearing the worst cap, in the worst group, from the worst country, in the history of mankind or any other species in the known (and unknown or possible) universe(s)!!!

'

Worse still, when drunk, I can't help myself but sing along.

The next morning when I awake with a raging hangover in a police cell in a foreign country, clothes drenched with blood and feces, then start to recount the horrors of the night before, the murdering, pillaging, drug taking, hooliganism and debauchery, it is all overshadowed by the shame of singing along with, and even attempting to whistle to, The Winds of Change.
Click to expand...

Music has always been powerfully emotional for me. For example, I still tear up every time I hear songs like "winds of change" and "humanity," because my mind sees the suffering and hate that fueled these songs...
 
Play what makes you smile. For me that is the blues. I like other genres and enjoy playing them but when it comes right down to it the blues makes me smile every time. I can hang for a ten minute boogie with just an E chord and be smiling every minute of it. When you're playing the blues with a group and they all get into the groove, for me, that is the epitome of enjoying my instrument. A lot of other players say the blues is so simple and boring but for me it is what makes me smile so that's where I spend most of my time. I listen to the blues in my car, on my stereo, and when I play guitar I play the blues.
 
Kerry Brown said:
Play what makes you smile. For me that is the blues. I like other genres and enjoy playing them but when it comes right down to it the blues makes me smile every time. I can hang for a ten minute boogie with just an E chord and be smiling every minute of it. When you're playing the blues with a group and they all get into the groove, for me, that is the epitome of enjoying my instrument. A lot of other players say the blues is so simple and boring but for me it is what makes me smile so that's where I spend most of my time. I listen to the blues in my car, on my stereo, and when I play guitar I play the blues.
Click to expand...

Hey!!!

We did a 20 minute version of "the thrill is gone" and the bandleader's sax player showed up. It really was a crowd pleaser.
 
Kerry,

I totally get where you are coming from. My car is full of classic rock tunes because I cannot bear to listen to the radio these days. I got Bryan Adams, Dio, Scorpions, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Ozzy, Zepplin, Aldo Nova, Priest, Maiden, and then a couple oddballs, Planet P Project and Soggy Bottom Boys... :-)
 
Kerry Brown said:
Play what makes you smile. For me that is the blues. I like other genres and enjoy playing them but when it comes right down to it the blues makes me smile every time. I can hang for a ten minute boogie with just an E chord and be smiling every minute of it. When you're playing the blues with a group and they all get into the groove, for me, that is the epitome of enjoying my instrument. A lot of other players say the blues is so simple and boring but for me it is what makes me smile so that's where I spend most of my time. I listen to the blues in my car, on my stereo, and when I play guitar I play the blues.
Click to expand...

I feed on the energy from the opening riffs to songs like "rock you like a hurricane."

Tell you another song that just grabs me is "Fever Dreams" by Dio. That opening F# note...the power behind the dissonant phrasing....

 
Last edited:
Also last night I went to a gig to see a new to me local cover band. It was a refreshing to hear some well done older and not as common offerings such as songs by Traffic, Cream, Blind Faith, Joe Cocker,Doors, Yardbirds and Steve Miller.
 
HAHA GW, I think I am having Deja Vu. I think I saw the clip prior to today and remember you saying the young blonde was your daughter.

I love THE WHO so I will check out the vid again as I have not had time to view it yet.
Somewhat related, I love a video of an outdoor gig where a cover band of grown men make a 7,8,9 yr old boy feel welcome as he takes the throne behind the drums and rocks out with the big boys. Great stuff. I think his name is Avery Molek
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top