Sing another song

By Amanda Koehler
Collegian Editor
March 29, 2006

A few months ago, I was getting sick of the board games my roommates and I had been playing. I needed a new challenge. I also wanted to play a game that everyone else got excited about, too. It’s more fun that way.

I got my wish when one of my housemates brought home a game called Encore. She warned us that one of her friends who had the game said that her family was always getting in fights when they played it. I thought that sounded a little exaggerated, but it made me want to play it even more. Little did I know that every time we would attempt to play Encore, we would all end up arguing and yelling at each other. So far, no one’s been physically hurt, but I’m just waiting for the day when that happens.

Encore is a game about music lyrics. There are two teams, and there isn’t really a limit on how many people can play. Usually the more people you have, the more shouting (and fun) ensues. Once you have your teams together, one team picks up a card that has a word on it. Whatever the word is, both teams need to think of as many songs as they can that has that word in it. For example, let’s say the word is “baby.” Both teams would go back and forth in a showdown, singing songs with “baby” in them. (“Baby got back,” “Hit me baby, one more time,” “Rock-a-bye baby, on the tree top...” You get the picture.) The turn ends when one team (let’s say Team A) can’t think of another song, or when the other team (Team B) flips over the timer. This lets Team A know that it must come up with one more song before time runs out, or Team B will get to roll and take over the game.

One issue I have with the game is that it is hard to tell if someone is cheating by making up a song and just claiming that no one else playing knows it. It also becomes hard for a person if he or she truly does know a song that everyone else doesn’t. That person doesn’t have any proof to show that he or she isn’t lying, short of pausing the game to check on Google. The game might also not be fun for people who are embarrassed to sing in front of their friends. But a beautiful voice isn’t needed — it’s not American Idol.

If you don’t want a screaming match, don’t play boys against girls. I usually enjoy a game that involves a battle of the sexes. It gives it a little more edge. But Encore doesn’t need the edge, and playing with opposite sex teams makes it even more intense. Further, because the rules are so vague, the hardcore players and the passive players are constantly going head-to-head. It’s gotten to the point where people are giving the silent treatment to other players postgame.

Personally, I love the game. Any board game that gets everyone as worked up as I am is okay with me. I recommend getting it, but don’t buy it if you don’t enjoy arguing with your friends over the lyrics to “Sugar, We’re Going Down.”

(Oh, and, just for the record, I’ve been on the winning team every time).

knowlesk1@lasalle.edu