DLC for 3/22
As I’m sure many of you have already heard directly from @RockBand early tonight, but for those who haven’t, next week’s DLC is the rumored “Piano Challenge” pack we heard about way back in October. The 6-pack of songs is indeed all Billy Joel, and represents some of the most challenging keyboard play yet seen in the game. And to help celebrate this new pack, GameInformer is giving away 20 downloadable song tokens, so if you like free stuff, head on over there to enter!
So without further ado, next week’s DLC will feature the following Billy Joel songs:
- I Go to Extremes
- Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
- My Life
- Prelude/Angry Young Man *
- Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
- She’s Always a Woman
* Denotes Pro-Guitar/Bass chart availability for an additional $.99.
The entire pack can be yours for $9.99 (800 MSP).
[GameInformer via @RockBand]
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MOAR BILLY JOEL!!! WOOHOO!!!
The two songs I really wanted that were missing are finally here! Prelude/Angry Young Man and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant! The piano on Angry Young Man will be IMPOSSIBLE. But awesome. Amazing.
Eric Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
I just listened to Prelude/Angry Young Man… so HMX is just messing around right? They don’t actually expect us to be able to play keys on that, right?
Oh God! They’re serious!
Valhalla Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Yeah, I know, right?
It might be a little easier if you play it the way Billy Joel does, but still, holy cow. Watch him play it on You Tube if you want to be impressed. It’s fun to see.
Wouldn’t of been my top picks but not a bad bunch. More songs the better.
I was hoping this pack would be more than just Billy Joel. Maybe some Elton John, Stevie Wonder, some prog, maybe some others. Oh well, still a fairly interesting pack.
I must confess that I am genuinely surprised that “Uptown Girl” is not in this list. I had thought that this was the only given.
Bishop Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Seconded.
RBand24Fan Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
As much as I would love having that song, its pretty obvious why its not included, its not really a challenge on piano.
Croq Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I’m not. Since this is called the “Piano Challenge” pack, I would argue that Uptown Girl is just a basic song when looked at that way. These songs all have notable piano parts and most of them will be very demanding.
Hayden Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
When I heard “Piano Challenge”, I imagined that meant “songs that definitely have keys in them”.
“Uptown Girl” is one of only three Billy Joel songs that I would have been able to name had you asked me six months ago, hence my surprise. (Also “Piano Man” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, plus several others that I knew but did not realise that they were by Billy Joel.)
Valhalla Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Yeah, disappointed about no Uptown Girl, but I will be buying a few of these for sure. Angry Young Man for the lolz, My Life because it makes me all nostalgic about the TV sitcom Bosom Buddies (yes, I’m 39 and old, kids), and She’s Always a Woman. Not sure how well I know the other songs though. I Go To Extremes was one of the only other songs I kind of liked on the album with We Didn’t Start the Fire, but I probably won’t get that one.
Choz Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
I’m getting the same 3, for exactly the same reasons! I would probably have gone for I Go To Extremes if they’d dropped all of Stormfront on us as an album… but I think I’d rather have Garth’s version of Shameless, now that I think about it.
Choz Reply:
March 19th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Update: The spouse has spoken. We will be getting the whole pack. Yes, dear.
Wow, that is a pretty sexy six pack of Billy.
My Life/Scenes were conspicuously missing from the first “hits” pack, so yay! Hayden, I think Billy Joel has disavowed Uptown Girl. Hasn’t played it in years.
Hayden Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
I suppose that he would get sick of playing a song inspired by his ex(es), but he doesn’t have to actually perform the song again for it to be DLC. If he has truly disavowed it, its omission makes more sense.
I thought “My life” was heavily missed in the first pack. I am just happy we are getting more than 4 songs.
“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”! As pined for in the previous Billy Joel thread! YESSSSS [throws confetti]
Can’t wait
Hey it’s the Bosom Buddies theme song!!!! Unknown Tom Hanks FTW!!!!!
Miami 2017. Nuff said. That’s worth the price of the pack right there.
Yes, no Uptown Girl!!!!
also
NOOO, no Ballad of Billy the Kid
“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”
I’m in.
I don’t know any of these, but i didn’t know most in the last joel and loved every single one. Definitely will grab this.
