Can you help us pick a song to retrofit as we bid our friend farewell?

October 13, 2005 8:26 AM

I need a simple pop song that can be retrofitted for a farewell party. Have a decent acoustic guitar player, and a team of writers standing by to rework the lyrics to pay homage to our departing friend. What songs could semi-skilled singers use to good effect, and not mangle?

Qualities we're looking for:

1. Instantly recognizeable. Part of the joke is in knowing the original tune, from the music.

2. Not terribly complicated guitar part. He's good, but he's acoustic, so heavy metal noodling is right out.

3. Not chockablock with high notes. We're guys, and we're not really good singers. But we're game.

One example we've messed with a bit is the Pearl Jam version of "Last Kiss," for example. Can you please suggest others for us to consider?

posted by sacre_bleu to media & arts (16 comments total)

Hey Jude, Yesterday, American Pie or Hotel California.
posted by skylar at 8:28 AM on October 13, 2005

"Good Riddance" - Green Day. Instantly recognizable, easy guitar chords, no real high notes.
posted by any major dude at 8:53 AM on October 13, 2005

"The problem is all inside your head" she said to me
"The answer is easy if you take it logically,
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
there must be,
50 ways to leave [your town]"
posted by Capn at 9:07 AM on October 13, 2005

"Dust in the Wind"? Though if the guy can't fingerpick, then forget it.

But I'd say just about anything you hear on the radio really. You can almost always simplify or leave out more complicated parts. What would be more helpful is if you told us a few things about the farewellee, or even a name, so we can have fun custom-mangling the songs. Or is that something you'd rather do yourselves?
posted by hellbient at 9:26 AM on October 13, 2005

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Hello Goodbye - The Beatles
posted by purephase at 9:31 AM on October 13, 2005

"Frankly Mr. Shankly" - The Smiths
posted by mds35 at 9:41 AM on October 13, 2005

Hit the Road, Jack
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:44 AM on October 13, 2005

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
posted by Lotto at 10:15 AM on October 13, 2005

"She's Leaving Home" (or he's leaving as the case may be..) by The Beatles. Would be great on the chorus when you split the group into two to do the backing parts.
posted by gfrobe at 10:34 AM on October 13, 2005

"Hey Ya" - Outkast. Subtract the rapped verses, and you're left with a four chord, insanely catchy song.
posted by electric_counterpoint at 11:27 AM on October 13, 2005

"Bad Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce. Everybody knows the tune, and if you repeat the chorus enough times, your audience will be able to sing along with you.
posted by MrZero at 11:42 AM on October 13, 2005

The Ramones "I Wanna Be Sedated"
posted by Makebusy7 at 11:46 AM on October 13, 2005

What about just singing "Happy Trails". It was written for an acoustic guitar and probably sounds better the more people you have (and the more intoxicated you may be).
posted by quadog at 11:58 AM on October 13, 2005

um... 'leaving on a jet plane'
posted by markovitch at 12:56 PM on October 13, 2005

Yeah, Hey Ya.
posted by holloway at 1:36 PM on October 13, 2005

How about "It's so hard to say goodbye" --- boyz 2 men
posted by Wild_Eep at 1:37 PM on October 13, 2005