Carátula del álbum The Game de Queen

The Game de Queen

Álbum de Queen

1980
★★★★☆
Basado en 55 votos

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The Game es un álbum de Queen, publicado en 1980 por EMI. El disco incluye 10 canciones, entre ellas «Play The Game», «Dragon Attack», «Another One Bites The Dust» y «Need Your Loving Tonight».

Publicado en 1980, The Game representa el mayor éxito comercial de Queen y un cambio significativo en su sonido. La banda abrazó un enfoque más pop y minimalista, despojándose de la complejidad de sus trabajos de los 70 para crear canciones más directas y orientadas a la radio. Fue su primer y único álbum en alcanzar el número 1 en Estados Unidos, impulsado por dos sencillos que también lideraron las listas de Billboard.

Marcó un punto de inflexión al ser el primer álbum de Queen en el que se utilizó un sintetizador, rompiendo su famosa política de "no sintetizadores". Este cambio, junto con la nueva imagen de Freddie Mercury con el pelo corto y bigote, señaló el comienzo de una nueva década y una nueva era para la banda.

Contexto y producción

A finales de los 70, Queen buscaba un nuevo sonido. El rock grandilocuente que los había definido estaba dando paso a nuevos estilos. La banda decidió experimentar y un factor clave en este cambio fue la incorporación del productor alemán Reinhold Mack. Mack aportó una nueva sensibilidad sonora, introduciendo un sonido más seco, limpio y con mayor énfasis en el ritmo y el espacio.

La grabación tuvo lugar en los Musicland Studios de Múnich, un entorno que se convertiría en su base de operaciones durante gran parte de los 80, fomentando un ambiente creativo diferente al de sus anteriores trabajos en el Reino Unido.

Uso del sintetizador

La decisión de usar un sintetizador (un Oberheim OB-X) fue un movimiento audaz que sorprendió a muchos de sus seguidores. La banda había construido parte de su identidad en la creación de sonidos complejos sin la ayuda de la electrónica. Sentían que habían agotado las posibilidades de la guitarra multicapa y que el sintetizador les abría un nuevo abanico de texturas sonoras. Su uso en "The Game" es relativamente sutil, pero marcó un cambio irreversible en su método de trabajo.

Sonido y estilo

"The Game" es un álbum conciso y enfocado. El sonido es una fusión de pop rock, hard rock, rockabilly y, sobre todo, funk. La influencia de la música disco y el funk es evidente en la línea de bajo de John Deacon, que se convierte en el motor de varias canciones. Las composiciones son más directas y pegadizas, diseñadas para el éxito en la radio estadounidense. El álbum muestra un equilibrio perfecto entre la sensibilidad pop y la energía del rock que siempre caracterizó a la banda.

Análisis de las canciones

El álbum contiene dos de los mayores éxitos de la historia de Queen. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" fue escrita por Mercury en el baño de un hotel en apenas diez minutos. Es un homenaje al rockabilly de Elvis Presley, grabado con un sonido deliberadamente retro. Se convirtió en el primer número 1 de la banda en el Billboard Hot 100.

El segundo número 1 fue "Another One Bites the Dust". Escrita por John Deacon, es una canción de funk minimalista construida sobre una de las líneas de bajo más reconocibles de la música pop. Inicialmente, la banda no estaba convencida, pero Michael Jackson les insistió en que la lanzaran como sencillo. La canción no solo llegó al número 1 en las listas de pop, sino también en las de R&B y dance.

El sencillo que da título al álbum, "Play the Game", es una balada de piano de Mercury, notable por el uso del sintetizador. "Save Me", una emotiva balada de rock de Brian May, se convirtió en un gran éxito en el Reino Unido. Otras canciones destacadas son la potente "Dragon Attack" y "Rock It (Prime Jive)" de Roger Taylor.

Salida al mercado y resultados

"The Game" fue el mayor éxito comercial de la carrera de Queen, especialmente en Norteamérica. Pasó cinco semanas en el número 1 de la lista Billboard 200 y ha vendido más de cuatro millones de copias solo en Estados Unidos.

Valoración crítica

La crítica recibió "The Game" de forma muy positiva, especialmente en Estados Unidos. Elogiaron el cambio de dirección, la calidad de las canciones y la producción nítida de Mack. Aunque algunos fans de su etapa de los 70 vieron el cambio con escepticismo, "The Game" es hoy considerado un clásico del pop rock y un ejemplo perfecto de cómo una banda establecida puede reinventarse con éxito.

Listado de Canciones

  1. Play The Game3:30
    vídeo del tema Play The Game
    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 Everybody play the game of love, yeah 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 everybody 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 - everybody play the game...
  2. Dragon Attack4:18
    vídeo del tema Dragon Attack
    Take me to the room where the red's all red Take me out of my head, that's what I said yeah Hey take me to the room where the green's all green And from what I've seen it's hot it's mean Gonna use my stack It's gotta be mack Gonna get me on the track Got a dragon on my back Take me to the room where the beat's all round Gonna eat that sound - yeah yeah yeah! Take me to the room where the black's all white And the white's all black take me back to the shack She don't take no prisoners She gonna give me the business Got a dragon on my back It's a dragon attack Get down - I said so Hey hey - all right She's low down She don't take no prisoners Go down She gonna give me the business No time Yeah chained to the rack Show time Got a dragon on my back Show down Go find another customer Slow down I gotta make my way From me yeah
  3. Another One Bites The Dust3:35
    vídeo del tema Another One Bites The Dust
    Steve walks warily down the street with the brim pulled way down low Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet, machine gun's 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 gonna 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 yeah Hey Another one bites the dust Another one bites the dust, oh Another one bites the dust, hey, hey Another one bites the dust, heeeeey Oh, shoot out There are plenty of ways 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 the sound of the beat. Oh yeeeah 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 Shoot it Hey Alright
  4. Need Your Loving Tonight2:48

