- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
So I’m a day late with this one, but I think this bit of news deserved a spot in Thursday’s wonderful Overly Positive Thoughts.
For those not in the know about Fisher Price guitars, Beatles: Rock Band came out yesterday on the auspicious and appropriately alliterative date of 9/9/09. A lot of people have been excited about another opportunity to play toy guitar and embarrass themselves show off their talent at singing, but not everyone. My friend Sarah was talking to me about this yesterday, and she’s just not into all the hype – she might even be a bit grumpy about the whole thing.
So just like with Syncaine yesterday, I’m here for my friends to give them a bit of a boost about this highly significant title in the world of Simon-Says-Touch-This-Button-NOW games. Sarah, you should really cheer up. I mean, think about the benefit this has for today’s generation. A generation that has trouble understanding the first thing beyond Facebook updates and numbered meals at McDonald’s needs the Beatles, and what better way to do it than to wrap them into a game they can stare at for hours? Today’s generation doesn’t need these silly things like “musical appreciation” and “understanding of historical impact” of the Beatles. Pish Posh! It’s Rock Band – they just need to know which colored keys to press.
Sure, maybe they have no idea that the Beatles’ storied history spans a vast library past the song list in the Rock Band game. Maybe they’ll only remember that on “Hey Jude” you have to move your hand over two keys at the solo to get the 100%. But at least they’ll understand that there are some cool songs that they can totally post Youtube videos to that prove they five-starred everything …until the DLC comes out, that is. Isn’t modern education grand?
It’s too bad that the completely remastered mono recordings of the Beatles and the Beatles: Rock Band game are basically the same price. Clearly, the more meaningful purchase is the Rock Band game. Who wants to bother listening to the entire discography of one of the most iconic bands of all time when you can totally just choose to make a poor attempt at sounding British when singing “Yellow Submarine“? Maybe if the mono recordings included free DLC and an extra guitar instrument they’d stand a chance outselling Beatles: Rock Band. Geez. Hindsight really is 20/20, isn’t it?
So don’t worry, Sarah, and everyone else not feeling good about Beatles: Rock Band – I’m sure that the many 10/10 reviews and world-record-breaking scores on Uber-Ultra-Expert-Purple-Monkey-Dishwasher will be an appropriate homage to the Beatles and what they were. Enjoy it and embrace it – don’t hate on it!
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This was hysterical. Thankfully the people living above me have NOT bought it yet, so I don’t have to listen to them blaring it at 1am when I’m trying to do work. In the mean time, I’ll just blast my Beatles albums and *gasp* know the songs and not have to play a craptastic video game to enlighten me. Screw Rock Band.
I wasn’t a big fan of Rock Band originally, but I will be, without a doubt, buying this game.
Sure, it isn’t as good as the real Beatles.
Sure, it doesn’t go into too much depth on the historical impact the band had on society.
Sure, it gives people a legitimate reason to show off their horrendous singing.
BUT
It also gives a new generation an immersive experience with the Beatles. I think of the game as a gateway towards another Beatles surge. After all, their music is timeless.
Wow, I’m actually astonished by the hate.
While I’m in full agreement that buying the albums (I’m going Stereo personally) is the better choice. Having a deep appreciation for music has nothing to do with liking or disliking Rock Band. In fact, the game opens kids eyes to music they may never experience otherwise. Someone who picks up Rock Band is simply looking for a different way to experience that music. It’s a potential gateway for many to gain a deeper love of music which may in turn foster a desire to play an actual instrument.
Whenever I see my three year old daughter intently watching and dancing as daddy plays Rock Band, I’m happy because I know I’m already introducing her to music.
If it’s not your cup of tea, that’s fine. But don’t write it off as worthless.
I don’t know what kids you know that have their eyes opened up by playing Rock Band. How is that going to open anyone’s eyes? The only appreciation you can get from it is “Hey, I can beat this one song on extra hard mode.” I don’t know people who play Rock Band and go, “That was an awesome song. Let me look it up and find out more about the band.” It’s like how everyone I know, it feels like, knows that one Blue Oyster Cult song strictly because of the SNL skit, and praise how much of an awesome song it is. Do they know ANY other songs by them? Hell no. And I can’t tell you how many people I know have watched the commercial for The Beatles: Rock Band and went, “What song is that?” Not even in an interested tone. More in a confused, wtf tone.
I’m probably rambling at this point and probably not going to change your mind just as no one can change my mind about Rock Band. I personally think it’s a horrible, lazy idea. I don’t know think people will be able to experience the Beatles or any artist through Rock Band the same way I and probably many others have. And what upsets me the most is that the only “fun” way people seem to be introduced to these amazing, fabulous artists today is through a stupid video game that goes against how an actual guitar works.
Sorry for the rant.
Except in 2008, sales of ACTUAL guitars increased after two stagnant years because of Guitar Hero 3.
Interesting read:
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article5266959.ece
Sure, many of those kids will quit playing, but I bet you they quit with a greater appreciation for what it takes to play, and of music/musicians in general.
Just because the sales increased doesn’t mean the appreciation increased. I find appreciation for music and simply going “damn, that’s hard. Someone needs skill to do that” to not be in the same boat. There’s a lot more to appreciating music than simply playing it.
no doubt, but your assuming that NO ONE that played rock band gained a greater appreciation, and that’s BS. It’s hard to argue that within the 2.5 million people that bought instruments as a result of a game, not a one went on to have greater music appreciation.
