Why do 97% of bands just WING the first minute of this classic hit song?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- -Why do 97% of bands just WING the first minute of this classic hit song?
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Had someone on my last video say it was "elitist" to want the drummer and bassist to play the right patterns. Just trying to imagine being at band practice and suggesting that the drummer play the correct kick drum beat and having him say, "Well isn't that just some elitist shit right there!" haha. The BEST musicians I've ever played with all did their homework and honored the details. Yes they would bend parts to make it their own, but they based it off the OG's parts. This taught me so much.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 WTH is wrong with ppl?! Now it’s elitist to learn and honor the song as the artist intended?!?! 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
I think most of us want to do our best to play it as the band did - unless it’s a pure reimagining of an original, who wouldn’t want to sound like the artist did it in the same way we all loved it years back?!
Haters gonna hate no matter what. The details matter when it comes to music whether people want to accept it or not.
I don't think it is elitist for anyone to want to get better at what they enjoy doing & want their band mates to improve
I'll be a bit more brutal than you, because that is a huge pet-peeve of mine.
A lot of times when people talk about "making the song their own", they actually mean simplifying it, because they can't play it properly. Often that is OK, obviously - I've seen bands simplifying their own songs to play them live, but I've also seen people making me wonder why they even try playing some song, if they know they don't have the necessary technical abilities to even come close to the original. If you can't hit high notes and can't play fast guitar solos, you have no business making a song like "Child in Time" your own.
Also...
5:27
This just destroyed me. I play the bass and... When you played the recording, I didn't hear any bass at all. Then you started playing and I started doubting myself.
It just means they can't play it correctly and are jealous of those that can.
Ironically, this song always reminds me of the summer of 85.
LOL...exactly, Because I was playing this in a cover band in 85
Because in 85 he has the 69.
Summer of 96 i got my first real six string. Ironically my first band played this song too
😂
Adams was not talking about the year
Yeah, there's a difference between "playing a song in your own style" and "half assing a song". An arrangement in your own style still cares about the details. It's not just "let's strum these chords and add a basic drum beat". Playing in your own style doesn't mean the details matter less - it means you intentinally change some details and add some of your own details.
Even simple songs have details to them. Actually, these details become even more important in simple songs, because they are what make it sound dynamic. In this case, if the bass comes in immediately and the drummer starts playing really "full" with the kick drum, there are no dynamics to it - the verse and the chorus sound the same.
THANK YOU!
This, this and more this! The "simplest" songs need the most attention. Attention to the details, whether your own arrangement or from the recording are what spell the difference between meh and outstanding. I cringe when I hear most bands play Sweet Home Alabama because they think it's easy and just play the 3 chords over and over with no rhythmic variation or dynamics or any of the things that made Skynyrd a great band.
Agreed. There's "rearranging but still keeping it tight" and there's "we just don't care." If you alter a drum beat to open things up a little or drive things a little more because you're doing a lighter or harder version, cool! If you reduce everything to "kick on 1 & 3 and eighth note hi hats," it's going to sound boring as hell.
I play guitar in an 80s cover band (mostly dance/pop/rock). I'll dig through isolated tracks to get the riffs and strumming/picking patterns down perfectly, but I'll put my own spin on improvised licks and solos (e.g., I try to nail the Crazy Train solo as best as I can, but the little fills in the choruses are my take on them).
Stated perfectly.
Exactly! If you have the skill to play it like the record but don't, that's just being lazy. I had a band tell me "we do it like this to make it our own." I said "so just plowing through it minus details is how you make this your own? Interesting take." lol
OCD drummer here. Pat's purposefully minimal bass drum use at the beginning stood out to me as soon as I first heard the song. He's slowly building it up, rather than just racing off as soon as the drums start. Likewise Dave holding back on the bass for a while, really helps add to that. Nice to see other people listening to and actually hearing the song
I can’t stand hearing drum hits that aren’t charted in rhythm games on expert/pro settings, also enjoy Rocksmith it helped me get bends perfect with its accuracy. Some things took time dedicated to develop an appreciation and ear for like a 1% difference affects tone & volume mixing
I'm just happy if I can play the right chords while singing the correct lyrics.
Make up your own lyrics. I use to have fun, getting the band to sing replacement lyrics.
One time I got my band mates to sing the chorus to “Amie” by Pure Prairie League…
“Amie, what you gonna do?”
“I think I caught AIDS from you.”
“And my lawyer said I should sue”
I thought it would be funny….the crowd was offended! 😂
As a bass player that played this in a bar band for many years. I held off until the little fill at the second half of the verse. Not sure if it mattered to most of the people we played for!
