Ancient and revered Country (and possibly Western) music star Charlie Daniels ain't impressed by Guitar Hero III. Nosiree Bob. Specifically, he is "disgusted" by what he considers a perversion of his song, The Devil Went Down To Georgia.
SPOnG's going to let him explain:
So, how did this travesty come to pass? Daniels tells us, "Unfortunately I lost the publishing rights on the song many years ago in a settlement with a former partner and the license to Guitar Hero was granted by the company who now owns the publishing.
"I would never grant permission for some company to create a video game version of a song I wrote in which the devil wins a contest and I'm sorely disappointed with the company who owns the copyright for not policing the situation. As it is they have allowed these people to violate the very essence of the song."
SPOnG can't help but feel that Daniels ought to have been a bit upset with Tenacious D's music video spoof of the song, too. With Dave Grohl playing the devil clearly we were meant to assume that, video evidence aside, the devil won the fiddle off.
Frankly, the above is not the part of Daniels' rant that terrifies SPOnG. We've all seen Manhunt take a public beating for being potentially damaging to young minds, but Daniels thinks... Well, read it:
Yup, now Guitar Hero is polluting the minds of the world's children. Now, if you'll excuse us, SPOnG's just heading down to GameStation to protest the sale of Pac-Man branded merchandise to minors...
(We're also trying to get Steve Earle to contribute tunes to Medal of Honor).
†Source: Charliedaniels.com
SPOnG's going to let him explain:
"The song, "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," which I wrote, is supposed to be a lighthearted novelty about a fiddling contest between a country boy and the devil and the devil always loses.
"That is not the case with the Guitar Hero version which comes complete with a horned, guitar-playing devil who battles the player and very often wins.
"I want any of you parents out there whose children have this game to know that I did not grant these people my permission to pervert my song and am disgusted with the result."†
"That is not the case with the Guitar Hero version which comes complete with a horned, guitar-playing devil who battles the player and very often wins.
"I want any of you parents out there whose children have this game to know that I did not grant these people my permission to pervert my song and am disgusted with the result."†
So, how did this travesty come to pass? Daniels tells us, "Unfortunately I lost the publishing rights on the song many years ago in a settlement with a former partner and the license to Guitar Hero was granted by the company who now owns the publishing.
"I would never grant permission for some company to create a video game version of a song I wrote in which the devil wins a contest and I'm sorely disappointed with the company who owns the copyright for not policing the situation. As it is they have allowed these people to violate the very essence of the song."
SPOnG can't help but feel that Daniels ought to have been a bit upset with Tenacious D's music video spoof of the song, too. With Dave Grohl playing the devil clearly we were meant to assume that, video evidence aside, the devil won the fiddle off.
Frankly, the above is not the part of Daniels' rant that terrifies SPOnG. We've all seen Manhunt take a public beating for being potentially damaging to young minds, but Daniels thinks... Well, read it:
"To tell you the truth the whole thing bothered me and struck me as something that is not the healthiest thing in the world for young, impressionable minds to be exposed to...
"This game looks innocent enough but if you have a child who is playing it, take the time to sit with him or her while they're playing along and take a serious look at the images on the screen.
"You may be surprised at the world they're being exposed to."
"This game looks innocent enough but if you have a child who is playing it, take the time to sit with him or her while they're playing along and take a serious look at the images on the screen.
"You may be surprised at the world they're being exposed to."
Yup, now Guitar Hero is polluting the minds of the world's children. Now, if you'll excuse us, SPOnG's just heading down to GameStation to protest the sale of Pac-Man branded merchandise to minors...
(We're also trying to get Steve Earle to contribute tunes to Medal of Honor).
†Source: Charliedaniels.com
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Comments
jj 9 Apr 2008 12:09
1/12
"Unfortunately I lost the publishing rights on the song many years ago in a settlement with a former partner" - perhaps she was the devil??- she sure f**ked him.
I'm confused, it's teaching kids to keep practicing so they can beat the devil, what would be the point if you always won? it's not even the devil it's an animated character in a game...this guy is a moron.
I'm confused, it's teaching kids to keep practicing so they can beat the devil, what would be the point if you always won? it's not even the devil it's an animated character in a game...this guy is a moron.
