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Pixies Recorded A Game Cover Before It Was Cool

stretching the definition of 'news' to its limit
by Jeff Cork on April 24, 2011 at 04:08 PM
8,886 Views
33 1

In honor of Easter, I'm going to see the Pixies play tonight. If you aren't old enough to know the band, all you need to know is that they're the best. Also, they covered video-game music before most of the dudes with ironic keytars and skinny little arms were even born.

In 1991, they released a single for the song Dig for Fire, off their final album, Trompe le Monde. One of the tracks on that single was simply called Theme from NARC, and that's exactly what it was: A cover of the first song from Williams' violent antidrug arcade game. "Theme From NARC doesn't really have a chorus," singer Black Francis said in an interview with fanzine Rock A My Soul. "I thought it was pretty cool, because the chord progression in it is completely u c k ***----- up. It isn't standard rock n roll progression."

Here's their version:

 

And here's a clip from the NES version of the game, so you get a general sense of how the song originally sounded:

 

I'll be the first to admit that this barely has anything to do with anything, but you know what? I'm working the Easter shift without any adult supervision and these kinds of things are bound to happen. Also, I'll take any excuse to talk about the Pixies. So there.

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Comments
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  • by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:14 PM
    Jeff Cork on easter with no adult supervision and likely lots of sugary chocolate in the area....can't wait to find out what ends up on this site.
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:22 PM
    Dig for Fire was on Bossanova, actually. Just sayin.
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:25 PM
    Curse you, Jeff. Pixies were here in Milwaukee last night, but I didn't have the money to go see them. :'(
    Two of my friends went though, and they said it was amazing, so I hope they play just as well tonight for you.

    And just for the record, I was born in 1993 and I love them, so I think that deserves a bit of respect. =3
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:27 PM
    didn't the pixies do the song at the end of fight club? that song was pretty sweet, and fitting.
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:28 PM
    Haha. I'm not really old enough to be a big fan of the Pixies, but I am. Jeff Cork needs to have all the bad shifts from now on.
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:30 PM

    Well that's awesome. I love the tags here, "not really news but whatever it's easter so cut me some freaking slack" and "stretching the definition of 'news' to its limit" are great. Happy Easter!

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:32 PM
    Most of these kids won't know who the Pixies are, and most probably wouldn't know NARC if it weren't for the TMNT movie. Wait, have kids even seen the TMNT movie?

    There used to be a killer burger shop up in FBX, AK called The Burger Factory that had a nice little assortment of stand-ups; I think NARC was next to Beer Tapper (maybe the PG Rootbeer Tapper). Then they replaced the older machines with a claw game, MK3 and a light-gun game- then the place burned down. I think the lesson there is obvious.
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:40 PM

    I'm more than old enough to know (and love) Pixies. And I definitely remember N.A.R.C. That was a game me and my bud used to rock on at the local arcade. Good times.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 04:45 PM

    Might as well be the greatest indie rock band ever. They're such interesting people.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:07 PM
    Never heard of them.
  • by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:08 PM

    Awesome band, awesome cover.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:25 PM

    Sweet!

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:26 PM

    Awesome cover, awesome tags.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:26 PM

    Jeff, being a Pixie's fan I'm sure you've heard some of Frank Black's post-Pixie's work, but in case you haven't already, check out his "Teenager of the Year" album.  The first track is a nice tribute to Pong.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:44 PM

    I think this is why I always read gaming news instead of "real life" news :-)  There's actually fun stories!

  • Mod
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 06:00 PM
    This website is now Pixies Informer.
  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 07:03 PM

    Good story Jeff. That is what the site gets if you are working the Easter shift. The story is about the Pixies so i dont think anyone well be complaining at all. But this is a pretty cool that they recorded a track for a video game

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 07:17 PM

    like the band really good group.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 07:31 PM

    The Pixies are great, espcially their song 'Where Is My Mind'.  And if anyone hasn't seen their video for 'Here Comes Your Man', you should; it's genius.

  •
    by Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 08:38 PM
    Not a bad cover. I played the NARC game, but I never heard of this band.
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