@@sawboss216 In a bar one must find the ideal balance between
- honoring the original
- personal expression
- drunk people usually neither notice nor would care if they _did_ notice
This can vary by locale, season, time of night, patron, and even one night to the next.
Ya gotta have fun with it, or it's not worth it for anyone.
Cheers!
Bassist here: I had never played this song until my band suggested it a couple of years ago.
I picked up on those little nuances while learning it and when it came time for the band to rehearse it, EVERYONE told me I was doing my parts wrong. This is because each guy's previous bands' bassist played it wrong for years and they just got used to hearing it that way. They said the way I was doing it made it sound empty. Needless to say, we didn't pick the song up and never played it live. My feelings, "Sorry, not sorry!"
Yep, I'm a drummer and the times I've been told 'you're not playing it right', when I know damn well I am because I put the time in to learn it, and it's them that's playing it wrong because they haven't bothered to listen to it properly !
When these types of discrepancies in how band members hear things, my response is usually, “I suppose we could perform it that way…”
Did you notice(and he never mentions it)the proper tuning on the song is DADG, on his demonstration he is playing the D on the 5th fret Astring when the only time on the recording that note is just an accent to the D note playing on the open bottom string dropped down to D
@@russellnobriga4766 I did forget to mention the drop D on the bass but if you listen to my pro-level version you'll hear that it's what I used.
@@TheArtofGuitar when instructing a bass player on paying attention to the details proper tuning is a big detail to overlook
Reminds me of the music theory abd composition class I was in. There is a rule that says, "You need to know the rules in order to break them."
One of the major rules is not to use moving 5ths. When I asked about Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," which is ALL moving 5ths, my teacher said, "He's Aaron Copeland and you are not."
"Touché."
Knowing why those rules exist is helpful too. One reason moving fifths used to be an issue was instrument tuning, of which is not nearly as much of an issue today. Thus, the only reason that rule remains is that moving fifths dominate other parts.
The aversion to parallel fifths went out the window long, long before Aaron Copeland. That being said, parallel fifths do genuinely sound awkward in traditional tonal harmony. Their use later was more like using a new color than breaking the rules.
@@reneebear3641No, the prohibition came about because parallel fifths sound awkward in voice leading in tonal harmony. Most of those rules were developed for writing harmony for voice, so it wasn’t due to instrumental shortcomings. But composers later began to use them as a tonal color and composers don’t write with 18th century voice leading rules anymore.
And even that's mostly confined to relatively modern Western European music. Moving 5ths abound in the Balkans, Middle East, the Renaissance. If you haven't encountered him yet, I HIGHLY suggest checking out Farya Faraji's channel where he reconstructs and discusses historical music.
A band that plays local bars, weddings etc. often has musicians of different levels, sometimes has a changing line-up. It would be understandable under those circumstances, that a song isn't note for note, like the original.
So long as a song is played with confidence, the band are entertaining & look like they are having fun, most people in the audience won't notice any minor mistakes and if they do, they are usually quite forgiving, they just want to be entertained.
Yeah that’s our bands excuse too! 😂
Generally, the audience isn't going to say anything even if they do notice. They are there to have a good time, not critique the band. The ones that don't notice specifically what is being left out or done wrong, will notice that certain bands sound better than other bands, but they just don't know why,
Usually, the conversation in which someone thows out the excuse of "doing your own version" is between band members at rehearsal. And that someone who throws out that excuse is the one(s) who is too lazy to do it right.
Man, that pro level band needs to fire the singer. The tuning hurts me physically. I expect it from the bar band.
Yes, that pro level singer was consistently flat. Is it an actual person or an AI?
@RanjitSouri The singer is the guy doing the video, He's a guitar player first, and this song is out of his range a bit. Go easy on him, he just threw it together as an example.
@@qurn I'm not singing on this. I literally put the singer's info on the screen when the first version starts up.
i'm a decent enough singer but I cannot do this song at all
Yeah I’m not a powerhouse singer by any means but I could’ve definitely sung that better.
I’m like you. As a guitar player, I obsess over the details. Not only will you capture the feel of the song, but you honor the song writer and musicians who recorded it. As a singer, I also obsess over pitch. Many many live music cover band singers do not. I’m a terrible audience member 😂
For covers I love how Randy Rhoads, Brad Gillis, etc. play Sabbath songs the way they like to play them....I think I heard "Speak Of The Devil" before I heard the Sabbath songs on records and I was like "damn...that's how you make Sabbath Bloody Sabbath come alive!" (Ozzy skips the bridge vocals or whatever it's called but probably makes sense cuz the song is pretty long).
