Definition of "fun"...

[Flawless]

Hey, don't post as much as I used to but this is something I'm extremely curious to see the results of.

When I come by the boards to check out what's been released and what's new in Rock Band I often see a song being labelled "fun". That's a good thing, I get all excited to check out the latest release because the majority of people call a song fun... can't go wrong with that... can I?

Except the fact that for some reason more often than not, a "fun" song is actually an overly difficult chart that causes more frustration than actual exciting gameplay... for me. So it got me thinking...

What exactly makes a song fun for you?... For me, it's a song with easy-medium difficulty, a nice beat or flow that makes the song easy for me to get into a groove for and is a great BAND song.

I think the confusion of fun and difficulty is coming from experts who generally play alone and look for a challenge, rather than the new comers who like playing with friends who may not be as proficient at the game as the long time Guitar Hero players.

So yeah, ... just curious what makes a song fun... to you?

[AnarchyintheUK]

Option 3 as I play mainly on my own

[Der_Lex]

All three, actually...it just depends on the situation and my mood which one takes prevalence. I think you've missed an important one, though: a song can be fun because it has a fun chart (which isn't necessarily a challenging chart). Likewise a poorly charted song can ruin the gameplay for me, no matter how much I like the song.

[CrackerAxe]

Missing a def, makes me want to dance!

[Flawless]

It's so hard to guess of the more wide reaching options people would want in a poll - haha!

Just post a reply with your definition if I missed your chosen option :D

[CrackerAxe]

Seriously though I think the feeling of wanting to dance gets to the heart of what you are asking.

The "Fun" songs are the ones for me that i find halfway through the song I am dancing too.

[Serpentd]

Seriously though I think the feeling of wanting to dance gets to the heart of what you are asking.

The "Fun" songs are the ones for me that i find halfway through the song I am dancing too.


Hmmm, I don't ever dance. But I hear what your saying. I think I will sort of headband lightly or just loosen up a lot during the song and let it flow. Plus it's hard to dance when doing drums. So yeah, sort of a head bob if your in your zone and having fun.

I Pick songs that I want to jam loud and play to. I don't really care about the rest of the band liking it when I'm purchasing a song. It's different if I'm playing with others though.:)

[Rubicante]

I picked both 1 and 3. I'm a fairly good player with 163/170(168) songs gold starred on guitar, so I like having a challenge, and yes, I really enjoy Thrasher. At the same time there are plenty of songs that I like playing just because I enjoy them, such as Ever Fallen in Love and Hysteria. Also, while its fairly obvious that The Cars album won't be much of a challenge, it will be quite fun to play.

[Nobak]

On drums, I consider fun most songs that aren't too repetitive. That's often the challenging ones, but Beethoven's C*** is a good example of a fun song that's not way up there in challenge.

[Libby]

Most of the time, when I refer to a fun song, I am meaning something that is not easy but not extremely difficult. But it also seems to differ on each instrument. And not by a little there are some songs that I don’t like playing much on a particular instrument, but love on another instrument.

On vocals, my "fun" songs tend to be things that are kinda silly, and have a pretty up and happy tempo. Usually. Many of the times I'll start dancing around, and making myself look dumb. ;) I have also run up to the other people in the house and shoved the microphone into their faces. Doesn’t always go over very well. :confused: Don't know why.

On Drums, the patterns are things that "make sense to me." I not just something that sounds good, but it "feels good."

I put some a few in here for you. Gonna use a star system to show how fun I think they are. 1-5.

Vocals
Ball Room Blitz- The Sweet **** The voices that come with one, are great.
Cherrybomb- The Runaways ***** Dunno, but about halfway through the song I start screaming. :D
Still Alive- ***** I like cake. :p
Crushcrushcrush- **** Get's the fourth star when I get to the 'Rock and Roll, baby' lines.
Blitzkrieg Bop ****
Dead on Arrival- Fallout Boy *** It’s kinda fun, sometimes.
Perfekte Welle- Juli **** Even if I can’t pronounce a lot of it, it’s great.
Rock Rebelion- Bang Camaro **** All chorus, and easy to get into.
We Care A lot- Faith No More ***** Transformers!
El Scorcho- Weezer **** It changes mid song, and has strange lyrics

Drums
Boston songs ***** <- Still can’t make it through foreplay ;_;
Most of the Judas Preist songs ****
Heir Kompt Alex- Die Toten Hosen ***** Weird rolls, yay
Action- The Sweet **** Dunno why, but I try to dance to this too.
Green Grass & High Tides- The Outlaws ***** I’m usually quite worn out afterwards, but the drums are fun for me.

Guitar/Bass…… I try not to play these too much. I get bored pretty quickly with them. But in general, as long as I am not strumming one the same notes all the time, I have fun.

Rush songs G****/B***** The notes move around enough to keep me paying attention.
Boston Songs G****/B****
Grateful Dead songs- G*****/B****

[Flawless]

See, Libby is similar to my definition ... I play drums most of the time and the fun songs are the ones that make sense and have a nice flow to them... most people skipped over it, but Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear is a great example, if not a bit easy... Boston Pack is perfect.

