•
Rating: The 4 of the "Queen" present themselves at the gates of the '80s with a certain fervor; there is an air of downsizing in their sound and not only that, even of their image (Taylor, Deacon, and Mercury cut their hair, and later, the leader will grow the famous mustache that will accompany him in his career until the late '80s).
"The Game" is a mix of pseudo rockabilly with a funky aftertaste, produced between June '79 and May '80. The 4 rely on the new sound engineer, the German Reinhold Mack, with whom they go in search of a sonic vigor that surprises fans, starting the prelude to change by using the synthesizer (albeit sparingly), trying to avoid any superfluous sound.
Controversial, ambiguous, underrated, it begins, "The Game", indeed the game, a tough game that will bring them to the top of the USA charts, even breaking through on "colored" radio stations. "Play the Game" is a track that does not deny the band's seventies past, with the usual piano and sparkling choirs in the foreground, but a guitar sharper than usual. The second track is "Dragon Attack" and here, ladies and gentlemen, hats off, here’s a bass masterclass from Mr. Deacon, with drum parts focused on the hi-hat which then engages in an improvisation reminiscent of a medieval band’s march, fierce and raspy voice and May gives us the "dragon's fire spit" produced by his Red Special with a more than "rude" solo. But the high-potential destructive gem is the third track: "Another One Bites the Dust", also by Deacon, who here engages in a riff that will become a gem in the band’s live performances; all the instruments intertwine in a heavenly way, the guitar purely funky, one single adjective: Immortal. "Need Your Loving Tonight" is a very "sugary" piece, great for warming up the evening during the car ride before a fireworks-and-flames date with your woman.
In the "middle of the road of this album" we find a shamelessly rockabilly piece completely written by Mercury in the bathroom of the Bayerischerhof Hotel in Munich, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" seems a return to the past to the times of a certain Elvis Presley, a true homage to Rock n' Roll as evidenced by the notes of a clean and perfect guitar and as can be seen in the video where the 4 present themselves in pure biker attire. The sixth track is "Rock It (Prime Jive)", Mercury starts with some vocal trills and then gives space to Taylor's rough and raspy voice on a base well driven by technology with a dance and funky aftertaste.
Then we arrive at "Don't Try Suicide", with hands, bass, guitar, choirs, a purely commercial song but certainly does not instigate suicide during listening; here Deacon gives yet another proof of his impeccable magic on the four strings in this record. "Sail Away Sweet Sister" is May's sweetest dedication (in which he also takes the lead vocals on this ballad) to the sister he never had, a distillation of fascinating class in Queen's repertoire that subsequently influenced many bands. The ninth track is "Coming Soon" which is certainly not an essential track, but still appreciable for its slightly metallic aftertaste, a piece that can inspire bands like Motley Crue in the early days of their recordings. This "playful" album concludes with the tender ballad "Save Me" with Mercury's tear-jerking vocals that cuddle you with the usual more "Queen-like" choirs than ever, certainly one of the most beautiful ballads in the band’s repertoire.
"The Game" was the turning point album, although it inevitably aroused perplexities from critics and early fans, it greatly influenced subsequent works, but it must be stated that even if in Queen's discography it is one of the most underrated albums, since it is not strictly hard rock like the previous albums, it is certainly a masterpiece for more commercial rock. In conclusion, it is more than right to say that the work is more than appreciable for the courageous attempt to challenge themselves again after almost 10 years of career.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Play the Game (03:32)
Open up your mind and let me step inside
Rest your weary head and let your heart decide
It's so easy when you know the rules
It's so easy all you have to do
Is fall in love
Play the game
Ev'rybody play the game of love
When you're feelin' down and your resistance is low
Light another cigarette and let yourself go
This is your life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game ev'ryone play the game of love
My game of love has just begun
Love runs from my head down to my toes
My love is pumping through my veins (play the game)
Driving me insane
Come come come come play the game play the game play the game play the game
Play the game everybody play the game of love
This is your life - don't play hard to get
It's a free free world all you have to do is fall in love
Play the game yeah play the game of love
Your life - don't play hard to get
It's a free free world all you have to do is fall in love
Play the game - ev'rybody play the game...
