Comments on: Rock Band, the song http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song electronic indie piano pop Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:45:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-322 Brian Hazard Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:13:33 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-322 Just heard from Liz today. Freezepop prefers to write their own material, which I can totally understand, because I do too! This one is going on the back burner for now. Just heard from Liz today. Freezepop prefers to write their own material, which I can totally understand, because I do too! This one is going on the back burner for now.

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-314 Brian Hazard Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:58:28 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-314 That's not my experience at all. Some songs are great to listen to, but mind-numbing or frustrating to play. Beyond the song itself, a lot depends on the authoring. You have to find the right balance between new material and repetition, across all instruments. Unison sections need to make sense. The level of challenge shouldn't vary too much from section to section. For example, the bass on "If Not Now When" is drop-dead easy in the verses, but tricky in the choruses. That's not ideal. These aren't things I normally think about when arranging a track, but they might just make for a better song outside of the game as well. That’s not my experience at all. Some songs are great to listen to, but mind-numbing or frustrating to play. Beyond the song itself, a lot depends on the authoring. You have to find the right balance between new material and repetition, across all instruments. Unison sections need to make sense. The level of challenge shouldn’t vary too much from section to section. For example, the bass on “If Not Now When” is drop-dead easy in the verses, but tricky in the choruses. That’s not ideal. These aren’t things I normally think about when arranging a track, but they might just make for a better song outside of the game as well.

]]> By: Monty Singleton http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-312 Monty Singleton Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:15:40 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-312 OK. I'm still a bit confused however. What does it mean to write a song that's fun to play on virtual instruments? What qualities would this song have? For me, the songs I like to play the most on Rock Band are the songs I like the most. If it's a great song to listen to, it's a great song to play. Monty OK. I’m still a bit confused however.

What does it mean to write a song that’s fun to play on virtual instruments? What qualities would this song have?

For me, the songs I like to play the most on Rock Band are the songs I like the most. If it’s a great song to listen to, it’s a great song to play.

Monty

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-311 Brian Hazard Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:13:08 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-311 Myself and a group of friends have the mildly embarrassing distinction of having completed the Endless Setlist on expert, so it's fair to say I'm a legit fan of the game. I wouldn't be able to author the track if I weren't. The idea is to make a song that's fun to play on virtual instruments, not a technical challenge. I could always pull out one of the fugues I composed in college for that! (but with Bach in the public domain, why settle?) I think the song stands on its own. It doesn't refer to video games at all, and doesn't require any knowledge of the game to understand. I'd record it in a heartbeat if it matched my other work stylistically. In other words, making it work for the game isn't an artistic compromise - but putting it on my album might be. That's why I figured I'd premiere it in-game and go from there, but I'm stretched really thin with this album deadline, and I just got three new mastering jobs this morning. So if I end up doing it, it's not going to be anytime soon. Myself and a group of friends have the mildly embarrassing distinction of having completed the Endless Setlist on expert, so it’s fair to say I’m a legit fan of the game. I wouldn’t be able to author the track if I weren’t.

The idea is to make a song that’s fun to play on virtual instruments, not a technical challenge. I could always pull out one of the fugues I composed in college for that! (but with Bach in the public domain, why settle?)

I think the song stands on its own. It doesn’t refer to video games at all, and doesn’t require any knowledge of the game to understand. I’d record it in a heartbeat if it matched my other work stylistically. In other words, making it work for the game isn’t an artistic compromise – but putting it on my album might be. That’s why I figured I’d premiere it in-game and go from there, but I’m stretched really thin with this album deadline, and I just got three new mastering jobs this morning. So if I end up doing it, it’s not going to be anytime soon.

