Audience Favourites

Hello Everyone,

Thank you all for your response to my music requests. It is interesting to hear what regular tunes others play and I was thinking this could be another 'Topic' for this forum.

In my experience over the years, age and venue are a governing factor as to what I play (unless of course specific music is requested)and with this in mind, I have been thinking of compiling a 'Favourites File' for sometime now but have never got around to it, Maybe this is just the incentive I need to get started.

So come on folks! let's hear of some of the most requested/favourite tunes you play.

Looking forward to your replies.

Audrey

The tune that I live everyday now is: "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", but when I was active in playing for others the songs most requested were:

Dizzy Fingers
Bumble Boogie
Stardust (Artie Shaw's Version)
Sunrise Serenade
Carle Boogie

Have fun,

Larry Gosmeyer

2 lists Audrey - one for each side of the Atlantic.
My most regular request is Lady in red.
Rog

I am only a home player(as our Jam members will attest to) and enjoy music from the 30's to the 50's, both popular and country.

Bill and Larry's songs are the same as mine even though they are younger.

Fran in SC

Hi Roger - You say "My most regular request is Lady in red".

Love this song, any chance of hearing your version OR will I have to wait until November at Cambridge UK?.........Joan

Hi there Joan,
The most requested song is Patsy Cline's Crazy when I play.
Tony Sheffield

Sorry! meant Audrey
that's with reading Joan's post immediately before.
Tony

My favourite tune is "Whiter shade of pale"

Derek Munson

MOST REQUESTED SONGS

NEW YORK NEW YORK
I CAN’T GET STARTED
BAD LEROY BROWN
IN THE MOOD
ELECTRIC SLIDE
Y.M.C.A.
Macarena (Spelling)
MACHO MAN
CRAZY
STAR DUST
BEER BARREL POLKA
PENNSYLVANIA POLKA
LET'S TWIST AGAIN
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
MACK THE KNIFE
YELLOW RIBBON
ACHY HEART
THE PARTY'S OVER
GOD BLESS AMERICA

MODERATE REQUESTS

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
SWEET CAROLINE
I WILL SURVIVE
UNCHANGED MELODY
TARENRENTEL
MISIRLOU
HAVA NAGILA
IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
MACNAMAR’S BAND
I AIN'T GOT NOBODY

The leading request I get, are not songs but artist...Elvis, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Dion, and Duprees..

Hi Audrey,

Ah, memories. !!!
One or two people have mentioned 'Lady in Red'. - When I fisrt started to gig, I would regularly be requested to play the 'original' Lady in Red. ! Does anybody remember it. ? Came out in the 30's I believe, T'was a rhumba.

Although I no longer gig, when I did, some of the most popular requests would for the likes of:-

Too Young
That Certain Smile
This Is All I Ask
One Morning in May
Only Fools
Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
The Street Where you Live
Moonglow
Stardust (Gordon Jenkins/Nat King Cole)

And in fact, hundreds more. The list is endless. - What price the golden oldies. ?
Cheers,

Colin.

Hi there - I have never gigged - Yet!!! BUT Colin if my audience had my taste I would play all the songs you mentioned plus,

Nightingale sang in Berkely Sq
Young and Foolish
When I fall in love
Nearness of You etc. etc.,
My Funny Valentine
Embraceable You
We'll gather lilacs

I would also throw in some rousing Marches to get the feet tapping. - nobody sleeps when you play a March!!! Joan

It is interesting to see the differences from across the pond on this subject. The song Lady in Red has a flavor I do enjoy but there does not seem to be a call for it on my jobs. I would like to hear more about the differences in music.

John C.

The audiences I play for are mostly Senior Citizens & Very Senior Citizens.... Many are former professional musicians....

They like Polkas & Marches best.... are not particular about which ones.... Actually every type of music that moves at all....

Wow! What a great bunch you all are. I never expected to get so many replies and there are lot of suggestions to get me started on my list.

