Log In | Register
56 Comments
Print
msnbc.com Newsadvertisement
“Rock Band” has just gone a little bit country.
Yes, the latest downloadable content from the popular rhythm game is actually called “Going Country.” It includes five tracks from such artists as Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn and the Dixie Chicks. Fans who are so inclined can, starting Dec. 16, download “Mud on the Tires” from the game’s online store. They can strum in time to Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder & Lead.”
I’m not sure how I feel about this.
Listen, I’m no country music hater. I own a Dixie Chicks album. I’ve been known to blast Hank Williams (senior, of course) when I’m in a melancholy mood. But when I think “Rock Band,” I think ROCK. I think Blue Oyster Cult, Judas Priest. I think Journey.
But Paul DeGooyer, senior vice president of games and music for MTV, says that the tracks they picked “might twang a little bit,” but they still rock plenty hard. No one’s going to mistake “Hillbilly Deluxe” for Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.”
“With this first release, we want to edge people into it,” DeGooyer told me. “We don’t want their heads to explode.”
There might well be some exploding heads when hardcore “Rock Band” fans find redneck women invading their turf. But really, the decision to go country makes business sense for MTV on all sorts of levels. For one thing, MTV Networks owns Country Music Television. And DeGooyer says they’ve heard, through fans of the channel, that folks would like a little more steel guitar with their Smashing Pumpkins.
“They’ve been very vocal about the artists they’d like to see in the game. And the artists in this first edition reflect their preferences,” he says.”
The new music will be available on the Xbox 360 on Dec. 16 and for the PlayStation 3 starting Dec. 18. Players can download the individual tracks for $1.99 (or 160 Microsoft points) or the whole five-pack for $8.49 (or 680 Microsoft points).
Country music has certainly soared in popularity in recent years. Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw appear alongside Hannah Montana, Alicia Keys and (oddly) the Eagles in Nielsen SoundScan's top 10 selling artists list for 2007.
David Card, a music-industry analyst with Forrester Research, says he thinks it was a good move to add country into the “Rock Band” mix. When his company surveyed 2,100 online adults about their music-genre preferences recently, country came up third, behind classic rock and rock. Alternative rock — a genre very well-represented on “Rock Band” — was number four.
“I think it’s pretty smart, actually,” said Card of the new songs. “I think there are a bunch of teenage boys and young adults that are country fans — they’re just in the middle of the country, not on the coasts.”
But what’s interesting is that although the top artists of 2007 most certainly included country stars, Nielsen’s list of top-10 selling digital artists has nary a country singer on it. Fergie was tops, followed by Timbaland, Rihanna and Justin Timberlake, which suggests that pop-music listeners are more comfortable downloading music than perhaps the country-music set.
Still, Card points out that “Rock Band” has been a big crossover family hit. “Maybe the country songs will play well with the middle-aged, family audience.”
Music games like “Rock Band” and the “Guitar Hero” franchises have played a major role in the continued success of the video game industry — even in troubled times. “Rock Band” is the number one title of 2008 in terms of revenue, according to the NPD Group. And MTV says players have downloaded over 30 million paid songs since the game launched a little over a year ago.
MTV’s DeGooyer says the decision to go country “wasn’t done on a spreadsheet. It was more of a creative call, about what could and should be done in ‘Rock Band.’”
And to those fans, the purists who think that country and “Rock Band” are not like peanut butter and chocolate?
“It’s OK guys, you have 500 other tracks that you’ve told us you’re tremendously happy with,” he says. “Give us a little room to experiment.”
12 Votes- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
Published to:
- Kristin_editor's Column, All of Newsvine
- Groups: none
- Regions: none
- Public Discussion (56)
What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user
has on the current conversation.
The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd
row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera).
Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group
is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the
left, in their corresponding group.
Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the
number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative
one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their
relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
3.0
0.7
0.5
{"commentId":4370428,"authorDomain":"ly1"}
Hmm... I think I kind of dig this idea! And I'm not exactly a country music fan... I would rather play something country than some of the metal stuff on Rock Band.
A broad cross-section of music is only going to make the game better, in my opinion.
