10 Songs About Games

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I don't mind a challenge. It happens. So, I was challenged on Twitter to write a list of songs about computer games. After some debate, we decided it would be about games in general that can be played inside, but no gambling.

What a simple introduction! But in these days of lockdowns and waiting for more lockdowns, playing games has become par for the course, so it probably is not so bad to have a playlist of songs about games. If nothing else, it can at least get people talking about the games they used to play.


So, some rules. First, one song per artist, or else there would be songs by 'Weird Al' Yankovic and Buckner & Garcia filling most of the slots. Second, as mentioned, indoor games with no gambling involved. Third, an obvious one, I have to like the song, at least a little. Fourth, no songs that are theme songs to computer games. And finally, no songs about mind games or games between lovers – these are about actual games.

Easy? Cool! Ten songs about games! Let's go! Woo!
'Simon Says' by 1910 Fruitgum Co (1967)

The song is literally a musical version of the old game "Simon Says". It is really that simple. And it is catchy as all-out. What gets me about the song, though, is that it was released and charted in 1967, when music was experimental and getting more complex. Odd. Oh, and as a side-note, I have a copy of this track by Simon Townsend, a name that will mean nothing to anyone not of a certain age and who didn't grow up in Australia …
'Pinball Wizard' by The Who (1969)

From the Who's classic rock opera Tommy, this has become the best-known track from that album. A "deaf, dumb, blind boy" who uses pinball to regain his senses. Look, the story of Tommy is… interesting. I like the album and like the film version, but it still makes little sense. However, nothing can take away from this song and that incredible guitar-playing.
'Computer Games' by Mi-Sex (1979)

This is a song about the new fad of computer games, done by a New Zealand band. It even has that sound of one of those old arcade games you used to feed twenty-cent pieces into while blippy-boopy things filled the screen. I heard this song when it came out and I was intrigued by the sounds. This pre-dated New Wave… and possibly set a bit of a template for some artists to come. Does not matter – great track.
'Space Invaders' by Player One (1979)

If you were not around in the late 70s, early 80s, you can have no idea how much of a culture shift the game Space Invaders actually was. Places that had been filled with pinball machines and more analogue games were suddenly filled with upright and desk-top electronic games. There would be crowds of people just watching other people play them. So, it only seemed logical, I guess for a song to come out about this new bit of pop culture ephemera. And this was it. It tells the story of the game and it is just a bit of fun. Interesting fact – this was an Australian band.
'Pac-Man Fever' by Buckner & Garcia (1982)

Buckner & Garcia released this single to latch onto the popularity of the biggest game of the early 80s – Pac Man! I had that stupidly addictive game on the Commodore 64 at some point in time. I am not sure if this meant to be a comedy song, a novelty song or an attempt at a serious song… but when they released their album, I knew it wasn't the last one. The album is filled with odes to more computer games. None are as good as this one, though.
'Pac-Man' by 'Weird Al' Yankovic (1982 – released 2017)

This early Weird Al song was delayed being released for 35 years because of rights issues with The Beatles. It finally came out in his mammoth Squeeze Box collection. I don't know the ins and outs, but… at least it was released. It does sound like early Weird Al, though (I say as someone who owns all of his albums). This parody of 'Taxman' about the game Pac-Man is quite decent, really.
'Solitaire' by Laura Branigan (1983)

Solitaire, that card game played by lonely people, bored people, or people at work on their computers, hoping their boss never sees them. And it is the perfect metaphor for loneliness, as sung by Laura Branigan, one of my favourite singers ever. She makes it seem so heart-breaking to be playing this game. I so love her voice.
'Frogger' by Bad Religion (1991)

Bad Religion is a band that I didn't mind back in the day (and Fake Names is pretty good), but a lot of their stuff I felt was just there. Having said that, I remember this track because (a) it came out a long time after the game, and (b) it used the game as a metaphor for going through life. Quite interesting lyrically, and the song isn't bad either. And, yes, it is really that short.
'Whatever Happened To Pong? by Frank Black (1994)

Frank Black is probably better known as Black Francis of The Pixies , but this is the name he uses when releasing his solo material. Pong is the first computer game I remember… and I still own it and it still works. Tennis, squash, something else. Weird game. And here Black sings about it. The song is quite heavy for what it is, and, yes, I really don't mind it, especially when that harmonica kicks in. And, again, yes, it really is that short as well.
' My Console' by Eiffel 65 (1999)

A song about a home gaming console, name-dropping a heap of games. It's techno-pop, but I don't mind it. I certainly prefer it to their big hit 'Blue' (which isn't terrible, either). This was never a big hit outside of Europe, and that surprises me; I would have thought kids would have latched onto this as a theme song. Oh well. Fine song.
So, ten songs about games, focusing on computer games. It's a weird little sub-genre of music, but it is certainly one that is there. Like I have said before, it is amazing how many topics are used across songs. This was an interesting deep dive into my music collection.
Hope you enjoyed it!


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