Sing, Sing a Song, Keep it Simple
January 26, 2013 12:58 PM Subscribe
Will we know the words?
Tonight, we are helping to host a large (75+) mixed age (20-80) party. It often leads (with alcohol and a guitar) to singing songs but no one can think of good songs that they know more than the choruses (and then murmurs). What songs, besides Jingle Bells, do most Americans know the words to? In the past we have read lyrics off the internet, but it is not fun to be constantly looking at a screen to read words!
Tonight, we are helping to host a large (75+) mixed age (20-80) party. It often leads (with alcohol and a guitar) to singing songs but no one can think of good songs that they know more than the choruses (and then murmurs). What songs, besides Jingle Bells, do most Americans know the words to? In the past we have read lyrics off the internet, but it is not fun to be constantly looking at a screen to read words!
Try some musical theatre standards.
My Favorite Things
Some Enchanted Evening
Somewhere That's Green
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Sixteen Going on Seventeen
Part of Your World (OK, any Disney tune)
All That Jazz
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:06 PM on January 26, 2013
My Favorite Things
Some Enchanted Evening
Somewhere That's Green
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Sixteen Going on Seventeen
Part of Your World (OK, any Disney tune)
All That Jazz
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:06 PM on January 26, 2013
Hell, I don't even know most of the words to American Pie or Summer of 69 and I'm 37. Your average 20 year old? No way. I think you're going to be relegated to Christmas Carols and famous folk tunes. Like God Bless America and crap like that.
posted by Justinian at 1:06 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 1:06 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Most people who have learned a little on the guitar, or have been around people who know a little about guitars know "Wagon Wheel"
posted by raccoon409 at 1:10 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by raccoon409 at 1:10 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Many web sites offer the lyrics to songs. Is it too late to print out the lyrics and distribute them as needed? Several people can share one sheet, I wouldn't think you would have to print 75+ of each song.
I went on a Christmas Caroling walking party one time. The hostess printed the lyrics and distributed them to those that needed them. It made for an enjoyable evening.
posted by JujuB at 1:22 PM on January 26, 2013
I went on a Christmas Caroling walking party one time. The hostess printed the lyrics and distributed them to those that needed them. It made for an enjoyable evening.
posted by JujuB at 1:22 PM on January 26, 2013
If you try to find something where everyone knows all the verses, you're setting things up to fail.
The way to make it work is, the person leading the song should know all the verses, and everyone else should be free to join in on whatever bits they remember. If that means the song leader is singing all alone on the verses, and the rest of the group just joins in on the chorus, then that's totally fine.
Having someone lead really does help, too. It sounds intimidating, but it isn't really. Maybe a friendlier, less threatening way to put it is, "The guy who's holding the guitar can sing whatever he wants, and everyone else will join in on the chorus."
posted by and so but then, we at 1:27 PM on January 26, 2013 [5 favorites]
The way to make it work is, the person leading the song should know all the verses, and everyone else should be free to join in on whatever bits they remember. If that means the song leader is singing all alone on the verses, and the rest of the group just joins in on the chorus, then that's totally fine.
Having someone lead really does help, too. It sounds intimidating, but it isn't really. Maybe a friendlier, less threatening way to put it is, "The guy who's holding the guitar can sing whatever he wants, and everyone else will join in on the chorus."
posted by and so but then, we at 1:27 PM on January 26, 2013 [5 favorites]
Honestly? The Happy Birthday song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and things like that. Maybe Oh, Susanna, or Old MacDonald Had a Farm. The Brady Bunch theme song.
And thanks to Glee, most everybody knows the lyrics to a lot of Journey songs.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:41 PM on January 26, 2013
And thanks to Glee, most everybody knows the lyrics to a lot of Journey songs.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:41 PM on January 26, 2013
That said, if you picked 75 random people in my corner of the US, odds are good that at least five or ten would know the words (verses and all) to "Wish You Were Here," "Major Tom," most Beatles and early Stones singles, "Should I Stay or Should I Go," "Friend of the Devil," "I Will Survive" and "Me and Bobby McGee."
