Hmm, I have a theory why Run to the Hills is a cover

[Ardius]

Run to the hills

(harris)

White man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need

We fought him hard we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came too much for cree
Oh will we ever be set free?

Riding through dustclouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom a stab in the back
Women and children and cowards attack

Run to the hills run for your lives
Run to the hills run for your lives

Soldier blue on the barren wastes
Hunting and killing their game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good indians are tame
Selling them whisky and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old

Run to the hills run for your lives
(repeat to end)

Im wondering how much of the original lyrics are going to stay in game.......perhaps this is the reason why its not a master, because it may be difficult to avoid certain words. Im not saying I find any of the lyrics offensive, im a massive Maiden fan. However, I can easily see them offending some people perhaps.

[Terranova]

I cant see what the problem is for it to be a cover, GH3 has number of the beast as a master track it's from the same album, i would think that beast would get more problems as those not in the know ie the religious types think of it as a satanic track which in the U.S at least would be be more of an issue than hills.

[Ardius]

I cant see what the problem is for it to be a cover, GH3 has number of the beast as a master track it's from the same album, i would think that beast would get more problems as those not in the know ie the religious types think of it as a satanic track which in the U.S at least would be be more of an issue than hills.

So, if youre trying to make a game for the family, having lyrics like "raping the women" and "enslaving the young" are fine...yet having a lyrical line saying 666 is not? Plus, Rock Band is giving you the lyrics on the screen, at least in Guitar Hero if you dont know the lyrics you wouldnt really take note of whats being said.
lol, religous idiots are the last concern. Does anyone listen to them anyway?

[Bakkster]

I cant see what the problem is for it to be a cover, GH3 has number of the beast as a master track it's from the same album, i would think that beast would get more problems as those not in the know ie the religious types think of it as a satanic track which in the U.S at least would be be more of an issue than hills.

I think it's more likely that the drum tracks were mixed down, but the guitar tracks were not. So the masters worked for GH3, but not for Rock Band.

[masterx1918]

the lyrics will stay the same. I'll be pissed if they replaced the lyrics with completley new ones, and if so i'll just sing the origionals. I don't want to be singing

"some guy came across the sea
He brought us joy and ecstasy
He loved our people, he loved our creed"

and of course

"soccer and vollyball their game
kissing the women and hanging out with the men"

[espher]

If they change the lyrics, definitely a total cockblock.

[Ardius]

^^lol

Well, I was just throwing ideas around for why its not a master track. I also hope its not been changed and also that the cover singer is better than the previous cover singers.......(and before anyone says no-one can get as good as Dickinson, I beg to differ, I hear the singer for one of the scottish tribute bands is pretty good).

[tbradshaw]

I think it's more likely that the drum tracks were mixed down, but the guitar tracks were not. So the masters worked for GH3, but not for Rock Band.

Excellent deduction. My vote is with this theory. It's extremely plausible that they mixed down the drum tracks to a single track. This would still allow remastering in the future with no (apparent at the time) down side. However, this would still make things difficult/impossible for the audio engineers to get the three separate drum tracks necessary for Rock Band.

Bakkster, FTW.

[masterx1918]

it's the same deal with Train Kept a-Rollin' (except with the gutiar track)

[Ardius]

I think it's more likely that the drum tracks were mixed down, but the guitar tracks were not. So the masters worked for GH3, but not for Rock Band.

wait, does that mean that we might not see Iron Maiden DLC except as covers? :(
Now I sort of hope it was the management being arseholes.

I really hope this isnt the case.

[BiffMan]

I think it's more likely that the drum tracks were mixed down, but the guitar tracks were not. So the masters worked for GH3, but not for Rock Band.

Very plausible, but if that's the case, couldn't they take everything from the master except the drum track and then re-record the drum track separately? Just cover the drum part and not the whole thing? Probably not acceptable from a legal standpoint for a variety of reasons, just curious.

[defmonkey]

Then why is Creep a master track?

[Ardius]

Very plausible, but if that's the case, couldn't they take everything from the master except the drum track and then re-record the drum track separately? Just cover the drum part and not the whole thing? Probably not acceptable from a legal standpoint for a variety of reasons, just curious.

I dont think Nicko or even Clive Burr would mind coming in and re-recording the drums. Then it would be legal, lol.

[Electric_Zen]

it's the same deal with Train Kept a-Rollin' (except with the gutiar track)

Not quite the same. That's a live track, which introduces its own set of problems.

I would be shocked and appalled if Harmonix touched any of the lyrics here. The lyrics are certainly no worse than what they kept in Laid To Rest, and this song is much less anti-social. It is pretty obviously in the 'rape and enslavement is bad' camp.

I've got to make my own decisions about what songs are appropriate or not to play around my young children. But Harmonix only has to worry about keeping that 'T' rating, and there is nothing in this song that necessitates an 'M'.

[blue_dragonzero]

Remember in one SSX game RttH was the title song and the only cut word was "hell". SSX was made by EA.
By the way, has anyone found out what the asterisks mean? We saw asterisks next to "cover" tracks that sound misteriously like masters, maybe those are the partial rerecords?

[TheRocker]

Run to the hills is an awesome song man i missed the Hype , i was at a lock in :)

[Bakkster]

I dont think Nicko or even Clive Burr would mind coming in and re-recording the drums. Then it would be legal, lol.

