Melanie Makaiwi's Top 5 Favorite Black Sabbath Songs

Playing Favorites is an interview series where creative people pick a topic and tell us their five favorite things about it. Opinions expressed in this series are those of the interviewees and do not reflect the opinions of S.W. Lauden or The Big Takeover.

Black Sabbitch, the all female Black Sabbath cover band, has been redefining the tribute band concept over the last decade. The band—featuring Alice Austin (vocals), Emily Burton (guitar), Melanie Makaiwi (bass) and Angie Scarpa (drums)—are music festival favorites, sharing bills and stages with acts ranging from Ozzy Osbourne, Foo Fighters and Iggy Pop, to The Flaming Lips, Danzig and Ty Segall. New to the majesty of Black Sabbitch? Visit the Black Sabbitch website, or check out some incredible live performances on the Black Sabbitch YouTube page.

PLAYING FAVORITES: MELANIE MAKAIWI’S TOP 5 BLACK SABBATH SONGS

Five songs that Melanie Makaiwi loves performing live with Black Sabbitch.

5. Wicked World
Black Sabbath
A fucking great song but also a real accomplishment for me as a player. There were a couple bass parts, when we first started learning this, that I thought I’d never get—then when I finally did…that felt pretty awesome. Playing this song also really spotlights how tuned in Angie and I are with each other as a rhythm section.

4. Hand of Doom
Paranoid
I love “Hand of Doom” because of the true musical journey this song takes you on. Like most Sabbath, there are many parts and many vibes within one song, but this one in particular is a real journey, as a listener and a player.

3. Into the Void
Master of Reality
“Into The Void” is heavy as fuck, groovy as fuck and punk rock as fuck. A pit never fails to break out when we play the bridge on this one! And that’s pretty much all I live for.

2. Wheels of Confusion
Vol. 4
How to explain my love for “Wheels of Confusion?” It’s just epically groovy and when Sabbitch plays this one live and we are really in the pocket, it’s magical.

1. Sabbra Cadabra
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Not only is this song super fun to play with the swingin’est groove and killer bass parts, but it also evokes this feeling for me of a ’70s Summer in a convertible Camaro, driving around looking for a place to go park and make out in the backseat. Also, Alice is playing the Mellotron/piano parts now and it has brought this to a whole new level for us live!

Previously on Playing Favorites:
Parry Gripp’s Top 5 Favorite Weird Al Songs
Jenn Alva’s Top 5 Favorite Punk Singers
Peter Gill’s Top 5 Favorite Power Pop Albums