topic Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs) in Rock N' Roll

Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

millineutron — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 09:59:27 GMT

I have no idea how many of these there might be, but I'm looking for audience participation songs, or it could be a song where the singer is directly speaking to the audience, as in:

"It's wonderful to be here,
It's certainly a thrill
You're such a lovely audience,
We'd like to take you home with us, we'd love to take you home"

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -- the Beatles

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

BeatleloverKT — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 14:22:11 GMT

Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 2 E,L&P

“Welcome back my friends to the show

that never ends”

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

BobH07 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 16:46:37 GMT

Downside Up (Live): Peter Gabriel

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

MaVolta — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 17:00:14 GMT

Not sure if this is what you mean, but some bands have songs that are written for audience participation. Here is one example -

Seek and Destroy - Metallica

Metallica sings: Searching

Audience replies: Seek and destroy

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

OscarE1968 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 17:18:33 GMT

@MaVolta that qualifies for audience participation 👍🤘just like this one;

Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights) - Pat Travers

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

JohnD131536 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 20:04:18 GMT

We're Gonna Rock This Joint Tonight - the Four Charms

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

millineutron — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:20:27 GMT

@MaVolta It’s a very open topic and all of you guys have come up with some great stuff already! The Sgt. Pepper lyrics got me thinking, and I was curious to see how many songs we could come up with that had that aspect of speaking directly to the audience (even though St. Pepper was ironically never performed live). And then I thought we could also extend it to include some of those big audience participation songs like maybe:

We Will Rock You -- Queen

It's mostly about having fun thinking about those days when we used to actually be able to have a connection between musicians on stage and their audiences! I hope that makes sense … I thought of this in the middle of the night and I think I have Quarantine Brain haha! 🤙 🙌. 👏

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

OscarE1968 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:20:18 GMT

Fear Of The Dark - Iron Maiden

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

OscarE1968 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:25:43 GMT

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

OscarE1968 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:28:19 GMT

You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

MaVolta — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:29:21 GMT

Paul McCartney playing Hey Jude . . .

na na na na-na-na na, na-na-na na, hey Jude

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

OscarE1968 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:35:39 GMT

Lost In Hollywood - System Of A Down

Saw them 2 years ago in Phoenix and it was amazing hearing everyone including myself sing along to this song 🤘

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

OscarE1968 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:34:03 GMT

Breaking The Law - Judas Priest

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

DarcyFarrow — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 23:43:07 GMT

Brand New Day (Sting):

"How many of you people out there been hurt in some kind of love affair?
And how many times do you swear that you'll never love again?
How many lonely, sleepless nights?
How many lies, how many fights?
Well, why would you want to put yourself through all that again?"

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

MaVolta — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 18:17:07 GMT

The Pusher - Steppenwolf

True story told by John Kay in his autobiography . . . Steppenwolf always played The Pusher as an encore, and they often caught a lot of flack from religious groups, even though the words G-- d--- were written in the true biblical sense as condemnation on the pusher.

They were set to play in a NC city, when they were approached by town leaders, including a fundamentalist preacher running for office there. They told Steppenwolf that they would not be allowed to play The Pusher. Kay would not agree, and after some wrangling, they agreed if Kay would not sing the two words. G-- d--- in that particular line, and in fact threatened to arrest him if he did. So Kay ultimately gave in and this is what happened.

Before the encore, Kay announced that a certain politician (by name of such and such) had caused them to agree not to sing two words in this song, but that agreement did not apply to the audience. So at that point in the song, Kay directs the mic to the audience, and 9,000 kids scream G-- d--- the pusher. Kay seemed amused by the whole thing, saying there were a number men with red faces when he came off stage.

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

millineutron — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:33:15 GMT

@MaVolta That's such an awesome story! And that song could've practically been used by the D.A.R.E. program. I never realized until I looked it up just now that it was written by Hoyt Axton, after his own struggles with cocaine addiction. Hoyt also wrote "Joy to the World," the one recorded by Three Dog Knight. I also never realized until recently that Hoyt Axton's mom, Mae Boren Axton, was from a prominent Oklahoma political family, and was also a songwriter who co-wrote "Heartbreak Hotel." She also introduced Elvis to Col. Parker. The things I learn while I'm playing these threads!

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

MaVolta — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:08:39 GMT

@millineutron - Yes, John Kay and Hoyt Axton were good friends which is mentioned in his book. Steppenwolf recorded Snowblind Friend, which was also written by Hoyt Axton. Sadly, it was written about a mutual friend with a drug addiction that didn't end well. Kay also talks about his own experiences with drugs, and how he cleaned himself up. It's a good read if you can find it.

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

MaVolta — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 16:43:24 GMT

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

Sweet Caroline

(pom, pom, pom)

Good times never felt so good

(so good, so good, so good)

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

1968Hoya46 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 02:20:38 GMT

Dance To The Guitar Man: Duane Eddy (Hey everybody, come along if you can).

Re: Songs that directly address the audience (and/or audience participation songs)

JohnD131536 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 07:06:38 GMT

Clap Your Hands - the Beau-Marks