Singstar '90s Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 2 August, 2007

Party like its 1999. And 1998. And 1997...

Version tested: PlayStation 2

I hate Rob Fahey. Not personally, you understand. He's a lovely fellow, well spoken, very clean and he does a lot of charity work with confused dogs. But he has reviewed every new SingStar instalment over the last year or so and, with April's Pop Hits , finally admitted that at this point what we're really doing is reviewing a music compilation on a games website. This is a very shrewd observation, and one that rings loud with the crystal clarity of truth.

It also leaves me with precious little else to say by way of introduction for this ninth (ninth!) SingStar disc, and that makes me cross and a little bit itchy.

For one thing, you'll already know if you're into the whole SingStar experience. A great steaming wodge of readers have probably already skimmed past this link, scoffing about "real games" as they went. Even more will have simply checked out the track listing, totted up the songs they like, and made their purchase decision without once thinking about how that makes me feel.

Sniff.

'Singstar '90s' Screenshot 1

Please, Hammer, don't hurt 'em. No, seriously. Just back off. Remember the restraining order.

So, what are we left with? A rather curious collection, that's what. The most obvious hurdle is that there's really no such thing as "90s music". It was a self-conscious decade mostly devoid of any unique identity, with only the disco-evolved rave and the dour t-shirt and jeans uniform of grunge as its lasting offshoots. Needless to say, neither rave nor grunge appears on this disc. Instead we have 30 tracks which were all released between 1990 and 1999, but have precious little else in common. Compared to the thematic focus of SingStar 80s, where Run DMC could rub shoulders with Kate Bush and Culture Club and still feel stylistically coherent, this is very much a grab bag of tunes aimed at serving the blandest of masters - "something for everyone".

Stage school divas are catered for with defiant tonsil-tuggers like Zombie by Cranberries, Natalie Imbruglia's Torn and Stay by bespectacled cutie Lisa Loeb. Shrieking Lambrini girls can slosh their booze to kitsch karaoke classics by Aqua, Divinyls, Technotronic, B-52s or the Spice Girls, while similarly inclined blokes can raise ironic eyebrows while belting out Achy Breaky Heart, New Kids on the Block's Step by Step or that Four Weddings song by Wet Wet Wet. Even grouchy indie kids can be enticed to the mic with Student Union disco stalwarts from Radiohead, The Cure, Nick Cave and REM.

'Singstar '90s' Screenshot 2

It's funny, see, because it's tacky and rubbish. And that's, like, ironic. And stuff. Yeah.

Hmm. Nick Cave and New Kids on the Block. Try lumping them together under a generic 90s nostalgia banner. It just...doesn't...fit.

For maximum comedy value, there's the obligatory sprinkling of rap tracks. Most will automatically gravitate towards MC Hammer's U Can't Touch This, if only to drunkenly replicate his "lobster in my knickers" dancing, though there must surely be bonus points for anyone who fires up Sir Mix-A-Lot's ode to enormous arses, Baby Got Back, during a family get together. Ironically, the most tongue-twisting rap track on offer comes in the form of One Week, by quirky white alt-rockers Barenaked Ladies. With its densely packed verses and off-kilter rhythm, it is to SingStar 90s what Hangar 18 is to Guitar Hero - an absolute bastard. Also lying in wait to trip up over-confident minstrels is Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies, all throaty hummed chorus and peculiar rumbling intonations.

But then there's the filler. Who's really been waiting for the chance to sing along with forgotten guitar janglers like Savage Garden or Gin Blossoms? Or the bloody Spin Doctors and the intensely irritating Two Princes? Or Roachford? So while there's probably a handful of tracks here to appeal to most, the whole feels disjointed and rather charmless.

'Singstar '90s' Screenshot 3

The first time in two decades that the word 'cool' has appeared in close proximity to Marti Pellow.

I'm sure there's a scientifically calculated reason why they've opted for this particular decade - probably something to do with demographics and the average age of SingStar owners - but that still makes this a disc that you might throw on for a couple of tracks before switching back to something more consistently fun. This is, after all, a social game and I've certainly never been to a party where the mindless plastic pop of Barbie Girl segues into the buzz-killing melancholy of Everybody Hurts.