Also, weirdly, "Bohemian Rhapsody," even though it's a long complicated irregular pain in the ass. (Put down the guitar for that one and just deedle-deedle-deedle through the solos.)
posted by and so but then, we at 1:52 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, weirdly, "Bohemian Rhapsody," even though it's a long complicated irregular pain in the ass. (Put down the guitar for that one and just deedle-deedle-deedle through the solos.)
posted by and so but then, we at 1:52 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seconding and so but then, we's comment. Pick songs that have oft-repeating choruses (Hey Jude is good, because of the nananana bit, as are most Beatles songs) that everyone probably remembers or can learn quickly from people around them, and have the leader sing the verse bits along with whoever knows those parts too. American Pie is also a good one for this, since the chorus is long.
posted by zinful at 2:11 PM on January 26, 2013
posted by zinful at 2:11 PM on January 26, 2013
and so but then, we has it: someone leads verses, everyone does choruses, anyone who wants joins in on verses too.
Gospel is great for this kind of stuff (if it won't offend anyone's religious or irreligious sensibilities) -- you can get a really satisfying chorus and a refrain every other line, and the number and order of verses doesn't tend to matter much.
posted by pont at 2:25 PM on January 26, 2013
Gospel is great for this kind of stuff (if it won't offend anyone's religious or irreligious sensibilities) -- you can get a really satisfying chorus and a refrain every other line, and the number and order of verses doesn't tend to matter much.
posted by pont at 2:25 PM on January 26, 2013
Should you end up hosting parties like this regularly, consider investing in a couple copies of Rise Up Singing for next time.
posted by ActionPopulated at 2:30 PM on January 26, 2013
posted by ActionPopulated at 2:30 PM on January 26, 2013
I'm here to suggest googling songs most often played at weddings
posted by newpotato at 2:43 PM on January 26, 2013
posted by newpotato at 2:43 PM on January 26, 2013
Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. Lots of Beatles and Bruce Springsteen.
A spontaneous singalong I was part of in New York in '88 had everyone singing along on "Bad Moon Rising" and "Under the Boardwalk", so they may also work too.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:48 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
A spontaneous singalong I was part of in New York in '88 had everyone singing along on "Bad Moon Rising" and "Under the Boardwalk", so they may also work too.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:48 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)
posted by Rob Rockets at 3:52 PM on January 26, 2013
posted by Rob Rockets at 3:52 PM on January 26, 2013
Hell, I don't even know most of the words to American Pie or Summer of 69 and I'm 37. Your average 20 year old?
I think I'm a fair representation of the average 20-something year old. Every summer camp, school trip, school dance, etc., we sang American Pie. So maybe this is not one the older generation would know, but for my generation I think it's a standard.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:04 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think I'm a fair representation of the average 20-something year old. Every summer camp, school trip, school dance, etc., we sang American Pie. So maybe this is not one the older generation would know, but for my generation I think it's a standard.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:04 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
As a group, all the words to Baby Got Back will be pretty well covered.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:27 PM on January 26, 2013
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:27 PM on January 26, 2013
Here's one list... "The 15 most well-known songs" Imagine is #1. I dunno if I'd agree with most of them though.
A couple suggestions would be Living on a Prayer and Tiny Dancer. Billie Jean, but that'd be kinda weird for a sing along. Sweet Caroline?
In general, I'd think the 80s hits would be the middle ground as far as being not too old or recent for everyone.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 4:30 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
A couple suggestions would be Living on a Prayer and Tiny Dancer. Billie Jean, but that'd be kinda weird for a sing along. Sweet Caroline?
In general, I'd think the 80s hits would be the middle ground as far as being not too old or recent for everyone.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 4:30 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Too late for tonight, but for next time buy a copy of Rise Up Singing. It has the words and guitar chords for literally hundreds of group sing type songs. (Edited by Pete Seeger, among others. It has folk songs, protest songs, the Beetles and much more.)
I agree with the post above that the leader is only one who really has to know all the words. If the leader has a copy of the book, everyone else can follow along, joining in on the parts they are most confident with.
posted by metahawk at 4:58 PM on January 26, 2013
I agree with the post above that the leader is only one who really has to know all the words. If the leader has a copy of the book, everyone else can follow along, joining in on the parts they are most confident with.
posted by metahawk at 4:58 PM on January 26, 2013
Speaking as a pretty experienced campfire player, I totally agree that you don't need to pick songs that everyone knows all the way through. You just need to pick songs with a very familiar chorus, and have song leaders who confidently know the songs all the way through, to carry everybody else. The people who have the guitars should take this responsibility, and they should play songs they're strong in and know all the way through. these things turn miserable when it becomes all requests and the guitarists try to muddle something out, do verses in the wrong order, repeat verses, have wrong chord changes, etc. Don't depend on the world to know every word to every song - that's pretty rare. Just have a strong leader or two say "Here's Hide Your Love Away!" If they know all the verses and can get everyone to the chorus, then everyone can sing "HEY, you've got to hide your love away, and feel darn satisfied."
