30 Days of Video Game Music: Day 21 -- Music I Associate with Frustration

Check out the Day 1 post for the full challenge list.

“Octopus’s Garden” - Richard Starkey

Game: The Beatles: Rock Band (2009, Wii/PS3/360)
Original: YouTube
Cover: Kenji Morita (YouTube)

I’m getting a bit cheeky with this one, but it’s one of the quickest that came to mind. I associate this song with frustration because of a particular achievement with the following requirement: “Play Octopus’s Garden on Expert Guitar, playing all hammer-ons and pull-offs without strumming.”

Now, I know there are many Rock Band virtuosos for whom this was probably not a big deal, but it certainly was for me. Multiple times while trying to unlock this, I restarted enough times to reach the very amusing easter egg of an exasperated Paul declaring “TAKE FIFTY.” I’d say a good third of my restarts were in the song’s opening lick (reminiscent of a certain favorite video of mine), but many of my attempts took me cruelly deep into the song before my eventual failure. I once attempted the song so many times in a row and cussed so incessantly that I roused my dad from his sleep. As he did so many times, he asked, “do you actually have fun playing these things?” My retort was that he got just as upset watching football and playing golf, two of his favorite pastimes. The apple surely didn’t fall far from the tree. :)

My frustration was rewarded, though, and I did eventually succeed. My Xbox Live profile has proudly displayed the unlocked achievement ever since. 🐙

Of course, I do love the song. Ringo’s Abbey Road tune is charming, and I love the guitar part, however much its digital representation may have vexed me. My next goal is to learn the song on a real guitar. Somehow I think it’ll be more pleasant!