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Guitar Hero (1,2 and 3) and Rock Band (1 and 2) are some of the most popular video games being played by teenagers today. Why wouldn't they be? You play a video game while pretending to be a rock star and listening to rock music. How could this formula fail?
The main benefit that has come out of these games, and the reason it was worth every penny my teens spent of my money to buy them, is that teenagers and many of the younger generation are introduced to classic rock songs when they play these games. Instead of thinking that anything made before Nirvana is not worth listening to, a whole new world of music has opened up to them.
I find that the Guitar Hero games have a slightly higher proportion of old classic songs whereas Rock Band has a higher rate of new songs. These are some of the classic rock songs you will find on Guitar Hero 2 (I am listing the group that recorded the song, however most songs are covers in the game):
These songs plus some of the others included could serve as a great beginning to learning classic rock. And the game can also serve the opposite purpose. There are many new songs in the games also. Playing these games would be a great way for parents to learn the songs and groups that their teenagers love. If you actually play the games with your teens you could all connect on two levels, playing and learning each others' music.
The perfect games.
Related posts:The main benefit that has come out of these games, and the reason it was worth every penny my teens spent of my money to buy them, is that teenagers and many of the younger generation are introduced to classic rock songs when they play these games. Instead of thinking that anything made before Nirvana is not worth listening to, a whole new world of music has opened up to them.
I find that the Guitar Hero games have a slightly higher proportion of old classic songs whereas Rock Band has a higher rate of new songs. These are some of the classic rock songs you will find on Guitar Hero 2 (I am listing the group that recorded the song, however most songs are covers in the game):
- Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas
- Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Jessica - Allman Brothers Band
- You Really Got Me - Van Halen
- Crazy on You - Heart
- Aqualung - Jethro Tull
- Livin on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
- One Way or Another - Blondie
- Ramblin Man - Allman Brothers Band
- Tangled up in Blue - Bob Dylan
These songs plus some of the others included could serve as a great beginning to learning classic rock. And the game can also serve the opposite purpose. There are many new songs in the games also. Playing these games would be a great way for parents to learn the songs and groups that their teenagers love. If you actually play the games with your teens you could all connect on two levels, playing and learning each others' music.
The perfect games.
The Beatles Rock Band: A video game for all generations
Guitar Hero World Tour : Many new features including create your own songs
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It's true - that's a great solution! I did just introduce my nephew to some southern rock via youtube. I don't know if he laughed as hard as I did but you may: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lNFRLrP014
I blew off GH when my son first got it. It wasn't at all like playing a guitar and I sucked at it, so it sucked loudly, was my firm opinion.
Until I was playing an outdoor gig one day that my son attended. I looked out and saw him singing along to Foghat's "Slow Ride" and thought, what the....?? I tried to think in which movie soundtrack he might have heard that song. When I asked, he said, "Guitar Hero."
So, I started playing with him again, not because the game is worth a hoot on an entertainment level, but to support the fact that he's learning some great tunes. Like Heart's Barracuda. Which I finally beat. After a jillion tries. Even though I can play it in my sleep on a real guitar.
Go figure.
You can't forget "Green Grass & High Tides" from Rock Band, it's the final song on guitar... or Molly Hatchet... or the SRV tracks on GH1 and GH3... or the entire The Who album and other random The Who content on RB... John Entwistle is a huge hero of mine. and then there's Guitar Hero Encore: Rock The 80s... nothing but 80s tracks, most are metal, some are pop/new wave...
I agree though, GH/RB are seriously contributing to educating the younger generation to a whole host of classic rock
You made our TWIB with this post! Congrats!
Thank you!! For those that don't know, TWIB stands for This Week in the Blogosphere and Frank selects 5 posts a week to make his list at TechJaws.com.
There should be a program that lets you download your own songs and play to them :]
I didn't know about them before but I really like the content of this blog, do keep posting and keep the good work up.
http://www.ultimateguitarschool.com
Too bad this game doesn't come on PC platform