I've got "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse* going through my head right now, over and over, on repeat. Unfortunately, it's not the whole song, or even the version you hear on the radio. In fact, in my mind's eye, I'm not only listening to the song; I'm listening, watching, and playing it, via Guitar Hero III. Yesterday, I played this game for hours, trying to beat it on Hard, but unable to get past the level that includes this particular song. It's a song I really enjoy listening to, and even like playing, but the game may have ruined it for me.

See, I'm not that good. When I play, my fingers get all messed up, I have to use the special power called "Star Power" in the game in order to survive through some particularly difficult parts, and the music goes "SQUONK!" when I miss a note.

It goes "squonk" a lot. It's done it so much that when I listen to the song in my mind, I hear the mistakes that I normally make as I mentally watch the notes scroll by! No longer is it just a simple song out of which I derive pleasure and enjoyment. Instead, playing it over and over on the game has made it into a challenge, something that I have to beat, even when I'm just listening to it.

Am I the only one this has happened to? It's crazy, and weird!


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