Lester's Album Discussion Thread - "The Game"

The first side of the game is flawless, but the second side is good but not great. Fav songs are play the game, dragon attack, CLTCL. and save me. My least fav is coming soon.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Boy Thomas Raker wrote: [/QUOTENAME]"It's because (except for the areas around the coasts) people in the states couldn't handle the fact that a rockgroup was fronted by a gay singer..."
Unless I'm mistaken, in Queen's golden age of music (Queen to Jazz), Freddie was dressed in ballet tights, spandex bejeweled tights, short shorts and called people dear and darling. Any chance that "people in the States" may have thought he could have been gay?..... according to "radiowhatsnew", accepted ballet shoe and tights wearing Freddie, but not Village People clone Freddie. Interesting theory. [/QUOTE]

I think you haven't been aware of a couple of important things in pop music around the 70's.
Indeed Freddie dressed in ballet tights etc...but that was totally normal in the 70's era, it was the glamrock era and it wasn't particulary a look for gay people only. (for example Rod stewart dressed even more over the top in the 70's and he is certainly NOT gay). In fact it was the fashion those days to be androgyn, and had nothing to do with gay people.
When freddie changed his look in the early 80's the glam era passed, and his new look was the typical gay-clone look. This was a look which was associated by many people as the typical gay look.

again, were you even alive in 1980?...I remember the era well. Freddie look had nothing to do with queen waning popularity in the eighties. If that was the case, why was AOBTD queens biggest hit?...It had to do with changing of musical styles.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]mike hunt wrote: [/QUOTENAME] My least fav is coming soon.
[/QUOTE]

No, tell us now!

I agree with some of you’re points regarding this CD. In my opinion, The Game was a good offering from them. It still retains their unique sound and branched out a bit too. I don’t believe there is a bad song on the entire CD. Of course some are better than others; the weakest one for me would be “Another one bites the dust”. I know it was a huge hit just about everywhere, but really it’s just an average disco recoding. Also in my opinion “The Game” marked the downfall of Queen in the USA. After that CD everything they released had synthesizer on it or some sort of crappy disco tune on it. Freddie was wrong; they did lose their rock n’ roll feel. Other than “Innuendo” all their other offerings were weak by anybody’s standards. I know in Europe they were still superstars. It seems they could no wrong there. They could even fart on a record and most everyone there praise it as pure brilliance. They never bothered to return to the USA because nobody here would waste their money to here something like “Radio Ga, ga” or “Body language”

Can sit through this record without even thinking of picking that needle up. I love every song on it. I notice a lot of people dont like Coming soon, but I love the New Wave twinges it plays on and works as another musical conquest by Queen. A lot of people seem to hate Rock it too, I love that song too, it's a forward thinking track with echoes of the past. Thats the best way I can describe, I love Freddie's intro it feels like old doo wop or whatever you call it lol. Don't even get me started on DOn't try Suicide, a Queen classic. I imagine that track would've been a lil' different if they werent being drivin in to a "more stripped down= sound by Mack (funny because while they refer to the game as more stripped it had more synths). I think of it in the same vein as the bicycle race. It's a classic Queen song because the bass really made the band and its great on there. I think Freddie sounds great, the melody is great. (hops on my high horse) I think people who dont like it are posers who cant get over the "simple lyrics" and will cry that the writing is bad. That's a bunch of bull, the music is wonderfully written for a pop song and it works. If you want to look for meaningful lyricsread a book of poetry. This is music and its more about sounds and notes (which are one in the same. Off my high horse).

I guess people think the second side is weak but I think both sides are amazing as judged by when I'm listening, do I want to get up and skip a song? With the game the answer is no. Thats not the case with all Queen albums. If I have jazz spinning I'm anxious to skip jealousy to get to the bicycle race... Typing that allowed me to formulate my thoughts better. the Game is just brilliantly set up, as for as which songs follow which songs. IT's not that theres any bad songs on A day at the races but I feel the need to skip some songs to get to the next one (i.e. WHite man.) It's not that the songs are bad. With the game I don't get that feeling.

"KDj" I agree with you on don't try suicide, for me it's a great song. It's got all the queen trademarks, and has that rock meets broadway feel that many freddie songs have (my fav style of queen). The only song I still don't like is coming soon, usually roger writes my least favorite songs anyway.

The Game is not one of my favourites. It's good, but nothing more. AOBTD and CLTCL are certainly fabulous songs, deserved number ones. Dragon Attack is very good, Play The Game is OK and Rock It is also a nice song. The rest - I can do without. The album showed a new direction for Queen, which they needed after the uninteresting Jazz. My rating: 3/5

The Game is Queen's worst album for me. A weak attempt at adding a bit of new wave to their sound. Good points- Play The Game at least live, with a great guitar solo, Dragon Attack is great as is AOTBD. There are numerous bad points; CLTCL is far better live than in the studio with the piano, Don't Try Suicide is an apt title for a charmless, unmelodic bit of trash with terrible new wave finger clicks. Coming Soon is cod-punk nonsense that sounds tinny and weak compared with SHA, in fact a major crticism is that none of the songs rock hard at all, DA excepted. Even HS had Put Out The Fire. Rock It is abysmal with a synth that sounds like a 1980s microwave-all excitement is drained out of guitar and drums by Mack's souless, dry production.

