zwolanerd

The last four New Year’s Eves I’ve hosted a party at my house. Sure, I like getting together with my friends and greeting a new year with people I like, but the main reason I do it is so I have an excuse to put the Xbox out in the garage and project Rock Band up on the wall (well, used to be a wall, but I have since acquired a screen). Having it out in the garage means people in the house can still hear themselves think, so they can still play a game of Settlers of Catan or what have you.

I’ve loved the game of Rock Band for as long as it’s been out. The addition of singing and drums and then keyboard expanded on the original idea of Guitar Hero in incredible ways and I’ll keep buying them as long as they keep making them. Sadly, I haven’t heard any rumors of a Rock Band 4, and it seems unlikely it’s forthcoming. However! The Harmonix people release new DLC every week still, and I gotta think that if they keep it up long enough, eventually I might get to play “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by The Georgia Satellites and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. Oh, and “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by GnR. Hope with me!

Here are three Top 10 lists for you, based on my Rock Band 3 stats as of last night.

Play count (Vocals):

10. Saturday Night’s All Right for Fighting (Elton John) – There is no way I’m responsible for this. Having people over messes with the play counts more than I thought, I guess.

9. Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) – This one’s all me, but I’m surprised to see it this high on the list.

8. I Need to Know (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) – Tom Petty songs are perfect for Rock Band, but I would have expected this to be “Free Fallin'” instead.

7. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears) – I used to own the album this was on. On cassette.

6. Imagine (John Lennon) – For when you want to bring the mellow.

5. 25 or 6 to 4 (Chicago) – How is this one so high on the list?

4. The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News) – Would we love this song as much if it weren’t for Back to the Future?

3. Space Oddity (David Bowie) – Everyone loves to do the claps along with this one.

2. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) – Visitors pick this one a lot.

1. Sister Christian (Night Ranger) – And now you want to sing it, too.

Just missed the cut:

Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – This one would be #1, but I always feel guilty asking people to play it with me because the instruments go on about 17 minutes after the vocals are done.
Need You Tonight (INXS) – This one’s more fun to play than sing, but is groovy overall
Rock Lobster (The B-52’s) – Only because “Love Shack” didn’t get released for Rock band until much later.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1 (The Flaming Lips) – Without fail, every version of Guitar Hero and Rock Band has introduced me to songs that have become part of my regular rotation of listening. There are a couple others off Rock band 3, but this one is #1 on that list.

 

Leaderboard Ranking (Vocal):

10. Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – 2275

9. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne) – 2066

8. Imagine (John Lennon) – “Not in the top 1%” is all it will tell me. Weird.

7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (Green Day) – Tied for first along with a grillion other people on the leaderboard

6. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears) – 1575

5. Creep (Radiohead) – 722

4. Buddy Holly (Weezer) – 630

3. Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – 542

2. Oh Yoko! (John Lennon) – 138

1. Hanukkah Blessings (Barenaked Ladies) – 86

 

Leaderboard Ranking (Keyboard):

Keyboard is my second-favorite thing to do on Rock Band. The play counts for keyboard are almost identical to the play counts for vocals, so I’ll just list my top Leaderboard songs.

10. Rehab (Amy Winehouse) – 1991

9. Oye Mi Amor (Maná) – 1937

8. Do You Believe in Love (Huey Lewis and the News) – 497

7. I Want to Know What Love Is (Foreigner) – 440

6. Waiting for a Girl Like You (Foreigner) – 438

5. The Heart of Rock & Roll (Huey Lewis and the News) – 431

4. I Want a New Drug (Huey Lewis and the News) – 338

3. Love Shack (The B-52’s) – 265

2. Oh Yoko! (John Lennon) – 214

1. Nobody’s Fool (Cinderella) – 175

I don’t play enough guitar or drums to make those numbers meaningful. I do often play bass guitar on songs, but I use the keyboard to do it, so it’s not quite the same. It’s gotten me to 10, 547 on the list, though, so, yay?

Tags: Rock Band, Tuesday10

Written by: Mark