If I ran a game store I would play the song Ready to Roll by Flashlight Brown.
This is what it sounds like when a major music label releases a punk rock song about Dungeons and Dragons. It's fast, loud, well-produced, and more mainstream than niche hobby. Most of the songs about Dungeons and Dragons that I add to this playlist are about very specific gaming elements - the DM, the dice, splitting the party, character generation. Ready to Roll is about D&D but it doesn't get into anything very specific at all. It's very much a radio play song that risks turning off the audience with its geek lingo but that doesn't place all its chips on the gamble. I think the song walks away a winner, though.
Ready to Roll is from Flashlight Brown's 2003 album, My Degeneration. It was also included on the Rugrats Go Wild soundtrack released a couple of months later. Flashlight Brown had originally recorded a cover of Should I Stay or Should I Go for the soundtrack, but the success of Ready to Roll got it placed on the album instead.
Ready to Roll on Google Play
Friday, February 27, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Mwahaha
If I ran a game store I would play the song Mwahaha by Ookla the Mok.
All the best villains enjoy the evil they do and they share their enjoyment in the form of catchphrases and evil laughs. Mwahaha is a collection of some of the best evilisms ever uttered put to rock music. The song is about an evil mastermind trying to determine which catchphrase best suits his needs while the chorus is a medley of cinematic laughs. The song is so laden with references that Ookla the Mok posted this game on The FuMP:
Mwahaha was released on The FuMP in January 2013. It was released on Ookla the Mok's album, Vs Evil, in March 2013.
Mwahaha on Google Play
All the best villains enjoy the evil they do and they share their enjoyment in the form of catchphrases and evil laughs. Mwahaha is a collection of some of the best evilisms ever uttered put to rock music. The song is about an evil mastermind trying to determine which catchphrase best suits his needs while the chorus is a medley of cinematic laughs. The song is so laden with references that Ookla the Mok posted this game on The FuMP:
Test Your Super-Villain IQ!I scored 31 for lyrics and 4 for laughter; solid Evil Minion.
For each reference or quote, give yourself one point for identifying the source material, and another point for correctly naming the speaker.
Below 20 points: Brutish Dolt. How did you even find this website?
Between 20-29 points: Evil Lackey. Insufficient. A Doombot has been dispatched to escort you to the nearest reeducation center.
Between 30-39 points: Evil Minion. You are to be commended for your effort. I promise you a quick and painless death.
Between 40-49 points: Evil Henchman. Most impressive, but you are not a Jedi yet.
Over 50 points: Evil Overlord. This is not necessarily something to be proud of. When was the last time you saw the sun?
Mwahaha was released on The FuMP in January 2013. It was released on Ookla the Mok's album, Vs Evil, in March 2013.
Mwahaha on Google Play
Friday, February 20, 2015
It's a Trap!
If I ran a game store I would play the song It's a Trap! by Dr. Awkward.
Han Solo is the original space pirate. The movies don't show him doing much pirating, though, and instead he plays as more of a smuggler. In It's a Trap!, Dr. Awkward raps about a pirate character that at times seems like they're in the Star Wars universe - possibly Han Solo himself - but that is a pirate that fits the "prepare to be boarded" model more than Han ever did. The song is a moody rap that portrays this dark character talking about his swagger and the crimes he commits. Even though the song samples Admiral Akbar's famous "It's a trap" line, it is used in the context of a spaceship trapped and about to be boarded by the pirate character. The character almost sounds more like Malcolm Reynolds than anyone from the Star Wars universe. I'd pay to watch this movie.
It's a Trap! is from Dr. Awkward's 2013 album, Blank Pages.
It's a Trap! on Google Play
Han Solo is the original space pirate. The movies don't show him doing much pirating, though, and instead he plays as more of a smuggler. In It's a Trap!, Dr. Awkward raps about a pirate character that at times seems like they're in the Star Wars universe - possibly Han Solo himself - but that is a pirate that fits the "prepare to be boarded" model more than Han ever did. The song is a moody rap that portrays this dark character talking about his swagger and the crimes he commits. Even though the song samples Admiral Akbar's famous "It's a trap" line, it is used in the context of a spaceship trapped and about to be boarded by the pirate character. The character almost sounds more like Malcolm Reynolds than anyone from the Star Wars universe. I'd pay to watch this movie.
It's a Trap! is from Dr. Awkward's 2013 album, Blank Pages.
It's a Trap! on Google Play
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Big Bang Theory Theme
If I ran a game store I would play the song Big Bang Theory Theme by Barenaked Ladies.
