Graham Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 There's two songs in our set at the moment that I really don't enjoy playing as the lyrics make me feel uncomfortable. I'm not the singer, so has less of an impact on me, but I don't feel good playing them, which also makes me not want to practice them, I will of course, though. The first is Brown Sugar and whilst the lyrics do strike me as more than a little racist, I'm less uncomfortable with that one. The other is Delilah and I really don't like it. It's a song about domestic violence and murder that's sympathetic to the killer and I feel bad every time I play it. What's the best route here? We've got a dep guitarist this weekend so are a bit limited on set list, but I think I might have a chat with the singer/band leader and say that going forward I'd really rather not play Delilah at least. Or should I just suck it up and ignore it, particularly as I'm not singing them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 I reckon you still have a say, even if you are not the singer. Maybe the singer has more of a "veto", but for me the whole band has a say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 (edited) lots of things have 'moved on' recently... if these songs were released now how would they be recieved? would they actually get released at all? If you are uncomfortable, i think that speaks volumes... Is that not one of the beauties of music? how it makes you feel, but if certain lyrics give any degree of reservation rather than reverance, make your thoughts and feelings known there are plenty of other great tunes to choose from. Edited June 22, 2021 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 I'd raise your concerns with the band - you are part of a group that (at first glance) endorse the song by playing it. I've left bands before now over song lyrics, as I'm not going to promote or perpetuate outdated attitudes and/or misogyny or racism (amongst other things). Simply by being on stage performing the material you are part of that in the eyes of the punters. I've also been in bands that did Brown Sugar, but changed the lyrics to make it acceptable in the 21st century. Happy compromise. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 I had a very similar conversation to this with my drummer friend a while ago. We were talking about what music we are comfortable listening to and playing based on the artist and their antics. I think you need to stay true to what you believe and if you are uncomfortable you should speak up. At least one person in a potential audience will be feeling the same as you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 You are of course entitled to your opinion, and your feelings are valid. For me, I don't really believe Elton John thinks it's alright to fight on a Saturday night, or that The Proclaimers really would walk 1,000 miles, or that Sting really thought every little thing she did was magic. I think it's possible for a lyricist/author/screenwriter to write a story about characters, without necessarily sharing the opinions of those characters. I don't think it's necessary to agree with the sentiment of a song to perform it. Musical theatre is on my side here 🙂 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Speak up! We change some words in songs because even though they're maybe meant to be ironic, sarcastic or whatever we aren't comfortable with them and how they can come across. I want to raise the use of b!tch in Uptown Funk as another one we need to get rid of. I hate the word and how it's used. If I get my way with that I might try and get the band to remove some rubbish songs too... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 we play at least 2 Whitesnake numbers in the set, with a female singer. Pretty sure Mr Coverdale is/was taking the p1ss and even is he wasn't I'm pretty confident his dodgy old 70's Carry-On lyrics aren't going to suddenly misogynize our blue rinse punters too much. It's all fair in Love & War down the Dog 'n Duck...on a Saturday (before the last 11pm bus) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 I’d reckon that most drunk people in the pub will care less about the lyrical content and just sing along if you play them well. Until this thread I had no idea what Delilah was about and suspect that will be the case for many punters. I’m with the @MacDaddy school of thought on this, especially as I’ve played Last Caress by The Misfits and didn’t really mean what we were singing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 1 hour ago, MacDaddy said: I think it's possible for a lyricist/author/screenwriter to write a story about characters, without necessarily sharing the opinions of those characters. I don't think it's necessary to agree with the sentiment of a song to perform it. Musical theatre is on my side here 🙂 Fairytale of New York is a great example of this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 (edited) My goodness.. if that's how you feel, don't ever join a folk band. The lyrics to half of those tunes will give you nightmares. Edited June 22, 2021 by wateroftyne 5 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 12 hours ago, Graham said: the lyrics do strike me as more than a little racist https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mick-jagger-s-love-letters-marsha-hunt-reveal-secret-history-rolling-stone-8306604.