I believe the lead guitarist is way underrated . In fact he's not rated at all . The guitar solo in this song is hauntingly beautiful . That's the biggest part of the song , and nobody plays it , like it doesn't exist . If ever a guitar is crying out loud .
I can’t sing that well, and I’m unable to play and sing at the same time, but this describes me to a T. I always try to play a song as close to the original as I possibly can, since all I can do is play.
Most cover band 'singers' CAN'T!
My brother knew I'd be a musician growing up because I complained that when Song 2 played I would go "Woo hoo!" all by myself and then everyone else joined in on the 2nd woo hoo.
The "Bar Band" version is the one to play if they want to get paid. The kick drum makes it more danceable, which means the crowd has more fun and buy more drinks. Most people are there to have fun, not discuss 80s rock music composition. True professionals modify arrangements to fit the job.
I'd give that a capella singer 7.5 out of 10. He's got the right feel, but he is often flat on some notes
Yeah. It's definitely not in his range, is it?!!
You're generous with your score! He was pretty hard to listen to :(
I'm probably shouldn't judge, cause I'm a 5.5 out of 10 singer on a good day, but yeah, it feels like he's over-vocalizing to try and cover up that he's not quite on key.
I'm just glad someone else said it first. And pretty forgivingly. Almost every note is 20 cents flat. Good voice, and consistent, but this is where I'd rather it be auto-tuned, because it probably wouldn't be glaring like most performances that use tuning.
Def struggling!
I love that Mike gets into every little detail that make songs like this great. It’s nitpicking, but in the best way possible 👍
I prefer it when musicians sound like they're having fun playing the song, and you sounded like you were having more fun on the mid-level recording!
Never noticed any of that before but a whole new appreciation for the restraint required to make those parts dynamic and make the song that much better.
Learn to LISTEN!
Drunks in a bar don ‘t know any better.
My friend had a request played the song then soon realized he didn’t remrber all the lyrics! He sang the same verse every single time over and over and I’m the only one that noticed😊
@buzzedalldrink9131, I'd say you were correct. However, there was that one gig we played to celebrate the grand closing of a bar. We had tired ourselves previously on Freebird and vowed to put it to rest and never play again. Crowd demanded to hear it so we reluctantly started playing. A verse and a half in and I realized that due to my apathy, I had forgotten the words - and so I just winged it. UNTIL... a BIG dude got right in my face, pointed to the Eagle tat on his bicep (which was twice the size of my thigh - and I'm no scrawny dude) and said "You sing that song right, boy!"
All of a sudden my lyrical amnesia was cured! 😂
I'm sure the band I covered this with got a lot of stuff wrong, but it was 1985, we were all 14-15 years old, and we had a blast that summer forming our first band.
It just once again shows you how incredibly important arrangement and dynamics are. It absolutely makes or breaks a song. Unfortunately, in my experience most musicians aren't really aware of these things.
True, or dgaf!
I feel like this song is rock drumming 101. Building up is the key!
I think most casual listeners that aren't musicians wouldn't notice the difference imo.
No, but there's always that one guy leaning against the bar shaking his head in despair 🙂
And he does the same even at Dream Theater concert. "Look that guy screwing up".
Casual listeners can’t pick things out specifically but if multiple things are wrong they can kinda subconsciously feel something’s not normal
They would notice it. They wouldn't know what wasn't right but they would subconsciously feel something is off. If of course they aren't drunk to oblivion, then it doesn't matter anymore.
It's about noticing on a technical level. The song will feel very different for them, even though they can't put their finger on what's different.
Hey Mike! Would you consider making a video about Chris Poland's solos in the Rust In Peace demos?
I filmed a friends band playing Summer of 69 and posted it on my TH-cam so they could see it, and after it being posted for 3 years I got a TH-cam Copyright Strike and they took it down. It maybe had 20 views.
Same thing happened to my Cover band’s video of this song. Bryan Adam’s people are pretty strict about trying to get his songs removed.
Posting Bryan Adams covers is the same as stealing. 😂😂
I posted a video of my band doing this song and it quickly went over a 1000 views and must have gotten in the radar because it was just as quickly copyright stricken. I am surprised he found any cover band videos of this song on TH-cam.
Yep he and his legal group do that with no warning. I was hit too and posted about it to Mike as well.
