Anyway, I couldn't let this opportunity to do a mid-week vote slide. So let's hear when you'll be listening to on your first ride on the new coaster, whenever it opens.
There are 30 choices, six each in five categories: Classic Rock/Metal, Rap/Hip-Hop, Club/Electronica, Pop/Disco and Country.
Talk about your choice, in the comments. Personally, I'm leaning strongly toward "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, with an outside chance for "Pump up the Volume" by MARRS. (I just think those would go well on a coaster.)
But if I like the ride, and get the chance to ride again when I'm in a campy mood, I'm totally throwing down the Hammer. ;-)
By the way, what's up with the Hinder version of "Born to be Wild?" Couldn't clear the rights to Steppenwolf? Or did Universal pick songs while watching NASCAR?
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But in October when I'm riding HRRR (assuming it's open by then...) I'll be pumping MARRS through my headrest.
I mean ... really?
Anyway, I would pick Pump It by the BEP. I think its a good song for a roller coaster and has the old (at least old to me) song Miserlou of surfing fame in it!
I just Can't believe they missed the opportunity to include "Love Rollercoaster" by the Ohio Players.
My pick out of those provided would be "Devil Went Down to Georgia" but that's really just a default. I can think of several others that would be better.
From Day 1, I've disagreed with many that this was a good move for Universal. Financially, maybe, but creatively, no. I argued that the coaster would ruin the aesthetics of the park entrance, which, many people now agree, is true. Additionally, the coaster does not even seem to be a high caliber ride, with too much momentum lost on the various block brake sections.
And now this. The music selection. I know most of these songs very well. There are some good choices, but most of this is, well, crap.
Rock/Metal
Of all the rock and metal bands to choose from, how did Evanescence, Motley Crue, Finger 11, and Limp Bizkit make the cut? Universal is obviously trying to appeal to a younger generation, and honestly - screw that. Rock is rock. I'm from a younger generation, and I can tell you that most of my friends prefer the older music to the new stuff. "Rollin'" was big when I was in middle school, but I can't think of the last time anyone mentioned Fred Durst. If they were trying to make rock appeal to younger people, why not a song like "Song 2" by Blur? Big fail, Universal. Big fail.
My rock choices:
"Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen
"Crosstown Traffic" - Jimi Hendrix
"Travelin' Band" - CCR
"Shout" - The Isley Brothers
"Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry
"Jump" - Van Halen
Rap/Hip Hop
I may be even more upset about the rap category than the rock category. They put TWO Black Eyed Peas songs in the mix, plus a Fergie song in the pop category? Black Eyed Peas are a damn disgrace to rap. About the only two passable songs in this category are "Insane in the Membrane" and "Sabotage". Kanye's "Stronger" is OK, but the song is, with the exception of the lyrics, nearly identical to "Harder, Better ..." in the club category. Not to mention that, with Beastie Boys (and maybe Cypress) being the exceptions, not ONE legend of rap is present. No 2pac, Biggie, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Wu-Tang, Snoop, Outkast, Nas, Jay Z, Eminem etc. etc. etc. Another epic fail, Universal.
My rap choices:
"Sabotage" - The Beastie Boys
"Hey Ya" - Outkast
"Bring The Noise" - Public Enemy
"The Message" - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
"California Love" - 2pac, Dr. Dre, Roger Troutman
"Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" - Biggie Smalls, Puff Daddy, Mase
Club/Electronica
There are two Beastie Boys songs and two Crystal Method songs. How can this be happening with only six choices per category? Not to mention that the Crystal Method choices were pretty weak. "Pump Up the Volume" is a good choice, and "Harder, Better ..." and "Le Disko" are decent selections, but this is still a weak category. In fact, I would just eliminate the club category entirely in order to add another song to the other five categories. Rap, rock, pop, and disco can all be considered club.
My club/techno choices:
"Weapon of Choice" - Fatboy Slim
"Mr. Vain" - Culture Beat
"We Like to Party" - Vengaboys
"Mortal Kombat" - The Immortals
"Get Ready for This" - 2 Unlimited
"Gonna Make You Sweat" - C & C Music Factory
Pop/Disco
No. More. Fergie. Choose one song from her and stick with it. And how did Donna Summers get two songs, but the King of Pop, MJ, got NOTHING? No, this is not inspired by his death. This is inspired by him being the KING OF POP. How did you miss out on that one, Uni? Copyright issues? Hammer is pretty hilarious, though.
My pop/disco choices:
"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" - Michael Jackson
"That's The Way ..." - KC & The Sunshine Band
"Semi-Charmed Life" - Third Eye Blind
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"C'Mon N' Ride It" - Quad City DJ's
"U Can't Touch This" - MC Hammer
Country
This is the one category I wasn't disappointed in. I know it's not really country, but I wouldn't have minded seeing "Cotton Eye Joe" here. I also really dig Brad Paisley, but these choices were fine.
I hope these choices change frequently.
The aesthetics don't bother be at all. I never thought USF was ever especially elaborate in its' exterior look. It always felt like a hodgepodge to me. The entrance has soundstages, Hollywood and cheap looking New York facades all in the same view. The coaster doesn't affect any of that to me. DHS is still the better looking park.
The coaster does seem a bit on the slow side. I understand that the brake runs are essential due to the space that the coaster is given, but they do hamper any sense of speed. I will still give it the benefit of the doubt since you never fully get the jist of a coaster until you ride it.
On the other hand, the song choices are very poor. I am curious as to why there are only 30 songs. I mean a $99 iPod can hold thousands of songs, but a multi-million coaster can only hold 30! While I have nothing against the Black Eyed Peas or Donna Summer, when you have such a limited selection, you need to be as diverse as possible. I can only hope that Universal alters the choices as expeditiously as possible.
No Grateful Dead?!
No Velvet Underground?!
Only thing missing is Wagner’s "Flight of the Valkyrie" that would be one hell of a song for a ride. For those who don't know that song it was made famous in Apocalypse now when Robert Duval comes in with the Air Cavalry.
Also, the song list isn't a function of memory capacity on the ride - it is clearing the play rights from the music publishers. Universal has to pay them for the right to play these songs on the ride. That is why, I am sure, certain songs didn't end up on the track list.
That said, I hearby nominate Joshua Counsil to be in charge of all on-ride musical programming decisions at Universal Orlando.
I think BEP should stay up there because I would say they are probably one of the more popular bands out there that really does not have their music edited or at least not for swear words (unless you include Phunk and Retarded)
And that was on rides like Pirates. I can't imagine how bad it would be to be working a downtime at Small World when tower forgot to mute the sound.
I think I coulda done a better job of selection, but that woulda cut out several of the genres...
Other choices: I love Three Days Grace. Maybe their songs Animal I've Become, or if the ride is a bit rough, how about Pain!
Other choices: I love Three Days Grace. Maybe their songs Animal I've Become, or if the ride is a bit rough, how about Pain!
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