03 Another One Bites the Dust (03:38)
Steve walks warily down the street
With his brim pulled way down low
Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet
Machine guns ready to go
Are you ready hey are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat yeah
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
How do you think I'm going to get along
Without you when you're gone
You took me for everything that I had
And kicked me out on my own
Are you happy are you satisfied?
How long can you stand the heat
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat look out
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
Hey
Oh take it - Bite the dust bite the dust
Hey Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust ow
Another one bites the dust he he
Another one bites the dust haaaa
Ooh shoot out
There are plenty of ways that you can hurt a man
And bring him to the ground
You can beat him
You can cheat him
You can treat him bad and leave him
When he's down
But I'm ready yes I'm ready for you
I'm standing on my own two feet
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
Repeating to the sound of the beat
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust yeah
Hey I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
Shoot out
05 Crazy Little Thing Called Love (02:43)
This thing called love, I just can't handle it
This thing called love, I must get 'round to it
I ain't ready
Crazy little thing called love
This thing (this thing) called love (called love)
It cries (like a baby) in a cradle all night
It swings (woo-ooo), it jives (woo-woo)
It shakes all over like a jelly fish
I kinda like it
Crazy little thing called love
There goes my baby
She knows how to rock and roll
She drives me crazy
She gives me hot and cold fever
Then she leaves me in a cool, cool sweat
I gotta be cool, relax
Get hip, get on my tracks
Take a back seat, hitch-hike
And take a long ride on my motor bike
Until I'm ready
Crazy little thing called love
I gotta be cool relax
Get hip and get on my tracks
Take a back seat, hitchhike
And take a long ride on my motor bike
Until I'm ready (ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love
This thing called love, I just can't handle it
this thing called love, I must get round to it
I ain't ready
Crazy little thing called love
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
Crazy little thing called love (Yeah, yeah)
07 Don't Try Suicide (03:53)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
A-one two three four one
Yeah
Okay
Don't do it don't you try it baby
Don't do that
Don't don't don't
Don't do that
You got a good thing going now
Don't do it don't do it
Don't
Don't try suicide
Nobody's worth it
Don't try suicide
Nobody cares
Don't try suicide
You're just gonna hate it
Don't try suicide
Nobody gives a damn
So you think it's the easy way out?
Think you're gonna slash your wrists
This time
Baby when you do it all you do is
Get on my tits
Don't do that try try try baby
Don't do that —you got a good thing going now
Don't do it don't do it
Don't
Don't try suicide
Nobody's worth it
Don't try suicide
Nobody cares
Don't try suicide
You're just gonna hate it
Don't try suicide
Nobody gives a damn
You need help
Look at yourself you need help (yeah, yeah)
You need life
So don't hang yourself
It's okay, okay, okay, okay
You just can't be a prick teaser all of the time
A little bit attention—you got it
Need some affection—you got it
Suicide suicide suicide bid
Suicide suicide suicide bid
Suicide
Don't do it don't do it don't do it babe (yeah)
Don't do it don't do it don't—do it
Hey!
Hey, yeah!
Don't put your neck on the line
Don't drown on me babe
Blow your brains out -
Don't do that (yeah)
Don't do that—you got a good thing going baby
Don't do it (no) don't do it (no) don't
Don't try suicide
Nobody's worth it
Don't try suicide
Nobody cares
Don't try suicide
You're just gonna hate it
Don't try suicide
Nobody gives
Nobody gives
Nobody gives a damn
Okay
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
This album from 1979 certainly marks a turning point in Queen’s career, as well as in the music of the time.
Another One Bites The Dust. Epic. Not so much for the song as for its history, for what it has done, for the genres it has given life to, and for the success it has achieved.
By Walterstarman
"The Game is a well-balanced album, not at rock or dance extremes but finds the right compromise."
"'Save Me' is one of the 10 most beautiful songs ever written by Queen. Those who don’t cry easily will cry inside."
By andrew1992
The extreme simplicity (bass, drums, and a lot of electronics) made the track... the most well-known of the group (at least in the USA).
'Don’t Try Suicide' in my opinion is a fantastic jazz... Freddie, you’re a true genius!