]]> By: Monty Singleton http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-310 Monty Singleton Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:51:55 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-310 The part I think is a bad idea is writing a song to fit the game, and to call it "Rock Band." Even though you can't do that because of the rules. Rock Band is cool and all, but in my opinion, a song should never be written for it. I mean, I guess the idea doesn't really make sense in my mind. Does this mean the song is going to have a lot of notes, more technically challenging, so it will be tough to play? Fast tempos? If so, I would rather see Color Theory write a classical piano piece like Mozart, challenging Mozart for technical difficulty and melody, rather than Rock Band. Then, port the song to Rock Band and it would be plenty tough. I guess I could see you writing a song about Rock Band if you REALLY loved it. Like the heavy metal bands that used to write songs about video games and such. But, I just didn't think you were that big of a Rock Band fan so my impression was that it is a promotional idea. If that's the case, it would be much more fun to release a future album track on Rock Band or release a "b-side" to Rock Band, so, it's a Rock Band only track.... Monty The part I think is a bad idea is writing a song to fit the game, and to call it “Rock Band.” Even though you can’t do that because of the rules. Rock Band is cool and all, but in my opinion, a song should never be written for it. I mean, I guess the idea doesn’t really make sense in my mind. Does this mean the song is going to have a lot of notes, more technically challenging, so it will be tough to play? Fast tempos? If so, I would rather see Color Theory write a classical piano piece like Mozart, challenging Mozart for technical difficulty and melody, rather than Rock Band. Then, port the song to Rock Band and it would be plenty tough.

I guess I could see you writing a song about Rock Band if you REALLY loved it. Like the heavy metal bands that used to write songs about video games and such. But, I just didn’t think you were that big of a Rock Band fan so my impression was that it is a promotional idea. If that’s the case, it would be much more fun to release a future album track on Rock Band or release a “b-side” to Rock Band, so, it’s a Rock Band only track….

Monty

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-303 Brian Hazard Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:29:09 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-303 Thanks for being contrary Monty! ;) Which part is the bad idea? The song itself, my doing it, or the promotional aspect? I was planning to make this song an exclusive in the way you describe, but another song could work too. I do worry that if it flops, I'll have wasted 40 hours I could've spent on my album. If the song matched the rest of the album thematically, there wouldn't be any question. Maybe I can get Freezepop to do it. I hear they're recording a new album. That would be a win-win. Thanks for being contrary Monty! ;)

Which part is the bad idea? The song itself, my doing it, or the promotional aspect? I was planning to make this song an exclusive in the way you describe, but another song could work too.

I do worry that if it flops, I’ll have wasted 40 hours I could’ve spent on my album. If the song matched the rest of the album thematically, there wouldn’t be any question.

Maybe I can get Freezepop to do it. I hear they’re recording a new album. That would be a win-win.

]]> By: Monty Singleton http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-302 Monty Singleton Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:22:19 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-302 My opinion is this is a bad idea. But, I like the thought process behind it. What I think would be very cool is to take a song off your next album, the one you are working on now, and release it on Rock Band first. A "Rock Band Exclusive", kind of like "iTunes Exclusive." The only place you can hear it is on Rock Band until the album comes out. Monty My opinion is this is a bad idea.

But, I like the thought process behind it.

What I think would be very cool is to take a song off your next album, the one you are working on now, and release it on Rock Band first. A “Rock Band Exclusive”, kind of like “iTunes Exclusive.” The only place you can hear it is on Rock Band until the album comes out.

Monty

]]> By: Rain http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-301 Rain Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:01:53 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-301 I like the changes you made in the lyrics. I hope you cause a little controversy too from guitar players! ;) I like the changes you made in the lyrics. I hope you cause a little controversy too from guitar players! ;)

]]> By: Chris Fullam http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-300 Chris Fullam Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:15:04 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-300 I definitely think this is a cool idea. I like the lyrics too. I definitely think this is a cool idea. I like the lyrics too.

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/rock-band-the-song/comment-page-1#comment-299 Brian Hazard Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:10:46 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1615#comment-299 Alright then, I guess it's a go! If it catches on, maybe it'll make the album. If not, or if it's just too different, it won't. Thanks for the feedback! Alright then, I guess it’s a go! If it catches on, maybe it’ll make the album. If not, or if it’s just too different, it won’t. Thanks for the feedback!

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