Play It Again, Mario

There’s no music in the world more evocative than the theme songs to our favorite videogames. To test out this little hypothesis, just try humming the title track to Super Mario Brothers and see if you don’t instantly imagine yourself as a mustached Italian plumber in red overalls, hopping over...

By John Linn

March 24, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

There’s no music in the world more evocative than the theme songs to our favorite videogames. To test out this little hypothesis, just try humming the title track to Super Mario Brothers and see if you don’t instantly imagine yourself as a mustached Italian plumber in red overalls, hopping over koopas on your way to save the princess. And we double (dragon) dare you to try to listen to the haunting theme from Halo and not break out into a choir-boy-like hymn.

Yep, videogame music is as much a part of the fabric of our culture as the games are themselves. And Video Games Live aims to pay tribute to that. The nationwide concert series takes some of the most memorable music ever captured in binary code and brings it to life with a riveting orchestral stage show. Through live action segments and a “Laser Floyd”-esque light show, Video Games Live will transport you from the days of Pong all the way through the breakneck action of Metal Gear Solid. And best of all, there’s no controller required.

The epic journey starts Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Tickets start at $29 and include a preshow costume contest and Guitar Hero competition (order online with the code VGLStudent and receive $10 off too). Visit browardcenter.org.
Sat., March 26, 7:30 p.m., 2011

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.