The Big Bang Theory TV show is divisive among geeks. The ideas that it doesn't properly portray geek culture, that it laughs at geeks instead of with geeks, and that the show is unfunny are popular among our crowd. There are some who dislike the theme song because of its association to the show. If you dislike the theme song for this reason then shame on you. It's a quality song. Had it been released on an album without association to the show there would be zero balking. Instead, the song would play and geeks would be rocking to science-based music. It's an upbeat alt rock song describing the events of the Big Bang with a brief history of the world. I would very certainly play this song in my game store and direct whiners to the door.
The lore behind the song is that the show's executive producers were at a Barenaked Ladies concert in Los Angeles. The frontman, Ed Robertson, did an improvised freestyle rap about the Big Bang. The EPs liked the song. They asked Barenaked Ladies to pen the theme, but the band had been jilted before so they would only do it after learning no other bands had been asked. I call "baloney." The idea that the EPs were creating a show titled The Big Bang Theory and a band member randomly breaks into verse about the Big Bang is too much for me to believe. I'm thinking Mr. Ed Robertson got a call from his agent discussing who was in the crowd and why and he made the choice based upon that knowledge. But what do I know?
The Big Bang Theory TV show debuted on September 24, 2007 and a full-length version of the song was released as a single on October 9, 2007. The song was included on Barenaked Ladies' 2011 greatest hits album, Hits from Yesterday & The Day Before. There are sources claiming the song is/was titled History of Everything, but I was unable to find anything verifying that title.
Big Bang Theory Theme on Google Play
The Big Bang Theory TV show is divisive among geeks. The ideas that it doesn't properly portray geek culture, that it laughs at geeks instead of with geeks, and that the show is unfunny are popular among our crowd. There are some who dislike the theme song because of its association to the show. If you dislike the theme song for this reason then shame on you. It's a quality song. Had it been released on an album without association to the show there would be zero balking. Instead, the song would play and geeks would be rocking to science-based music. It's an upbeat alt rock song describing the events of the Big Bang with a brief history of the world. I would very certainly play this song in my game store and direct whiners to the door.
The lore behind the song is that the show's executive producers were at a Barenaked Ladies concert in Los Angeles. The frontman, Ed Robertson, did an improvised freestyle rap about the Big Bang. The EPs liked the song. They asked Barenaked Ladies to pen the theme, but the band had been jilted before so they would only do it after learning no other bands had been asked. I call "baloney." The idea that the EPs were creating a show titled The Big Bang Theory and a band member randomly breaks into verse about the Big Bang is too much for me to believe. I'm thinking Mr. Ed Robertson got a call from his agent discussing who was in the crowd and why and he made the choice based upon that knowledge. But what do I know?
The Big Bang Theory TV show debuted on September 24, 2007 and a full-length version of the song was released as a single on October 9, 2007. The song was included on Barenaked Ladies' 2011 greatest hits album, Hits from Yesterday & The Day Before. There are sources claiming the song is/was titled History of Everything, but I was unable to find anything verifying that title.
Big Bang Theory Theme on Google Play
Monday, February 16, 2015
I Should Be Writing
If I ran a game store I might play the song I Should Be Writing by John Anealio, it's iffy.
Songwriter John Anealio finds his mind wandering when it comes time to write lyrics. It is oft summoned by the siren call of the internet or of the TARDIS materializing on BBC America. At some point we've all sat down to write - maybe it's a school assignment, maybe it's art, or maybe it's a post on a very quiet blog. And at some point we've all experienced what John does: our minds wanting to focus on something - anything - other than writing. I Should Be Writing is a gentle self-scolding for those times. If I ran a game store I would strongly consider playing this song because I know that many of the patrons have creative pursuits, be they GMs or comic book authors or bardic poets. It's iffy for me because the song is more about the creative process and no so much about gaming or monsters or pop culture, but I really believe that my fictional customers would take to the song.
I Should Be Writing is the theme song to a podcast of the same name and it was specially commissioned by the podcast's host, Mur Lafferty, for that purpose. The song was also released on John Anealio's 2010 EP, NaNoWriMo, which is his ode to National Novel Writing Month. The EP also has an acoustic version of the song, titled I Should Be Writing (Acoustic). If I ran a game store I would play the electronic version. The difference is instrumental only, with both songs being gentle rock tunes. John plays guitar on both versions, but the electronic version also has him playing synthesizer and drum machine.