But, I grabbed Message In A Bottle because I read it on here a bunch that the drums were 'fun' and ... I'm one of those people who like the Police so I didn't bother Youtubing the charts for it..

Now when it comes up I get tired, and frustrated ... it's not particularily hard at all, it's just awkward and a song I don't find easy to 'crack'.

[o1skinneej]

Most of the time, when I refer to a fun song, I am meaning something that is not easy but not extremely difficult. But it also seems to differ on each instrument. And not by a little there are some songs that I don’t like playing much on a particular instrument, but love on another instrument.

On vocals, my "fun" songs tend to be things that are kinda silly, and have a pretty up and happy tempo. Usually. Many of the times I'll start dancing around, and making myself look dumb. ;) I have also run up to the other people in the house and shoved the microphone into their faces. Doesn’t always go over very well. :confused: Don't know why.

On Drums, the patterns are things that "make sense to me." I not just something that sounds good, but it "feels good."

I put some a few in here for you. Gonna use a star system to show how fun I think they are. 1-5.

Vocals
Ball Room Blitz- The Sweet **** The voices that come with one, are great.
Cherrybomb- The Runaways ***** Dunno, but about halfway through the song I start screaming. :D
Still Alive- ***** I like cake. :p
Crushcrushcrush- **** Get's the fourth star when I get to the 'Rock and Roll, baby' lines.
Blitzkrieg Bop ****
Dead on Arrival- Fallout Boy *** It’s kinda fun, sometimes.
Perfekte Welle- Juli **** Even if I can’t pronounce a lot of it, it’s great.
Rock Rebelion- Bang Camaro **** All chorus, and easy to get into.
We Care A lot- Faith No More ***** Transformers!
El Scorcho- Weezer **** It changes mid song, and has strange lyrics

Drums
Boston songs ***** <- Still can’t make it through foreplay ;_;
Most of the Judas Preist songs ****
Heir Kompt Alex- Die Toten Hosen ***** Weird rolls, yay
Action- The Sweet **** Dunno why, but I try to dance to this too.
Green Grass & High Tides- The Outlaws ***** I’m usually quite worn out afterwards, but the drums are fun for me.

Guitar/Bass…… I try not to play these too much. I get bored pretty quickly with them. But in general, as long as I am not strumming one the same notes all the time, I have fun.

Rush songs G****/B***** The notes move around enough to keep me paying attention.
Boston Songs G****/B****
Grateful Dead songs- G*****/B****


When I first glanced at this post I thought it was a string of pointless profanity. Then I read it.

Gonna make you sweat, FTW!!

I have fun with just about every song, unless I FC it on my sightread, which really doesn't happen too often. (Simple Man, Message in a Bottle, any Weezer)

[ASPSAX]

Speaking mostly from a guitar/bass standpoint (as I'll have fun with just about anything on drums), the most fun songs have a good amount of activity or variety in it. They don't have to be a challenge, even though the more challenging songs like Blackened or Shockwave keep me coming back more, easier songs like Hysteria or China Cat Sunflower are fun to play too.

Songs like All the Small Things and Attack that are basically straight 8th note chord-fests are terrible to play. Even if it's good to listen to, I just never think about playing those songs voluntarily. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Joker and The Thief is a terrible song to play because the intro/choruses are basically one measure repeated over and over. It feels more like a technical exercise than a melody. This is coming from someone who will play Shockwave's 2nd solo for fun.

And lastly, Thrasher sucks. It's just a chore. ;)

[sa_nick]

I chose the second option, although what i really think is more like...

'A song that is interesting and unique on your instrument of choice.'

I play drums 98% of the time so what makes a song fun for me is a song that offers a drum chart that no other song is similar to. For example, Hysteria this week has a bunch of beats that are totally unique.

[Ernunnos]

For example, Hysteria this week has a bunch of beats that are totally unique.
Agreed! Smashing Pumpkins is also a good example, and 'Wave of Mutilation' has a ton of variety for such a short song. But I think my favorite is the Police, at least after they got out of their punk phase. (So not 'Next To You.') Stewart Copeland is an amazing drummer, and he does a good job of mixing subtle off-beats with a more standard rock beat. It's not complex or fast just for the sake of being complex and fast, and it doesn't call attention to itself, but if you listen there's a lot of neat detail, and playing it can be a challenge.

[Libby]

When I first glanced at this post I thought it was a string of pointless profanity. Then I read it.

Gonna make you sweat, FTW!!

I have fun with just about every song, unless I FC it on my sightread, which really doesn't happen too often. (Simple Man, Message in a Bottle, any Weezer)

Wow, I didn't even think about that. Maybe I should have used uhhh... Xs? :eek:

[trg007]

I picked option #3 because, for vocals, I prefer singing songs that I enjoy listening to. If a song comes out as DLC that I didn't already know beforehand, I will only have a desire to learn it if it's a song that I end up liking.