Just wish we could get some heavier rock by now… seems like they are just trying to please 1 instrument anymore…. :\
I’m just planning to buy My Life, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, and She’s Always a Woman
I already have all of the other songs from first pack, and I don’t care for the other 3
Wow, I like most of those songs better than the ones from the first Joel Pack. I cherrypicked on the last, but I’ll buy this whole pack. Not that I could play that stuff on keyboard, but the songs are great.
I haven’t played keys much, but it’s my understanding that all the charts are desgined with the idea that people would be playing the songs one-handed. Is this 100% true? If so, it’s a little disappointing. As Rock Band 3 is now an undisputable platform for people to learn real musical skills, wouldn’t it make sense for there be some way to incorporate two hands when playing? I know there are full 88 key, keyboards that can be connected with a midi adapter and used in the game via Pro mode. Are people expected to play those one-handed as well? This pack crystalizes the issue for me. Especially after listening to Prelude/Angry Young Man. o.O
MattyT Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:19 am
The charts are all designed with 25 playable Keys in mind, based off of the RB3 Keyboard. Even if you connect a standard 88-key instrument, only a 25-key range works with RB3. Only the parts for the right hand are charted, based upon the 25-key functionality.
Nothing or no one will stop you from using a two-handed technique, but only the one hand is charted, yes.
Choz Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
I think a few songs have had the right hand charted in as bass guitar. Particularly in the NIN and DM packs, where there wasn’t a real bass? I might have to replay and check that…
Didn’t get anything from the first Billy Joel pack. I don’t think he ever was very big in Europe. I’ll see what this has to offer, but I’m still waiting for other genres to join the DLC mix. RBN will probably come through in the next month(s) with some excellent prog.
At least this will likely be the last Billy Joel for a long while.
Ospero Reply:
March 19th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Sorry? Is this supposed to be a trolling attempt, or do you honestly believe that second sentence? Check the discography entry on Wikipedia if you want details, but Billy Joel’s had multiple gold and platinum level albums all over Europe. He’s never been as big over here as he was in the US, but he was certainly bigger than, oh say, most prog acts…
Whizzer Reply:
March 22nd, 2011 at 3:48 pm
No, not at all. I’m probably too young to have noticed much of his fame. It doesn’t help a lot that he only released two albums in the last 22 years and rarely visits the Netherlands.
But you’re right, no doubt. I rescind my assumptions. Should I ever want keys-tailored DLC, Billy Joel will one of the first artists I should and will check.
Oh fuck yes! She’s Always A Woman was the only thing missing for my wife from the previous pack, My Life is a great catchy number that a lot of people recognize, Angry Young Man is just awesome and super hard on keys, and Scenes From An Italian Restaurant is just epic. Sold!
a bottle of red… a bottle of white…
yea, buying this pack for sure.
Challenging? If you want challenging stick a few Children of Bodom songs in the dlc marketplace, keyboard/guitar solo battles FTW…
Andre Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Man, I’m waiting FOREVER for a “Children of Bodom – Hatebreeder and Follow the Reaper FULL ALBUMS DLC”.
The day it happens, I’m gonna cry rainbows and beams of light will shoot from my ears all the way to heaven, and awaken the Mecha-Angel-Godzilla of Awesome to come to Earth, and he will play Bass with us all, for all the tracks, and KEEP THE GROOVE ETERNALLY.
Skydog Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:13 am
Boring.
Andre Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
To each his own. I would never buy a Nine Inch Nails song, personally. Children of Bodom’s old albums are, imho, PERFECT for Rock Band. Every single instrument (besides vocals) would be a delight to play, in almost every song.
Skydog Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Which is basically like saying Vocals don’t matter….
Which is why i hate screamo bands.
Andre Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
They are not an screamo band. Unless you’re saying black/death metal vocals are screamo, which they are most surely not.
Anyway, the vocals are a hugely important factor in black/death metal bands, they convey the aggressiveness necessary for the style. They may appear easy to do, but are actually pretty hard without destroying your throat. And if you want to create different types of growling, like Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir or the singer from Black Dahlia Murder does, it’s even harder.
I used to detest growling vocals too, but once I “understood” it (took me quite a few listens of… Children of Bodom actually), I was hooked.
I am saying all this because I HATE screamo vocals. So just pointing out that there’s a difference.
