music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Play the Game" is a song by British rock band Queen, written by Freddie Mercury. It is the first track on the first side of their 1980 album The Game. It also appears on their album Greatest Hits. The single was a hit in the UK, reaching #14 in the charts, and in the US it peaked at #42.

"Play the Game"
UK single picture sleeve
Single by Queen
from the album The Game
B-side	"A Human Body"
Released	30 May 1980 (UK) 6 June 1980 (US)
Recorded	February–May 1980
Studio	Musicland, Munich
Genre	Power ballad[1]
Length	3:30 (album version) 3:12 (Queen Forever version)
Label	EMI (UK) Elektra (US)
Songwriter(s)	Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)	Queen Reinhold Mack
Queen singles chronology
"Save Me" (1980) "Play the Game" (1980) "Another One Bites the Dust" (1980)
Music video
"Play the Game" on YouTube

Composition

The song commences with a series of overlapping rushing noises on an Oberheim OB-X synthesiser, heralding the band's acceptance of electronic instruments into their once explicitly "no synths" sonic repertoire. They played it in their live shows from 1980–82.

The song features a soft vocal by Mercury, ending with a strong A4 rising in pitch all the way to C5 in chest voice (contrary to the other C5s being hit in falsetto). Mercury also played piano on the track.

Billboard Magazine considered "Play the Game" to be a return to Queen's traditional "epic, rather grand sound" after deviating from that sound with the rockabilly of their prior single "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."[2] Cash Box similarly said that this is a return to Queen's "patented high tech, progressive pop sound" and they commented on "Freddie Mercury's breathless falsetto and sweet piano work" and "Brian May’s soaring lead guitar."[3]

Later singles "It's a Hard Life" and "You Don't Fool Me" revisit the theme presented in "Play the Game", with Mercury writing from the same lover's perspective years later in the former song, and reflecting on the memories of the failed relationship in the latter. Both "Play the Game" and "It's a Hard Life" are of a similar structure, revolving around Mercury's piano playing and the band's multi-layered harmonies.[4]

Music video

The cover of the single, as well as its promotional video directed by Brian Grant,[5] marked the first time Mercury appeared in either format with what later became his trademark moustache. Brian May did not use his trademark Red Special guitar, instead using a Fender Stratocaster replica made by Satellite. This was likely due to the risk of damage involved in the shot in which Mercury snatches the guitar from May, then appears to throw it back to him which was played back in reverse so that it would be easier for May to play the solo after "catching" the guitar in the video.[5] A shot of the band in the unedited blue screen set for the video was later used for the cover of the "Another One Bites the Dust" single release.

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, piano, synthesiser
• Brian May – electric guitar, backing vocals
• Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals
• John Deacon – bass guitar

Charts

Country	Peak position
Canada[6]	22
France (IFOP)[7]	42
Germany	40
Ireland	9
Netherlands	15
Norway	6
Switzerland	8
UK	14
US (Billboard)	42
US (Cash Box)	38

Beach House version

"Play the Game"
Song by Beach House
from the album B-Sides and Rarities
Released	June 30, 2017
Recorded	July 2008
Studio	Lord Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland)
Genre	Dream pop indie rock
Length	4:18
Label	Bella Union (UK) Sub Pop (US)
Songwriter(s)	Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)	Rob Girardi Beach House
Music video
"Play the Game" on YouTube

The Baltimore, Maryland indie rock duo Beach House recorded a cover of "Play the Game" that was contributed for the iTunes Store release of the Red Hot Organization's 2009 compilation, Dark Was the Night. The track was released as an iTunes only bonus track. On June 30, 2017, the band released their B-Sides and Rarities compilation album, which includes the cover.

Downloadable content for Rock Band

The song was made available to download on 7 December 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music video game in both basic rhythm, and PRO mode which allows use of a real guitar/bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits/keyboards in addition to vocals.

References

External links

• Official YouTube videos: original music video, Live at the Bowl
• Lyrics at Queen official website

На других языках

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- [en] Play the Game (song)

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[es] Play the Game (canción)

"Play the Game" es una canción por la banda británica Queen, escrita por Freddie Mercury. Es la canción de apertura del álbum de 1980, The Game. El sencillo fue un éxito en el Reino Unido, alcanzando #14 en las listas.[2]

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[ru] Play the Game

«Play the Game» — песня английской рок-группы Queen с альбома The Game, выпущенного 30 июня 1980 года. Написана Фредди Меркьюри. Песня вышла в качестве сингла с песней «A Human Body» на стороне «Б».

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