Serious Sam: Second Encounter - what is the reference here? (Crossing rope bridge)

[GameHat]

I loved SS:TSE back when it launched. But one little bit bugged me.

The game is full of pop-culture references and whatnot. But this one bugged me. I found it again when I was replaying the HD version.

Anyways, early in the game, Sam is in South America. He crosses a particular rope bridge and in doing so whistles a little tune. The first time I heard it, it drove me nuts. It sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.

Anyone know what it is referring to?

Here’s a video I recorded tonight of the particular bridge and tune:

Whistlin’ Sam

[Oakminster]

Sounds like* El Condor Pasa (If I Could)* by Simon & Garfunkel to me. An applicable lyric:

I’d rather be a hammer than a nail
*

[GameHat]

@Oakminster

Sounds like* El Condor Pasa (If I Could)* by Simon & Garfunkel to me. An applicable lyric:

I’d rather be a hammer than a nail
*

Dang, I think you got it. The melody fits perfectly. Thanks.

edit: A search of of “El condor pasa” gives a lot of hits, most of which have this basic melody. Thanks, Oakminster.

[Oakminster]

Woot!

Think this is the second time in my Doper career I’ve actually been first to answer one of these.

[GameHat]

@Oakminster

Woot!

Think this is the second time in my Doper career I’ve actually been first to answer one of these.

I owe you one. This has been bugging me for like seven years ;D

[appleciders]

El Condor Pasa is an old Andean tune. Simon and Garfunkel merely popularized it. Just nitpicking.

[Uosdwis_R.Dewoh]

It was written by Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles in 1913.

From Wikipedia

In 1913 Alomía Robles composed “El cóndor pasa”, and the song was first performed publicly at the Teatro Mazzi in Lima. The song was composed as part of a zarzuela (Spanish operetta) of strong social content about Peruvian miners in Cerro de Pasco and their relations with the foreign mining company.

[Captain_C]

@Uosdwis_R.Dewoh

It was written by Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles in 1913.

From Wikipedia

In 1913 Alomía Robles composed “El cóndor pasa”, and the song was first performed publicly at the Teatro Mazzi in Lima. The song was composed as part of a zarzuela (Spanish operetta) of strong social content about Peruvian miners in Cerro de Pasco and their relations with the foreign mining company.

Which I think proves my point that this game is an educational experience, not just as my girlfriend puts it: “blowing things up for 6 hours with your friends while drunk”

[BrotherCadfael]

@Oakminster

Sounds like* El Condor Pasa (If I Could)* by Simon & Garfunkel to me. An applicable lyric:

I’d rather be a hammer than a nail
*

Or, per P. J. O’Rourke:

*I’d rather be a hanky than a snot
*