Recommend Me a song for my son's band...

[Ultraviolet]

Hi musos, could anyone recommend a song for my son's band to learn and play at a school concert? Needs to be:

Rock or pop
Something the other parents would know
Minimal guitars, or a simple rhythm part that could be played on keyboards (there's no guitarist)
Simple bassline
Drums can be complex as the drummer's excellent

Thoughts so far..

'Walking on the moon' by the Police
Err.. That's it..

Band members are 11-12 in agree if that helps? They have drums, bass, vocals and keyboard/piano...

Any other suggestions gratefully received...

Cheers,

UV

[hornetrider]

How about something by Keane?

Somewhere only we know maybe?

[Shaw Tarse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj0TPrJA

[conkerman]

Hey Bulldog?

[dudleybloke]

Gimme chocolate by babymetal.

Or

Get schwifty.

[maxxy5]

Coldplay?

[vinnie01]

Rainbow -Since you been gone

[StevieBee]

Empire of the Sun; Walking on a Dream.

Given their age, they should be able to hit the high notes and as far as I can tell, hits the mark all of the list.

(BTW: I am an appreciator of Musos but far from one myself!)

[worsy]

Anything by OMD

Maid of Orleans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CGiL0Mp6Ns
Joan of Arc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nE8jf0fn_U
So in Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeI8uYoHXh4

Definitely reckon some of the guitar effects could be sampled for this

Get Naked, Methods of Mayhem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2TVOcmOVwg

ok maybe not.....



Tori Amos - Bouncing off clouds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSGMjB3HbGM (well most of it)

Evanescence my immortal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anLPw0Efmo (apart from the end)

Delain - We are the others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lZGhh41W9k

But Piano based

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOtse_b_XQ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u3vjnKfWBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEh_YYRoga0

Edited by worsy on Thursday 28th January 18:37

[viggen114]

Cars - Gary Numan

[Rollin]

Axel F

[Mastodon2]

Recruit a proper band, go headlong into Dream Theater's "Erotomania", it will go down a treat with the parents as it has some bits that sound a bit like a Queen song.

[Some Gump]

drums
bass
vocals
and keyboard/piano...

Easy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-jC6mwvCqI

[Tom_C76]

Viva la Vida by Coldplay. By far the best thing they ever wrote.

[dojo]

NIce ones to get started is that are easy to sing:

Chasing Cars - Snow patrol - put the guitar part on the keys
Counting Stars - One republic
Use somebody - Kings of Leon

How old are they?

How good is the keys player & singers?

Walking on the moon will be too hard IMO

I'd stick to something more modern otherwise kids won't be engaged to do it.

[Ultraviolet]

All

Thanks for the replies, some excellent suggestions although a few may be slightly too esoteric. The audience will be middle class, middle of the road types so if the song wasn't a frequent feature on radio 2, it probably will be greeted by blank looks! So Keene, Snow Patrol, KoL definitely worth looking into..

The last song they played was Hard Days Night, so that's the sorta of level we're talking. Vocalist, drummer both good, bass and keys are beginners (think grade 2-3 piano)

Keep 'em coming!

Cheers,
UV

[toon10]

How about level 42 Running in the Family? Bass, keyboards, not guitar heavy and fairly easy to sing. The kids might appreciate the "Our Dad would send us to our room" lyrics as they may be able to relate! The middle class audience should be familiar with it too. Very middle of the road so shouldn't offend.

[dojo]

I run quite a few ensembles for that age group in independent schools right across the ability spectrum.

If the kids are tight and enjoying themselves the parents will love it (as long as its not too heavy)

some recent songs have been:

Hello - Adele
Figure it out - Royal Blood
Riptide - Vance Joy
Eye of the tiger - Survivor
Hold back the River - James Bay
Take to Church - Hoizer
Centuries - Fall out boy
Pompeii - Bastille
Happy - Pharrell
Hall of fame - The Script
Counting Stars - One Rebublic
Animals - Maroon 5
Upside down - Paloma Faith
Changing - Paloma Faith
Summer time sadness - Lana del Ray
Rollin in the deep - Adele
Prayer in C - Lilly Wood
Use somebody - KOL
Chasing cars - Snow Patrol
Don't stop believin - Journey
Demons - Imagine dragons
Rather be - Clean Bandit

[Ultraviolet]

toon10 said:

How about level 42 Running in the Family? Bass, keyboards, not guitar heavy and fairly easy to sing. The kids might appreciate the "Our Dad would send us to our room" lyrics as they may be able to relate! The middle class audience should be familiar with it too. Very middle of the road so shouldn't offend.

Good lyrics 'a man so large he barely fitted circumstances' but Mark Kings bass is normally epic so might be beyond our intrepid bass player.. I'll take a look...

[Billsnemesis]

Whats Up - 4 Non Blondes

Only needs three chords. Everyone seems to know it. There is a nice but simple lead guitar part however it isn't essential. It works with electric or acoustic guitars. Great sing along chorus.