Queen - Play The Game (1980)

"Play the Game" is a song by British rock band Queen, written by Freddie Mercury. It is the first track on the first side of ...

"Play the Game" is a song by British rock band Queen, written by Freddie Mercury. It is the first track on the first side of their 1980 album The Game. It also appears on their Greatest Hits album. The single was a hit in the UK, reaching #14 in the charts, and in the US it peaked at #42.

Music video

The cover of the single, as well as its promotional video directed by Brian Grant, marked the first time Mercury appeared in either format with what later became his trademark moustache. Brian May did not use his trademark Red Special guitar, instead using a Fender Stratocaster replica made by Satellite. This was likely due to the risk of damage involved in the shot in which Mercury snatches the guitar from May, then appears to throw it back to him which was played back in reverse so that it would be easier for May to play the solo after "catching" the guitar in the video. A shot of the band in the unedited blue screen set for the video was later used for the cover of the "Another One Bites the Dust" single release.