Need some downer music ideas.

So I’m being laid off from my job in November (unless I find something else first). And I’ve been directed to play music at the company cookout in September.

The only song I’ve put on the list so far is Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It”.

Ideally, I want stealthy downer songs, things with a lot of energy and a nice beat, so you have to listen carefully to tell that the basic message is “fuck you”.

I know I can’t get away with 3 hours of dirges, but I’m hoping you can help me find some tunes to slip in.

The Alps “Curriculum Vitae
Self “It All Comes Out in the Wash
Tupelo Honey “Why I Bother

Green Day/“Good Riddance” The hook, “I hope you had the time of your life,” is sooo misleading.

Anything by Snog. I thought about putting the song, “Corporate Slave”, as the company’s hold music but I didn’t leave on bad terms. It’s quite upbeat, a dance track even.

Last Kiss

The End by the Doors

Teddy Bear

Big Bad John

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Go down to post 31 & read on…

Thanks. Odly enough I have a fair number of those, and they’ve sparked som other ideas like “I shot the sheriff”.

Dear Employer by The Minus 5

Working in the Coal Mine by Lee Dorsey
Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues by Jim Croce
Chain Gang by Sam Cooke
Five O’Clock World by the Vogues
We Gotta Get Outta This Place by the Animals
Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran
Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Strange Fruit, any version really, but Billie’s is really good

No Sunlight - Death Cab for Cutie

Fits in with Sigmagirl’s list.
Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Belle & Sebastian, “Take Your Carriage Clock And Shove It”:

In the boardroom the quiet man takes a
Second to think what to do
He’s out of his seat and he’s starting to speak
And he hears his own voice
For years and years he’s done nothing but bow down and put up with all their demands
She sits like a viper and offers the clock
Without giving a damn
He takes it

What about Gilbert & Sullivan’s “I’ve got a little list?” I figure it’s a wonderfully cheerful “fuck you” song.

Please tell me they are paying you sick amounts of cash for this. What company can “direct you” to play music?

As a musician…I’d tell them to go fuck themselves. I hope you play with every string out of tune, in your underwear whilst singing in out of tune falsetto.

Workin’ On It by Chris Rhea

“You’re Breaking My Heart” by Harry Nilsson
“I’d Rather See You Dead” by Pat Travers

Sorry for lack of clarity. By “play” I mean as in Deejay playing recorded music.

Billy Joel, “Movin’ Out” (which I blasted in the car on way out of the parking lot the last time I quit a job)

Mr. S says, “Hire a polka band.” Unfortunately, here in WI that could backfire if they like it.

Carly Simon, “You’re so Vain”
Gilbert O’Sullivan, “Alone Again, Naturally”
(Yeah, Boyo Jim, I know you’re male, but) Donna Summer, “She Works Hard for the Money”
Finally, play this about every third song or so to drive them insane: “Achy Breaky Heart”

Love, Phil

Harry Nilsson’s “You’re Breakin’ My Heart” might be a bit too much.

(I couldn’t link a sample from Amazon.)