Good songs for busking [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

grimbold

2011-03-13, 07:44 AM

I decided to ask my fellow playgrounders if they have any good suggestions for songs that i should busk with in Paris.
Busking is when you stand out on the street with an instrument (in my case a guitar and vocals) and play music in the hope of getting money from passerby (also don't worry i checked and it IS legal here)
So what songs would you like to hear from a busker
here's alist of ones i already play

House of the Rising Sun-The Animals
Tangerine-Led Zeppelin
Living Loving Maid-Led Zeppelin
I want to be the boy to warm your mothers heart-The white stripes
Throwin it all away-Zakk Wylde (off his folk album ;)
Knockin on Heavens Door-Bob Dylan
Mrs Robinson- Simon and Garfunkel
Sunshine of Your Love-Cream

i am open to anything although classic rock is preferable

Maralais

2011-03-13, 07:54 AM

InstantWinJustAddTheBeatles.

Seriously, Two of Us, Yesterday, Blackbird and more acoustic songs would go nice.

grimbold

2011-03-13, 08:02 AM

thank you for that suggestion as soon as i learn hey hey what can i do i will learn one of those (aka i'll start in like 5 minutes)

Adlan

2011-03-13, 09:25 AM

1. Make sure it's in your Vocal Range, nothing worse than a Busker straining and out of tune.
2. Make sure you aren't pinching another busker's spot to play (some people can get protective of a space they consider 'theirs'
3. Make sure you are in tune
4. Enjoy it, smile and be cheerful, even as people pass you by ignoring you. If you play because you expect people to give you money, you'll be disappointed,, it's a tiny fraction of those that pass you by stop and listen, and not all of them will give you money. You do better if you play for the love of it, and treat any money as a bonus.

So with that in mind, what are your favourite songs to play? Songs that move you? Ever written anything original? Don't be afraid to share it.

I'd love to Hear Vincent 52, by Richard Thompson, Pirates Gospel by Alela Diane and Stagger Lee, by Mississippi John Hurt. Amos Moses could be fun as well.

Raistlin1040

2011-03-13, 09:30 AM

Wonderwall.

/thread

ForzaFiori

2011-03-13, 09:59 AM

Wonderwall.

/thread

The problem with Wonderwall (and any other Oasis song) is that the band has 3 guitarists, so unless grimbold has 6 arms, it's unlikely to sound right. I ran into this same problem. You can get the melody, but it's flat without the other two.

Personally, I would also suggest some beatles, they always go down well.

Maybe learn some french folk music? I don't know how receptive they'd be to it in Paris, but I know that in most small towns, hearing someone play a folk song you knew growing up is always cool

grimbold

2011-03-13, 10:55 AM

The problem with Wonderwall (and any other Oasis song) is that the band has 3 guitarists, so unless grimbold has 6 arms, it's unlikely to sound right. I ran into this same problem. You can get the melody, but it's flat without the other two.

Personally, I would also suggest some beatles, they always go down well.

Maybe learn some french folk music? I don't know how receptive they'd be to it in Paris, but I know that in most small towns, hearing someone play a folk song you knew growing up is always cool

well, this is a good idea
however there are 2 problems and one is cultural
the non cultural problem ios that whilew my french is good my accent sucks
second the french FLIP for ANYTHING from britain or the US so i would like to do tht kinda stuff

Asthix

2011-03-13, 11:05 AM

If I may suggest some Irish traditional English music so you may succeed in drawing some coin this St. Patrick's Day? Classic rock is fine busking material, but being able to change things up with blues as Adlan suggested or other musical styles may get you more attention (read: more coin) than just classic rock. May just be too slow for you though.

The Blacksmith by Steeleye Span (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZv_kshV_7s) I've even found a solo guitar link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQEcBXR59EE&feature=related)

This is a song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzJJ4TJIfIA&feature=related) my friends used to sing at the start of their Renaissance Fair shows.

And Some more. 7 Drunken Nights by The Dubliners. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVJK1Sl6My8) (Note: replace 'sow' with 'milk cow' for US audiences. Lyrics here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lbpGL7TbY0&NR=1&feature=fvwp)

Black Velvet Band by The Dubliners (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cnzstOtW2k)

Good luck!

EDIT: Forgot to recommend some Bob Marley. Found a nice teaching vid for Jamming. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4kk_xESaBk)

DrizztFan24

2011-03-13, 11:12 AM

This Afternoon by Nickelback? It's not classic rock, but I definitely consider it American.