    Letra

    Words and music by john deacon No Ill never look back in anger No Ill never find me an answer You promised me youd keep in touch I read your letter and it hurt me so much I said Id never never be angry with you I don't wanna feel like a stranger no Cos Id rather stay out of danger I read your letter so many times I got your meaning between the lines I said Id never never be angry with you I must be strong so she wont know how much I miss her I only hope as time goes on Ill forget her My bodies aching can't sleep at night I'm to exhausted to start a fight And if I see her with another guy Ill eat my heart out cos I love her Love her love her love her Come on baby lets get together Ill love you baby Ill love you forever I'm trying hard to stay away What made you change? What did I say? Ooh I need your loving tonight Ooh I need your loving Ooh I need your loving Ooh I need your loving babe tonight Hit me Ooh I need your loving tonight No Ill never look back in anger No Ill never find me an answer Can't be no warning how could I guess? Ill have to learn to forgive and forget Ooh I need your loving Ooh I need your loving Ooh I need your loving tonight
  5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love2:44
    vídeo del tema 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 aint ready Crazy little thing called love This (this thing) called love (Called love) It cries (like a baby) In a cradle all night It swings (woo woo) It jives (woo woo) It shakes all over like a jelly fish, I kinda like it Crazy little thing called love this is There goes my baby She knows how to rock n 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 Get on my tracks Take a back seat, hitch-hike 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 aint ready Crazy little thing called love
  6. Rock It (Prime Jive)4:31

    Letra

    When I hear that rock and roll It gets down to my soul When it's real rock and roll When I hear that rock and roll It gets down to my soul When it's real rock and roll Oh rock and roll Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh You really think they like to rock in space Well I don't know What do you know? What do you hear? On the radio? Coming through the air I said Moma I ain't crazy I'm all right - all right Hey c'mon baby said it's all right To rock'n'roll on a Saturday night I said 'shoot and get your suit and come along with me' I said 'c'mon baby down come and rock with me' I said 'yeah' What do you do? To get to feel alive You go downtown And get some of that prime jive I said Moma I ain't crazy I'm all right - all right Hey c'mon baby said it's all right To rock'n'roll on a Saturday night I said 'shoot and get your suit and come along with me' I said 'c'mon baby down come and rock with me' I said 'yeah' We're gonna rock it Hey c'mon baby said it's all right To rock'n'roll on a Saturday night I said 'shoot and get your suit and come along with me' I said 'c'mon baby down come and rock with me' I said 'yeah' We're gonna rock it.......tonight (We want some prime jive) (We want some prime jive)... We're gonna rock it tonight (We want some prime jive)... C'mon honey (We want some prime jive) We're rocking tonight C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon We're rocking tonight C'mon honey we're rocking tonight Get get get get get Get some of that prime jive Get some of that prime jive C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon honey Get some of that prime jive Get some of that get, get down C'mon honey oh C'mon honey we're gonna rock it tonight
  7. Don't Try Suicide3:52

    Letra

    A-one two three four one Yeah Ok 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 You need life So don't hang yourself It's ok ok ok ok 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 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 cares Nobody gives a damn Ok
  8. Sail Away Sweet Sister3:32

    Letra

    Hey little babe you're changing Babe, are you feeling sore? Ain't no use in pretending You don't wanna play no more It's plain that you ain't no baby What would your mother say You're all dressed up like a lady How come you behave this way Sail Away Sweet Sister Sail across the sea Maybe you find somebody Who loves you half as much as me My heart is always with you No matter what you do Sail away sweet sister Always be in love with you Forgive me for what I told you My heart makes a fool of me You know I'll never hold you I know that you gotta be free Sail Away Sweet Sister Sail across the sea Maybe you find somebody Who loves you half as much as me Take it the way you want it But when they let you down my friend Sail away sweet sister Back to my arms again Hot child don't you know, you're young - You've got your whole life ahead of you Oohah - You can throw it away too soon Way too soon
  9. Coming Soon2:50

    Letra

    Oooh Oh Oh Oh I get some headaches when I hit the heights Like in the morning after crazy nights Like some mother in law in her nylon tights They're always They're always They're always They're always Coming soon Coming soon on the outside of the tracks You take 'em The same old babies with the same old toys The neighbours screaming when the noise annoys Somebody nagging you when you're out with the boys They're always They're always They're always They're always Coming soon Coming soon on the outside of the track They're always They're always They're always They're always Coming soon Coming soon on the outside of the track Coming soon Coming soon on the outside of the track Yeah yeah yeah
  10. Save me3:48
    vídeo del tema Save me
    Words and music by brian may It started off so well They said we made a perfect pair I clothed myself in your glory and your love How I loved you How I cried... The years of care and loyalty Were nothing but a sham it seems The years belie we lived a lie I love you till I die Save me save me save me I can't face this life alone Save me save me save me... I'm naked and I'm far from home The slate will soon be clean Ill erase the memories To start again with somebody new Was it all wasted All that love? ... I hang my head and I advertise A soul for sale or rent I have no heart I'm cold inside I have no real intent Save me save me save me I can't face this life alone Save me save me save me... I'm naked and I'm far from home Each night I cry I still believe the lie I love you till I die Save me save me save me Don't let me face my life alone Save me save me ooh... I'm naked and I'm far from home