Why do famous musicians do this?
Discussion
TooMany2cvs said:
schmunk said:
CanAm said:
lrdisco said:
I really am not sure why the TALENT can play what they like.
They are being paid to do what the employers want(The public), try it at work just doing what ever you want. It usually ends badly.
Not everyone is a hardcore fan and they do want to hear the hits and highlights.
Just my view.
It is clearly billed as "The Road Songs for Lovers Tour" to promote his new album. And Chris Rea is well known for his lack of banter with the audience.They are being paid to do what the employers want(The public), try it at work just doing what ever you want. It usually ends badly.
Not everyone is a hardcore fan and they do want to hear the hits and highlights.
Just my view.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Songs-Lovers-Chris-R...
Oh, wait - you thought it was a generic descriptive, rather than the name of his latest album...
Dr Jekyll said:
....Neil Young told them he was going to play his new album first, but then play stuff they'd heard before.
He played his new album from start to finish. Twice.
Even if he'd done it that's back to front. I saw Tom Robinson get it spot on years ago. He said I'm going to play all the old stuff, then we'll have a break and you can get a beer, then you can go home if you want because we're playing the new album after that. We all had a ball in the first half, got our beers, and all stayed and enjoyed the new stuff. The other way round is just keeping a restless crowd waiting.He played his new album from start to finish. Twice.
TooMany2cvs said:
Umm, you aren't their employer. You're their customer. Big difference. If you don't like what they choose to sell, don't buy...
A bit late to not buy when you are already in the gig....That said the best gigs are usually the ones where the band is having a blast...so I'd rather they played what they wanted than went through the motions.
Personally I've never come away from a gig disappointed because they didn't play a certain song.
Don't enjoy 'greatest hits' tours, they just seem to be there for money, if you're after that, go n see a tribute band.
I like to see a band/artist do something new that I've not heard before.
When I go to the cinema I usually go to see a film I've yet to see.
The exception when it will be an anniversary of a classic album and the band will perform the whole thing in one sitting, those can be interesting, particularly if the album has never been performed live in one go and then it's usually a unique reinterpretation of the album anyway.
As for 'engaging with the audience' I think it depends upon the act. I like the Pink Floyds or the Tangerine Dreams who'd almost sneak on and play for 2 hours or so then just say 'Thanks' and leave. But then there are other acts who'd introduce each song and everyone will have a clap and enjoy themselves on cue. I like those as well, but it would be weird for one to try to be the other.
I like to see a band/artist do something new that I've not heard before.
When I go to the cinema I usually go to see a film I've yet to see.
The exception when it will be an anniversary of a classic album and the band will perform the whole thing in one sitting, those can be interesting, particularly if the album has never been performed live in one go and then it's usually a unique reinterpretation of the album anyway.
As for 'engaging with the audience' I think it depends upon the act. I like the Pink Floyds or the Tangerine Dreams who'd almost sneak on and play for 2 hours or so then just say 'Thanks' and leave. But then there are other acts who'd introduce each song and everyone will have a clap and enjoy themselves on cue. I like those as well, but it would be weird for one to try to be the other.
It's sometimes that case that artists don't always own all their songs which limits what they can perform live.
I think I'm right in saying that Simple Minds hardly ever perform 'Don't you Forget About Me' live, (arguably their most famous song) because the rights are owned by the film company that commissioned the song for The Breakfast Club.
I think I'm right in saying that Simple Minds hardly ever perform 'Don't you Forget About Me' live, (arguably their most famous song) because the rights are owned by the film company that commissioned the song for The Breakfast Club.
Always been of the opinion the musicians should play what they want, and I'll decide if I want to see them perform.
Mind, I've always enjoyed the gig and got lost in the experience, the number of times people are like "oh did they play xxx? did they play yyy? and I'm like FFS dunno mate...
Of the many hundreds of gig I've been to the only one I've felt was a bit of a disappointment was ministry a couple or so of years ago - they basically did about 2 songs of the whole classic era (mind/land/pslam/filth) that made them, and the new stuff is all a bit repetitive. Evan though thats in contradiction to what I just said, that gig just about found my limit (and even then then I enjoyed the first half or so, until it just felt we were being tested.)
Mind, I've always enjoyed the gig and got lost in the experience, the number of times people are like "oh did they play xxx? did they play yyy? and I'm like FFS dunno mate...
Of the many hundreds of gig I've been to the only one I've felt was a bit of a disappointment was ministry a couple or so of years ago - they basically did about 2 songs of the whole classic era (mind/land/pslam/filth) that made them, and the new stuff is all a bit repetitive. Evan though thats in contradiction to what I just said, that gig just about found my limit (and even then then I enjoyed the first half or so, until it just felt we were being tested.)
B17NNS said:
I remember seeing Pearl Jam in the early 90's. They refused to play 'Alive' (massive hit at the time for them). Think the reason they stated was that the proper fans wouldn't really care and it would p
s off any teeny boppers who just went to the show to hear one hit.
I like my artists fked up with a bit of attitude. I want to see a living, organic, evolving gig rather than a heavily rehearsed performance.
Agreed. In fact, that's why I like the Evenflow video so much - the fact that Eddie Vedder is giving it attitude at the start! s off any teeny boppers who just went to the show to hear one hit.I like my artists f
ked up with a bit of attitude. I want to see a living, organic, evolving gig rather than a heavily rehearsed performance.New Order haven't played "World In Motion" for years either.
I think, as long as the gig is enjoyable, leaving out the odd crowd pleaser is fine, but Bob Dylan just took the piss when I saw him at the O2.
Mumbled through all the songs, many I couldn't identify and a few only a good way through! Never once even acknowledged the audience were even there.
