Guitaraoke
As I drove across town last night, I was in endless pursuit of something decent to listen to on the radio. Y’know… when you’re in that mood and you don’t want to listen to news or talk, you just want to find something you like, maybe even something a little cheesy, that you can belt out at the top of your lungs, while you hope that your closed windows are 100% soundproof.
There was some very cheesy stuff that I sang along to in a very ironic way (Spandau Ballet, anyone?) and there was mostly a lot of very very bad crap, with the one exception of Ita by Cold Chisel (I do like Cold Chisel but not Khe Sanh, and nothing Barnes since he went solo). I was flicking between most of the FM stations, as well as the golden oldies AM station, because you never know when they’re going to play something nostalgic that doesn’t make you want to hurl, I dunno, maybe Witchita Lineman or something (long story, but I discovered one morning as I was driving my parents car after dropping them off at the airport, that I have the same vocal range as Glen Campbell. I only know two of his songs and I just don’t think I could bare Rhinestone Cowboy coming on the radio, so…).
I’ve never done Karaoke. OK, so I did it once on my honeymoon, when there was only the Belgian couple we had befriended to laugh at me, and I figured we wouldn’t be seeing them for a while, so I did my best Aretha Franklin impression, which no, I don’t think got me any R E S P E C T at all. The idea came up at work the other day though (Karaoke, not Honeymoons or Aretha), that it would be a good outing for a Xmas do. One of the chaps here is very into Singstar, so it might happen. I wouldn’t mind singing but it’d have to be the right song.
I know Bruce is really into Guitar Hero, which looks like fun. But I actually play the guitar, so I think it would be kind of counter-intuitive for me pressing buttons; I think I would be fretting (some guitar humour there for you).
Anyway, I was listening to Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky album this morning. I’ve long said that The Edge killed the lead break in pop music, so this album is refreshing for the fact that they’re in there and they’re fucking brilliant. It’s not all noise: the band make a clean bed of music for the lead guitarist and his guitar to make love to it. It’s gorgeous (I’m thinking Impossible Germany in particular – there are a couple of White-album-ish riffs on the album too).
Anyway, I got to thinking, why don’t they have guitar karaoke, where you plug in a guitar, they remove the guitar track and you play along? That’d be ace! And record companies who are sick at the fact their wares are just being mercilessly copied should make interactive music where you can put the disc in a computer and create your own mixes, so take out the bass, and play along on the bass yourself!
I mean, why should crap singers have all the fun, when there are a lot of us crap instrumentalists out there just waiting to make everyone sit and listen to how shite we are.
Guitar Hero is like Dance Dance Revolution for the fingers. It’s more about staying in time with the game but the beat comes the guitar. Rock Band is coming soon and with it drums and vocals in the same game. Looks like a hoot but will probably be over $400 when released here and that is just obscene.
Spandau Ballet? Yes please!
I too (not I-ta) have been plagued by a Cold Chisel song for lo’ this past week. Coincidence perchance? I’m in a reminiscent mood at the moment and the prospect of settlin’ in to play `do you remember so-and-so` at a table with ol’ friends rather sums up the sentiment of my present mood. I’m also feeling stifled insofar as a musical outlet goes. I have many Karaoke tracks in my library but the only solitudinal retreat available to me is my car, and so the only avenue left for me to belt out a tune is an actual avenue on my way to work; taking care not to pull up level with any other motorists lest they bear witness to my committing euphonicide.
end rant.