Name That Tune Live

Being a big music fan with a wealth of useless knowledge, I was excited when I got free tickets through work.
There’s a separate line where you sign a waiver and receive a name tag to have the chance to be a contestant. Our seats were the first 2 seats at the center table. I had my neck tilted up to the left the entire time but no big deal.
There was a warm up guy with a synthesizer just picking random people in the crowd to go toe to toe in «Name That Tune» with a little bell they hit when they recognized the song. I couldn’t help but think that people backstage were watching this and noting who knew songs and didn’t. Winners of the warm up got a NTT keychain. Whoopee.
I’ve seen the hosts Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor during their nighttime gig as Zowie Bowie a few times. They’re entertaining for sure but I was disappointed they were singing to backing tracks instead of their great band. Then again, its a 3pm show at Imperial Palace! I couldn’t expect IP to afford the whole group. It must be weird for them to perform in front of so many sober people.
So the show kicks off with an explanation about the show and the first round. They go through five rounds and ten people are called up each time. Each contestant has a buzzer and the first two people to get 2 songs advance to the second round. Those 2 sit on the side of the stage til the final 10 are determined. The remaining people go back to their seats with a keychain (hmm) and they call up 10 more.
The majority of songs played were pre 1980’s and the only song played from the last 5 years was Taio Cruz’s «Dynamite». They were just catering to the majority of the audience.
I was chomping at the bit since I knew all the songs being played. Most people were able to name the tunes within 5 seconds. I finally got called in the last round. After a couple of mistimed clicks on my buzzer, I was able to name 2 songs first («Janie’s Got a Gun» and «Its Tricky»).
Round 2 was the «bid a second» round where Zowie Bowie gives us a clue about the song and then we go head to head versus another contestant to see how many seconds it would take for us to recognize the song starting with 10 seconds all the way to 1. There were some pretty big chokes this round like calling a song «Moulin Rouge» instead of «Lady Marmalade» and nobody recognizing Warrant’s «Heaven». Really??? Maybe I’VE got the problem: P
I was fortunate enough to know the songs by the clue so I got both of mine in «1 second». They were «Welcome to the Jungle» and «I’m the Only One». Contestants eliminated in this round got Mac King tickets (best daytime show!).
Round 3 had 5 people left. They wheeled out 5 little markerboard desks with blinders so you couldn’t peek at anyone else’s. The DJ plays 10 songs in 30 seconds twice and we had to write down the correct title of the song. The theme was «American Idol Winners». I thought this wouldn’t be a problem since I did watch most seasons and knew who the winners were. (Yeah yeah. go ahead and make fun of me.)
But the songs went so freakin quick at not so obvious parts that I was only able to clearly identify 3 out of 10! I resigned myself to winning 2 tickets to Frank Marino’s Divas (ugh) and sitting the eff back down.
After realizing that I screwed up Kris Allen song’s title, I knew I was done for sure. I put «Live like you’re dying» instead of «we’re». I only had 2 songs correct… and…I…WON! Only one other contestant was able to recognize even one song!
So now its just me. They roll out a big timer, a clear plastic box with $ 10K in it and I have to name 15 songs in 60 seconds. I was able to name the first 5 tunes in 20 seconds. The host asks me how I feel and I say «I’ll be fine as long as there aren’t any metal songs» secretly hoping they actually play a metal song (they didn’t).
I’m up to 8 songs with 20 seconds left and they play the first song I don’t know called «Pennies in Heaven». I had 2 «lifelines» and used one of them to pass on this song. The other one was to poll the audience. With 15 seconds left and 7 songs to go I knew I had to rush. I also knew this DJ was going to throw a country song at me that I wouldn’t know. I hastily guessed the next song as Led Zep’s «Babe I’m Gonna Leave You» and was wrong. I actually didn’t know the tune played and don’t remember the title they said. My brain shutdown when they told me I was wrong.
Sigh. I ended up winning passes to the IP Spa (they have one?) and a tour of Red Rock City (what?) with some tour group.
I obviously had fun but it was disappointing too. Have drinks beforehand! I hope Zowie Bowie’s day job works out for them!