That's unacceptable - Missing out someone's favourite song, less so, although I can see why you might expect "Driving Home For Christmas" in December.
M
I think, as long as the gig is enjoyable, leaving out the odd crowd pleaser is fine, but Bob Dylan just took the piss when I saw him at the O2.
Mumbled through all the songs, many I couldn't identify and a few only a good way through! Never once even acknowledged the audience were even there.
That's unacceptable - Missing out someone's favourite song, less so, although I can see why you might expect "Driving Home For Christmas" in December.
M
Dermot O'Logical said:
In defence of Chris Rea, he's supremely talented, a proper petrolhead, and a nice bloke to talk to - I met him at Goodwood Revival a few years ago where he was racing a Lotus 6. He was standing in the paddock near his car looking a bit lonely, so we had a chat.
As stated above, he's probably fed up with playing his "Greatest Hits" every time he appears on stage - most famous musicians are the same.
Chris has come through some life-threatening health issues, and these days probably just wants to do his own thing. Who can blame him?
The people paying upwards of £50 to watch? He's doing a fAs stated above, he's probably fed up with playing his "Greatest Hits" every time he appears on stage - most famous musicians are the same.
Chris has come through some life-threatening health issues, and these days probably just wants to do his own thing. Who can blame him?
king job. I have to do pretty much the same thing every day, I'm also talented, a petrolhead and a nice bloke to talk to, but if I told the people paying me to do my job I couldn't be arsed to do some of it because I was bored I'd be out the door quick smart!Pothole said:
The people paying upwards of £50 to watch? He's doing a fking job. I have to do pretty much the same thing every day, I'm also talented, a petrolhead and a nice bloke to talk to, but if I told the people paying me to do my job I couldn't be arsed to do some of it because I was bored I'd be out the door quick smart!
Yes, he's doing a job. His job - in this case - was to put on a show involving singing songs from HIS NEW ALBUM, as unsubtly hinted at in the name of the tour.king job. I have to do pretty much the same thing every day, I'm also talented, a petrolhead and a nice bloke to talk to, but if I told the people paying me to do my job I couldn't be arsed to do some of it because I was bored I'd be out the door quick smart!Did he not do that?
Ekona said:
Had this a couple of years back when we went to see Mark Knopfler at the O2. Now, I didn't expect him to play all the Dire Straits stuff, but neither was I expecting two hours of Irish folk music. He did play Sultans and R&J, which I'm grateful for, but I certainly wasn't expecting the rest to be so twee. Shame.
Metallica get it bang-on when they perform. They'll do some old random stuff and some covers, different at every show , but they'll also always do Sandman, Master Of Puppets etc. To not play your biggest one or two tracks is just a bit odd and insulting to the audience, so I'm with the OP on this.
Saw Mark Knopfler at the Metro Arena Newcastle some yearsago may have been the same tour.Metallica get it bang-on when they perform. They'll do some old random stuff and some covers, different at every show , but they'll also always do Sandman, Master Of Puppets etc. To not play your biggest one or two tracks is just a bit odd and insulting to the audience, so I'm with the OP on this.
Nowthe Areana is a big tin shed and the acoustics are poor but I couldn't actually discern a single word the whole evening. He just mumbled for 2 hours then left
Pothole said:
The people paying upwards of £50 to watch? He's doing a fking job. I have to do pretty much the same thing every day, I'm also talented, a petrolhead and a nice bloke to talk to, but if I told the people paying me to do my job I couldn't be arsed to do some of it because I was bored I'd be out the door quick smart!
You really can't align what is a creative performance with a day to day 'real' job.king job. I have to do pretty much the same thing every day, I'm also talented, a petrolhead and a nice bloke to talk to, but if I told the people paying me to do my job I couldn't be arsed to do some of it because I was bored I'd be out the door quick smart!If an artist has an expansive body of work, they have to make a choice as to what of this they perform. That will mean that some people are disappointed that they didn't play a certain song but for others, it's not a problem.
I think it was Neil Young who once said there are three phases to a musician's career; Phase 1: Please the record company. Phase 2: Please the people. Phase 3: Please yourself.
lrdisco said:
I know its a bit of a 1st World issue but I went to see Chris Rea last night in Manchester and having paid £53 each for tickets he did his show then an encore but as it was December we thought he would at least play his Christmas hit "Driving home for Christmas" but oh no. Not a peep.
The whole crowd seemed dissapointed, let down. Yes he may be famous but I thought the reason for his show was to please the crowds who had spent a lot of money on tickets, drinke, transport etc.
He was awful anyway with no personality and did not interact with the audience at all. A prima donna it would seem, just there for his own ego.
Rant over.
I'm going to see Saint Etienne on Sunday and can almost guarantee they will play a cover of this very song, I know who I'd rather see play it too...The whole crowd seemed dissapointed, let down. Yes he may be famous but I thought the reason for his show was to please the crowds who had spent a lot of money on tickets, drinke, transport etc.
He was awful anyway with no personality and did not interact with the audience at all. A prima donna it would seem, just there for his own ego.
Rant over.
colin_p said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I always thought he should combine with Dire Straights, to form Dire Rea.
Genius.I bet you thought that up whilst stuck in a traffic jam back in '97 and have waited all these years to tell it !
Kraftwerk are good at this. On the very rare occasion where they've got new material, its the focus but they generally do play remixes of their best known stuff. I don't think I'll ever see them live again though as they hardly ever play and now it's only one original band member.
Oddly they never play their very early work where it was flutes and tape machines.
colin_p said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I always thought he should combine with Dire Straights, to form Dire Rea.
Genius.I bet you thought that up whilst stuck in a traffic jam back in '97 and have waited all these years to tell it !
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