Moff Chumley

2011-03-13, 11:42 AM

With busking, I've found it's not about what you play so much as how well you play it. That said, some songs simply lend themselves to busking more than others. Santeria (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEA_txBAWvA) by Sublime is good if you can pull it off, and c'mon, those lyrics are just fun to sing. This is the First Day of My Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW-4nWkx7Uk) by Bright Eyes is cheesy for my tastes, but it's pretty easy to play and there's clearly a lot of people who like it. :smallwink:

Modest Mouse is pretty fun also, if you can arrange it in a way that makes sense. The View (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCjoyadTh-U), Bukowski (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj4RRGq8jNQ&feature=related), and Ocean Breathes Salty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lzuXms01Xk) seem viable. Please be warned that playing Modest Mouse songs in public carry a chance of having your teeth kicked in.

grimbold

2011-03-13, 01:15 PM

i learned hey hey what can i do today
whats that song that goes like
'this is the story of a girl'
because i feelthat may be a good buskering song

Cyrion

2011-03-13, 01:17 PM

After Me by Marillion would be a good acoustic song.

Teacher or some of Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull.

Soilborn

2011-03-13, 02:19 PM

Freebird :smallamused:

grimbold

2011-03-13, 02:23 PM

thank you for your suggestions
but really? Freebird?. that would be impressive but impossible :)
do you know any good songs like knocking on heavens door with a nice sing a long chorus?

Seppha

2011-03-13, 02:36 PM

i learned hey hey what can i do today
whats that song that goes like
'this is the story of a girl'
because i feelthat may be a good buskering song

Absolutely (Story Of A Girl) by Nine Days if you were still wondering.

Seraph

2011-03-13, 02:47 PM

this should get you a few laughs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcUBI-YVRY8)

grimbold

2011-03-13, 02:58 PM

Absolutely (Story Of A Girl) by Nine Days if you were still wondering.

thanks
@seraph
yes that is brilliant however nobody here speaks sufficient english to get the joke :(

Raistlin1040

2011-03-13, 03:05 PM

The problem with Wonderwall (and any other Oasis song) is that the band has 3 guitarists, so unless grimbold has 6 arms, it's unlikely to sound right. I ran into this same problem. You can get the melody, but it's flat without the other two.

Personally, I would also suggest some beatles, they always go down well.

Maybe learn some french folk music? I don't know how receptive they'd be to it in Paris, but I know that in most small towns, hearing someone play a folk song you knew growing up is always coolNoel thinks it sounds okay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg2XXFqt_lM&feature=related).

The Big Dice

2011-03-13, 03:51 PM

Pretty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t8MeE8Ik4Y) much (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwZsFKIXa8&feature=related) anything (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuMwfUqJJM&feature=related) by (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0NGPm6n18Q&feature=related) the (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMy_w5HsfdI) Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnUgozm6oC4&feature=related) is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBFANonCPpk&feature=fvwrel) perfect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8BPcNUQy-0&feature=related) for (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqXrq4TqDHg&feature=related) busking (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3RYvO2X0Oo&feature=related).

(Songs: Help, Can't Buy Me Love, Love Me do, Twist And Shout, Get Back, We Can Work It Out, Ticket To Ride, Please Mr Postman, I Saw Her Standing There, While My Guitar Gently Weeps)

valadil

2011-03-13, 03:54 PM

No suggestions but I saw a dude busking on a hurdy gurdy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT56auxMT74) last week.

Moff Chumley

2011-03-13, 04:08 PM

Freebird :smallamused:

http://imagemacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/oh_you.jpg

FlashRah

2011-03-13, 04:40 PM

More Than This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9PAuWV-Vn0) by Roxy Music.

Pretty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t8MeE8Ik4Y) much (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwZsFKIXa8&feature=related) anything (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuMwfUqJJM&feature=related) by (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0NGPm6n18Q&feature=related) the (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMy_w5HsfdI) Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnUgozm6oC4&feature=related) is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBFANonCPpk&feature=fvwrel) perfect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8BPcNUQy-0&feature=related) for (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqXrq4TqDHg&feature=related) busking (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3RYvO2X0Oo&feature=related).

(Songs: Help, Can't Buy Me Love, Love Me do, Twist And Shout, Get Back, We Can Work It Out, Ticket To Ride, Please Mr Postman, I Saw Her Standing There, While My Guitar Gently Weeps)

Way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC6D2N4nylg) to (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsrQgIQSQSw) pick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2N2tymDcFo&feature=fvst) the (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVJwwLcV3KY) obvious (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvDHwVM-PJI) ones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB8a9pMJfK8)

But I suppose for busking the obvious ones are fair enough. :smalltongue:

AsteriskAmp

2011-03-13, 04:47 PM

Really depends on location.
If your city has a great number of tourists, the more stereotypical the better.

Also, mind that sometimes commercial establishments can get annoyed by you being nearby, but it also depends on the type of local and the area in which you do it (No one likes Musettes except maybe Italian restaurants).

Also try not to block circulation wherever you are playing, it's not only common consideration but may also mean that those who stand to listen will get pushed around and make them less likely to stay or donate.