{"commentId":4370428,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"ly1"}
- 1 vote
#1 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:06 AM EST{"commentId":4370430,"authorDomain":"steveh99"}
Country music has no place in the world of rock and I wish people would stop pushing it on the rest of us that dont want it.
{"commentId":4370430,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"steveh99"}
#2 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:06 AM EST{"commentId":4381555,"authorDomain":"kcha295"}
well heres the great thing: its downloadable. you dont have to get it but someone WILL enjoy it somewhere. will it be me? certainly not i hate country but it shows a step towards what i want rock band to do: go outside its comfort zone and i mean WAY out.
they should get some hit songs and rap in there too. why rap? why not?! they have a karaoke game built in, make it a rap game! who says that the guitars have to play as guitars? thinking outside the box is what can set rock band apart, and as long as they remember their rock roots, they can do whatever they want in my eyes.
{"commentId":4381555,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"kcha295"}
{"commentId":4485669,"authorDomain":"trinaandandy"}
Exactly, put everything on rockband. If you dont like a song dont play it! extra content is great, I dont like country either but my wife does. If she can rock some punk with me then I at least owe her drums on a country hit! Sorry to those who dont like it because I actually asked them about 5 months ago to do some country and maybe adding a scratching dj table to the mix!
{"commentId":4485669,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"trinaandandy"}
{"commentId":4372134,"authorDomain":"kwwall"}
Country rock has some of the best guitar rifts around these days. It may not show up main stream but if you listen to anything live or in concert you know even an average country band can rock with the best of them.
{"commentId":4372134,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"kwwall"}
#3 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:51 AM EST{"commentId":4381811,"authorDomain":"Katiee-"}
A City Girl gone country!! Agree 100%
{"commentId":4381811,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"Katiee-"}
{"commentId":4573981,"authorDomain":"dhand34"}
I live in Nashville and anybody in the music industry will tell you the best players are in Nashville by far.
{"commentId":4573981,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"dhand34"}
{"commentId":4372587,"authorDomain":"drmyeyes"}
"Country" music as defined and rigorously limited by Nashville and "country" radio is a joke. What you've been listening to for the past two decades is nothing more than straight rock 'n' roll, with the occasional steel guitar, fiddle and mandolin thrown in to make people think there's something different going on here. (Let's not forget, by the way, that Nashville totally disowned the Dixie Chicks, at put it off to their political leanings. Nonsense.)
"Country" music is trash, and it's is perfectly fitting that it's found a place in that monument to fake music: Rock Band.
{"commentId":4372587,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"drmyeyes"}
#4 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:19 PM EST{"commentId":4390983,"authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}
Lots of negativity there, Harris T.
Are you a country music purist? Is there something (old or new) that you like? Or are you just attacking the genre as a whole?
{"commentId":4390983,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}
{"commentId":4372918,"authorDomain":"Kacibelle"}
Rock Band is a title... nothing more... it's a music game and in order for it to continue to grow and continue to keep it's players then it is going to have to start bringing in more genres of music... Ohioan, you are a moron. Read the article... you have to pay the download the songs to your game, so you are not havign anything forced on you. if you don't like country music and don't want the songs then don't download them. It's that simple... maybe you should stop playing Rock band long enough to learn to read properly.
{"commentId":4372918,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"Kacibelle"}
#5 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:37 PM EST{"commentId":4373073,"authorDomain":"hoosontop"}
If they put country in Rock Band then they're only doing it to compete with Guitar Hero. They're just trying to be different enough to get a few more sales. If you ask me they're just selling out. Country music does not mix with rock music any more than hip-hop. How would you feel if your favorite rock station started playing country in their mix?
Either way, if you really want to rock out learn to play a real instrument and not some glorified game controller.
{"commentId":4373073,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"hoosontop"}
#6 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:46 PM EST{"commentId":4378347,"authorDomain":"benh-1"}
Wow, glorified game controller? You know what, more and more people are wanting to learn how to play real instruments because of these 'glorified controllers'.
have you even played the game or you just formed the opinion that you hate it right away?
Why of course they are trying to get more sales that is the whole point of being in business or did you miss that in Econimics class? Competing with Guitar Hero...WELL DUH again...you need to compete against YOUR COMPETITION!