From John Anealio's Bandcamp page:
Songwriter John Anealio finds his mind wandering when it comes time to write lyrics. It is oft summoned by the siren call of the internet or of the TARDIS materializing on BBC America. At some point we've all sat down to write - maybe it's a school assignment, maybe it's art, or maybe it's a post on a very quiet blog. And at some point we've all experienced what John does: our minds wanting to focus on something - anything - other than writing. I Should Be Writing is a gentle self-scolding for those times. If I ran a game store I would strongly consider playing this song because I know that many of the patrons have creative pursuits, be they GMs or comic book authors or bardic poets. It's iffy for me because the song is more about the creative process and no so much about gaming or monsters or pop culture, but I really believe that my fictional customers would take to the song.
I Should Be Writing is the theme song to a podcast of the same name and it was specially commissioned by the podcast's host, Mur Lafferty, for that purpose. The song was also released on John Anealio's 2010 EP, NaNoWriMo, which is his ode to National Novel Writing Month. The EP also has an acoustic version of the song, titled I Should Be Writing (Acoustic). If I ran a game store I would play the electronic version. The difference is instrumental only, with both songs being gentle rock tunes. John plays guitar on both versions, but the electronic version also has him playing synthesizer and drum machine.
From John Anealio's Bandcamp page:
"I Should Be Writing" is dedicated to everyone who writes. Whether you write novels, articles, blog posts, comics, or songs, I think everyone has occasions when they doubt what they are doing or are easily distracted. Hopefully this song will help.I Should Be Writing on Bandcamp
Friday, February 13, 2015
Goonies (Never Say Die)
If I ran a game store I would play the song Goonies (Never Say Die) by Mikey Mason.
Outside of the music that Cyndi Lauper made for The Goonies soundtrack there isn't a lot of music about The Goonies movie. Mikey Mason pretty much has the category to himself with his song Goonies (Never Say Die). Good thing it's a quality song worth playing in game stores. Goonies (Never Say Die) is a nerd rock song that is sung from the perspective of one of the Goonies, with not enough detail to narrow it down to which one. Mason purposely kept the kid's identity fuzzy because the song is really about the concerns and insecurities of all kids as they age into adulthood. When a problem gets overwhelming it's time for a Goonie tackle it with their valiant, "never say die" attitude.
Goonies (Never Say Die) is from Mikey Mason's 2012 album, Barbarian Jetpack.
Goonies (Never Say Die) on Bandcamp
Outside of the music that Cyndi Lauper made for The Goonies soundtrack there isn't a lot of music about The Goonies movie. Mikey Mason pretty much has the category to himself with his song Goonies (Never Say Die). Good thing it's a quality song worth playing in game stores. Goonies (Never Say Die) is a nerd rock song that is sung from the perspective of one of the Goonies, with not enough detail to narrow it down to which one. Mason purposely kept the kid's identity fuzzy because the song is really about the concerns and insecurities of all kids as they age into adulthood. When a problem gets overwhelming it's time for a Goonie tackle it with their valiant, "never say die" attitude.
Goonies (Never Say Die) is from Mikey Mason's 2012 album, Barbarian Jetpack.
Goonies (Never Say Die) on Bandcamp
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
This Fantasy World
If I ran a game store I would play the song This Fantasy World by The Doubleclicks.
Sometimes a guy attracts a girl by making a real world Charisma check and sometimes a guy attracts a girl by making an in-game Charisma check. We've all seen or imagined attraction happening at the gaming table. In-game heroics mix with real world flirting to maybe get the two on a date. That's where This Fantasy World dwells. It's the tale of a crush that develops during a campaign and the girl's efforts to woo the guy. There's a "kids version" and an explicit version, with the differences in the explicit version being a bad word, the use of "stupid" instead of "silly", and her goal being sex rather than a date. Musically, they both have a very full sound provided by a cello and an acoustic guitar with the two sisters singing the gently tumbling lyrics. If I ran a game store I would play the kids version.
This Fantasy World (explicit version) was released on The Doubleclicks' 2012 album, Chainmail and Cello. This Fantasy World (kids version) was released on their other 2012 album, Worst Superpower Ever. What The Doubleclicks did is to release both albums on the same day, with Worst Superpower Ever having clean versions of many of the songs on Chainmail and Cello. This is a boon for X Marks the Beat because The Doubleclicks are both prolific and excellent and I plan to add many more of their songs here. Providing family-friendly versions of their music allows me to play those songs in my non-existent game store.
This Fantasy World (kids version) on Bandcamp
Here's a fan video using the explicit version of the song:
Sometimes a guy attracts a girl by making a real world Charisma check and sometimes a guy attracts a girl by making an in-game Charisma check. We've all seen or imagined attraction happening at the gaming table. In-game heroics mix with real world flirting to maybe get the two on a date. That's where This Fantasy World dwells. It's the tale of a crush that develops during a campaign and the girl's efforts to woo the guy. There's a "kids version" and an explicit version, with the differences in the explicit version being a bad word, the use of "stupid" instead of "silly", and her goal being sex rather than a date. Musically, they both have a very full sound provided by a cello and an acoustic guitar with the two sisters singing the gently tumbling lyrics. If I ran a game store I would play the kids version.
