Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 04:51 PM

Performing at the late, lamented Morley's in Norristown, PA on St. Patrick'e Day many years ago, I was asked to do my "maudlin medley" one of which is "A Mother's Love's A Blessing." I was well into it when a woman stood up and began to scream "Shut up, you bastard! Stop it!!" Assuming it was another St.Patrick's Day drunk, I kept going and finished the song, at which time she stormed the stage and tried to nail me with a bottle, screaming incoherently all the while. Her friends managed to subdue her, and wrestle her away from the joint. I finished the set. About a half hour later, one of her friends came back and apologized on her behalf, explaing that her mother had died a couple of days previously, and they had thought it would be a good idea to bring her out to the pub to cheer her up. Oh, well.

Seamus

Subject: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 04:21 PM

See... to me these are not embarrassing moments... these are hilarious examples of the human condition!!!

Gotta love life, warts and all eh!

Just gotta smile and keep singing...

;-)

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 03:38 PM

My S.O. and our good friend Mr. Rae have a conspiracy to punish mountain dulcimers, and at a recent festival had been practicing all morning, mostly on one (for them) rather complex tune.

We were joined that morning by a new "camp friend," who, like Mr. Rae being a long term military medic, and lover of SPAM, MREs, and things military surplus, immediately became a kindred spirit in our camp.
After a time of discussing which items from the current MRE (that's "Meal-Ready-to-Eat, for non mil types) made the best trading goods, which candy bar was best for sharpening your bayonet, and such, our guest asked "But do y' know any Scottish tunes."

Our new friend, Mr Campbell, turned an ashen white the likes of which is seldom seen on the first three notes of - - "The Rape of Glencoe" - - when Mr. Rae struck up the tune.

Good Spirits prevailed, and friendly rapport returned after a while, but for a time it seemed like a near death experience.

John

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: kendall
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:53 PM

I once sang "Three Legged Man", and later, as I was putting my guitar away, I was on my knees in the grass. Suddenly, I heard a creaking sound, and, I knew what it was. A man with a wooden leg was standing right over me! I looked up, and he was grinning like a dog eating bumble bees! He loved it. I'm still alive, pheew!

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:52 PM

Singing Kristofferson's "For The Good Times" (about a broken relationship) three feet in front of a woman going through a very painful divorce. After she ran crying from the room, her friends explained the situation to me. Hmmmm hard to get back into an "up" mood after that.

My friend Glen R. singing "Maggie" ('bout a dead love) at an old folks home. Two people were carried out in stretchers during that one song! He still thinks it was coincidence!

Rick

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:45 PM

I had a friend in high school who played the guitar and sang (this was before I really got interested in folk music). He sang a whole variety of things: folk songs, pop songs, country, Broadway show tunes, etc. He used to get frequent calls to sing at Rotary Club luncheons, and they paid pretty well for a three-song gig.

One of the songs he did that we got a real snort out of was Blood on the Saddle. He'd writhe, gurgle, roll his eyes, gag, and generally get pretty graphic with it. Then, one day he sang it for a Rotary Club meeting. Most of the plates went back to the kitchen untouched and Ted never got asked to sing there again.

I mean, he was good!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 11:54 AM

My brother-in-law (born in London, raised Catholic -- his parents were born in Ireland) told me that Christmas parties featuring do-it-yourself entertainment were a tradition in his family. People would sing, recite comical poems, the kids would do Irish step dances, etc. Once a visiting American was invited to participate. Seeing that "Irish" songs were favored, he stood up and sang "The Sash My Father Wore"! Apparently he did this in complete innocence, being just plain ignorant about the political situation. As he was a guest, the family had to treat him politely, but they had many a laugh -- and groan -- about it afterwards.

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 11:45 AM

Ah yes. There was the time our ad hoc music group went to the airport to play a large group going to Japan off into the wild blue yonder.

For some reason we launched into what we called our disaster trilogy - "Amelia Earhart's Last Flight," followed by "Titantic," followed by "Wreck of the Old 97". Only realizing after we'd started that some of the people were very nervous about flying. Oh well.

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: mooman
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:49 AM

My very first posting here on the 'Cat was on the same topic when I remarked that a friend of mine's band got into big trouble for playing "When all good times are past and gone" at a wedding reception!

mooman

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:21 AM

I was at a wedding reception last year when the DJ started the evening by playing that old song by Elvis - "I'm caught in a trap - I can't get out".

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:15 AM

As a chantey singer my repertoire includes a lot of what I call "hairy chested man songs". Occasionally I try singing at coffeehouses on nights when there is a strong feminist and lesbian contingent in the audience. I am very carefull with my song choices on those evenings.

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:12 AM

Keith Donnelly the comedian tells one about the radio announcer who found out that Bing Crosby had died told his assistant to get a Bing record from the library and announced his death followed by his tribute record which started with ' I'm in heaven....'

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: RangerSteve
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:02 AM

A local radio announcer moonlighting as a singer told about a gig she had at a nursing home one Christmas. She started singing traditional Xmas songs, and the audience remained mostly silent. Someone finally got her attention and pointed to the Star of David on the back wall.

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: LR Mole
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:01 AM

I may have mentioned this here, but I once met a woman who sings at weddings who did "I don't Know How to Love Him" as the bride stepped up.Microseconds before she sang the line, she realized the next words were,"... and I've had so many men before, in very many ways--he's just one more..." Well, she sang the line, slurring it like an unprepared student. Hit her notes though.

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 09:50 AM

Apart from my dreaded 'faux pas' which was mentioned in a previous thread I was once asked to sing another song from my 'diplomatic' repetoire, a quaint country song called 'My Granny's a Cripple from Nashville', just as someone in a wheelchair was pushed into the pub and although it's not a song at my birfday party in the Harlequin pub the other year, Linda the landlady, brought in a big plate of roast pork butties just as the 'Klezmer' band arrived thro the door from their gig it was wonderful timing !!

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 09:46 AM

I remember someone last Whitby singing about someone who was armless, with a one armed lady sitting next to me
Although I was not singing - was my face red.
Patrish

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: pavane
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 09:40 AM

My wife does a lot of singing 50's to 70's pop songs in Nursing homes. Has to be careful, so leaves out 'That'll be the day' (... that I die)

Subject: RE: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 08:35 AM

There was the old story told by Jerry Clower or Tennessee Ernie or someone about the preacher who is giving his sermon on Temperance and by the end has gotten all wound up and is raging about the evils of strong drink. He finished with a flourish and screamed out, "Let us take all the bottle of demon rum and the Devil's spirits and smash them upon the rocks of the river and let them flow out of our lives!"

After a few "Amens" and "Bless you Preachers" the good reverend had calmed a bit and turned back to his schedule saying, "Let us end our service by singing page 363 in your hymnal, 'Let Us Gather By The River.'"

Spaw

Subject: Embarrassingly wrong (songs& timing)
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 08:21 AM

Another thread (the floorspots one) mentions someone's unfortunate timing for a song.
I'm sure that this must be a rich comedic seam.
The two that spring to mind for me are:
Singing The Parting Glass at a barbecue where the host had just split up with his long-term partner (oops).
Singing Rise Again in the front bar of the pub, whilst a funeral party was being held in the back room (d'oh).

Its usually halfway through the song that you realise.....

These two are pretty unspectacular - but there have to be some classics out there. Yes?

Kris