Have you ever heard a song completely wrong, only to realise later what the words actually were? Well, that's pretty much the idea behind Misheard Music!
It's a party game from Lucky Egg where you're given a card with a strange-looking phrase on it, and you've got to work out which song title or artist it's supposed to be. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Trust me, some of them are anything but!
The game is suitable for ages 12 and over, can be played with two or more people, and apparently takes around 15 minutes to play. Although, as you'll discover, I'm not entirely convinced about that last bit!
One thing I really like about Misheard Music is how neatly everything fits into the box. It's compact, sturdy and doesn't take up loads of room, which is always a bonus when you've already got a cupboard full of games!
Inside, you get 500 cards altogether: 350 song titles and 150 artists, along with two card holders and a 30-second sand timer.
The card holders are a nice touch. There's a space for picking up new cards and another for discarding the ones you've already used, so you're not accidentally going through the same cards again. You can also shuffle the cards around whenever you fancy.
The cards themselves are bright and colourful, with large, bold writing that's easy to read. Considering some of the phrases are difficult enough to work out, at least you don't have to struggle to see what they say!
How Does It Play?
The idea behind Misheard Music is pretty simple. You pick up a card, read the strange phrase out loud and try to work out which song title or artist it sounds like.
For example, you might get “Perth Hacked”, which turns out to be “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Sounds obvious once you know, doesn't it? But then you get something like “Through Thirds”, which is supposed to be “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo, and suddenly you're wondering how anyone is meant to guess that!
The official rules have players competing in teams, with just 30 seconds to guess as many cards as possible. You can ask for a hint or skip a card if you're completely stuck.
It's easy enough to understand, but whether you actually manage to guess the answers is another matter entirely. Some jump out at you straightaway, while others leave you thinking, “WTF is that supposed to be?!”
Does Your Music Knowledge Matter?
I think one of the interesting things about Misheard Music is that everyone could have a completely different experience depending on the music they listen to.
You might recognise an artist straightaway while someone else hasn't got a clue who they are. Then the next card comes along and suddenly the roles are reversed!
There's also the difference between recognising a song and actually working out what the strange phrase is supposed to sound like. You could know every word to a song and still be staring at the card thinking, “What on earth is that?!”
I don't think you need to be a music expert to enjoy it, though. In fact, I imagine some of the funniest moments would come from people confidently shouting out completely wrong answers. Sometimes the wrong guesses could probably be more entertaining than the right ones!
What Did I Think?
I think Misheard Music is one of those games that could be absolutely hilarious with the right group of people. Even just looking through the cards on my own, I've found myself laughing at some of the phrases and wondering how on earth anyone is supposed to work them out!
I also think your music knowledge makes quite a difference. Some artists and songs are instantly recognisable, while others might leave you completely baffled. Even when I worked out that “Perth Hacked” was “Perfect”, my mind went to the Fairground Attraction song rather than Ed Sheeran's!
My biggest issue is the 30-second timer. For some of these cards, that's barely enough time to figure out what you're looking at, never mind guess the answer! I think constantly turning the timer over could interrupt the fun, especially when everyone's getting into it.
The box also suggests a game takes around 15 minutes, which I'm not entirely convinced about. With each team getting three 30-second turns, that's only three minutes of actual guessing altogether. Obviously, there's time spent swapping teams, checking answers and probably laughing at some ridiculous guesses, but I think this is a game I'd rather play for longer without worrying quite so much about the clock.
Ways to Mix Things Up
Personally, I think Misheard Music could be just as much fun with a few changes to the rules. There's no reason you have to stick to that little sand timer!
Here are a few ways I'd try playing:
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First to five: Forget the timer altogether and see which player or team can guess five cards correctly first.
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Three-minute challenge: Give each team three minutes instead of 30 seconds, so there's actually time to work out some of the trickier phrases.
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Just for laughs: Don't bother keeping score. Take turns guessing cards and see how many you can work out.
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Songs versus artists: One team uses the blue song-title cards while the other uses the pink artist cards. Then swap over for another round.
I think having the freedom to play around with the rules would make the game even more enjoyable, especially if you've got a mixture of ages and musical tastes playing together.
Would I Recommend It?
Overall, I think Misheard Music is a fun little party game with a simple idea that works really well. You don't need to spend ages learning complicated rules, and some of the ridiculous phrases are entertaining enough on their own!
With 500 cards included, there's plenty to keep you going, and even if you've seen a card before, there's a good chance you won't remember what the answer was anyway!
I think it's best suited to people who enjoy music, a bit of friendly competition and having a laugh. My only real complaint is that I'd like a bit more time to work out the answers, but that's easily solved by making up your own rules.
Would I recommend it? Yes, especially for a games night with friends or family. Just don't expect every answer to come to you in 30 seconds!