Yeah, apparently Bryan Adams is one of the worst out there for copyright strikes. Not a fan anymore because of it. Let him die in obscurity and forgotten forever.
I am only a casual listener of your channel, but I really like how you did that 'quiz' about what the bass does in that part. It simulates being thrown into playing a song live that you are familiar with but haven't studied, and really gets you thinking. I don't know if you have done this quiz thing before but I would like to see more of it!
I think what makes a cover band fun to watch is their interpretations of the songs they're playing. There are some signature licks they need to remember, but it's fun to hear different versions.
Great video! Well thought out and informative. Now for my 2 cents. You mentioned being able to hear more detail and specific parts better now. I've been playing bass for 52 years now and gigging for 47 years. I found that the better I get the better I can hear all of the song. My experience was first just having to concentrate on my bass part and being only able hear that and a few recognizable guitar, vocal, drum parts. Then it was listening to the drums so I can find a groove. Then when I starting singing and working with professional singers that I realized I had to be the tie-in between the melody and the drums. So I started to be able to hear a lot more pieces of the music and how each piece contributes to the overall song structure. Most importantly I had to know the song in a way to know when not to play. Not step on the other parts. I found that learning the parts where the bass drops out is important. I find that when I drop out , when I come back in it is such a boost to the song. The crowd responds to it too, almost all of the time.
British Steel necklace 🤘⚡️🤘
It’s not a necklace honoring a certain artist’s Schecter signature guitar?! 😂😂😂
yeah our band did it instictly almost right. Especially the Drums-Variation and the two different Guitars, imo make a big difference!
Love this song, such an iconic tune. Night scooting in a cemetery sounds like my jam. Now you bring it up, I've actually not ever seen a band perform this song, I'll have to keep an eye out for that in the future. I think if I heard either one performed I'd have a good time. Agree with your assessment of how each version feels.
Love the Jane shirt and the necklace. Congrats on 886k Subscribers! 🤘🏻🔥
I'll never be able to play any original song with the same intricacies the composer put into it, but every time I play my instrument I strive to improve my skills even a little.
Headphones are magic for older stuff!
Yeah, if you really want to hear what's going on in recorded music, ditch cell phones, earbuds, and streaming, and listen to a CD on a good stereo system or quality headphones. Night and day.
For everything, not just older stuff.. I wanna hear every single nuance when I’m listening to anything
@@davidvied2507 headphones for me with older stuff, new stuff as well, but it really feels like hearing it for first time!
@@SO-ym3zsyou mean vinyl? CDs are more compressed than vinyl.
The bass should be tuned Drop-D, btw
I did when I recorded the pro version (You can hear it on the rocking out part) but for the video I left it in standard.
Or play a 5 or 6 string with a low B on it.
Same here, it took me a couple decades to figure out the drum pattern buildup at the beginning! The first kick pattern is really effective for changes in dynamics. I didn't think twice before stealing it and using it for my own drum programming. I guess most cover bands get so carried away that they just want to launch into the song at full swing. Or maybe they see Summer of '69 as one of those songs that are "so easy you only have to listen to once to figure them out". Or a combination of the two.
MOST of the time, it's the latter!
I wonder if the reason you're hearing things differently now is the higher quality audio that is available. I just heard Wham's "Everything She Wants" in Dolby Atmos through my AirPods Pro and I had to check to see if it was a remaster because I was hearing things in it that I had never heard before. But as far as I can tell, it was the original 1984 version, just in a higher quality than I had ever heard.
That's funny to use AirPods Pro and high quality, in the same comment.
AirPods Pro aren't even that great and Dolby Atmos for music is a scam, I think Benn Jordan did a great video about that. But, yes, in all likelihood, it was simply remixed for Atmos.
Airpods Pro are pretty high tier in the earphone space, they're still overpriced for the quality, but short of buying monitor quality earphones you can't really do better. If you're the kind of person who mostly uses earphones, going to Airpods Pro are a sizeable upgrade from, say, the old Apple earphones that came with most Apple products. Same with going from likely old $20 computer satellite speakers to an Atmos compatible audio system. You now have surround sound, instead of at most, a 2.1 system with satellites using tweeter-size drivers as their only speaker. A sound bar with a subwoofer would be an upgrade for the vast majority of people. Atmos may be overhyped but the spec means things have to support it, and supporting it means a better system than the non-enthusiasts ever had.
Dolby atmos isn’t even stereo, so not only it was a remaster, it was certainly a remix too.