Ospero Reply:
March 19th, 2011 at 7:14 am
Yes, they may require skill to pull off – but unfortunately, to an untrained ear, they don’t sound that way at all. And in this game, it mostly makes no difference whether something is growled or screamed – all talkies, hook up the vacuum cleaner, bang! Expert Sightread FC on Vox. And I speak as somebody who actually enjoyed “Are You Dead Yet”.
Besides, what kind of a comparison is that, OP? If you’re seriously saying that something like “Prelude/Angry Young Man” won’t be as challenging as anything fired at us on keys so far (with the possible exception of Roundabout), you’re deluding yourself.
Whoo Hoo, Hell ya!!! these are the tunes I was missing from the first pack, instant buy all of them, and I don’t know how any could play these one handed, especially the “Prelude/Angry Youg Man”, if anyone of you has ever seen Joel play this live, you’ll know what I mean… hell just listen to it. I’m not even sure how they could have charted it.
And “I Go to Extremes” has one the of the best keyboard solos ever.
Now give us, “Ballad of Billy the Kid” and “Good Night Saigon” and “Down Easter Alexa” Huge Joel fan… So glad keyboards were added to open up artists like him.
Now c’mon Harmonix, lets get some Elton John
This is fantastic for an old fart player like me.
Pretty cool, I’ll pick up a few of the songs – probably only the last four, unless I give the first two a listen and realize I know them.
But on a side note, it’s not a good week for PS3 owners. No RBN releases (Per Henry’s announcement on the RB Forums), AND the Game Informer contest is 360 only. Ahh well. At least Henry hinted at the PS3 getting more than 5 RBN tracks in a week sometime in the future…
I’m always ok with more Joel, but this pack has a way shittier song selection than the first pack. And where are: Uptown Girl, Keeping the Faith, Tell Her About It? They missed this pack in my opinion.
Skydog Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:13 am
It’s called Keyboard Challenge.. Uptown doesn’t compare to these…
Please read the titles before posting.
Croq Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
GMTA. I made a similar comment to an “Uptown Girl” post earlier…
Am I the only one who could go for an instrumentless harmony of Longest Time?
edisinsane Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
that would be an instant buy for me
Choz Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
No!
Stephen Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 1:05 am
Would be an ultimate song for harmonies.
Croq Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 11:06 am
There’s already one vocals-only song that I’m aware of in the RB catalog (“Song of the Century” by Green Day), so sure, why not? I’d buy it for my singer bandmates (though I’d prefer it to be part of a pack if possible).
This is great!
But I hope this means there might be some more The Doors in the future…
Yay, another week with a full wallet. Keep it coming Harmonix, i love my money.
Croq Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
I have the polar opposite problem. I’ve spent more on DLC in the last 6 months than ever before… I say, keep it coming Harmonix, I LOVE the music!!!
Whizzer Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Same for me, but I am getting these songs (or at least one). I actually won at the GameInformer contest. Tried to post my comment three times, in three different browsers, but couldn’t see it get through. Sent a tweet to gameinformer and whatever it was, I made the cut.
Also found out I actually know one song – ‘My Life’. Been ages since I last heard it on the radio and would never have guessed it was Billy Joel.
Whoa my God, I have this weird feeling of deja vu here…
Didn’t I see this somewhere before? Oh yeah…
When they released a lot of his songs four months ago.
This may just be my opinion, but I think it’s a bit early to have ANOTHER pack from this guy, espeically how big the first pack was. That wasn’t enough to cater to those who are actually fans of Billy? Kinda like what happened with Bob Marley also. Like four months after that entire Legends album, another pack devoted to him came out. What’s up with that?
So I’ll pass on this one. Didn’t like him before and won’t like him now I’m sure. Hooray to those who like him, I guess.
Guess I’ll be busy catching up on the back-catalog!
Ospero Reply:
March 19th, 2011 at 7:16 am
It was announced back when the first pack came out that there would be another one dropping in early 2011.
The Bob Marley was weird, I agree, especially since they dropped Legend (minus Get Up Stand Up) before RB3 and then gave us fully RB3 compatible deep cuts. Not exactly a smart move business-wise.
Jay Reply:
March 19th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Yeah, don’t know where I was when they made that early announcement for this pack, but I certainly never caught word of it.
Skydog Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
but it WAS announced Jay therefore it was PLANNED.