I wish I hadn't done that now.

Subject: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Bert
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:26 PM

What I did was... I copied Digital Tradition's 'All Titles' to a text file and cut out any song that I couldn't confidently sing (with maybe just a little rehearsal).

I was left with 524 songs. I was expecting a lot more, but I didn't cheat.

What's your score?

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:29 PM

Woof! Will have to try and find out!

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:51 PM

Damn Bert, that is hellishly good. I used to have about five hundred at my command with absolutely no prompting,(Pete claimed well over a thousand by the time he was in the army) but time has eroded quite a few. Might be able to do a couple of hundred without looking at any notes.

Good on ye.

Rick

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Amos
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:10 PM

I tallied up three hundred twenty more or less, that I could stand up cold and perform; but I won't declare I will remember all the verses -- the tails of them keep falling off more and more the older i get!

A

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:17 PM

I got 3, and none of them are in the DT.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: MMario
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:45 PM

with or without cheat sheets?

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:51 PM

Without.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: MMario
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:58 PM

hell - Matt - the way you can perform WITH cheat sheets, I wouldn't worry about it; but I was actually asking bert if the list he came up with was with or without cheat sheets. There are a lot of songs I can do sight reading the words that I couldn't perform "off the cuff"

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 03:39 AM

Ah, well if cheat sheets are allowed - then thousands! We call 'em hymn books though! *BG*

LTS

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 03:55 AM

Without cheat sheets, probably about 20-30 and I can't even remember which songs I do know all the words to. I have a pretty good memory for tunes though and in Hearme for example, I would be pretty confident of getting through most songs I know a tune to regardless of whether I have ever sung the song before.

The only problem I have is fitting some of the words in and I usually sing a song through once in my head and make a couple of changes to the words so they fit more easily for me. Sometimes I end up doing this as I am singing but I have come unstuck attempting to do that.

Jon

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 09:33 PM

The last time I did statistics like this (about 25 years ago) I found that I knew about 60 songs 30 of which I could definitely perform (i.e. without any cheat sheet and all verses. You should know that I only perform by accident, so I only carry a set of picks and a capo with me, but of course no cheat sheets.)

Also things change: The way I did my songs then is very different from how I do them now. It has become more complicated and therefore more difficult to remember the first time. (The second time it's much easier, but the first time is always the only chance I get. :-) ) Once I only had to remember the key (I wasn't completely aware of the features of a capo then), some special details of the chords and the lyrics. But my requirements (to myself) have increased. I like some special bass progressions, the chords must be more complicated in order to not bore me, and woe to me if I put the capo at the wrong fret (there are irish songs in my repertoire now).

So today I 'know' many, many more songs than then. The number of those I can definitely perform completely and at once has become difficult to tell, because there are songs I can but just don't remember that I can. Maybe it's still 30 - at least I hope so.

I also hope you understand what I want to tell: Being able to compare statistics like these strongly requires a definition of what is meant with 'knowing' or 'being able to sing' a song.

But Matt - still - three are too few. Either learn more songs or don't be THAT strict to yourself (look at bert).

Cheers

Joerg

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Matt_R
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 09:43 PM

Sorry Joerg, my brain is filled up with more important things than the chords and words to songs.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Bert
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 11:57 AM

I did say that you're allowed a little rehearsal. And I said 'sing' not perform. This means songs that you know the chorus and at least the first verse or two.

For instance, most of us know 'Kathleen' and could sing it. But just because you may need a refresher on the second verse, it doesn't mean that you don't know the song.

Sorry I didn't make that clearer. So go for it.

Bert.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: MMario
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:18 PM

thanks bert - now I know what to count!!!!

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 03:39 PM

I haven't tried but I could probably muster up a good twenty that I know by heart as it were and maybe on a good day, thirty more I know at least the first verse and chorus to but I'm a piker compared to some of you. Bloody good show 500+ though. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 09:34 PM

Thanks, bert. And now, Matt: How many? (coarse estimate is enough.) I'm still interested.

Joerg

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Matt_R
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 10:35 PM

OK, I can even name them:

Digsy's Diner --Oasis
Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is --Oasis
She's Electric --Oasis

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 10:40 PM

:-O

Giving up

Joerg

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Lena
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 08:34 AM

None at all-enjoyng stage fright (call it that way...) attachs lately.But maybe I should try with Oasis.I used to scream Supersonic around the schoolrooms when I was in me'teens...

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: GUEST,Matt
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 08:50 AM

I scream Supersonic all the time! BTW the best version of Supersonic EVER is on the purely instrumental Royal Philaharmonic PLays The Music of Oasis. The guitars are replaced by big sleazy brass instruments and gongs and tympani. Supersonic train rollin in!

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Lena
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 09:19 AM

Yum.Unfortunately I had a very bad trauma at sixteen,in England.The family I was staying with had this three dreadful kids.They would get in my room and throw my stuff out of the window.I locked the door.So they started climbing the neighbour's roof and get in from the window.I closed the window.At that point they decided to go for the siege:they left a very loud stereo in front of my door playing FOR HOURS (thanks to the 'repeat track'device)bloody sally's bloody's song 'Don't you bloody look back in anger'.
And when I finally gave in to them,and opened my door,I was out of my carefree teenage youth forever.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Lena
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 09:21 AM

I forgot to mention that I was talking about Oasis.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 09:34 AM

Ahh, Lena, I feel for you! But you know what they say, don't look back in anger! Too bad you didn't have the Wonderwall single...you could have paid them back by playing THE SWAMP SONG at high volume. They would have never come near you again. Their eardrums would be blown in fact! Nothing can match the sheer volume and intensity of THE SWAMP SONG. MWA HA HA HA!!!!

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Lena
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 09:39 AM

No,hang on.I got bloody Wonderwall ...after holding on like an hero behind that door,i walked to the pub and met a friend.This friend never forgot the state I was in that night,because after a few months I got a souvenir in my mail...a sixty minutes tape,with only ONE song,recorded MANY TIMES.And this song was...Wonderwall,because he got it wrong,he was meant to record bloody Sally bloody waiting and I tell you,she can die waiting for me.Probably I didn't get the refrain after all those times,cause I still look back in anger,as they bloody say.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: GUEST,Matt
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 09:54 AM

I think Wonderwall is an ok song as far as it goes, but I think it was entirely overplayed, and unfortunetly, most people tend to think of Oasis in terms of Wonderwall, without realizing all the super music that were released as b-sides in England. Things that would even make folkies happy, like "D'yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?", "Sad Song", "Half The World Away," "Talk Tonight," "It's Better People," "Cigarettes In Hell," "Angel Child," etc. Over-publicity smells.

Subject: RE: I wish I hadn't done that now.
From: Lena
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 05:07 AM

I see now that,Goood,you really talk seriously when you claim to love Oasis...i still thought it to be a joke....ehm...