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 This made me smile. When I was a teenager, I was a little preoccupied with the respective threats of death, nuclear war and rabies. I had an album by Magnum (Marauder) which had a song that included the line 'there' ll be no new day dawning for me'. I didn't play the tune for years despite playing the rest of the record. I can cope with it now. 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 12 hours ago, Graham said: I'm not the singer, so has less of an impact on me, but I don't feel good playing them, which also makes me not want to practice them, I will of course, though. The first is Brown Sugar and whilst the lyrics do strike me as more than a little racist, I'm less uncomfortable with that one. The other is Delilah and I really don't like it. It's a song about domestic violence and murder that's sympathetic to the killer and I feel bad every time I play it. If you actually feel uncomfortable doing them then bring it up, is it not suppsoed to be for enjoyment or is it the day job? My wife refused to do brown sugar as the singer in the last group I was in with her, but that was easier as she wasnt a fan of the stones either (or am i) so happy to drop it. I certainly wouldn't do blurred lines. The guitarist always has a bit of a problem with doing billy jean because of the jaco connection - but he changes his mind, if he really didn't want to do it (like any song) we wouldn't. Doing Tubthumping, by chumbawumba makes me feel uncomfortable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Not a song I have ever played in a band, but I always feel uncomfortable when I hear it: I would rather, I would rather go blind Then to see you walk away from me How must blind people feel when they hear these lyrics? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Tears for Fears' "Sowing the seeds of love" is just about jizzing in public. So many hit songs should be binned if you scrutinize the contents enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 24 minutes ago, thebrig said: Not a song I have ever played in a band, but I always feel uncomfortable when I hear it: I would rather, I would rather go blind Then to see you walk away from me How must blind people feel when they hear these lyrics? Do amputees feel excluded when they hear And when the rain comes down Would you choose to walk or stay Would you choose to walk Would you choose to stay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 7 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said: Do amputees feel excluded when they hear And when the rain comes down Would you choose to walk or stay Would you choose to walk Would you choose to stay I could be wrong, but surely these lyrics are only asking, Would you choose to walk or stay? I really don't see the connection with amputees. But, saying, I would rather go blind! is a statement that they would choose to go blind, which to my mind is a terrible thing to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 To be fair, when we’re listening to music we’re largely excluding deaf people. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 5 minutes ago, wateroftyne said: To be fair, when we’re listening to music we’re largely excluding deaf people. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbvht39 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Just now, Woodinblack said: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbvht39 Quote To be fair, when we’re listening to music we’re largely excluding deaf people. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat2019 Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 12 hours ago, wateroftyne said: My goodness.. if that's how you feel, don't ever join a folk band. The lyrics to half of those tunes will give you nightmares. Or Blues, stay well away from the Blues.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 26 minutes ago, thebrig said: I could be wrong, but surely these lyrics are only asking, Would you choose to walk or stay? I really don't see the connection with amputees. But, saying, I would rather go blind! is a statement that they would choose to go blind, which to my mind is a terrible thing to say. Surely its a statement of absolute distress at the thought of losing a lover. Its not a statement of fact. People say and do odd things when they are in love. Or was Tom Petty actually having his heart dragged around? They are songs for goodness sake, and if they bring to the public's attention something awful that happened in the past, Brown Sugar, then kids should know about it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Am I the only one that is shocked at someones woke'ness about old songs? Brown Sugar is an anti slave song and Delilah is about someones, albeit over the top, revenge on someone who wronged him. Make believe and in the past. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 36 minutes ago, wateroftyne said: To be fair, when we’re listening to music we’re largely excluding deaf people. From what I read sometime ago, that isn't even slightly true, in they were saying the marjority of deaf people like music. Unlike excluding blind people who can't get much out of a light shows, music can be easily felt by anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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