This Fantasy World (explicit version) was released on The Doubleclicks' 2012 album, Chainmail and Cello. This Fantasy World (kids version) was released on their other 2012 album, Worst Superpower Ever. What The Doubleclicks did is to release both albums on the same day, with Worst Superpower Ever having clean versions of many of the songs on Chainmail and Cello. This is a boon for X Marks the Beat because The Doubleclicks are both prolific and excellent and I plan to add many more of their songs here. Providing family-friendly versions of their music allows me to play those songs in my non-existent game store.
This Fantasy World (kids version) on Bandcamp
Here's a fan video using the explicit version of the song:
Monday, February 9, 2015
Futurama Theme (Remix)
If I ran a game store I would play the song Futurama Theme (Remix) by Adam WarRock.
The Futurama theme song is embedded in the heads of a lot of people. From the opening chimes on the tubular bells to the closing sounds that imply a machine coming to a faulty stop, most of us have a pretty good idea of how the theme sounds. Along comes Adam WarRock wanting to pay homage to the show, but there's no lyrics to remix. What's a nerdcore rapper to do? Ever the pro, he remixes the sounds and beats and adds his own lyrics. He sings about the show at a general level, how he became exposed to it, and why he loves it. He also gives props to the executive producers, The Simpsons, and the ephemera of both those shows. While the lyrics aren't always on the subject of Futurama this song is every bit written by a fan of the show about his love of the show.
Futurama Theme (Remix) was released on Adam WarRock's 2013 album, Planet Express EP.
Zip file of Planet Express EP on Adam WarRock's website
The Futurama theme song is embedded in the heads of a lot of people. From the opening chimes on the tubular bells to the closing sounds that imply a machine coming to a faulty stop, most of us have a pretty good idea of how the theme sounds. Along comes Adam WarRock wanting to pay homage to the show, but there's no lyrics to remix. What's a nerdcore rapper to do? Ever the pro, he remixes the sounds and beats and adds his own lyrics. He sings about the show at a general level, how he became exposed to it, and why he loves it. He also gives props to the executive producers, The Simpsons, and the ephemera of both those shows. While the lyrics aren't always on the subject of Futurama this song is every bit written by a fan of the show about his love of the show.
Futurama Theme (Remix) was released on Adam WarRock's 2013 album, Planet Express EP.
Zip file of Planet Express EP on Adam WarRock's website
Friday, February 6, 2015
Dead Nintendo
If I ran a game store I would play the song Dead Nintendo by Possible Oscar.
Once upon a time if your gaming console wasn't working you could kick it to make it work. You could also try cycling the power, reinserting the medium, examining the disc for scratches, or blowing on the cartridge. If those didn't fix it then verbal threats were mandatory. That's the journey that Possible Oscar takes in Dead Nintendo. It's a mournful parody of The Eagles' ballad Desperado, lamenting a design flaw in the Nintendo Entertainment System. The song is about a classic console and so it goes the song is about all of the classic games that can't be played due to the glitch. Dead Nintendo hearkens to the adult and retro gamers who wander the imaginary aisles in my imaginary store.
Dead Nintendo was released on Possible Oscar's 2007 album, The Wrath of Con. They also released a live version around the same time, titled Dead Nintendo - live at MarsCon 2007. It's available on The FuMP and on the compilation CD, The FuMP Volume 2.
Dead Nintendo on Google Play
Once upon a time if your gaming console wasn't working you could kick it to make it work. You could also try cycling the power, reinserting the medium, examining the disc for scratches, or blowing on the cartridge. If those didn't fix it then verbal threats were mandatory. That's the journey that Possible Oscar takes in Dead Nintendo. It's a mournful parody of The Eagles' ballad Desperado, lamenting a design flaw in the Nintendo Entertainment System. The song is about a classic console and so it goes the song is about all of the classic games that can't be played due to the glitch. Dead Nintendo hearkens to the adult and retro gamers who wander the imaginary aisles in my imaginary store.
Dead Nintendo was released on Possible Oscar's 2007 album, The Wrath of Con. They also released a live version around the same time, titled Dead Nintendo - live at MarsCon 2007. It's available on The FuMP and on the compilation CD, The FuMP Volume 2.
Dead Nintendo on Google Play
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula
If I ran a game store I would play the song Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula by The Diamonds.