[Niledeltadisco]

While it certainly can be all three.. I didn't actually go with that. I ended up choosing the "great band song" and the "song I love to listen to" options.

My reasoning is simple. While I like a good challenge.. if I don't like the song or the band just can't get into it - well a difficult chart just becomes yet another strike against the song.

[DarkJ3JB]

All three, actually...it just depends on the situation and my mood which one takes prevalence. I think you've missed an important one, though: a song can be fun because it has a fun chart (which isn't necessarily a challenging chart). Likewise a poorly charted song can ruin the gameplay for me, no matter how much I like the song.

I agree! Same feelings as you buddy

[3star_hero]

I guess fun for me varies with what kind of instrument I am playing at the time. There are so many great songs on the game but songs that I really like to play on the guitar sometimes suck on another instrument. Some songs just suck period (Honest Bob - I Get By).

Guitar:

Fun - Foreplay/LongTime
Not Fun - Green Grass High Tides

Vocals:

Fun - Creep, Highway Star
Not Fun - Reptillia, I Get By (Seriously, that has got the be the stupidest song in the game)

Drums:

Fun - Hitch a Ride, Learning To Fly
Not Fun - Green Grass High Tides, Dead On Arival

[R4di4ti0n]

I enjoy songs that i like listening to/will be fun with the band. You will never see the Thrash pack on my system, because i would never listen to it, and the difficulty would be over most peoples heads. You will find FOB on my system, because my girlfriend loves them.

[strikeman99]

I chose option 3 because I am looking to play songs I know and love. Even though I would probably like the other songs available for DLC, I cannot/ do not want to spend over $500 for the game/DLC in one year span. I expect that the release schedule for DLC will increase over time and I want to save up for those songs.

[guitaranddrumgod1978]

I chose option 3 because a fun song to me is one that when I hear it on the radio, I immediately say "this would be a great song for Rock Band".

To me, there are so many great songs they could release that we could get DLC for years.

[Xanthous]

I think you missed a key choice:

As I drummer, the songs I really find fun are ones with unique charts, something I haven't played before. That's what keeps me playing songs like Flirtin with Disaster, Maps, Wonderwall, and Shockwave over and over and over.

[ReverseEngineer]

none of the choices really apply to me. Some of the songs I consider fun are easy (Simple Man, Roxanne), some are challenging (Foreplay / Long Time, Detroit Rock City). Some I like (Anything Boston, Crushcrushcrush), some I wouldn't really ever listen to (Angels & Airwaves, The Hand that Feeds). It's like trying to define what "love" is.

[OakTea]

I voted option 2 and 3, but occasionally I would like a challenge too. I agree with a lot of what people are saying here, and I won't be bothered to agree more in depth..ually. I just woke up. Let's move along.

(that's a fun song by the way, even if it's sorta' strange on drums. And I love singing it.)

[ThuDogFood]

All 3 work for me...

If I'm on my own, 1 is a great way for me to have fun (I'm playing a lot of Kool Thing lately, something I never expected to do...)

If I'm with friends, 2 is the best way. I hate hearing about how "boring" someone's part was to play.

And any time 3 is a great way to go. Occasionally I lose interest in these songs (much as I enjoy Gimme Shelter, I don't typically choose to play it on drums for interest), but usually I enjoy them again with a little factor of 1 or 2.

However, 1 and 2 are pretty incompatable for me and my friends, unless there is only 1 tricky chart and I am playing it.

[jeccaneko]

I like a challenge but I'm not going to consider a song just because it's hard. I have to like the song and like jamming out to it (preferably both solo and with a band).

I downloaded Train in Vain even though it's easy, but I love that song. I also have some more difficult songs (ie Shockwave on guitar) but I really like that song too.

[DSOTM]

option 3 and 2
a song that i like that is a great song for the whole band

[Samuel346]

All three work for me too, but I won't vote for all three cause it's pointless.

[Tiberiouslb]

All three options can be true, but sometimes one by itself isn't enough.

1. I'm a sucker for a challenging chart, but I'll avoid it if I dislike a song.

2. Might need to be clarified. Fun for everyone could be interpreted as having active charts across all instruments, or as a song that is highly recognizable so everyone knows it. Recognizable songs are great for parties, but aren't always fun for solo play. Songs with active charts are great for experienced RBer's but not necessarily for newbies and party goers.

3. Not every song I like is great for Rock Band, especially when you get to soft songs. However if I love the song and any part rocks I will probably have a ball with it.

[saerbarnet]

I choose all of the alternatives but number 1 depends on the song.
TTFAF? Not funny cause the song is just so boring. (Chart is not boring but the song is crappy >.<)
Jordan? It's a fun song but really damn hard.

As I haven't recieved my copy of Rock Band yet I can't give you any examples from RB just yet ;)

[shaybo]

The definition of fun is like the definition of pornography, you know it when you see it.