Again..you dont have to buy these songs, they are there if you want to! Its like music in the jute box...its there but you dont have to buy it.
you should have saved your time instead of posting something like this....
{"commentId":4378347,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"benh-1"}
{"commentId":4373262,"authorDomain":"pale-green-light"}
First off, it's really tiresome to hear someone say "if you really want to rock learn to play a real instrument and not some glorified game controller"....really? Is that how it works nowadays? Cool, well, I guess I should go pick up a gun and blast REAL people instead of playing Halo as well, or steal a REAL car instead of doing so in GTAIV...
The beautiful thing about DLC in Rock Band is that if you don't want the song...guess what? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT!!! Isn't that amazing?!?! Cool it on slamming the country music. And before you think that I'm a country music fanboy, let me assure you that I am not, as my favorite bands to listen to are Opeth, and Type O Negative (look them up).
When it comes to Rock Band, the music genre lines are blurred; I just like to play what's fun. I will listen to these songs all the way through and decide if they possess that 'fun' gene necessary for my Rock Band collection of songs.
{"commentId":4373262,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"pale-green-light"}
- 2 votes
#7 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:56 PM EST{"commentId":4373945,"authorDomain":"hoosontop"}
Enough caffeine for you fanboy! This is just where musicians and gamers diverge. You're absolutely right - you can't go around shooting people and stealing cars in the real world. But you can learn to play these songs. So if you want to be a musician, pick up a guitar. If you want to be a gamer, pick up a controller. You decide, but remember, only one impresses girls (that's really how it works nowadays).
{"commentId":4373945,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"hoosontop"}
{"commentId":4374323,"authorDomain":"pale-green-light"}
That's hilarious...I guess if I wasn't in a committed relationship, I would have to center my life around impressing girls.
Wasn't this article about Rock Band, a game, and not about playing real instruments?
Maybe I don't want to be a musician, but instead just want to play a fun game, what's wrong with that? I've never had the desire to play a real instrument. Rock Band is a great party game that my friends and family come over to play on the weekends. Having about 300 songs to choose from keeps our gatherings lasting well into the morning hours.
{"commentId":4374323,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"pale-green-light"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4377859,"authorDomain":"chibidraco"}
Maybe I don't want to be a musician, but instead just want to play a fun game, what's wrong with that?
Absolutely nothing! And I agree with you, there's nothing inherently wrong with the gaming side of music. I've played the piano for the better part of my life, and I've got about average skill for a casual musician. My guitar playing, comparatively, completely and utterly sucks and doesn't seem to improve no matter how hard I try. However, I can blow my husband and my kids out of the water playing on Expert level on Guitar Hero - which does not make me a de facto "rock god." And I think that's where the animosity in the whole real instruments vs. games discussion came up - the weirdness in the fanbase wherein people were getting overly inflated egos and claiming to be master musicians based on their level of skill in the game. And as with so many other fandoms these few loose nuts gave everyone a bad name.
Personally, I say enjoy the game if that's what you want to do (unless there IS a maurading zombie army in real life...then by all means gun them down). Folks just need to remember that success in one realm doesn't guarantee success in another.
{"commentId":4377859,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"chibidraco"}
{"commentId":4373414,"authorDomain":"ppgaray"}
One of the things I am beginning to appreciate about country music is much like rock, people still play their own instruments, and in the case of someone like Brad Paisley, pretty darn well. While I'm not a huge fan of the whole Rock Band/Guitar Hero phenomena, I love that it is giving kids an appreciation of great rock bands like AC/DC, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, etc. An appreciation for well made music. Anything that moves us away from the Ashlee Simpson/Britney Spears/Madonna-inspired pop drivel is always a plus in my book.
{"commentId":4373414,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"ppgaray"}
#8 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:04 PM EST{"commentId":4373685,"authorDomain":"nicnic1971"}
I am not a country fan either, but some of the newer country sounds DO rock, so why not add them in?? Also, if you don't like it, no one is going to MAKE you buy it.
{"commentId":4373685,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"nicnic1971"}
- 1 vote
#9 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:19 PM EST{"commentId":4373749,"authorDomain":"galesworld"}
Yes, some country music ROCKS! And for you people that hate country music - - don't download it then!!