“the original 1984 version” is a stereo file.
i agree with your final comments there : for a tribute band i agree with honoring the original material, and a cover band having some ( some ) room open for interpretation
speaking of the latest, i'd be one of those people you mentioned not putting the time to learn the songs accurately, mostly because i'm a level-2 bass player with no intention to play professionally
might sound like sour-grapes, but i honestly just blast a few backing tracks through my headphones at the end of the day doing my part at my bedroom gig, with no intention to ever become a professional or a remarkable bass player.. its just some escapism before yet another 10 hour day doing my desk job...
Electric scooting around a cemetery listening to an 80's playlist
sounds like the summer of '69 to me
Back then it would have to be riding my bicycle. ;)
I honestly couldn't pay attention to the music during the pro/mid examples because of those vocals. They were so cringe I couldn't focus on anything else.
Right? Flat as a pancake.
Always good to listen to music with fresh ears. Great video.
'Mid-Level Bar Band Quality...' Ouch, I felt that...
Hahahahahaha 😂🤣 same here 😭
I remembered watching Brian playing this song live and being shocked, seeing him play the intro at the 5th fret when every cover band guitarist plays open D and A shapes.
This is going to be such a useful resource for cover bands. Helpfully you’ll be doing it for the next 40 years and produce a massive archive!
I just gotta say... your drums sound INCREDIBLE! You've mastered the Art of tuning and properly mic-ing the kit.
I’m a drummer and usually make a point to learn my parts as recorded whenever possible. I remember learning all those unique kick patterns and thinking they were really great choices by the drummer
I was the drummer for a local rock cover band in Houston named Sideshow about 25 years ago. We spent hours, sometimes days in the rehearsal room learning the proper structure of a song before we ever played it live. Luckily, all five of us agreed to this concept and it really paid off in the end. Most of the compliments we got from the crowd were not just about how good we were but how close we sounded to the original.
Hell, yeah brother, and that’s why you were successful for 25 years and not an overnight sensation, cover band or not. Lot of lazy pieces of excrement around nowadays.
@@ronmexico1975 25 yrs AGO and WAS the drummer
I sometimes drive myself crazy with the details. That being said, I don’t think the average person listening to the band would notice, but the band should still make an attempt.
I got to say, you are probly my fav guitar youtuber
New Orleans is sinking is another song where no bar band gets it, the drums in particular. There’s a slight shuffle feel the that most drummers don’t get.
I'm with you, I've always been a fan of recreating the recording as closely as possible. And not just the parts and arrangement, but any effects, too. For me, it makes all the difference.
I’m not actually for recreating a song perfectly if that’s not what you’re going for. I’m for doing it justice if you are. :)
My Dad layed out the tracks for the drums for this song. I am glad you covered this and appreciated it.
Really?
Laid.
I had the same approach as you when I was in cover bands. I always listened for the details and what the song was trying to convey. My last band we sat down and nailed every bit down. The attention to detail does make you stand out. I always wanted to not only be respectful to the original but also learn from the musicians we looked up to enough to play their song. There was a reason they are among the greats and I was in a bar. Once I really embraced that approach I found a bunch of songs I had hated were actually fun to play and I'd be looking forward to them coming in the set. They usually were the ones that moved me out of my comfort zone to pull off.
Exactly. Songs I never liked or thought were boring, but had to learn for the band, turned out to be fun to play and more challenging than I'd expected. In studying the songs, the parts, the techniques, and the arrangements, I've gained a new appreciation for different styles of music that I'd never considered before. I've also become a better musician, and stepping outside the comfort zone is a big factor in that.
I agree with you. The details are very important. I hear all the parts. Sometimes the parts are essential to the feel of the song, and if a part is changed, it can sometimes ruin the entire song for me.
I haven’t played this particular piece since the 80s, but we probably did not hit all the details (but we were 17 years old and likely learning from a cassette dubbed from the radio for all I remember). But, these days I strive for more detail. I think it’s largely influenced by having better sound equipment and digital recordings where we can loop to pick out the nuances.
You did our local boy right Mike cheers 🤘🤘
I'm not from Canada! hehe. Close though. :)
@@TheArtofGuitar I meant my home town hahaha!
Great break down, thanks!
i understand what your talking about . but its a bar band playing to 15 people
Correct.
Pro attitude is pro attitude, whether performing in front of 15 or 15000.
Yeah, but something worth doing,
is worth doing well...
pride in the craft and all that.
What is there to lose?
I mean the worst thing that can happen is that you learn something.🎶✌️
You do it for your soul, not for the approval of 15 bar patrons.
