Rock Band 3 launches next week and it will bring the end of the DLC available for RB1 and 2. With over 2000 songs in the bank its hard to decide what’s awesome and what’s a dud. Having played hundreds of hours of RB1 and 2, I have found certain songs are special in their own ways. Here’s my list of the top 10 Rock Band songs so far (in no particular order).
Anything by Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or a Alive (Rock Band 1) – Livin’ on a Prayer (Rock Band 2) – You Give Love a Bad Name (Lego Rock Band) I’m convinced that the guitar based music genre was created to showcase classic Bon Jovi tracks. Everyone knows them, they aren’t too hard to pay. 10 out of 10 times when having a Rock Band party a Bon Jovi song will be chosen, guaranteed.
Fallout Boy – This Ain’t a Scene (DLC) What makes this Fall Out Boy song fun is the lyrics. Not the real lyrics, more like the misheard lyrics. Its great singing, “This ain’t a Sea, it’s a golf cart ass-face” and the game giving you full credit.
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing (DLC) Even when you’re not playing Rock Band and this song is comes on, everyone sings alone regardless of what they are doing (laundry, grocery shopping, shaving, mourning the loss of a loved one…etc.) Its only natural that it be in Rock Band. Try to play this song and not sing along…it’s impossible.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California (Rock Band 1) Dani California has the distinction of containing the best guitar solo in any Rock Band game. Its not the hardest and its not the most intricate, but it is the most fun. That’s all that matters.
Coheed and Cambria – Welcome Home (Rock Band 1) Prior to Rock Band, I knew no one that would admit to being a Coheed and Cambria fan. After Rock Band, Welcome Home was everyone’s favorite song. Its the song that got me the elusive 1 million point achievement, and I’ve had to personally sing that song on several occasions, including this one.
Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know (Rock Band 2) Girls like singing in Rock Band. You Oughta Know is the perfect angry chick song. Every time a girl sings it, the song starts off calm and almost shy, but by the end the girl is whaling and venting past boyfriend frustrations openly. Get the right person singing it and it can be very eye opening.
Squeeze – Tempted (DLC) Besides being a great singer’s song, Tempted is a really classy choice when rocking a Rock Band party. Its also a Techpedition crew favorite.
Kansas – Carry on Wayward Son (Rock Band 2) This song falls somewhere in between Coheed and Cambria and Bon Jovi in the epic dept. It has 3 distinct guitar solos, its vocals are loud and beginners shy away from it. It has everything needed to be awesome.
Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting (Lego Rock Band) Ok, I’ll agree with you, this song isn’t great. This song holds a personal meaning for me. At E3 2009 Techpedition regular, Henry, of Maplestory fame, feverishly discussed whether or not he should sing this song on stage with Donkey Lips of Salute Your Shorts fame (Michael Bower). Donkey Lips convinced him he would do great and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Laughing alongside Donkey Lips at a freshly humiliated friend is a memory you can’t recreate.
GLaDOS – Still Alive (DLC) Last but not least we have the Portal song that is available for download. Those who get it love it, those that don’t get it hate it. Best of all, its Free! One thing that can be agreed upon is that the cake is a lie.
That’s it, the first chapter in the Rock Band saga is in the books. The next one starts Tuesday. Will it be as fulfilling as the first one? Only time will tell. Either way, my plastic guitar waits ever so impatiently. You better watch out bank account…I see much more DLC in my future.