I'm oh-so-very aware that I'm probably just out of touch with what Da Kidz are down with but, from a pure entertainment point of view, there would seem to be richer untapped musical pastures if you take the opposite direction from SingStar 80s, and go for a full-on glam rock SingStar 70s. After all, even today's pesky youngsters must surely enjoy a good ol' stomp to Slade, or Queen, or T-Rex. This, by comparison, feels like a hastily put together stop gap before the series goes PS3.

6 / 10

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About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (45) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Dizzy #1 5 years ago

    Hehe.. 1 user wants this game!

    Busted!! ;)

  • Ignatius_Cheese #2 5 years ago

    And for that reason alone, I will add this! :oD

  • jaluuk #3 5 years ago

    I was with your thoughts right up until you called Two Princes irritating.

    You goober.

  • lennon #4 5 years ago

    "So, what are we left with? A rather curious collection, that's what. The most obvious hurdle is that there's really no such thing as "90s music" It was a self-conscious decade mostly devoid of any unique identity, with only the disco-evolved rave and the dour t-shirt and jeans uniform of grunge as its lasting offshoots.

    For info I stopped reading there.
    Edited by 1 at 02/08/07 @ 11:43

  • MGG #5 5 years ago

    This has far and away the best track listing of any Singstar, imo, of course. Hardly a dud track there - but it all depends on your age.

    And no, 70's glam rock is not "a great option" nor a "good direction to go in". Its dire, apart from about 5 tracks that are all played to death every year anyway.

  • krudster #6 5 years ago

    I'm with Dan. Two Princes makes me want to spoon my eyes out and replace them with hot toffee apples.

  • sickpuppysoftware #7 5 years ago

    He's right, two princes is as irritating as having a family of woodlouse living under your foreskin.

    I don't think it was helped by a video that made you want to punch their stupid faces in within 5 seconds.

    I'm even clenching my fists as I type this.

    edit - anger based spelling
    Edited by 1 at 02/08/07 @ 11:49

  • Zomoniac #8 5 years ago

    Hangar 18 was easy compared to Institutionalized, which is definitely the ultra-bitch in GH2.

  • skillian #9 5 years ago

    And no, 70's glam rock is not "a great option" nor a "good direction to go in". Its dire, apart from about 5 tracks that are all played to death every year anyway.

    Indeed. The reviewer's dismissing of all 90s music, while wishing wistfully for some 70s Glam Rock is a little embarrassing.

    These Guitar Hero/Singstar reviews read more like record reviews and, no offence, geeky games journalists are the last people you'd want to be reviewing music :p

    Edited by 1 at 02/08/07 @ 11:48

  • jaluuk #10 5 years ago

    Now granted I can't remember the video, but I got back into the song when some car company used it. Nice happy track, woss the problem with it?!

  • QPRHOOPS81 #11 5 years ago

    there were actually some good songs in the 90's, shame few if any made it on the disk.

  • Eighthours #12 5 years ago

    This is interesting, as when I saw the track list I immediately thought that it was by far the best all-rounder that Singstar has offered... by a country mile.

  • DanWhitehead #13 5 years ago

    Indeed. The reviewer's dismissing of all 90s music, while wishing wistfully for some 70s Glam Rock is a little embarrassing.

    Not dismissing all 90s music at all - it was the decade of my hedonistic youth. What I'm talking about is thematic coherence. "90s music" just isn't a genre that works as well as 80s or 70s, simply because those were decades with big, distinct pop culture movements that are still identifiable today. You only need to hear that digital "per-koosh" drum sound to know an 80s track. Most of the tracks on SingStar 90s could have been released last week.
    Edited by 1 at 02/08/07 @ 11:54

  • asphaltcowboy #14 5 years ago

    Oh dear, dissing the Spin Doctors? :(

  • geepersd #15 5 years ago

    "I've certainly never been to a party where the mindless plastic pop of Barbie Girl segues into the buzz-killing melancholy of Everybody Hurts."

    hmmm... that's pretty much the party at was at the other week.

    anyway, never really got the singstar thing due to sheer paranoia of public singing, but I'm digging on quite a few of these tunes (wet wet wet aside) - guess it helps that the tracks are soundtracks to school through to Uni I suppose

  • skillian #16 5 years ago

    What I'm talking about is thematic coherence. "90s music" just isn't a genre that works as well as 80s or 70s, simply because those were decades with big, distinct pop culture movements that are still identifiable today.

    Actually yes, you're right. the 90s was the beginning of a huge split of musical styles that's still evident today.

