Adan Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 It seems that where I live in Central Vermont, the eclipse is a big deal. We're in the total eclipse path, and I live in a resort town with lots of hotels, so a huge tourist influx is expected. I don't know if people understand there's about a 30% chance of clear skies here in April. I've agreed to do a solo piano gig at a hotel the night before the eclipse, so I'm putting together a song list. There are 3 main criteria: 1) Obviously, related to the subject matter of the sun, the moon, or how the sun and the moon can mix it up. 2) has to be easily recognizable to the average person. Iron Maiden's "Total Eclipse" may be on the nose, but most people won't know it. 3) has to work reasonably well for solo piano with no vocals. Here too, the Iron Maiden tune fails, as probably does Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. Note that my shtick is mainly classic rock/pop/R&B. I can play jazz but it's not my forte. So far I've written down two lists, the first is what I could find through searching "songs related to eclipse," and those songs are pretty on point. The second list is songs less on point, but they're in my repertoire and I need to fill up 2.5 hours of, so I'll probably do them. Brain Damage (Floyd) Eclipse (Floyd) Here Comes the Sun Total Eclipse of the Heart (might be too cheesy even for me) Moondance Moonshadow Bad Moon Rising Blinded By the Light Blackhole Sun (might be tough for solo piano) Ain't No Sunshine You're So Vain (this one snuck up on me) Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me Paint it Black Fly Me to the Moon Moonlight in Vermont ('cause I'm in Vermont!) The following tunes aren't as on point but are in my solo repertoire and relevant enough to play: Rocket Man Space Oddity Moonage Daydream Life on Mars Across the Universe Turn the Lights Back On (new BJ) Whiter Shade of Pale Midnight RIder House of the Rising Sun I Feel the Earth Move Back to Black Sundown Strange Magic Something in the Air Living in the Past (this one's a stretch) Walkin on the Moon You Are the Sunshine of my Life Can't Find My Way Home Suggestions welcome! Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 Dark Side of the Moon 2 Quote "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamPro Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 I Can See Clearly Now Softly As In A Morning Sunrise It's Only A Paper Moon Here Comes Sunshine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamanzarek Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 Instant Karma-John Lennon Mr. Moon-The Coachmen Mr. Moonlight-The Beatles I'll Follow the Sun-The Beatles Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon-Paul Revere and the Raiders Waiting for the Sun-The Doors Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In-The 5th Dimension Earth and Sun and Moon-Midnight Oil California Sun-The Rivieras Walking on the Sun-Smash Mouth Quote Gibson G101, Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, Vox Continental, RMI Electra-Piano and Harpsichord 300A, Hammond M102A, Hohner Combo Pianet, OB8, Matrix 12, Jupiter 6, Prophet 5 rev. 2, Pro-One, CS70M, CP35, PX-5S, WK-3800, Stage 3 Compact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 Sunny Here Comes The Sun King BTW, have you rehearsed any.... table banter? 1 Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polychrest Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 Sunshine (Go Away Today) -- Jonathan Edwards Sunshine Superman -- Donovan Quote “For 50 years, it was like being chained to a lunatic.” -- Kingsley Amis on the eventual loss of his libido Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted April 1 Author Share Posted April 1 58 minutes ago, Moonglow said: Dark Side of the Moon Being the non-obsessive Pink Floyd appreciator that I am, I had to do some research to figure out that the "dark side of the moon" lyric is actually in the song Brain Damage (first song on my list). Somehow I've survived for decades without knowing that. Some good suggestions in the above posts, but again, these have to be songs that are recognizable to a broad spectrum of audience when played as solo piano instrumental pieces. That narrows the field quite a bit. Waiting for the Sun would be a brilliant choice, but most people probably wouldn't get it hearing it just solo piano. Drawback: a bunch of tourists in a resort town all there for the same special reason . . . this is the easiest scenario imaginable for table banter. I could probably pull it off speaking only Hungarian. 1 Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewImprov Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 3 hours ago, Adan said: Blackhole Sun (might be tough for solo piano) What a fun concept for a gig! I did Black Hole Sun in an organ trio (Hammond/Tenor/Drums) and it was a lot of fun. It's a really cool set of changes to blow over. Quote Turn up the speaker Hop, flop, squawk It's a keeper -Captain Beefheart, Ice Cream for Crow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 3 hours ago, Adan said: Being the non-obsessive Pink Floyd appreciator that I am, I had to do some research to figure out that the "dark side of the moon" lyric is actually in the song Brain Damage (first song on my list). Somehow I've survived for decades without knowing that. Some good suggestions in the above posts, but again, these have to be songs that are recognizable