Omer Plays Bass . . . Billy Squier - Emotions in Motion (bass cover)

Omer Plays Bass . . . Billy Squier - Emotions in Motion (bass cover)
Bass by Doug Lubahn
Bass Used in this Video: Dingwall Super PJ
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Some artists are love them or hate them, some are instant classics, some are acquired tastes and some you are just not into. Billy Squier is definitely in the first category. I know lots of people who love him (me included) and lots who just can’t stand him. I think Billy Squier was a great artist and put out some great songs in the early ‘80s - well crafted, well produced, really catchy and really well played with a great band behind him including Jeff Golub on guitar, Bobby Chouinard on drums and Doug Lubahn, who had also played in the studio with the Doors, on bass.
Billy Squier I think was one of the artists who personified early ‘80s rock music. He had a swagger unlike his contemporary’s, was a pretty good guitar player and great singer and front man. After a really successful debut with his band Piper (who were signed over Van Halen at the time), Squier put out a string of 4 great solo albums and some fantastic songs from ’80 to ’84 before it all came to a screeching halt. Many believe it was because of the video for ‘Rock Me Tonite’ (a great song but with Squier dancing in a pink tank top - definitely not viewed as a rock thing to do at the time . . . but really was this such a big deal - how was it different than Roth or Stanley or all of Poison??) but while I’ve said this myself as well, I think his career stall was a bit deeper in that I don’t think audiences, radio, MTV and the industry overall knew how to slot an artist like this into the box they needed him to be in and the video didn’t help. And anyway, for his fans that shouldn’t have been a big surprise anyway as he had always written lyrically ambiguous songs - The Stroke? In the Dark? My Kinda Lover? and he was pretty flamboyant on stage - it was a shame that Squier kind of faded through the rest of the 80’s and reportedly bought out his record deal and for the most part just walked away.
‘Emotions in Motion’ is the title track and lead off single for the album of the same name - his third at the time. There is a slinkiness to the track and a great riff that makes it really fun to play and the track rocks pretty good in the chorus and really picks up for the solo out and gets funky. The riff, played by Doug Lubahn and one of those riffs that most bass players have played at a soundcheck (this one and ‘The Chain’ from Fleetwood Mac), I think is what makes and moves the song along with subtle variations in the riff through the track - if you are using this video to learn the song, keep in mind my Dingwall Super PJ is strung BEAD. Added to that are some tasty shots and riffs throughout that were a hallmark of Squier’s songs and arrangements on these albums and were just made to play loud and on stage. Some interesting facts about the track and the album - the cover was designed by Andy Warhol (one of the few Warhol did) and none other than Freddie Mercury, along with fellow Queen Roger Taylor, sing backing vocal with Freddie doing some awesome falsetto tags throughout the track.
Disclaimer: I am not saying this is exactly how Doug Lubahn played this song, but it is how I would play it if I was playing it at a gig.
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