Firstly, like Larry my first love is Boogie and the piano. Having said that as I am now in my more 'mature years' (no I'm not going to tell you where I'm at) I find my fingers refuse to go the pace they used to in the days when I played a lot of Winnifred Atwell's music, but I still play Boogie. In fact when I was about 8 my eldest brother who's an 'ear' player showed me how to play boogie and I've never forgotten the mixed phrases he showed me and to this day I still play them. Apart from the very heavy classics and some of the jazz, I like all types of music. I think the no.1 request I get asked to play is Glen Miller's Moonlight Serenade. I don't think anyone has yet mastered the art of playing it like Glen Miller though, I do keep trying to perfect it but just when I think I've cracked it today - tomorrow I play it again and it sounds just awful, hence I've got quite a collection of my own variations on this tune which I've collected over the years. I'm sure you must all know what I'm saying, I never seem able to quite compose my 'masterpiece' .....

Other than that, the venues I go to are usually for Seniors and/or Celebrations of some sort, so of course I have a selection of singalongs and dance tunes which I always take with me - just in case.

Now over to John C. Yes the differences in music is also very interesting. We did an experiment at our Keyboard Club once. We all agreed on the tune "Feelings" and then each played it in turn using a different rhythm (or no rhythm at all) and it was a great success. Ten of us took part and it was amazing how the same tune could be played using different styles and rhythms.
Those members who were listening admitted afterwards that they thought it would be boring hearing the same tune being played over and over but had quite enjoyed listening to each person's rendition of it. It was played to rhumba, bossa, boogie, ballad, jazz piano, straight piano, straight organ, one member sang it and I played it to Orchestral Piano. Yes, it is fun. What would you play it to I wonder John or indeed any of you others?

Audrey

I don’t gig but just play for my own pleasure and entertainment the fingers don’t seem to work as efficiently when you are getting older my favourites

James Bond Themes,
Fields Of Gold,
Somewhere Over The Rainbow,
Crazy,
Hello Dolly,
Bewitched,
Cavatina,
What A Wonderful World,
The Greatest Love OF All,
How Deep Is Your Love,
Careless Whisper,
What A Feeling,
Patience.
Misty
Fly Me To The Moon
Someone Said Goodbye
Amarantine

These are just a few I have more music books than the store

Regards

Hello Casarosa,

I don't think I've ever heard the last title you mention - "Amarantine" - what sort of music is it please? I'm always interested in unusual pieces of music(unless it's in five sharps - I hate sharps).

Audrey

It's by Enya, Audrey and she's a wonderful singer songwriter from Ireland.
Rog

Thanks Roger,

I have quite a few Irish Books, so I'll get my PC to look for it. If it doesn't find it then I don't have it....

"Lazy so and so ain't I just?"

Audrey

It's a very recent release Audrey so I don't think you'll find it...However watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7UVoUW-xw8

Hi Roger,
Thanks for your post, the music on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7UVoUW-xw8 is beautiful, it’s so pure. I have not been exposed to this kind of music very often, so if you have other similar sites I would appreciate you posting them.

Thanks, John C.

Try these - she's wonderful... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a88-Tyl1gkI&mode=related&search= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoWcpafo1Zs&mode=related&search=

Hello All,

Thought you might like to know the latest score on the tunes I've collected so far for 'My Favourites' Folder

First Place: Crazy
Second Place: Stardust
Third Place: Shared by the following:-
Hello Dolly, Lady In Red,
Misty, The Nearness Of You,
Unchained Melody,
When I Fall In Love,
Whiter Shade of Pale.

The rest totalling 350 do not repeat.

Audrey

[This message has been edited by Audrey Turner (edited 07-02-2007).]

Hi Audrey
Red must be favourite with folk cos the other one I get asked for regularly is Red Red Wine by UB40
Rog

I find for my personal enjoyment I particularly enjoy songs with simple but meaningful chord changes and/or progressions.

That seems to put most of my favorites into the "Standards" catagory such as:

Dream
Stardust
September Song
I Remember You
Moonlight Becomes You
Moonglow
Stormy Weather
You Do Something to Me
Mood Indigo
St. Louis Blues
I Ain't Got Nobody

... to name a few

Tim

Thanks for your input Tim. Sounds good to me.I'll add them to my list.

Audrey