Want to Sing like an Idol?

Want to sing like your favorite idol (or at least pretend you can?). The wonderful world of video games brings us one step closer to that dream! There are numerous singing, dancing, and button mashing games to bring out the Idol in all of us!

It worked for Janet MacNamara

This article is going to focus on the Idol songs featured in singing games across the PS2, PS3, Xbox360 and Wii.

Karaoke Revolution started the Karaoke game craze and not too long after other singing games started to appear.



Karaoke Revolution Party was the first title to feature an American Idol contestant, with "Truth Is" by Fantasia. Before American Idol was REALLY noticed by the franchise 5 titles had been released, but when that time came around it came around in a big way.

The 6th Karaoke Revolution game partnered up with American Idol to bring us the first American Idol singing game, Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol. You would sing and get commentary from the judges, and compete in the same rounds as the real show. It featured the following American Idol artists and songs:

Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Ruben Studdard - Flying Without Wings
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Bo Bice - The Real Thing
Tayor Hicks - Do I Make You Proud

Virtual Simon is not as nasty.

Following the success of the first American Idol Karaoke game, a 2nd one was released (Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore) and follows a similar story line, complete with judges. It featured only one idol song which was Katharine McPhee with Over The Rainbow.

A new American Idol season meant a new American Idol game, this time they gave us "Karaoke Revolution: Presents American Idol Encore 2" which featured the new Opening and the new Stage! It also included these American Idol favorites:

Daughtry - It's Not Over
Elliott Yamin - Wait For You
Kelly Clarkson - Since You Been Gone
Paula Abdul - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

Pretty faithful recreation of the American Idol stage.

In 2009 Karaoke Revolution dropped American Idol from their name, but still gives our favorite Idols some love, by including the following songs (and music videos)

Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You



Shortly after Karaoke Revolution was gaining popularity, another series of games titled "SingStar" were making the rounds with 13 titles release in the US so far. There are are only TWO songs American Idol contestants across the whole series and they are both off the game "SingStar Country":

Bucky Covington - It's Good To Be Us
Kellie Pickler - Red High Heels

Seriously!


While the extremely popular Rock Band 2 series does not have any on disk American Idol songs, you CAN rock out to Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independent" for an additional $2, as the song is offered as downloadable content.


As you can see, American Idol seems to have made it's Impact on video games, as well as television and the music industry. As more games and songs are released, we can only wonder what the future of Karaoke games will bring! Do you have a favorite song (Idol, or otherwise) from any of these games? Post your comments here or on twitter @Idol360.