    It might help sales though even if it has less of a "theme" - if you don't like Glam Rock you're not gonna buy a 70s compilation but here you're more likely to find a few tracks to float your boat...

  • afghan_jones #17 5 years ago

    Not sure why being 'thematically challenged' is such an issue. While singstar 80s may be more coherent, on the average singstar evening round my way, the discs get swapped around every five minutes, jumping from Rocks to Legends to 80s etc.

    No one has ever stood up halfway through to complain that we just heard Rocket man and are now sining Vanilla Ice which has no relevance to the previous song. Also, go to a real karaoke night and see how many people pick songs specifically because they segue nicely into the previous track.

    As far as i'm concerned, this track listing is one of the best so far. But as said before, I guess its down to being in the right age bracket to enjoy this.

  • skillian #18 5 years ago

    Oh, and what's the Nick Cave song?

    If it's "Where the Wild Roses Grow", I can imagine that being pretty funny watching people trying to match the attitude...

    Good for the two-player team-up though.

    edit: actually, I've just realised that song would sum up the compilation perfectly. Nick Cave and Kylie - couldn't be more different, but the song worked really well (IMHO) and proved the 90s wasn't just about sticking to your genre, but the resurgence and diversification of pop music.
    Edited by 2 at 02/08/07 @ 12:13

  • kincaide #19 5 years ago

    Baby Spice has still got it

  • afghan_jones #20 5 years ago

    "Baby Spice has still got it"

    Not yet, she hasnt. But dont worry, I'll give it to her...

  • ukslim #21 5 years ago

    Oh but oh but oh.

    Two points.

    First, although it's a music compilation on a games site, the criteria are different. For the songs you choose to listen to are different from songs you'll enjoy singing. The best mix tape you could compile, would be a useless Singstar set, and vice versa. I don't want to listen to Dido, but White Flag makes a surprisingly fun song to sing.

    Next: "something for everyone" is EXACTLY what Singstar should be. If you've got a house full of drunk party guests, their taste in music will vary. If everyone can find one or two songs they know and like, that's perfect.

  • afghan_jones #22 5 years ago

    ukslim speaky truthy.

    I wouldnt put hardly any of these song on me ipod but they are nearly all karaoke belters.

  • andromeda #23 5 years ago

    excellent

    sounds like the plague of these annoying rhythm action titles is coming to an end..woohoo..

    lets get back to serious games now can we please...

    oh and Wii FTL as well


  • afghan_jones #24 5 years ago

    "sounds like the plague of these annoying rhythm action titles is coming to an end..woohoo..

    lets get back to serious games now can we please...

    oh and Wii FTL as well"

    Yes, lets wheel out the old Console Wars and get busy with LOLLing so hard we almost ROFL. You tubby little tit-witch.

  • Darren #25 5 years ago

    Was this a review of the game or a critique of 90s music because I couldn't see much info about the game at all... I've not played Singstar before... do you just sing along to it or something? Is there actually any aim to the game or is it just a video equivalent of a karoake machine?

  • AlpTighen #26 5 years ago

    Ironically, the most tongue-twisting rap track on offer comes in the form of One Week, by quirky white alt-rockers Barenaked Ladies.

    Ironically, "One Week" is a skiffle song from quirky "alternative" country & western band the Barenaked Ladies.

  • AlvySinger #27 5 years ago

    'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and Pearl Jam's 'Alive' - they're not included because?

    Not my cup of tea but some Blur or Oasis would probably make sense too. 'Common People' by Pulp, there's another obvious choice.

    Seems to me like they've missed out on the best the '90s had to offer in favour of one hit wonders (I'm looking at you Lisa Loeb) and, for the love of God, Roachford.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #28 5 years ago

    To me, '90s music was dominated by the Britpop phenomenon. Out of that whole years-long musical movement, all we have on any Singstar is the irritatingly rap-meter dominated Parklife (unless you count Lovefool, and that's not really Britpop because of the Swedishness).

    Still, apart from my disappointment that we've missed the prime opportunity to bolster or Singstar libraries with Wonderwall, Alright, Boys and Girls or Common People, I'm looking forward to this.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #29 5 years ago

    Holy shit, if this is for real I want this one!

