"Play the Game" by Queen

Song#:  0239
Date:  06/28/1980
Debut:  67
Peak:  42
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  In addition to being their first US #1 album, Queen's "The Game" also generated their first #1 single with "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Their second chart single from the album was this more theatrical sounding song that didn't seem to catch fire. But they would rebound in a big way with the album's third single which would follow pretty closely on the heels of this minor chart scraper.

ReduxReview:  Written by Freddie Mercury, the song has that definitive Queen sound to it - theatrical, layered, and melodic. Mercury seems to sometimes take a vaudeville style approach to songs and then modernize the crap out of it. It makes for some terrific rock. This particular one is good, but does not rank high on my list of favorite Queen songs.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Prior to "The Game," Queen would include a "no synthesizers" label to their albums. Folks took this to mean that they hated synths and wanted to remain a true, non-electronic rock band. But it has been said that they included this tag because they wanted people to know that all of their different sounds and layering were done without the use of synthesizers. However, that finally change with "The Game." Times and opinions change and Queen finally decided that it was time to give synths a chance. As if to announce this, the lead track and single "Play the Game" begins with an Oberheim synth sound.

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