Classic game show Name That Tune hits Vegas
by Kiko Miyasato
Photos by Christopher DeVargas
Imperial Palace 3 p.m. Sat.-Mon. & Wed.-Thurs., 3 & 7:30 p.m. Fri., $54.95 plus tax and fee. 702.794.3261
Wait, that’s that B-52s song, something about a lobster … but what is the name of the song? Darn. Hey, it’s that island song about wasting away somewhere … but what is the name of that Jimmy Buffett song? Shoot. For many of us it’s easy to name the singer or lyrics of our favorite songs, but way harder to name the title. But if you’re up for the challenge (and you audiophiles out there think you know all the titles to a wide range of songs), then you will most definitely want to take your chances and see Imperial Palace’s new show, Name That Tune Live. And hey, even if you don’t have that arsenal of music knowledge, but you’re a music lover, than this show is definitely for you, too.
The classic NBC and CBS 1950s game show Name That Tune, which hit its peak in the late ’70s and early ’80s, gets resurrected for a Las Vegas audience in Name That Tune Live, with an enticing top prize of $10,000 in cold, hard cash. Your hosts for the show, Las Vegas’ famed singing duo Zowie Bowie and Marley Taylor, along with DJ Jimmy Z, take contestants on a wild musical ride, where one final contestant has the chance to name 15 songs in 60 seconds for the big cash prize.
Three rounds are played in order to reach the final. You’ll be happy to know that nearly 50 audience members are chosen for the first round, so chances are you might find yourself onstage standing in front of the buzzer, hand at the ready. Ten contestants are chosen from the first round to compete in the second round, where contestants go head-to-head, bidding to name a tune in anywhere from one to 10 seconds. Round three finds five contestants trying to name 10 tunes in 30 seconds in a tune mashup of one specific genre of music. The final round, “Conquer the Clock,” is where the final contestant sweats bullets, as he/she has 60 seconds to name 15 tunes.
The musical genres range from rock, pop and adult contemporary to hip-hop and even television sitcom songs—all music is fair game, and you’ll be surprised just what songs people might actually know the titles to. During the show’s first two weeks, a woman from New York won the $10,000 prize by naming the 15th song with just seconds to spare—that song was Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates”!
Besides buzzing in for the big prize, Bowie and Taylor, whose vocal skills earn high marks, treat audiences to vintage and contemporary musical performances and, as your hosts, use playful banter with one another, making for some amusing moments. “We’re kinda like the Steve and Eydie of game show hosts,” joked Bowie.
If you don’t have the chance to vie for the big prize, no worries. Each contestant who competes leaves with a consolation prize; even if you don’t score the $10,000, you still leave the stage with a treat. All in all, Name That Tune is one fun ride and, as DJ Jimmy Z says, “Anyone who is a music lover definitely, definitely needs to come and see this show.”