I'm thinking it would have sounded very off putting a newly recorded digital drum track in a vintage analog song. It also might not have been possible to isolate the drums out. Still just guessing here, but it is a crazy mystery.

[Ardius]

I'm thinking it would have sounded very off putting a newly recorded digital drum track in a vintage analog song. It also might not have been possible to isolate the drums out. Still just guessing here, but it is a crazy mystery.

I dont know, you can do all sorts these days with computers and audio. I dont think they could competely re-create the sound, but they can get damn close.
While were on the subject of re-recording, would anyone complain if they just got the whole band in to re-record it? I mean, plenty of other bands have done that/been doing that for other things (including guitar hero). Id rather have the real thing albeit with a little wear in the vocals than some tribute band that sounds awful (although, I suppose Ill have to hold judgement on that till I hear the cover, however, going by previous covers...).

I really hope this doesnt affect the chances of getting Maiden DLC, especially the originals.

[Brock_Landers]

While were on the subject of re-recording, would anyone complain if they just got the whole band in to re-record it?

Maybe HMX's accountants would complain when they got Iron Maiden's price quote :)

[tbradshaw]

Very plausible, but if that's the case, couldn't they take everything from the master except the drum track and then re-record the drum track separately? Just cover the drum part and not the whole thing? Probably not acceptable from a legal standpoint for a variety of reasons, just curious.

Yeah, I think you're right regarding the legal concern. "Covers" are a well known legal quantity and are handled routinely. However, when you keep most tracks and add a new drummer, you'd need a license to create a derivative work. It would be sort of like a sampling license and while, of course, anything is possible. I'm sure it's more of a hassle to make a derivative work than it is to do a faithful cover.

[mohkilla]

man its awesome that they put Run To the Hills in the game, i just found out now...but about this i hope that they atleast get a really good singer for the song..that sounds close to dickinson...and having Maiden re record it might cost some cash u know..and it might not sound the same as the original.....Think Anarchy in the Uk in GH3....doesnt sound the same as the original :/

[Ardius]

man its awesome that they put Run To the Hills in the game, i just found out now...but about this i hope that they atleast get a really good singer for the song..that sounds close to dickinson...and having Maiden re record it might cost some cash u know..and it might not sound the same as the original.....Think Anarchy in the Uk in GH3....doesnt sound the same as the original :/

Well, obviously it wont sound the same, but Id rather have the band do it than some awful cover. Besides, have you even heard Maiden perform it live these days? They are easily as good as they were back in 82. I mean, Bruce has lost some of his range, but that comes with age.
Cost....hmmm, yes, but then isnt that why they have MTV and EA backing them?

[Terranova]

Well, obviously it wont sound the same, but Id rather have the band do it than some awful cover. Besides, have you even heard Maiden perform it live these days? They are easily as good as they were back in 82. I mean, Bruce has lost some of his range, but that comes with age.
Cost....hmmm, yes, but then isnt that why they have MTV and EA backing them?

Totally agree, actually I think with the trio guitar line up it sounds better, as for Bruce true he has lost a bit of his range but he's still the best choice for the vocals over someone covering it that doesn't quite hit the mark, it would be just as bad as having Blaze coming back to do it.

[holyangel]

Then why is Creep a master track?

Because there is the censored version of creep, insted of "you're so ****ing special" they replaced this with "you're so very special". there you go, a master track

[GrayInvisible]

Censorship is sickening.

[whofan]

Censorship is sickening.
Censorship is not the issue here, I guarantee it. The issue is probably related to not being able to obtain proper masters that they can create good game versions from. It makes sense. GH III has much different needs from their tracks and thus they may have been able to use the Master Track adequately for "The Number Of The Beast" but that master may not be sufficient for Rock Band.

[CPT_Destroyer]

Censorship is sickening.

I couldn't agree any more. If it's about the children, be a better parent and make sure your young 'uns don't see that TV show, play that video game, listen to that band, ect.

It's really depressing when you see the law give in to those soccer moms.

Back to the topic, no, they probably won't censor it. What could they change it to with out completely ruining the song?

[Terranova]

Well the front page has a run to the hills vid up and the lyrics are not censored in any way so i can only imagine that HMX couldn't get separate master tracks hence why it's a cover, speaking of which it's not too bad, the singer is no Bruce Dickinson but it could have been worse, i have to say i don't like the background vocals that much in the chorus but other than that not a bad attempt.

[hmxsean]

To my knowledge none of our covers are due to censorship. Any covers we do have, which are very few, are due to masters being unavailable or unusable for some reason.

[Terranova]

To my knowledge none of our covers are due to censorship. Any covers we do have, which are very few, are due to masters being unavailable or unusable for some reason.

Yeah i figured as much a shame but cant be helped, it's a good enough cover.. and this is from a die hard Maiden fan :)

[defmonkey]

Because there is the censored version of creep, insted of "you're so ****ing special" they replaced this with "you're so very special". there you go, a master track

Even if they use the 2nd master track (with the censored version), I'll be singing it the first way!:p And I'm not sure, but I thought I seen a vid of Gamespot or Ign preforming Creep, and it said the F-bomb. Either that or the dude knew the song already and said it.


On topic, the Run to the Hills Cover is amazing. When GHII came out with The Trooper and that cover bastized Iron Maiden, I had a sour feeling. But after seeing this. Thats pretty damn good. When I get the game, I'm gonna tease my buddies with that one, because I couldn't tell sometimes it was a cover!