PreciousRoi 9 Apr 2008 12:45
2/12
meh, hes prolly under pressure from his peers (he hangs out with a Southern, Christian crowd) to denounce this, it means nothing, affects nothing, so he can say whatever he wants (wether he really believes it or not)...back when he was the "Uneasy Rider" he would have thought it was pretty cool, man...in addition, hes freaking old, some people get all funny when they're old.
He's a good 'ol boy, with a good heart, I bet I could have a sit down with him and explain things and he'd see that its not such a big deal, if he ever really did in the first place. Remember, he got screwed out of the control of his own music...that probably both stings and makes him less sympathetic to someone who is using something he created, but which is outside of his control.
Is the lesson we want kids to learn that you can challenge the devil anytime you want because he always loses? I think I could get him to see that it isn't, and that he is making too much of a, in his own words, "lighthearted song about a..." guitar hero.
He's a good 'ol boy, with a good heart, I bet I could have a sit down with him and explain things and he'd see that its not such a big deal, if he ever really did in the first place. Remember, he got screwed out of the control of his own music...that probably both stings and makes him less sympathetic to someone who is using something he created, but which is outside of his control.
Is the lesson we want kids to learn that you can challenge the devil anytime you want because he always loses? I think I could get him to see that it isn't, and that he is making too much of a, in his own words, "lighthearted song about a..." guitar hero.
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TimSpong 9 Apr 2008 13:21
3/12
PreciousRoi wrote:
He's a good 'ol boy, with a good heart...
Send Willy Nelson, the Dixie Chicks and Steve Earle around to his good ol' place and teach him a good ol' lesson. Devil came down to Georgia, my ass. Devil probably made it as far as Raleigh (NC) and thought, "Nah, fnck this".
I bet Hank King Williams would have enjoyed GHIII.
Cheers
Tim
PreciousRoi 9 Apr 2008 13:32
4/12
Why would Raleigh discourage him, thats Flavor Country, that is. The Devil's own private herb garden, isn't it?
Screw the Dixie Chickens...I'd send Waylon Jennings, and Willie's bus.
Screw the Dixie Chickens...I'd send Waylon Jennings, and Willie's bus.
Spinface 9 Apr 2008 14:17
5/12
If you're old enough to think Guitar Hero's bad for kids, you're probably too old to be blogging.
Ban old people from the Internet! (No offence, Tim).
Ban old people from the Internet! (No offence, Tim).
TimSpong 9 Apr 2008 14:22
6/12
Spinface wrote:
Ban old people from the Internet! (No offence, Tim).
Well, Mark, that's very nice of you to say. It's good to know that you can remain courteous to your elders and betters even on this, your last day at work.
Cheers
Tim
PreciousRoi 9 Apr 2008 20:33
7/12
Wow, I attempted to register for Charlie's forum, to respond to this, only to find that it is an invite-only forum, though anyone can view it. As a consequence, is it populated almost exclusively by right-wing conservative Christians (only the Christian bit bothers me, I don't think they'd take kindly to Pastafarianism), who attack mercilessly any of their own who display any deviant traits. In one particularly disgusting example, a childless woman was attacked for questioning how McDonald's promotes a gay lifestyle, accused of being a gay man, and ridiculed for wanting children. So yeah, while it might be possible to talk to Mr. Daniels face to face, getting though the mass of intolerance he has surrounded himself with isn't worth the effort. In any event, my research supports my theory that he is, in American Political parlance, "playing to his base", as well as expressing no small degree of bitterness over his loss of control over his music.
Had I the opportunity, or desire to provide my bona fides, proving that while I am a long-haired hippie-type, I have never been a pinko fag, nor have I ever displayed a Communist flag inside of my garage, I would have pointed out that the game and his song could both be said to be lighthearted, but clothed in darkness...the bit where the devil plays is about as black and dark as country ever gets...as well, I would have contrasted the lesson learned from both...in the song, and in Charlie's mind, the Devil should always lose...in the game the Devil is a tough sumbitch, and if you aren't good he's gonna beat the crap out of you...Assuming that there is a Dark Lord of Hell, which would more accurately reflect reality? Charlie's devil would end up a Santa Claus, handing out golden fiddles to every overconfident county boy blasphemous enough to challenge him...course he is going to hell eventually (sin of pride), so I guess the lesson is the devil ALWAYS wins. At least the Guitar Hero devil has some standards...
