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“Play the Game” is a song by Queen, written by Freddie Mercury. It is the first track on the first side of their 1980 album The Game. It commences with a series of overlapping rushing noises on an Oberheim OB-X synthesizer, 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 to 1982. The single was a hit in Queen’s home country reaching #14 in the charts. In America, however, it gained small response at reaching only #42.
The song features a considerably soft vocal by Freddie complimented by a strong G4 rising in pitch all the way to a C5 in chest voice, contrary to the other C5s being hit in falsetto. He also played piano on the track.
The B-side, “A Human Body”, has never appeared on any Queen album, but was finally released on CD format in the 2009 box set Queen Singles Collection Volume 2.
The cover of the single, as well as its promotional video, marked the first time Freddie Mercury appeared in either format with what later became his trademark moustache. The video is also notable in that 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 away from May, then appears to throw it back to him.
The song features a considerably soft vocal by Freddie complimented by a strong G4 rising in pitch all the way to a C5 in chest voice, contrary to the other C5s being hit in falsetto. He also played piano on the track.
The B-side, “A Human Body”, has never appeared on any Queen album, but was finally released on CD format in the 2009 box set Queen Singles Collection Volume 2.
The cover of the single, as well as its promotional video, marked the first time Freddie Mercury appeared in either format with what later became his trademark moustache. The video is also notable in that 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 away from May, then appears to throw it back to him.
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LIVE FREDDIE GENIUS 1980
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Shouts
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hilyhawk wrote:
I lost the game listening to this. :P But I still love the song :D
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Yojan wrote:
I just lost the game. :(
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backtothelight wrote:
I prefer the live versions of this song (Rock Montreal, Milton Keyes) to the original album cut.
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BalladBombs wrote:
you mean: FOOL. period.
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DonnieSTFU wrote:
Only a complete tool would call Queen a joke.
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Psycho_snacky wrote:
This intro reminds me of Laura Branigan's Gloria.
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gallaghermania wrote:
I don't like Queen!!!!!!The joke of rock (exception: two or three albuns: Sheer Heart Attack, Queen II and "A night at the Opera"
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mommamia27 wrote:
The live version of this song with Freddie on the piano at the Milton Keyes concert is outstanding. Love this song!!
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LucasHxC wrote:
Queen ever
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Teh0Wolf0Man wrote:
I swear that whenever I'm high, this song is 80% of the time one of the first two songs I listen to. Lulz... Freddy and Brian are so awesome.
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RebelDC5 wrote:
Fantastic track, we miss you Freddie...
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yorkey wrote:
Love the song, but really the beginning part of... I don't know what it is, but it's just terrible. Otherwise very good.
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raranananara wrote:
Great song!!!
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justchio wrote:
so good!
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FelipeSah wrote:
This song makes me lose the game
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juan0306 wrote:
Geniosssssssssssss
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liberdon wrote:
good!
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bunker3 wrote:
one of the best epic songs ever!... GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
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Mattilu wrote:
lang ist's her>>>und immer wieder schön
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reivaj60 wrote:
¡Pero qué buenos eran los jodíos!
Queen
Play the Game
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Recent Activity
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-gerd- and phantasm4489 loved Queen – Play the Game. 5 minutes ago
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The_Perrin, smitoraj2008, eddypoo and 10 other people loved Queen – Play the Game. yesterday evening
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elenith added Play the Game to the playlist fun. Thursday evening
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