Saving grace comes with Sail Away Swet Sister but Save Me could have been better-solid a sit was.If RTB had produced it, it would have burned the house down, Mack just lets it simmer. TG undeserved success sent Queen down a dark alley from which they would recover but too late to prove the revival on stage ( they could hav epalyed 7 tracks from TM rather than the four in 86 from AKOM.)

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Asterik wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Rock It is abysmal with a synth that sounds like a 1980s Microwave and drums by Mack's souless, dry production.
[/QUOTE]

You are implying what?

Sure, I wish they would've used a Moog, too.

The Game is one of my fave albums.
Although it is a departure from their previous albums (i agree with that), i enjoy it very much. But again, as i mentioned in the HS thread, Queen was doing some more experimenting in the studio and thats always great for myself being a fan, keeps me ever interested. (i.e the introduction for the first time usage of synths on the album etc)
I really enjoy the musicianship and lyrics of all of it.
yes it was a departure from anything theyve done before. But thats why i love them so much. Its always different. But sill seething in it all, they retained their "QUEEN ELEMENTS" in each respect, no matter how different they were.
And to me, they may not have had their "traditional" rockers on there, but the rocking was there, to me it resonates throughout DRAGON ATTACK and ROCK IT.
I completely agree it could have been longer. Save Me always leaves me wanting more...
Time for the song rundown...

PTG-- I love this track. And it totally blows me away when I've got the live version cranked from my DVD surround sound. The lyrics are fantastic and speak to me (and im sure others). And i sort of enjoy the synths on there actually. It seems to flow well from the vocal transitioning into Brian's solo. Its almost a piece of advice for those afraid to jump into love, "Just play the game" and the opening "Open up your mind and let me step inside..." gives me chills everytime.

DA-- JOHN DEACON IS A BASS GOD ON THIS SONG!
Definatly one of my fave Queen Rockers. It oozes the perfect mix of Rock and Funk. And Roger's drumming is fab, gives it that extra OOMPF mid song. And as always Bri's guitar work leaves me speechless and shamefully yet shamelessly (at the same time) playing air guitar. Followed by the vocal breakdown of "Slow down..." etc how can you not want to rock out to this. And live, well, no words for this track live. Both With Freddie and Paul Rodgers. Works amazingly.

ANOBTD-- Of course one of their biggest hits in the US. I love this song and strutting around to it. Definatly a performance song, and one of Deaky's best masterpieces. Love the basswork on it and Freddies vocal improvisations. They played this at my Semi-Formal this year, and lemme tell you, kids dont know good music at all! Me and this other girl whos a Queen fan were like the only few on the floor doing the Freddie strut, and throwing caution to the wind, we didnt care! Its a fab tune and for this song alone Deaky should get more credit from the general public.

NYLT-- I love this one too. Acutally, one underrated track by Deaky IMO. Its got that bit of funk with some hint of new wave. Because who doesnt at one point or another Need Someones loving one night??

CLTCL-- A Classic. Few words needed. Very nostalgic of the Elvis era and rockabily. Love it. One of Freddies pure genious fun songs about his fave thing and mine, love.

RI(PJ)-- PURE MUSICAL MAGIC! A real Rocker a la Taylor. Definatly makes me want to dance and let my hair down. I love singing this one. The opening with Freddie "When i hear that Rock N Roll..." to Rogers "We gonna Rock it tonight" is a PURE ROck Lovers anthem. I know its mine.

DTS-- Uh, overall, not one of my favorite Queen tracks. Mainly because Suicide is a sensitve subject for me. But if i take the song purely tounge in cheek, then i actually enjoy it and its VERY VERY SLOWLY growing on me. I do enjoy the "nobodys worth it" and i get a chuckle from "all you do is get on my tits"

SASS-- Definatly one of my favorite Brian Tracks. Somewhat reminescent of ALL DEAD ALL DEAD with the subtle piano in it, its a beautiful song with poetic lyrics. Which is truly one of Brians best elements. And then Freddie's "Hot Child..." verse always gives me chills. Really gives the feeling of someone thinking about his girl sailing away on a ship through the synth and musical work alone.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Mircrowave! wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Asterik wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Rock It is abysmal with a synth that sounds like a 1980s Microwave and drums by Mack's souless, dry production.
[/QUOTE]

You are implying what?

Sure, I wish they would've used a Moog, too. [/QUOTE]

hah hah it wasn't an attack on you, my friend, it just bleeped like a microwave.

I love The Game. It was my very first exposure to Queen. My sister had the LP, when I was little. Years later, when I became a diehard fan as a teenager, I bought the cassette at Myrtle Beach. I remember the dude at the music store went, "Yeeeeaaah, old skool!" LOL So, when I listen to it now, I think of dancing to AOBTD with my sister and being at the beach.

It's a short, but sweet, album with no fillers and a few of my favorite tracks - Dragon Attack, SASS, and Save Me. ****/*****