    [link url=http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/SingStar_Amped
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/SingStar_Am...[/link]

    Artist Song Title
    Alice in Chains "Would?"
    Audioslave "Cochise"
    Blink-182 "I Miss You"
    Blue Öyster Cult "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
    Boston "More Than a Feeling"
    Cheap Trick "I Want You to Want Me"
    David Bowie "Changes"
    Fall Out Boy "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race"
    Foo Fighters "Best of You"
    Free "Alright Now"
    Iggy Pop "Real Wild Child (Wild One)"
    Judas Priest "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"
    The Killers "When You Were Young"
    Motörhead "Ace of Spades"
    Nickelback "Savin' Me"
    Nirvana "Come As You Are"
    O.A.R. "Love and Memories"
    Pearl Jam "Alive"
    Poison "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
    Queens of the Stone Age "Go with the Flow"
    Quiet Riot "Cum on Feel the Noize"
    Radiohead "Creep"
    Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
    Steppenwolf "Born to Be Wild"
    Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
    Sublime "Santeria"
    Talking Heads "Burning Down the House"
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Gold Lion"
    Yes "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
    ZZ Top "Gimme All Your Lovin'"

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #30 5 years ago

    I am an idiot and missed the other news story.

    I still prefer amped though. I wonder how Singstar would react to swapping to a foreign disc?

  • oreillymj #31 5 years ago

    Did I miss the track listing? Half the review is complete waffle and then there's no track listing. Okay, I know a lot of the tracks get a mention, but shouldn't the editor have caught this.

  • oreillymj #32 5 years ago

    @afghan_jones
    "Baby Spice has still got it"

    Too late
    http://ne ws.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment...

  • Mr_Bogus #33 5 years ago

    Is that J Allard in the Barbie World vid?

  • siro #34 5 years ago

    This is so much the best Singstar ever. Will motivate even me to sing.

  • Daikon #35 5 years ago

    Boy I feel old all of a sudden.

  • Kazzahdrane #36 5 years ago

    As Barenaked Ladies are my favourite band I'm really interested in this, but would never have people round to play it. Thankfully I have some friends who often get Singstar out at their parties and so will hopefully have a chance to tongue-twist my way through One Week (it's not that hard really).

  • Lebowski #37 5 years ago

    I tried to have a go on this in GAME, but the bloke with the mic said "you can't touch this."

  • WJF #38 5 years ago

    They're probably saving the Brit-pop ones for a SUPER SPECIAL BRIT POP SINGSTAR. With All Your Favourite Tracks.

    That you already have on CD, played to death in the mid-90s and now skip past them when they appear on shuffle mode.

  • konniehuqfan #39 5 years ago

    i love the 90s!! me is buying!

  • thefilthandthefury #40 5 years ago

    More than half of these songs are trash. They hardly scream "1990s" at you. What a weird choice of songs.

  • QotSAfan #41 5 years ago

    Queens of the Stone Age "Go with the Flow" should be Queens of the Stone Age "Feel Good Hit Of The Summer". Best Queens song to sing, ever.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #42 5 years ago

    "Nicotine, Valium, Vicadin, Marajuana, Ecstacy and Alcohol?"

    I think that has about as much chance of appearing on Singstar as that 'Use my ******* for a ****' song that's doing the rounds these days.
    Edited by 1 at 03/08/07 @ 10:09

  • Rodafowa #43 5 years ago

    The Gin Blossoms' first album was bloody awesome. Great to sing along too, as well. I assume the track on here is Hey Jealousy?

  • kangarootoo #44 5 years ago

    I have to say, after reading the full track list, I think the tracks are very well chosen. Pretty much all of them are perfect representations of the 90s. I'd have to think whether I would agree with those on here saying its the best selection yet, but I'm pressed to think of another sku that I preferred.

    I guess with all SingStar games now, anyone who is interested already knows the deal, so the track list is really all there is. On that basis, if any game doesn't really warrant a review OR a score, SingStar is it.

    You could probably replace the review with.

    "Nothing tech wise has changed, and here is the track list. Make your own mind up on the score."

    Mentalist(air)

    What was the other news story? Is Amped a non-UK release? I was going to say that Ace of Spades and Go With the Flow have already been on previous SongStar discs in the UK, so it seems unlikely they would turn up again.

  • Les #45 5 years ago

    "On that basis, if any game doesn't really warrant a review OR a score, SingStar is it."

    Very true. And certainly not on a hardcore gamer site like EG. Judging these kind of expansion packs with the same criteria as regular games makes no sense at all. Better invest those resources in some more import reviews.