As a gigging musician you can take that comment and get in the sea. And learn how to use grammar correctly.
One of my favorite albums "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" has a song "Carpet Crawlers", and in one bar, yes, just ONE bar, Phil opts to leave the snare out, as it kind of works with the lyrical cadence. I feel like NO band would get that right, but it's such a huge detail.
When I play live, I like to do both. I do make the song my own, but I also try to include, note-for-note, the parts of the song that made people like it. I keep the core pieces, then go off on my own.
Mid level version still sounds better than Foofighters 😂
My ARSE often sounds better than the Foo Fighters! LOL!
Part 2. LOL As far as playing the parts exactly as it is on the record. I think you nailed all of the possible reasons. I played in many tribute bands and learning the exact parts is a must. Especially since the rest of the band is doing the same. People pay a lot of money for tickets to these shows and I have to assume it is because they are fans of the original act. So give them what they should be expecting. Playing in cover bands can have different outcomes. There are some that will try to get all of the original parts and rehearse those parts. There are also cover bands where the one who got the gig and has hired me only just pulls up the chords on Ultimate Guitar (for right or wrong) and just plays to that. I am all for that style too because the crowd still loves it and I still get paid. I have fun either way. I have no problem with learning the parts, as you say, to learn the basics. Some songs require playing the original parts. Try playing Brickhouse or Come Together or Sweet Emotion without them and look at the audiences faces. Now try playing those parts where the drummer is playing some completely different song. My point is; know your gig, know your bandmates and know what is working at that specific gig. And if you never took the time to learn your part please don't tell the bass player that they are playing the bass line wrong.
When a band is performing I don't expect them to play an exact copy of the studio version that we hear on the album... I want to hear their version of it... If you want exact copies, maybe a DJ is a better option?...
I love this video. Paying attention to the details teaches us so much about composition, dynamics and artistic intent.
this is a great series. thank you for showing us how to play these tunes!
I actually wish more cover songs outright reharmonized the original or changed its lyrics
Love this video! Thanks!!!!!
While I can definitely appreciate the level of care and dedication it takes to play a song faithfully to the original/album version of the song, I gave up the dream of hearing the album version played live when NONE of the bands I’ve gone to hear live ever play any of their songs with as much effort to get it to sound like the album as cover bands do. I know what everyone will say “The OG band gets to play it however they want, it’s THEIR song!” But to me that’s always been a lame cop out for not either remembering how or putting in the effort to try and play their songs as good as they came out in the album. I know a studio sound will never fully be achievable in a live setting but many bands don’t even aim for that. They just play the song in the spirit it was meant to be played in and that’s usually good enough for the audience. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard a live performance waiting for my favorite part to come in and then … disappointment. They didn’t play it like the album and it just loses that special something you remember listening to. For a lot of people a “live version” is good enough for them because to them it’s a new way of appreciating an old song but even for this channel, if you don’t play it exactly how it was played on the album, it loses something special
This is wild. I love this song and jammed it for ages and NEVER noticed how much the specific bass drum patterns open it up like you said. When you compare it side by side - that 'Footloose' feel you talked about with the mid-tier version- really throws off the song. It starts to sound less 'arena rock'. Great video hope you'll do more.
So in the recording I wouldn’t be surprised if they boost the bass frequencies after “69” to give a “bass drop” type of effect. The pro version you did doesn’t have that and nor would you be able to do that live (unless you’ve got a good sound guy or something). So personally I would probably do the long notes live there or even just a single not that rings out over that part.
Also I would have the guitar play the keyboard part after the chorus as I think that’s a memorable part of the song (pretty sure it’s doubled anyways). The bass can fill in the rhythm guitar slot fairly well there.
Good video otherwise.
Come come ..on the kick drum! Lol!
Needs more cowbell!
IMO the albums 'If You Want It You Got It' and 'Cuts Like a Knife absolutely destroy anything Bryan Adams did later tho Summer of 69 is a great song , gorgeous Tele btw
Reckless:Am I a joke to you?
During my 57 years of playing both covers and original music, when someone says "That's not the way the original went!", I say, "If you want to hear the way the original went, go home and listen to it, if you want to hear a live band, just enjoy it".
Yes! Absolutely correct!
One would be a pompous fool for that type of criticism. That last thing I’d want to do is try to sound like the original. Then you’d be nothing more than a sideshow act.
Thank you. 100% with you there.
You mad bro?
I understand your point. My issue was always people playing a song the wrong way because of a lack of homework and practice.
