Set list
A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes,[1] stories and other elements an artist intends to present during a specific performance.
A setlist can be made of nearly any material that can be written or printed on, but are most commonly
Artists and bands use setlists for a variety of reasons beyond the mere order of performance events. They are often used to help create the set's overall mood by establishing a memorable sense of range and variety in tone, tempo and dynamics between songs.[2][3]
They are also used to create sets for specific audiences and locations. An increasingly common application is the use of technologies such as instant polling on social media and websites,[4] where fans can choose material to be performed.
Many performers also craft their playlists to highlight other elements of their shows, such as visual ambiance, choreography, or to refer to specific albums or phases of their careers.[5][6]
Music fans also refer to the setlist in the non-physical sense of what a performing artist chooses to play. Many artists use the same list for every performance on a concert tour. Others prefer to vary their lists during a tour, either for the benefit of fans who attend multiple performances or to avoid a sense of monotony among the musicians. The Grateful Dead was known for never playing the same setlist twice. Some such artists have predetermined "slots" in an otherwise mostly fixed show where different songs can be inserted. Some artists even state that the same song will not be played at two shows in a row; and still others, such as Van Morrison, use no predetermined list at all.
There are websites that track and report information on such things as the venue and bands on the bill of each date, as well as which band members were in attendance, copies of the show posters and other memorabilia available, and most importantly, the actual setlist used for that particular event. This is done to provide a more accurate record of each individual show, which is later used to differentiate between performances during a tour, as many artists will change their setlist from one night to another. In the pre-smartphone era, devoted followers attending concerts of popular artists such as
Collecting setlists has become nearly as popular for music fans as collecting ticket stubs and show posters, with the actual physical setlist becoming a treasured and uniquely rare souvenir for concert goers and fans of music, in general.
References
- ^ "The Perfect Set List For Remembering Your Material". creativestandup.com. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ "The Art of the Set List: Choosing the Right Songs in the Right Order - DIY Musician Blog". DIY Musician Blog. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ "Wilco Tap Into Creative Setlist". glidemagazine.com. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ Michaels, Sean (2013-11-27). "Metallica ask fans to pick their setlist". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ "The Chicago Choreographer Behind Smashing Pumpkins' Reunion Tour". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ "A Look Inside David Byrne's American Utopia Tour". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ "Gallery: The Setlists We've Nabbed". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- ^ "Video: Sebastian Bach Stops Show After Fan Steals Setlist, Injures Fellow Concertgoer". Blabbermouth.net. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
External links
- setlist.fm – the setlists wiki
- setlist.com – Online archive for setlists
- setlisting.com – Setlists and Statistics for all Artists
- setlisthelper.com – Helping musicians build and arrange setlists
- livetracklist.com – EDM setlists Archive