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

[millineutron]

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

[DarcyFarrow]

This Train Don't Stop There Anymore (Elton John)

"You may not believe it
But I don't believe in miracles anymore
And when I think about it
I don't believe I ever did for sure
All the things I've said in songs
All the purple prose you bought from me
Reality's just black and white
The sentimental things I'd write
Never meant that much to me"

[1968Hoya46]

Hold What You Got: Joe Tex (Joe gives relationship advice: “Listen fellas”, “Listen girls”).

[DarcyFarrow]

G-Get up and Dance (Faber Drive)

"No, no body stop. Everybody move
Get up and dance get up and dance
Move your body b-b-body"

[JohnD131536]

The Clapping Song - Shirley Ellis

[DarcyFarrow]

We Got the Beat (Go Gos)

"Everybody get on your feet we got the beat
We know you can dance to the beat we got the beat"

[DarcyFarrow]

The Times They Are a-Changin' (Dylan)

[JohnD131536]

When You Dance - the Turbans

[MarybethG691589]

Piano Man. Billy Joel 

[JohnD131536]

The Twist - Chubby Checker

[MarybethG691589]

Livin On A Prayer. Bon Jovi 

[WebWiseWoman]

"Little Red Corvette" ~ Prince

Baby you're much too fast...

This song always got audience response, always 😉

#StaySafe

[JohnD131536]

My Ding-A-Ling - Chuck Berry (any of his live performances)

[DarcyFarrow]

Sometime in the Morning (Monkees)

"A simple thought may occur to you,
And you hold her,
And tell her all the things you never told her"

[1968Hoya46]

Spoiler

Hold On To What You’ve Got: Joe Tex (Listen fellas; listen girls).

[1968Hoya46]

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

[JohnD131536]

Clap Your Hands - the Beau-Marks

[BeatleloverKT]

Jersey Girl, 2017, Bruce Springsteen. In
this live performance from Metlife Stadium

in NJ, the audience sings with the chorus

and towards the end he invites a couple

up on stage. The guy had apparently

proposed at the concert and now
announces to the world how he feels

about his gal. Bruce then high fives him

and they dance in front of the band to

the rest of the song, which was his finale.
So cool

[DarcyFarrow]

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?"

[MaVolta]

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. 

[millineutron]

@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!

[MaVolta]

@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.

[MaVolta]

Sweet Caroline  -  Neil Diamond

Sweet Caroline

(pom, pom, pom)

Good times never felt so good 

(so good, so good, so good)

[OscarE1968]

Breaking The Law - Judas Priest

[OscarE1968]

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 🤘

[OscarE1968]

You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

[OscarE1968]

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

[OscarE1968]

Fear Of The Dark - Iron Maiden

[MaVolta]

Paul McCartney playing Hey Jude . . . 

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

[OscarE1968]

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

Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights) - Pat Travers