When most people think of a date movie their minds move to romantic comedies, but there are people out there that prefer something scary instead. It's an old cliche for a girl to jump into the arms of her boyfriend when startled at the cinema. Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula is a song about a girl who only gets in the mood with the help of a good frightening movie, much to the delight of her beau. It's a 1959 doo-wop novelty that could easily have been sung by The Coasters, but was instead sung by Canadian cover band The Diamonds. The late 1950s had people dancing to The Purple People Eater, The Witch Doctor, and the like, so Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula was warmly received in dance halls.
Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula was released in 1959 as the B-side to Walkin' the Stroll on 7" vinyl by Mercury Records. It was re-released on the 1966 compilation album Best of The Diamonds: The Mercury Years, on the 1993 compilation album The Diamonds' Little Darlin': 25 Greatest Hits, and on the 2007 compilation album The Diamonds' Songbook. On all of these albums the song name remained the same, but some streaming websites use the song name Batman, Wolfman to refer to this song.
Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula on Google Play
When most people think of a date movie their minds move to romantic comedies, but there are people out there that prefer something scary instead. It's an old cliche for a girl to jump into the arms of her boyfriend when startled at the cinema. Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula is a song about a girl who only gets in the mood with the help of a good frightening movie, much to the delight of her beau. It's a 1959 doo-wop novelty that could easily have been sung by The Coasters, but was instead sung by Canadian cover band The Diamonds. The late 1950s had people dancing to The Purple People Eater, The Witch Doctor, and the like, so Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula was warmly received in dance halls.
Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula was released in 1959 as the B-side to Walkin' the Stroll on 7" vinyl by Mercury Records. It was re-released on the 1966 compilation album Best of The Diamonds: The Mercury Years, on the 1993 compilation album The Diamonds' Little Darlin': 25 Greatest Hits, and on the 2007 compilation album The Diamonds' Songbook. On all of these albums the song name remained the same, but some streaming websites use the song name Batman, Wolfman to refer to this song.
Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula on Google Play
Monday, February 2, 2015
Spider-Man
If I ran a game store I would play Spider-Man by The Ramones.
In 1967, Grantray-Lawrence Animation produced an animated Spider-Man cartoon based upon the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The show lasted on the American Broadcasting Company for three seasons and after its initial broadcast it went into syndication, outlasting its 1967-1970 time frame by many decades. The longevity of the series exposed a generation or two of kids to the show and its hugely catchy theme song. The theme song, composed by Bob Harris and with lyrics by Paul Francis Webber, has gone on to become a standard with many bands covering it over the years. It's also been used in many of the live-action Spider-Man feature films. The song's opening lyric of "Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can" is arguably as synonymous with Peter Parker as the Spider-Man suit is. The version of the song I would play if I ran a game store is the version by The Ramones.
The Ramones covered the song late in their musical career, but it appears on various albums of theirs. Spider-Man was first released as a hidden track on the vinyl version of their 1995 album, ¡Adios Amigos!, originally marking the track as a rarity. It was also included in the 1995 compilation album, Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits. A live version was released on their 1996 compilation album, Greatest Hits Live. They included another live version on their 1997 album, We're Outta Here!. The next time the studio version appeared was in their 2005 box set, Weird Tales of the Ramones, on disc 3. The song was featured in the 1996 film, Bio-Dome, but was excluded from the movie's soundtrack.
Spider-Man (Weird Tales of the Ramones version) on Google Play
In 1967, Grantray-Lawrence Animation produced an animated Spider-Man cartoon based upon the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The show lasted on the American Broadcasting Company for three seasons and after its initial broadcast it went into syndication, outlasting its 1967-1970 time frame by many decades. The longevity of the series exposed a generation or two of kids to the show and its hugely catchy theme song. The theme song, composed by Bob Harris and with lyrics by Paul Francis Webber, has gone on to become a standard with many bands covering it over the years. It's also been used in many of the live-action Spider-Man feature films. The song's opening lyric of "Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can" is arguably as synonymous with Peter Parker as the Spider-Man suit is. The version of the song I would play if I ran a game store is the version by The Ramones.
The Ramones covered the song late in their musical career, but it appears on various albums of theirs. Spider-Man was first released as a hidden track on the vinyl version of their 1995 album, ¡Adios Amigos!, originally marking the track as a rarity. It was also included in the 1995 compilation album, Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits. A live version was released on their 1996 compilation album, Greatest Hits Live. They included another live version on their 1997 album, We're Outta Here!. The next time the studio version appeared was in their 2005 box set, Weird Tales of the Ramones, on disc 3. The song was featured in the 1996 film, Bio-Dome, but was excluded from the movie's soundtrack.
Spider-Man (Weird Tales of the Ramones version) on Google Play
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