If your usual guitarists/song-leaders aren't good at this or don't have much of a repertoire, maybe send 'em an email a few weeks before the gathering saying "Here are a few tunes I've always loved hearing you do --- would you be willing to lead us in these at the big Picnic? Can't wait!" That is quite likely to goose them into actually practicing/reviewing those songs, instead of showing up at the thing and waiting for someone to say 'hey Bob, don't you play the guitar?" and having them drag out something they haven't thought about in years.
The only real no-no at an event like this is songs with no chorus. Especially long songs with no chorus. That becomes "Here's Uncle Bob doing his loooong long song again." I'm looking at you, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
posted by Miko at 5:04 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
If your usual guitarists/song-leaders aren't good at this or don't have much of a repertoire, maybe send 'em an email a few weeks before the gathering saying "Here are a few tunes I've always loved hearing you do --- would you be willing to lead us in these at the big Picnic? Can't wait!" That is quite likely to goose them into actually practicing/reviewing those songs, instead of showing up at the thing and waiting for someone to say 'hey Bob, don't you play the guitar?" and having them drag out something they haven't thought about in years.
The only real no-no at an event like this is songs with no chorus. Especially long songs with no chorus. That becomes "Here's Uncle Bob doing his loooong long song again." I'm looking at you, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
posted by Miko at 5:04 PM on January 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
You could always do an evening of old camp songs...
posted by SisterHavana at 6:57 PM on January 26, 2013
posted by SisterHavana at 6:57 PM on January 26, 2013
I'm a boomer (like it our not—boomer music spans more than one generation) and I generally nail any trivia question re lyrics (OK, pre-1995 lyrics), but I would have trouble with many of the suggestions so far.
(Baby Got Back? Are you kidding me? I had to google the title to learn it is the "I Like Big Butts" song and why, in Christ's name, would I want to know more?)
20 - 80 is a problem—I don't think you can find a universal songbook other than (maybe) xmas carols and simple grade school/camp fire songs (e.g., "Found a Peanut", the deathly boring "Michael Rode the Boat Ashore"). Perhaps a few of the better known Motown or Sinatra standards (especially those that have been recently covered) would work, along with early Beatles. Springsteen? I've seen him a couple of dozen times since 1975, know his lyrics inside out, and still wouldn't add him to this list.
Miko's suggestion about songs with a strong chorus is likely your best bet (e.g., even Ronald Reagan knew the chorus to "Born in the USA").
posted by she's not there at 8:53 PM on January 26, 2013
(Baby Got Back? Are you kidding me? I had to google the title to learn it is the "I Like Big Butts" song and why, in Christ's name, would I want to know more?)
20 - 80 is a problem—I don't think you can find a universal songbook other than (maybe) xmas carols and simple grade school/camp fire songs (e.g., "Found a Peanut", the deathly boring "Michael Rode the Boat Ashore"). Perhaps a few of the better known Motown or Sinatra standards (especially those that have been recently covered) would work, along with early Beatles. Springsteen? I've seen him a couple of dozen times since 1975, know his lyrics inside out, and still wouldn't add him to this list.
Miko's suggestion about songs with a strong chorus is likely your best bet (e.g., even Ronald Reagan knew the chorus to "Born in the USA").
posted by she's not there at 8:53 PM on January 26, 2013
This is probably too late for you, at least for this party, but if you will do this a second time it may be worth in investing in the printing and binding of song books. I go to a biannual party here with about 100-song songbook that gets reused every time. The pages/songs are numbered and we just shout out the numbers until the people on the guitars settle on the loudest number. Everyone is happy.
posted by whatzit at 5:11 AM on January 27, 2013
posted by whatzit at 5:11 AM on January 27, 2013
Oh, if any of your song leaders have iPads or iPhones, I can recommend the app OnSong as a way of keeping a library of songs you know at hand, with chord charts and words.
posted by Miko at 10:18 AM on January 27, 2013
posted by Miko at 10:18 AM on January 27, 2013
In my mom's circle of friends, where they get together for sings frequently, everyone brings their own copies of Rise up Singing along -- including whatever extra copies they have, and there always ends up being enough for everyone. So if you get some copies and encourage others to bring some, it'll work out better.
Maybe lullabies -- like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, or Tender Shepherd?
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:58 PM on January 27, 2013
Maybe lullabies -- like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, or Tender Shepherd?
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:58 PM on January 27, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Summer of 69
Piano Man
posted by DoubleLune at 1:03 PM on January 26, 2013