to a broad spectrum of audience when played as solo piano instrumental pieces. Thanks for the information. I was initially wondering if this thread had anything to do with the present date, but decided to bite. A couple more: You Are My Sunshine …..and how could I not recommend “Moonglow” I do understand the “broad spectrum of audience” thing probably disqualifies these entires, although if your audience is of a certain age… Quote "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyRude Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 haha that’s hilarious! After a quick scan, my top 3 = Dark Side of the Moon, Black Hole Sun, Rocket Man. These are can’t miss! I’m actually going to an eclipse festival in Austin TX. My wife figured it all out, looks like about a thousand different ‘experiences’, music, science, on and on. Vulfpeck is on the roster so that’s cool. I’m pretty sure I’ll burn out before the actual eclipse. Checking the weather, looks like thunderstorms, rain and clouds during the eclipse. Nice. Quote Some music I've recorded and played over the years with a few different bands Tommy Rude Soundcloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Great gig in the sky Set the controls for the heart of the sun Astronomy Domine Moon over Bourbon Street Sunshine of your love Walking on sunshine Quote Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 A kind of funny byproduct of this for me is that I'm suddenly listening to the Dark Side of the Moon album almost as if in a whole new light (no pun intended). I was not expecting that at all -- this is an album I've been listening to since I was 15, and I'm now 157 years old (or at least, sometimes feel that way). I've never been the kind of obsessive Pink Floyd fan who can tell you what pedal the guitar was running through for this or that track. I've also never felt like Pink Floyd works very well for solo piano. Suddenly, I feel strongly that it all works well for solo piano, and I'd like to do an entire set that's nothing but Dark Side from beginning to end, maybe minus a few whoa-whoa-whoa's from Great Gig in the Sky. I'm also, quite unexpectedly, growing hair on the palms of my hands, which should make organ palm smears that much easier. 1 Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjd Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 King Harvest "Dancing In The Moonlight" was the first one that came to mind. Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Okay, sorry, I’ll stop being goofy. Quote "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewImprov Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 On 4/1/2024 at 12:12 PM, Adan said: Moonlight in Vermont ('cause I'm in Vermont!) If you want a real challenge, you could transcribe this for solo piano: I'm sure it'd be a huge hit! Quote Turn up the speaker Hop, flop, squawk It's a keeper -Captain Beefheart, Ice Cream for Crow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Good Day Sunshine (Beatles) Blue Moon Moon River I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night) Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Quinn Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Work in an excerpt from Moonlight Sonata. Could be a good intro into another song. Quote https://alquinn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 If you want to modernize just a bit there is always Dubstep Side of the Moon. 1 Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old No7 Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Some great ideas above; the few ideas I had were already listed. But maybe you can be BOLD and also mix in some songs about all the CrAzY PeOpLe and/or things that get affected by the moon -- Iron Man and Godzilla (the songs) come to mind, just to mix it up. That leads to: Crazy (Patsy Cline) Crazy Train (Ozzie) Crazy On You (Heart) ...and there's more for sure. Old No7 Quote Yamaha MODX6 * Hammond SK Pro 73 * Roland Fantom-08 * Crumar Mojo Pedals * Mackie Thump 12As * Tascam DP-24SD * JBL 305 MkIIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassdad Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Don’t Let the Sun, Go Down On Me (Elton John). Sunrise, sunset. Quote Ludwig van Beethoven: “To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” My Rig: Yamaha MOXF8 (used mostly for acoustic piano voices); Motion Sound KP-612SX & SL-512. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Verelst Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 How high the moon Theo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Sunshine (on my shoulders) Swinging on a Star ("Would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar...) When You Wish Upon a Star maybe Vincent (aka starry starry night...), though a sad one Everyone's Gone to the Moon (probably not sufficiently well known) Starman (Bowie) (also maybe not sufficiently well known) Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 and for either your opener or closer... Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose EB5AGV Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Mr. Blue Sky - ELO (sorry if already suggested) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 Great suggestions, thank you. All the responses have been super helpful and have opened my mind to new ways of approaching this. Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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