The Big Dice

2011-03-13, 05:19 PM

But I suppose for busking the obvious ones are fair enough. :smalltongue:
That's what I thought. Rocky Raccoon is all well and good, but the BEatles did some fairly obscure stuff that a lot of people might not even realise they did.

Though the single best piece of guitar music I ever heard was a guy in the old Yahoo guitar chatroom playing Elanor Rigby on an acoustic. Rhythm, melody, bassline and chords all at once. I was flabbergasted.

SDF

2011-03-13, 06:18 PM

I once got $10 from an Orthodox priest while playing Skulls by the Misfits. I don't think he spoke English.

KuReshtin

2011-03-13, 06:36 PM

More Than Words - Extreme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIiLvg58SY)

AsteriskAmp

2011-03-13, 09:42 PM

Craziest thing I ever saw being played on the streets was Czardas by Monti, on a Hammered Dulcimer, by Gypsies, in Florence.

I then looked all over youtube for them and found this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhrjjT20rYE&feature=related)

Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll

2011-03-13, 09:58 PM

I once got $10 from an Orthodox priest while playing Skulls by the Misfits. I don't think he spoke English.

Orthodox priests are generally bosses. Where did that youtube video of that skateboarding priest go, I think he was orthodox...

edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvPVz8jzp5U
No, Catholic. Still, he's cool.

editedit: @^ Darn you. Now I need to go look up some more Gogol Bordello.
Speaking of which. Do (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76YbAfFfJ8) some (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM1Ahn0Osjo&feature=relmfu) Gogol (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFL2SXGdrVA&feature=relmfu) Bordello (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elyQ4ShVw-Y&feature=relmfu). You probably need a second instrument for the melody though... And nobody will really know it...

TheThan

2011-03-14, 12:56 AM

we call it panhandling (well more likely group it in with it). Which has some fairly negative connotations around here.

but anyway if there's any song that must be busked its this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTknLD9eWw

of course you need a one man band.
other ideas include an organ-grinder and trained monkey.

Don Julio Anejo

2011-03-14, 01:30 AM

You can never go wrong with Hotel California :smile:

Amiel

2011-03-14, 01:32 AM

I imagine Imagine would be good for busking; plus, it'd draw a crowd.

grimbold

2011-03-14, 11:03 AM

thanks for the tips
i think ima learn twist and shout
come together and
imagine
and possibly hotel california now
so i have another question
how many songs should i be able to do to busk?

Moff Chumley

2011-03-14, 10:30 PM

As many as you can; I'd say at least forty five minutes or so, before you start repeating things.

grimbold

2011-03-15, 12:10 PM

thanks for that suggestion
but how long would people stay in front of me?
anyways i can always fill in blues guitar solos and just instrumental bits
black dog is a crowd pleaser :)

Flame of Anor

2011-03-15, 05:12 PM

Pretty much anything by Simon & Garfunkel that can be done by one person. I suggest "Kathy's Song".

dgnslyr

2011-03-15, 06:22 PM

Hey There Cthulhu (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxScTbIUvoA) has a nice-sounding melody for non-English speakers, and English-speakers will probably give you odd looks and walk away quickly. Or just play the sanity damage-free version, but that's so much less fun.

grimbold

2011-03-16, 06:24 AM

Raistlin1040

2011-03-16, 04:29 PM

Oh, Violent Femmes would also probably be good. Blister in the Sun and Kiss Off are both good songs that are pretty easy to play and sound good on one guitar.

blunk

2016-06-04, 12:49 AM

*marks August 23, 2021 on calendar with this thread ID*

Scarlet Knight

2016-06-04, 10:46 AM

Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett

Ripple, Box of Rain, or Uncles John's Band by the Greatful Dead

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison

They all have little riffs that catch the attention of fans.

Aedilred

2016-06-04, 01:11 PM

I seem to recall an article that suggested the most profitable song for buskers was Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. Certainly it's one I hear a lot around London.

The type of music that makes me most inclined to give buskers money tends to be upbeat big-band or swing-style stuff, but that's difficult to pull off, especially if you only have a guitar. If you have an electric guitar, then a selection of the great guitar-riff pieces (Layla, Money for Nothing, etc.) probably wouldn't go amiss, but while you could try getting away with them on acoustic, I tend not to be so keen on them. Digging through Clapton's repertoire would probably yield a few decent options, though - if you're a good enough guitarist!

If you have a good voice, then Scott Walker and the Walker Brothers have some good tunes that might work for busking. In particular, Scott did a whole album of Jacques Brel covers in English, so you could sing French songs in English translation (notwithstanding that Brel was Belgian). In particular, Mathilde and Jackie, maybe The Girls and the Dogs; some of the others are a little slow and sombre.