Why the lack of popular songs?

tgreyz_ · Trick Member Joined: 27 Sep 2004

I'm relatively new to ddr and definitely not an expert, but I was wondering why most of the songs aren't anything recognizeable. I play on the xbox and I've only heard one of the songs before. I'm sure not everyone would agree but I think if they added some popular songs with a good beat like Justin Timberlake "Like I Love You" or Britney "The Hook Up" the game would gain even more popularity than it already has. Is it because of licensing issues that they don't want to pay for?

ZealousDemon · Trick Member Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK

DDR is a distinctly Japanese game, so most of its songs will be japanese. I'm also sure that the RIAA would make it expensive as crap to use current/popular songs for DDR.

Also, I'd like to avoid Britney and Justin when all possible.

Dancing Dan · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:01 am Post subject:

Welcome newb

If u notice from many of the US games, they often times will use a different artist to sing the song or remix it. For example Lets Groove is an awesome remix of the original. But its by a different group. This way konami saves money and can still have songs people recognize. And to agree with demon, id really be shocked to see "Toxic" or "Senorita"......

theighthstepper · Basic Member Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Location: Utah

japanese songs are better anyways. American songs suck on ddr in my opinion. WE WILL ROCK YOU???
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Pantera · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:54 am Post subject:

I'd bet that a greater percent of the DDR demographic would not want several tracks by Britney on their next mix. I am one of them.

If you ask me, some (if not a lot) of DDR's appeal to its players is it's relative distance from mainstream musical influence, and most people, including myself, would prefer it stay that way. As soon as they start throwing in gobs teenage pop, I bow out of DDR.
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tgreyz_ · Trick Member Joined: 27 Sep 2004

I know that some would be opposed to popular songs and that it would cost way more money. But it would be cool if you could make up your own steps to music already on your xbox...they should definitely make that an option!

Reenee · Trick Member Joined: 21 Nov 2003

theighthstepper · Basic Member Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Location: Utah

that is why i like DDR because they are unpopular songs, the songs are sweet especially sakura.
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Pantera · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 1:32 pm Post subject:

Maxx 999 · Trick Member Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV

well, there are songs that were popular but not really "heard'' alot. these were and are underground. songs like "ordinary world" and "sandstorm" were popular but not to the WHOLE public. and actually, it would be interesting to see somethiong like justin trying to sing to Max 300. not a ddr song tho. more like "DDR Bloopers"
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SetsunaKira7 · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:22 pm Post subject:

'cuz america sux

jklol, American kix, but all the american songs on ddr sound really bad, i think the only one i actually like is saints go marching in........WHAT?
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decklin · Trick Member Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Location: Oneonta, NY

~Reign~ · Trick Member Joined: 16 May 2002 Location: Berkeley, CA

New York City Boy is on Beatmania IIDX 4th Style.

There's one thing most of you are forgetting here. It's not what "we" want, it's what "they" want. We don't have much say in what goes into the domestic DDR games, and if we did, it would REALLY suck. Since when did people know what they want?
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ZealousDemon · Trick Member Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK

not dryad · Trick Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

If you want to go dance to popular songs, go to a club.
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rampage · Administrator Joined: 24 Jan 2002 Location: Redmond, WA

rampage · Administrator Joined: 24 Jan 2002 Location: Redmond, WA

To answer the question, I believe it's mostly been covered in depth, but it costs a lot of money for Konami to license popular tracks for use in their games. This is part of the reason that all of the songs in Karaoke Revolution are covers (albiet extremely meticulous covers). When you perform a cover of a song, that's covered under Fair Use laws, and as long as you give proper credit, you're pretty much in the clear.

Another thing to consider is a reason that the Japanese versions of DDR have so many more popular/recognized songs (at least in Japan) is because different areas have different licensing rules. It's much cheaper to license songs for use in Japan than it is in the United States.

Another note, the licensed songs on Dancing Stage mostly over 20 years old, which would render them much cheaper than, say, putting In Da Club on DDREX.

Decklin pretty much has the specifics covered, though.

Onigumo · Trick Member Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Location: Pennsylvania

Id rather listen to The Legend of Max or PARANOiA MAX than some crap pop like justin timberlake and britney spears anyday. trust me, once you get more into the game you probably will like the ko's and the techno more.
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Daniel · Trick Member Joined: 29 Aug 2002 Location: Sonoma, CA

stardf29 · Trick Member Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Location: Jet World!

I think that licensing costs is an issue, but there's another factor too. Did you ever consider how hard the artists of those "unrecognized" songs worked on them? Artists like Naoki, dj TAKA, TaQ, and others worked hard to make songs that, though they wouldn't gain immediate popularity, are musical masterpieces designed to make you really appreciate music. Konami wants to keep plenty of such songs to respect the intentions of the artists who wrote them.

Just a theory.
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