{"commentId":4373749,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"galesworld"}
#10 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:22 PM EST{"commentId":4373952,"authorDomain":"furious"}
lol at the people defending country, by definition rock band is meant for rock bands, if they want a peice of the country market why not make Country Band, or some such thing??? i just wish the makers of these games would try to keep the spirit of the game alive instead of trying to buy market shares by selling out on the games original apeal
{"commentId":4373952,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"furious"}
#11 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:32 PM EST{"commentId":4374410,"authorDomain":"pale-green-light"}
Ugh....all music takes their roots from rock anyways.
I just recently visited my Dad, and he played some country for me that sounded nothing like what I remembered as a kid. A lot of it has some rock influences, and is far more worthy of being in Rock Band than some songs that are in there currently (Glados and Freezepop sound like absolute garbage to me, but some people like it).
{"commentId":4374410,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"pale-green-light"}
{"commentId":4391012,"authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}
bwilliams73... to be fair, all popular music takes its roots from the blues. Hank Williams Sr. was a bluesman who happened to wear a cowboy hat.
{"commentId":4391012,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}
{"commentId":4375636,"authorDomain":"nbacchuswvu"}
If you think Blue Oyster Cult and Journey when you think "rock" then you have a serious problem to begin with.
{"commentId":4375636,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"nbacchuswvu"}
#12 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:07 PM EST{"commentId":5269018,"authorDomain":"fnugg13"}
Why? Who do you think of when you think rock? Better not even be close to metal. If so, you're the one with the problem.
{"commentId":5269018,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"fnugg13"}
{"commentId":4375861,"authorDomain":"mashby-80"}
Country has become more rock like . Rock has not become more country like.
Why is that?
{"commentId":4375861,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"mashby-80"}
#13 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:20 PM EST{"commentId":4377466,"authorDomain":"DrFrank"}
it was ROCK that made ROCK BAND so popular. If you want a country version of ROCK BAND, then make the same game and call it COUNTRY BAND. Did Harmonic Music Systems hire someone from the government to come in a mess up a perfectly good product? Cause the government is real good at that.
{"commentId":4377466,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"DrFrank"}
#14 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:47 PM EST{"commentId":4378979,"authorDomain":"amulet"}
Music is music ... and it's a good thing to be exposed to different genres, and songs that are in different languages. As a musician, who enjoys both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I would like to see a wider variety of music offered on these games: zydeco, swing, doo-wap, blue grass, classical, etc. I'd like to see "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida", "Rock Around The Clock", "Sukiyaki", Beach Boys, Steppenwolf, "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "Conga", and hundreds more being incorporated into these games. It would increase the number of people playing and would expose them to things they may not heard before. If it hadn't been for GH, I would never have heard of "Through the Fire and Flames" or "Avalacha" both of which I thoroughly enjoy. Just because it's new or different than what we normally would have listen to, doesn't make it a bad thing.
{"commentId":4378979,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"amulet"}
#15 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:27 PM EST{"commentId":4381666,"authorDomain":"baldilocks84"}
Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls, SGs, Gretches etc.........used in both rock and country. Instruments are only conduits of music. Game contolllers are conduits of games. Every gamer uses the same contollers to play a golf game or a war game or a fantasy game...so big deal if "Rock Band" or "Guitar Hero" makes country songs available to play. Hell. the companies that make these games are IN IT FOR THE MONEY!!!!! They want to sell as many games as possible. This is gonna be much ado about nothing.
{"commentId":4381666,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"baldilocks84"}
#16 - Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:33 PM EST{"commentId":4382970,"authorDomain":"mashby-80"}
Ya Michael, its a money thing for sure.
{"commentId":4382970,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"mashby-80"}
#17 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:09 AM EST{"commentId":4385051,"authorDomain":"rscottyl71"}
While I am not a big country fan, I definately think this is a good idea. They need to make this for different music genres and just not only "rock". It will work great for basically any type of music that uses a microphone, guitar and drum set. I think they either need to make different versions of this, or make different "music packs" that can be downloaded for people that may not be as big into rock.
