Singstar R 'n' B

6.0
Average

Gameplay	6.0	"R&B limps into the Singstar library."
Graphics	6.0
Sound	8.0
Value	5.0

By Lucy O'Brien

I used to believe that R&B stood for ‘rhythm and blues’, a mixture of jazz and blues pioneered by black musicians in the 1950s. This, I have recently found out, is a dated definition. Nobody says ‘rhythm and blues’ anymore. It is now R&B (or R ‘n’ B if you will, but I won’t), a contemporary mishmash of soul, pop and hip hop. The only real departure from hip hop, apparently, is that lyrics in an R&B song are generally sung rather than rapped.

This was an interesting revelation, and came about as I browsed the track listing for the latest Singstar title. Expecting Ray Charles or Chuck Berry, I was instead greeted with Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’ and ‘Buttons’ by the Pussycat Dolls. It seems that Sony is as confused as I am to the true definition of R&B, because alongside these spectacular tracks are offerings from Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. I’m sure Ms Ross would be insulted to have her ‘Baby Love’ sandwiched in between Destiny’s Child’s ‘Bootilicious’ and ‘Summertime’ from DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. What gives, Sony? Do you need to visit Wikipedia too?

It’s probably unfair to nitpick a Singstar title in this way. Because, let’s be honest, those of us who play the game are far from music purists, belting out ballads blindly with a plastic microphone in one hand and your fifth glass of wine in the other. The game relies solely on the appeal of its track list, in whatever confused form it may take, because in terms of gameplay Sony seems adamant in sticking to the formula.

All one can really do at this stage is ask oneself, ‘would this game a party start?’

For Singstar R&B, the answer is no. R&B fits snugly in the ‘not fun ones’ category, and will probably find itself kicked under the couch alongside its mongrel bedfellows Rocks and Anthems (How dare you! Rocks is great! – Ed). It turns out R&B as a genre is simply not as fun to sing as classic rock or eighties throwbacks. There are a few charmers – you can’t go wrong with ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ and ‘Dancing In The Street’, but dear God, who the hell wants to sing the obscure ‘Yo (Excuse Me Miss)’ by Chris Brown and ‘Teardrops’ by Womack & Womack? Not this Singstar aficionado, that’s for sure.

It’s time that Sony mixes it up a bit. Karaoke on a USB microphone is still fundamentally fun, but the stuff they’re releasing on these later efforts is poor. God knows with the delay of Singstar on the Playstation 3 it’s time for a different game engine. What about an option that lets you battle your own crappy cover band against your mate’s up the charts? Or the support for two more mics, for quadruple the pain? Let’s hope to God the next disc has a little more care and consideration put into it, because I would hate R&B to be the final curtain on a series that has given me almost transcendent joy.

Here’s the tracklist, playas.

AMERIE – One Thing
AMY WINEHOUSE – Back To Black
ANASTACIA – I’m Outta Love
BEVERLEY KNIGHT – Come As You Are
BLACK EYED PEAS – Pump It
CHRIS BROWN – Yo (Excuse Me Miss)
CHRISTINA MILAN – AM to PM
CORINNE BAILEY RAE – I’d Like To
DESTINY’S CHILD – Bootilicious
DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES – Baby Love
DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE – Summertime
EDWIN STARR – War
EN VOGUE – My Lovin’
FOUR TOPS – I Can’t Help Myself
GWEN STEFANI – Hollaback Girl
INNER CITY – Good Life
JAMELIA – Thank You
JAMIROQUAI - Alright
LUTHER VANDROSS – Never Too Much
MARK RONSON FEAT. DANIEL MERRIWEATHER – Stop Me
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS – Dancing In The Street
MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERELL – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
OUTKAST – Idlewild Blue (Don’tchu Worry ‘Bout Me)
PUSSYCAT DOLLS – Buttons
RIHANNA – We Ride
SALT-N-PEPA – Push It
SUGABABES - Ugly
THE 411 – Dumb
WHITNEY HOUSTON – My Love Is Your Love
WOMACK & WOMACK - Teardrops

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