Off Topic 46 years in the making

[Aussie Mark]

Since interacting with my imaginary bass playing friends on the internets I have seen many references to the tune "Free Bird", usually in posts about obnoxious punters or playing it for the 1000th time. Yet, as somebody living in the southern hemisphere I can say I have never had the privilege of hearing this song on radio, played by a band, on a juke box, anywhere in fact. Until today.

I was flying across the country on a business trip and noticed that the classic rock channel on the in flight entertainment system featured this tune. I was determined to listen to this legendary tune for the first time, so I sat through the terror that is Mellencamp, the inanity of the Doobie Brothers, and the goodness that is Pink Floyd, waiting patiently for Free Bird.

Oh, what a disappointment! An atrocious song, with no immediate redeeming features. Am I being too harsh? I'd be interested in hearing comments from those of you who don't fly the Dixie flag on your trucks.

I'll die a happy man if I don't hear Free Bird for another 46 years.

 

[kdphysio]

Am I being too harsh?

100% YES.

it's a classic mate, especially for us older ones. (that includes you.... i know you're down under, but i'm still amazed you haven't heard it before now).

(anyway, you obviously like pink floyd, so i don't hold your judgement in high regard!! )

 

[syciprider]

Leave Lynyrd alone and we will forgive you for the BeeGees and Air Supply

 

[maddog]

Since interacting with my imaginary bass playing friends on the internets I have seen many references to the tune "Free Bird", usually in posts about obnoxious punters or playing it for the 1000th time. Yet, as somebody living in the southern hemisphere I can say I have never had the privilege of hearing this song on radio, played by a band, on a juke box, anywhere in fact. Until today.

I was flying across the country on a business trip and noticed that the classic rock channel on the in flight entertainment system featured this tune. I was determined to listen to this legendary tune for the first time, so I sat through the terror that is Mellencamp, the inanity of the Doobie Brothers, and the goodness that is Pink Floyd, waiting patiently for Free Bird.

Oh, what a disappointment! An atrocious song, with no immediate redeeming features. Am I being too harsh? I'd be interested in hearing comments from those of you who don't fly the Dixie flag on your trucks.

I'll die a happy man if I don't hear Free Bird for another 46 years.

tee-hee.

 

[slaine01]

As a fellow Aussie, who has played in cover bands for many years, you will be pleased to know that I too have NEVER heard "Free Bird".
Although after your review I will download it tonight to see what I have been missing.
I'm kinda hoping it will invoke images of a bucktoothed kid sitting on a rocking chair playing a Banjo - uttering phrases like "...you got a purdy mouth....Suuuueeeeee"

 

[Aussie Mark]

Leave Lynyrd alone and we will forgive you for the BeeGees and Air Supply

The Bee Gees are Brits, so you can smack the Limeys for that.

I'm currently looking for an out clause for Air Supply, and will get back to you on that one.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Its just not a song that gets much attention here, just like Journey and Ozzy Osbourne for instance.

see Rush, The Grateful Dead, Tower of Power, and Dream Theater too.

 

[Psycho Ward]

*in a drunken loud scream*


“FREE BIRD!”

Yes, I have on occasion been “the drunk” who hollered it.

 

[SharonG]

As a teen. I will admit I liked the tune when it first appeared, but after playing in cover bands for a little while, I began to loathe it. If I added up all of the time I have spent playing that song, it would add up to about a month. A whole month.....on that song......

well, let's just say it's not my first choice!

 

[ekb16b]

being an aussie aswell, ive never heard of freebird until i played guitar hero on playstation 2..

 

[Big Poppa]

I have never used an atm and never played freebird....now mustang sally....thats another story

 

[tkarter]

The willing to play Freebird any time. Playing it got our band an extra 100 dollars on a gig one night.

When you are going to do Skynyrd covers you may as well toss Freebird in as well.

I much prefer playing it to playing Stanglehold.

Or Mustang Sally.

tk

 

[T-bone]

I'm with you, Mark.

Never played Freebird. Never really cared for it. Don't be dissn' Tower of Power now. I may have to remind you of Olivia Newton John.

tbone

 

[The Swedish Owl]

During the period where I played GTA: San Andreas like crazy (fall of 2005), I used to listen to the classic rock station while playing. Freebird was one of the songs on that station, and let's just say that after logging hundreds of hours on the game, I got pretty tired of that song...

Not a bad song at all though, though perhaps not the most fun song to play, bass-wise?

 

[francric]

The Bee Gees are Brits, so you can smack the Limeys for that.

I'm currently looking for an out clause for Air Supply, and will get back to you on that one.

Yea but they moved to Oz when they were young and began their careers there so it's still your fault.............................

 

[Spectre]

Yea but they moved to Oz when they were young and began their careers there so it's still your fault.............................

ROFL!!!!

 

[AnthonyD]

Too harsh, Mark... Too harsh!

It's a classic in it's own right - a great jam. Have a listen to the live version from "One from the Road."

A bit over done, perhaps, but definitely one of the classics.

And for the record, I've never played it in a band - or in the privacy of my practice room - but I'll bet just about every newbie guitarist has given it a whirl at one time or another, along with the requisite Stairway to Heaven and Hotel California.

 

[phat5]

Free Bird was released when I was attending high school. Most of the kids at school were listening to Elton John, anything disco, sweet, leo sayer and various "pop" artists....Free Bird was well recieved by me and my close group of friends......we were outcasts

 

[73jbass]

Being born and raised in the deep south,I have unfortunately been forced to play that tune more times than I care to remember.Not so much these days,but in the early 80's,you pretty much had to play Freebird. Nowdays around here, any Skynard to will keep the loyal LS fans happy. It one of those tunes that you don't want to play if you can avoid it,but not a bad idea to have it in the list just in case. Not a great song,but it's really not all that bad. Too bad folks that love it don't even know who the song was written about.

 

[backagain1]

I like Skynard, but I think that there are a number of Skynard songs that I like much better than Free Bird. I've played it (on guitar), and found it kind of fun to play. It's definitely not in my favorite 100 songs.

backagain1