Melon Gear Solid with sadcappella

Posted on: June 20, 2008

When Flea Bussy of Grendel’s Children fame sent me this luscious Meandering Melon avatar…

Keep it in the family

I was instantly compelled to meander. The only problem was — and this isn’t so much a problem as a solution — that I was listening to Hideo Kojima speak about his masterworks, the Metal Gear Solid series. A quick video followed, dosed in some green-brown tinting similar to cinematics in those games (particularly the forest scenes in MGS3), and ‘twas then I made another observation:

Why do so many acapellas sound happy? From barbershop quartets to beatboxing (of a sort), I’ve nary heard a SAD-capella.

And thus, this joined the fray: me singing a mournful version of a triumphant tune and being a resolute failure at expressing this emotion. But Solid Snake — or Meandering Melon, in this case — didn’t give up, and neither can you.

11 Responses to “Melon Gear Solid with sadcappella”

  1. Melissa Yeuxdoux Says:
    June 20th, 2008 at 3:33 PM PDT

    Let's see… how about Todd Rundgren's "Pretending to Care," from his amazing album titled A Cappella? (No sarcasm intended; that's really the title, though he used a sampling keyboard with samples of his voice in places, e.g. the tour de force "Miracle in the Bazaar".) I'd also say The Bobs' tribute to painter Elwood Decker isn't happy as such, though it's not quite sad either.

  2. Bettina Tizzy Says:
    June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 PM PDT

    I hadn't seen that av! *screams with happiness* What a perfect summer treat! And on the eve of summer solstice, too.

    Torley, as I understand it, there are at least a couple of a cappella groups in SL. I know Anakin Gallacher was working on building that up in-world :D

  3. Alex Lapointe Says:
    June 20th, 2008 at 11:19 PM PDT

    On a watermelony note:

    Watermelon haikus!

    http://gardenpath.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/watermelon-haiku/

    XD!

  4. AlexUK Homewood Says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 3:25 PM PDT

    Heh, what a superb avatar! Where's that you're meandering around though? Looks a really pretty sim.

  5. Gigs Says:
    June 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 AM PDT

    I have an acapella version of "After the Goldrush".

    You can download it here:
    http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/DP/2007/07/195_03_The_Two_Petes_-_After_The_Goldrush.mp3

    Not a very happy song, but there's your exception. :)

  6. Candii Capalini Says:
    June 24th, 2008 at 7:55 AM PDT

    Oh my gosh, just too funny. Had to send it to my bro (a big fan or MGS) and i just got WTF? hehe. I love your website Torley. :D

  7. Torley Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 10:59 AM PDT

    @Candii: Sweet. I celebrate otaku! Hope your bro did like it. :)

  8. Torley Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 11:02 AM PDT

    @Gigs: That was beautiful; the harmonizing was rich. It was happier than I expected, but maybe that was because I was paying more attention to the melody than the lyrics. (I haven't heard the original of "After the Goldrush".)

  9. Torley Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 11:03 AM PDT

    @Alex: Verily, pretty poetry.

  10. Torley Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 11:03 AM PDT

    @Bettina: Thanks to the pointer, I wonder if they'll do live concerts. I'd like to hear spatial singing on voice chat, with avatars that would walk around the crowd and chant ominous, yet ponderous things…

  11. Torley Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 11:04 AM PDT

    @Melissa: Haven't heard of those, I appreciate you sharing.

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