It’s one thing if you learn the correct way to play a song, and then make the conscious decision to play it differently. It’s another thing if you are unable to play the correct way because of a lack of practice.
Then you should just stay in your basement and have some friends over.
As always, you've made an entertaining and informative video. Your original insights to how music is created is so helpful and refreshing. As for me, I played for many years just at family or friend gatherings and was almost always the only player. I "amalgamated" song parts to "get the SONG across" and make it fun. A lot of times I hadn't realized this until I'd get together with another guitarist or keyboard player. They would show me that what I was doing was not actually in the song at all. This was true ... because I made it up. I didn't do it to "make it my own" but as I said to just get the song across in general for everyone. Btw, unless you're a great artist "interpreting a song" or a very professional musician "covering the song" then those terms are just code for "I really just don't know to play the effin' song correctly" ... so just admit it because it's alright. Hey, who can say they baseball like Derek Jeter? So, just have fun at YOUR level and watch these AOG videos to get better!
That shirt and necklace combo goes so hard
You’re such a great teacher. Thank you for dissecting the greats with so much appreciation for all the components. It’s amazing. We’re not worthy. 🖤
tmi but this song hurts. I grew up in the 80s/90s. My parents were so freaking cool, until they weren’t. Both born in the late 50s both into motorcycles and cars. A computer scientist and an architect who loved movies and music, had records and instruments and cool college friends that would come over, my moms favorite movie was American graffiti and then something broke in the 90s they got hyper religious and left all that behind and joined quiverfull. I have a bunch of siblings that don’t remember but I remember. 💔 but this song hurts a lot. It’s nice to hear it in pieces. Like... oh yeah. It feels like my school gymnasium when I could still play sports lol and had hope about the world. Music is kind of everything. And you tap into that for us, thanks. :)
Watching on my phone and the flashing red dot hits harder than the kick drum.
Appreciate your comment about cover bands and putting in the effort. People come to shows expecting to hear solid covers that honor the bands we choose to play. Grateful for your series of candid feedback without being a jerk - passionate, honest criticism! Stuff we all need to hear. Please consider doing a video on cover band back ups/harmonies.
0:25 I've noticed it happens to me too, I think that's because most songs have been remastered, the audio quality has imporved a lot both on files and earpieces/speakers.
I'm in an amateur band and we did a couple of covers of mostly 80s hits. I'm a sucker for good arrangements so when analyzing the songs it always strikes me how many interesting details there are that make a great song great. Even the standard radio pop. We did ABBA (oh, I dare anyone try to just wing ABBA, that would be a spectacular failure), Time of my life (from Dirty dancing, try to get that grove right, I dare you, I played it wrong the first year), What a feeling by Irene Cara (listen to those synth layers) and we even did some modern songs (2000s) like Let's get Loud by Jennifer Lopez and that one was a handful as well.
But we always tried to get as much from the original in our cover as we could, sometimes mashing together various versions (for ABBA we did a mash of original and the movie version), trying to recreate the sounds (I play electric drums which is a huge plus when doing covers, you can really get those various drum sounds), the harmonies, rhythms and vocals (we usually had three or four vocalists and each had their own part). The end result was that even though we didn't really do a super pro job (we are amateurs) but people were pretty amazed at how well the songs sounded (someone said they though they were listening to a CD).
So yeah, TL;DR, the devil IS in the details.
I forgot to notice there was a difference!
But I still enjoyed the video!😊👍
Im so glad you posted this cause today I was teaching a kid Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day and while listening to the song up close, it made me fully appreciate what a great drummer Tre Cool is and how a simple change in kick pattern can change the entire emotion of a song and how the guitar plays off it. Drummers need more love.
Great vid! Some subtle stuff but it makes quite a difference. Just shared it with my band.
Great video man! I’m a details man myself and was always the guy in the band frustrated trying to get everyone to play their parts right. Sadly, it’s rare that anyone will ever notice or care if you’re still playing at a primarily covers band level. So for me, it’s all down to how passionate I am about the particular song whether I put in the effort to learn the details.
Played it in a band during the '90s, and again a couple years before the Blight hit and shut down live music at open jams in the East Bay. I knew when not to play bass, and when to come in. As there's not much happening for bass in the song, I found a nice rhythm that works, and included some walks and little embellishments at the end of some lines. Worked well for our performances 🙂
I had one of the top cover bands in south Florida, we always worked and were paid well. Given the fact we all had day jobs it didn’t change the fact we busted our ass on these songs, we were passionate.
