Apprendre à jouer l'album : The game

Learn to play the Game album

“The Game” is Queen's eighth studio album, released on June 30, 1980. This album marks a transitional period for the group, both in terms of musical style and recording technology. It is also one of Queen's most commercially successful albums, reaching number one on the charts in the United States.

Background and Registration

“The Game” was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, West Germany. It is Queen's first album to use synthesizers, marking a significant evolution in their sound. The band collaborated with producer Reinhold Mack, who helped integrate synthesizers and explore new musical directions.

Musical style

The album “The Game” presents a diversity of musical styles, ranging from rock and disco to pop and funk. This diversity is reflected in the different pieces of the album:

• “Another One Bites the Dust” : A funky track with a disco-influenced bassline, written by John Deacon.
• “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” : A rockabilly style song written by Freddie Mercury, inspired by Elvis Presley.
• “Play the Game” : A classic Queen rock ballad, featuring vocal harmonies and synthesizers.
• “Dragon Attack” : A heavy rock track with a funky groove, written by Brian May.
• “Sail Away Sweet Sister” : A ballad written and sung primarily by Brian May.
• "Save me" : Another emotional ballad from Brian May, with introspective lyrics.
• “Coming Soon” : An energetic rock song, written by Roger Taylor.
• “Don’t Try Suicide” : A lighter tone song with dark lyrics, written by Freddie Mercury.

Commercial and Critical Success

“The Game” was a huge commercial success, becoming Queen's first and only album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. It also performed well in the United Kingdom and other countries. Two of the album's singles, “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Notable Songs

• “Another One Bites the Dust” : With its memorable bass riff and infectious groove, this song became one of Queen's biggest hits. It was inspired by the disco group Chic and was particularly popularized by Michael Jackson's recommendation that it be released as a single.
• “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” : This rockabilly song was a great success, demonstrating Freddie Mercury's ability to write in different musical styles. It was written by Mercury in just a few minutes while he was taking a bath.
• "Save me" : A poignant ballad written by Brian May, often praised for its emotional lyrics and complex musical arrangement.

Impact and Legacy

“The Game” marked a turning point in Queen's career, allowing them to experiment with new sounds while continuing to produce hits. The use of synthesizers on this album paved the way for further experimentation in their subsequent albums. The diversity of styles on “The Game” shows the group's versatility and their ability to evolve with the musical trends of the time.

In summary, “The Game” is a crucial album in Queen's discography, marking a period of transition and commercial success while showing the band's ability to reinvent themselves and experiment with new sounds.