# Songs that make you play air bass **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 8, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611 "2007-11-08T00:52:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/21 "2007-11-08T09:58:35Z")
What, no The Cure yet? Just Like Heaven, for starters. And second everything by Joy Division. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/22 "2007-11-08T12:52:40Z")
Chameleon (Herbie Hancock) Ace Of Spades (Motorhead) We Care a Lot (Faith No More) Another One Bites the Dust (Queen) The Nips Are Getting Bigger (Mental As Anything) No Time to Cry (Sisters of Mercy) - yeah, Goth is good for air bass Peaches (The Stranglers) Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads) Son of a Preacher Man (Dusty Springfield) ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/23 "2007-11-08T13:12:39Z")
Bela Fleck’s _The Sinister Minister_. That bassist rocks my world. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/24 "2007-11-08T13:19:47Z")
[QUOTE=hawthorne] No Time to Cry (Sisters of Mercy) - yeah, Goth is good for air bass [/QUOTE] You’re right – not sure if it’s bass (they’re relatively high-pitched) but I play air to the “big three” on _Floodlands_ (Mother Russia less so than Lucretia and This Corrosion but it too is pretty good.) – Whatever comes before the main part of NIB off _Black Sabbath_ (the track numbering is sort of weird on the CD so I can’t tell if it’s part of the song per se or not.) – See Emily Play by Pink Floyd – Black Cow by Steely Dan ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/25 "2007-11-08T13:19:58Z")
No one has mentioned \*Give It Away \* by the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Holy smokes. Flea is da man. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/26 "2007-11-08T13:27:47Z")
I forgot Le Freak (Chic) and Blame it on the Boogie (Jackson 5). ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/27 "2007-11-08T13:48:47Z")
“Please Do Not Go” or “Add it Up” by the Violent Femmes. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/28 "2007-11-08T13:53:21Z")
How did we get almost 30 posts into this without _Rock Lobster_ or _Mirror in the Bathroom_? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/29 "2007-11-08T14:05:13Z")
Of course I have to echo the solo _My Generation_, which has stood the test of time as one of the most badass moments in rock history…actually, John Entwhistle had more air-bass-worthy licks than any other bass player, IMHO. I especially go nuts when I hear that lick in the “You Are Forgiven” portion of \*A Quick One \* that comes between the lines “It’s like a dream to be with you…again” and “I can’t believe that I’m with you…again”. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/30 "2007-11-08T14:14:52Z")
Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/31 "2007-11-08T14:22:39Z")
“You Oughta Know”, bass by Flea (the rest by Alanis Morissette) “Thank You (For Lettin’ Me Be Mice Elf Again)”, by Sly and the Family Stone. “Something”, bass by Paul McCartney (even though George thought the bass part’s melodic creativity was distracting and took away from his song) ---
**Author:** ![Charogne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@Charogne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charogne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/32 "2007-11-08T14:28:38Z")
Precious little Motown so far… I wonder about you kids. For me, almost anything by the Four Tops or Holland/Dozier/Holland. Also “Come On, Eileen”, by Dexy’s Midnight Runners – but I repeat myself. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/33 "2007-11-08T14:29:12Z")
I totally agree on **Sisters of Mercy**. It makes me want to play air bass with an air pick. So does **The Cure** , especially older stuff like “A Strange Day” and “Charlotte Sometimes.” Stuff that really makes me bust out the air bass is funk - preferably funk _without_ busy bass parts. The all time king of air bass songs is **The Commodores’** “Brick House.” And now _you’re_ playing air bass to it, right there in your chair. Don’t lie. 😛😉 ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/34 "2007-11-08T14:33:57Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] What, no The Cure yet? Just Like Heaven, for starters. [/QUOTE] And _Like Cockatoos_, for the main dish. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/35 "2007-11-08T14:37:31Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] How did we get almost 30 posts into this without _Rock Lobster_ or _Mirror in the Bathroom_? [/QUOTE] Or [del]Peter Gunn[/del] Planet Claire. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/36 "2007-11-08T14:39:55Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Nik Kershaw’s song featuring Mr. King on bass, “Easy.” [/QUOTE] It’s pretty hard to go wrong with anything on _The Riddle_, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/37 "2007-11-08T14:44:39Z")
Virtually none. It’s my third go-to air instrument. I feel like a doofus “walking” the bass with the middle and index finger. Well, I do when I play air guitar, too, but my doofus threshhold gets crossed in between the two. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/38 "2007-11-08T15:45:17Z")
Hmm… Off the top of my mental jukebox, of songs not already named, I can think of: **Cake** , _The Distance_ (which may not be entirely “fair” as there is even a bass solo in the song). **Rod Stewart** ’s cover of _(I Know) I’m Losing You_. Many songs by **The Doors** , such as _Riders On The Storm_. Many blues-heavy rock songs, such as **Janis Joplin (w/Big Brother & The Holding Company)** on the live version _Ball and Chain_. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/39 "2007-11-08T15:57:24Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] How did we get almost 30 posts into this without _Rock Lobster_ or _Mirror in the Bathroom_? [/QUOTE] Upon first seeing this thread, _Rock Lobster_ entered my brain in about 2 seconds. Just wasn’t here to post sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/40 "2007-11-08T16:16:19Z")
The Law and Order theme. Of course, then I get to do air oboe too. Rockin’! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611.md?page=3)