Had I the opportunity, or desire to provide my bona fides, proving that while I am a long-haired hippie-type, I have never been a pinko fag, nor have I ever displayed a Communist flag inside of my garage, I would have pointed out that the game and his song could both be said to be lighthearted, but clothed in darkness...the bit where the devil plays is about as black and dark as country ever gets...as well, I would have contrasted the lesson learned from both...in the song, and in Charlie's mind, the Devil should always lose...in the game the Devil is a tough sumbitch, and if you aren't good he's gonna beat the crap out of you...Assuming that there is a Dark Lord of Hell, which would more accurately reflect reality? Charlie's devil would end up a Santa Claus, handing out golden fiddles to every overconfident county boy blasphemous enough to challenge him...course he is going to hell eventually (sin of pride), so I guess the lesson is the devil ALWAYS wins. At least the Guitar Hero devil has some standards...
TimSpong 10 Apr 2008 00:05
8/12
PreciousRoi wrote:
Wow, I attempted to register for Charlie's forum
As I said, the Chicks and Earle. Send them in.
Tra
Tim
PreciousRoi 10 Apr 2008 00:57
9/12
And I said I'd send Waylon Jennings...
The Chicks I would send into a dark alley to meet a few female Marines.
I see them as basically cowards who were pandering to their audience and didn't expect anyone in the States to be paying attention, had they made the same comments in Texas (and lived to tell the tale) I could respect that, but they chose to spout off somewhere they thought they were "safe". Plus I hate their music.
Steve Earle...never heard of him, I don't follow the country music scene, but I see from wikipedia he's got Michael Moore's endorsement, I hate him already. If he brings that fat f**k along he can go in the alley as well, but I'm gonna have to leave the female Marines out of this one, replaced with a few Claymores...
Rather than sending in people who are already identified as anti-war activists (which has nothing to do with this issue), I'd send a fellow conservative, or at least someone ostensibly neutral to try and talk sense into him.
I'd send Ted Nugent, but he probably despises GH as well, for different reasons...playing GH takes away from time you could use to learn how to play a real guitar, have sex, or kill small furry creatures...
The Chicks I would send into a dark alley to meet a few female Marines.
I see them as basically cowards who were pandering to their audience and didn't expect anyone in the States to be paying attention, had they made the same comments in Texas (and lived to tell the tale) I could respect that, but they chose to spout off somewhere they thought they were "safe". Plus I hate their music.
Steve Earle...never heard of him, I don't follow the country music scene, but I see from wikipedia he's got Michael Moore's endorsement, I hate him already. If he brings that fat f**k along he can go in the alley as well, but I'm gonna have to leave the female Marines out of this one, replaced with a few Claymores...
Rather than sending in people who are already identified as anti-war activists (which has nothing to do with this issue), I'd send a fellow conservative, or at least someone ostensibly neutral to try and talk sense into him.
I'd send Ted Nugent, but he probably despises GH as well, for different reasons...playing GH takes away from time you could use to learn how to play a real guitar, have sex, or kill small furry creatures...
config 10 Apr 2008 13:46
10/12
Somebody needs to sip from his own cup of lightheartedness
deleted 10 Apr 2008 16:00
11/12
Maybe GH3 should of used God instead of the Devil and beating God would undo the universe as we all know he is Infallable, would this make them happy?
Think family Guy God Playing GH:3 Stating How he F**King Rocks then loses to a 8 year old GH Genius..
Think family Guy God Playing GH:3 Stating How he F**King Rocks then loses to a 8 year old GH Genius..
PreciousRoi 10 Apr 2008 16:34
12/12
Looks like the US Marines have a rap-style beef with the Chickenheads...
I find his honest amusement at their destruction of their own careers, accompained by video footage of them in apparent anguish...delicious.
I find his honest amusement at their destruction of their own careers, accompained by video footage of them in apparent anguish...delicious.