It’s extremely difficult to appreciate music and the musician(s) without knowing about history. Last time I checked, Rock Band doesn’t come with a thorough book documenting the history of rock/jazz/etc, let alone The Beatles. And no, loading screens in game and so on do not count. The game is meant as a source of entertainment, not enlightenment. It’s like people thinking they’re history buffs after playing ever WW related FPS game. Maybe I’m just a bit of a music elitist, seeing that appreciation to me does not equal simply liking a song because it’s bad ass or something. I just have a LOT of trouble understanding how someone can gain an ounce of musical appreciation from mashing buttons and staring at colors flying by on a guitar neck.
Your not seeing my point so let me rephrase; Playing Rock Band will not grant someone music appreciation. But playing it MAY point someone down the road toward music appreciation.
And what I’m saying is that the chances of that are wicked low. Then again, I have yet to meet someone who has done this.
I don’t wanna start an argument or anything but:
“That was an awesome song. Let me look it up and find out more about the band.”
I did this for almost every band I heard throughout the Guitar Hero series. Those games really helped me segway into a bunch of great music that I would never have experienced otherwise. Perhaps the people you know just don’t appreciate music, because I know my friends *do* look up music after having played these games.
I really hope your research went beyond a simple Wiki search. Though honestly, you’re the only person I know who has done this.
I’m not sure why it’s hard to believe that hearing a song in a video game might turn someone into a fan of the band. How is it any different than hearing it on the radio? In fact I could argue that hearing it on the radio is actually less effective as you don’t need to focus on the song, you can simply allow it to be background music to another activity you find more engaging. In Rock Band you need to focus on the music and really listen to it in a way you might not otherwise which may lead to a greater appreciation of the music.
Replied for Truth. Assuming that everyone who plays Rock Band doesn’t “get it” or “appreciate the history behind it” is not only ignorant but frankly, insulting.
It introduces a new generation to music. I’m sorry that it doesn’t take us to pot filled concerts, and we don’t fully understand the multiple revolutions and campaigns behind them, but we nonetheless do appreciate the music. To me, in the end that’s what matters.
Pot filled concerts? Wow, and you said I was insulting. As someone who originally wanted to go into music before going into art, it ticks me off to no end when people play these games and think they know so much about music. Anyone can like a song, that’s fine, but as I’ve said over and over again, and apparently it’s not hitting home but whatever, there’s way more to appreciating music than just liking it. If people at the very least stopped throwing that word around thinking it’s the same as simply liking something, then I would be a lot more mellow about this.
You’re insulted about pot filled concerts?
“If people at the very least stopped throwing that word around thinking it’s the same as simply liking something,”
I can’t disagree with this. Simply put, you can be appreciative of someones music and it’s impact, and still not like it. I have great appreciation for what Black Sabbath has done for music, if it wasn’t for them I probably wouldn’t have my favorite band. But I can’t stand Ozzy’s voice.
There’s no hate here, only Zuul – er, I mean, love. Love and peace.
Really, the amazingly positive and happy message I’m trying to send with today’s missive is that Rock Band is cool. Rock Band is neat. But so is the music, which is the core of all the rhythm games. We should play many, many hours of Rock Band. I know I have – my Medium-level Bass is among some of the most fearsome this side of the Mississippi, I’ll have you know!
We just shouldn’t also forget what’s behind the multi-colored bars on the screen. Hehe.
But the problem is that you laced it with so much sarcasm that any positive message was lost.
I have to agree. I really thought this was a reverse negative post.
And I’m happy it’s laced with sarcasm. There’s nothing but 10/10 reviews for Rock Band with fanboi comments out there right now. Unless I’m terribly wrong, then please tell me and point me in the direction of said article.
easy:
http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sort=relevance&termtype=all&ts=rock+band&ty=3&button=search
Search through those and you’ll find tons on non-perfect scores.
I meant specifically for The Beatles: Rock Band. Which by the way:
http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sb=0&tfs=all&ts=beatles+rock+band&ty=3&x=0&y=0
Lowest is an 88. Again, let me know when you find one that completely pans the game.
That’s not what you asked for…
“There’s nothing but 10/10 reviews for Rock Band”
and I proved that there are less than perfect scores out there.
Seriously? The topic at hand was The Beatles, so I figured it would be assumed. Guess not.
Regardless….there’s plenty of less than perfect scores of the beatles rock band. G4 gave it a 4/5.
Yeah… for every person who gains some ‘appreciation’ for old music you’ve got a couple hundred people who act just the way it’s advertised… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTbAE8IXJKk
They’re trying to cash in on older audiences, not introduce young people to classic music. Oh wait I need to think positive, yeah? Oh, oh! Now frat parties will have a good soundtrack to butcher at their drunken parties!
Actually, I’m the only one obligated to be completely and utterly positive, not surprisingly. Not responsible for anyone else, though I wish people would be as bright as I am!
As an FYI to my dear, small readership – every Thursday always has Overly Positive Thoughts like this. I’m just surprised by immensely sunny note this week has generated this much passionate discussion. I love the Internet.