{"commentId":4385051,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"rscottyl71"}
#18 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:41 AM EST{"commentId":4385163,"authorDomain":"dragon-queen-12"}
Put simply, I hate country music. Just-- ugh! I'd rather listen to rock any day. It might be a smart business decision for them, but I just find country music in a game called ROCK Band an abomination. Just shouldn't be done. :-/
{"commentId":4385163,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"dragon-queen-12"}
#19 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:52 AM EST{"commentId":5269082,"authorDomain":"fnugg13"}
Finally, a sane voice in this forum!
{"commentId":5269082,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"fnugg13"}
{"commentId":4385391,"authorDomain":"Kacibelle"}
Please let's all remember that the title "Rock band" is just that... a TITLE! A catchy title! Most of the music in the original versions are what would be cornered into the genre of rock; however, most of this music is used because it is guitar and drum driven so it makes for good play on the game. At the core of it all though, Rock Band is nothing more than a catchy title. If you don't like country then don't download the songs. It is your choice. As for those who think it is a sell out... well yeah! They are a FOR PROFIT company... they are there to make money and there is a lot of money to be made with county music. It is business 101... if you are that offended by the "sell out" factor then don't play the game but you have to realize that this is how business works. No one goes into business not wanting to make money!
{"commentId":4385391,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"Kacibelle"}
#20 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:08 AM EST{"commentId":4387075,"authorDomain":"keavinkirby"}
Is Grand Theft Auto ALL about stealing cars?
The name is just a name that was chosen when the franchise first started out, and stuck, just like RockBand and Guitar Hero. Eventually, due to competition and fan interest, broadening the scope of the game was necessary. By allowing people to download country songs, the game designers can add new audiences (and sales) to their game. If you hate country, then don't buy it, simple. I like alot of different kinds of music, so I'd be willing to download the country songs if they sound good.
Everyone has their panties in a bunch nowadays, it's getting absurd. If you don't like what's playing, change the channel. Turn around, you'll notice there is no gun to your head!
{"commentId":4387075,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"keavinkirby"}
#21 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:05 PM EST{"commentId":4394556,"authorDomain":"hlhull"}
Definately glad to see country being put on rock band. I'm 62 and love playing guitar hero and rock band...even if I don't understand some of the music. But to have country put on will greatly enhance the fun. If you don't like country..don't down load it!!!!
Good move...makes sense..and will be a big seller.
{"commentId":4394556,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"hlhull"}
#22 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:49 PM EST{"commentId":4394633,"authorDomain":"hlhull"}
Definately glad to see country being put on rock band. I'm 62 and love playing guitar hero and rock band...even if I don't understand some of the music. But to have country put on will greatly enhance the fun. If you don't like country..don't down load it!!!!
Good move...makes sense..and will be a big seller.
{"commentId":4394633,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"hlhull"}
#23 - Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:55 PM EST{"commentId":4400623,"authorDomain":"spazzeh-the-ruler"}
"I think there are a bunch of teenage boys and young adults that are country fans"
THAT upset me the most.
Playing Rock Band =/= being a boy.
Female gamers exist.
{"commentId":4400623,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"spazzeh-the-ruler"}
#24 - Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:51 AM EST{"commentId":4400707,"authorDomain":"jenn4194"}
well i've never played "Rock Band" but I'm glad to see that it's trying to sell to a new market. I am a fan of "country" music but am sorely disappointed in the tracks they chose. i'm not big into nashville country...it's just pop singers wearing cowboy boots. but m'randa lambert's "gun powder and lead" has plenty of rock in it to be great for the game. they should add some lesser known artists that don't even consider themselves country even if the fans do, such as johnny cooper, no justice, reckless kelly, and shooter jennings. (yes i know i'm being biased to texas/oklahoma based performers, but really...they're better than anyone else out there, check them out live and try to tell me they're not somewhat rock)
{"commentId":4400707,"threadId":"440222","contentId":"2198126","authorDomain":"jenn4194"}
#25 - Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:57 AM EST{"canLink":false,"threadId":"440222","isPrivate":false}
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
Start Tracking
Stop TrackingCOMPANY STUFF:
LEGAL STUFF:
- © 2005-2009 Newsvine, Inc. |
- Newsvine® is a registered trademark of Newsvine, Inc. |
- Newsvine is a property of