Here’s the big picture, nobody cares, guys were there to pick up girls, girls there looking for guys. People came to unwind after work and talk and yell and talk, we were background noise, a cover band. Nobody cared if the snare was hit on the second beat instead of the third. But guys like you did, I did, professional working musicians did, but owners didn’t, patrons didn’t care either. If it was close those bands got the gigs cause they worked cheaper, the beer still was poured, girls / guys hooked up, people from work still came and life went on. Nobody cared, owners just wanted us to get people in and have ‘em dance, didn’t care if the music wasn’t even 80%, just be loud and rockin.
Bar bands are not tribute bands, I think you’re confusing the two.
The fact that guys like you and I care is all I care about. I’ve been in bands for over thirty years so I know owners don’t care and most of the audience doesn’t care. That’s not the point of the video.
No I do get understand it, but I’d like to ask you something important, something extremely important to me. I have played and performed, for 47 years, did session work in criteria Studios in Miami, five years ago I acquired Sepsis Shock. I died twice and was brought back, obviously, lol. Sepsis Bacteria settled in my spine, I can’t really walk. My fingers are twisted, I have no feelings in my hands or fingertips. Two years ago, former band members encourage me to start playing again, I resisted. I had not played in almost 4 years because of crippling arthritis.
Short story as this is going on too long I’m playing again, but it is difficult, I can’t really form chords like I used to, but I manage, I’m singing again and I’m finally happy, I missed my guitar.
I’m curious though, if you did not know my backstory and the struggle to get back to even holding a guitar, if you heard me play, would you think I was just some hack?
Above is a separate question from your video. I respect your professionalism and your skill and passion as a musician. Sometimes some of us can only play to the limits of our ability.
They may not care if it's not right, but they sure do notice when it is!
Love this song!
the jane shirt 💀
I love you for knowing that!
Thanks. I came in the comments for confirmation. Is that Jessica Jones?
Saw Bryan in the early 90s at the UC arena. He had 2 strobe lights and a set list that kicked a55. One of the shows i saw in the 90s.
I used to obsess , however after being in cover bands for over 30 years, I have developed my own style of playing, so rarely keep to exactly what is played, there are exceptions obviously, ie crazy train needs to be played moreorless identical, above all just enjoy, my latest cover band has been together for 20 years, I think we have our own style of covering songs now
Absolutely agree with your reflection towards the end of the video. If you don't know the original parts, then deviations are not musical choices, I think. Not a matter of right or wrong but of awareness.
There's a difference between a song and a take, I imagine even Brian Adams' band doesn't follow the studio take to a tee. but mad respect for focusing on how the drums set the scene
I confess that I played this one wrong on bass for years, playing whole open notes once the drums came in (your Option 1). Finally went back and listened to the original a few months ago and realized there was no bass there. One thing you didn’t mention with the bass part is it is in Drop D (or a 5 string). Once the second verse comes in, the bass goes to that lower D and you can hear it walk up to the A instead of down. Playing it in Drop D really fills in space that is missing if don’t have keys.
Is that a germs album in the back ground?🤟🎸🎸
I always try to get it down like the studio recording from start to finish when learning a cover, then finding ways to have a bit more fun with it once I've got it. Sometimes, as I relisten to check my progress, I find parts I was unaware of for whatever reason, and then I focus on them to complete the process. Only when I've mastered a cover do I add it to my repertoire and feel confident playing it whenever, wherever 🙂
As told by Bryan Adams himself, Summer of 69 is the only song that the drummer from his band did not record. They had been trying for a long time to get the drum part just right and it couldn't be done. Brian heard a ska band at a club he went to one night and asked the drummer if he wanted to do some recording work and the next day that drummer from a ska band recorded the drums for Summer of '69. The only drums not recorded by Bryan Adams full time drummer
I'm not the only one who rides through cemeteries lol
Awaome. Makes me feel good. Been playing the pro version for years!😊
As a former professional bar band drummer (IYKYK), this is one to drive me crazy nowadays when I'm in the audience (at the bar). It's such a great rock song that is so popular you can fuck it up and still pull it off ... kind of .... do the work, godamn.
love the respect to the original artists
The second cover had a cool backing sound though. Sounded very late 90s
I laughed bc i'm usually a stickler for learning songs note for note, but when i played this in an acoustic duo(i played cajon with an acoustic/singer} we def winged it!
I think being obsessed with getting it perfect goes to show a players dedication to their instruments. If a band covering a song can put a good spin on while still respecting the original that's great too, most of the people who are listening don't really notice, except us a$$hole musicians. Also isn't the E dropped to D on the recording?