The Game

Double A-Side Single by Ace Rejects from Shattered Dreams Released 13 June 2011 / 10 June 2011 Format CD, Digital Download Recorded 2010 Genre ElectroPop Label Fusion Records Writer Ace Rejects, Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Xenomania Producer Xenomania Chart position 2 Certification Platinum Ace Rejects chronology Jealous Games (2011) The Game/You Want What?! (2011) Sparks

The Game is the third single to be released from British/Irish girlgroup Ace Rejects, and their second single in the Republic of Ireland. It is also the third song to feature from their debut album Shattered Dreams. The track was written by Ace Rejects, Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper and Xenomania. The single was released with You Want What?! as a double A-Side in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It is due to be released in the UK on 13 June 2011. It was certified Platinum selling over 250,000 copies on 7th August 2011.

Background
The Game was a number of tracks that was recorded and helped written by British producers, Xenomania. The production company and Ace Rejects helped in its formation. The track has been classified as an electropop ballad, detailing the thoughts of a woman taking part in an affair with a married man. Higgins has described it as a hard song to write because he wanted to get the emotions just right for the girls.

When initially previewed to the band, the group was not sure whether to pick it for their debut album Shattered Dreams, however a quick change of mind from bandmember Kelly Dando persuaded the other band members to pick the track.

Critical Reception
When critics were reviewing the album, The Game was one of the tracks that received widespread praise. Many critics commented on the heartfelt lyrics and the empathy that they could now feel with the seductive mistress who desperately wants to be with her married lover. Critics also commented on the sheer production skills of the producers Xenomania and said it was "Xenomania working at their best."

A critic at Digital Spy gave the track 10/10 when reviewing it for the group's debut album.

Music Video
A still from the 'The Game' VideoThe video starts off in a colour setting. There is no music playing at this point. A man (Man 1) is seen leaving his house, kissing his wife on the cheek and patting his children on the head. Very American Dream family setting. The action then cuts to another setting where a woman is seen leaving her house in the early morning, kissing her husband goodbye as he stays in the house to look after the children. The final setting shows Ama kissing her boyfriend goodbye as he walks out the door. The screen then cuts to a three way segment as the instrumental starts for the song and the camera colour setting turns to black and white. We get to see Man 1 driving in his car, the woman getting into a car and receiving a text on her lovely new BLACKBERRY saying ‘Waiting for u, Room 352’, whilst Ama is seen slipping into more sultry underwear.

The camera then pans straight onto the woman and she is seen knocking on Room 352 and Nicola answers the door. As Nicola begins her verse, we see the two women embracing each other and they start kissing. Nicola takes her over to the bed, putting her hands on the woman’s hips to direct her, all the time kissing her neck and whispering into her ear.

The camera then changes to Ama who is seen walking to the door in her dressing gown and rollers, looking straight into the camera saying her lines. The camera then focuses on the shoes of the man outside and Ama is seen opening the door and all the viewer can see is the back of the man’s head.

As the chorus begins, the girls are all shown in separate shots with the men and woman handcuffed to the beds. They all seem to be dripping them in some waxy stuff (very Sugababes Too Lost In You video style). The camera shots also change to the girls standing in a plain background together all in short red dresses singing the lines of the chorus

Nicola’s verse begins again. This time we see her and the woman resting at the side of the bed. Nicola is gently stroking the woman’s hair as she looks straight into the camera. Whilst Nicola’s verse is still playing, the actionscuts to Kelly and her man. We see him knocking on the door and they initially kiss. However he is saying words to Kelly and suddenly her face turns into despair. She begins crying and hitting him.

The action goes back to Ama and her mystery man. We see her leading him over to her bed. We still haven’t seen his face yet, but as she throws him onto the bed and gets on top of him, it’s finally revealed who the mystery guy is...JAMES from PHOENIX RISING

Again the girls are seen on top of their respective characters as they are handcuffed to the bed. Kelly is seen teasingly running her finger down the chest of her male counterpart and then seen moving her hand towards his unbuttoned jeans. Ama is seen blindfolding James and teasing him with a whip like thing. Nicola is seen kissing her female counterpart all over and her hand is shown undoing her and her lover’s bra.

As the song starts nearing its end, we can start to see things unravelling for our three girls. Nicola’s lover’s phone is seen ringing and it flashes up ‘Dale xx’ and the woman is seen pushing Nicola steadily away from her and gathering up her belongings and attempting to leave the room as Nicola holds onto her. The camera then points straight to Kelly and she is seen smashing vases around the room at her now ex-lover. He is seen trying to plead with her but Kelly just keeps throwing those vases and other items at him. The camera then goes to Ama who is staring at a picture of her and her husband as James starts to embrace her. Just at that point, her ‘husband’ walks in and sees her with James. A fight starts to break out and James is seen running from the room.

As Kelly’s ending lines start to come into play, the action points back to Nicola who is seen crying at the hotel window looking out. The viewer thinks she could possibly be crying at the fact that her lover is leaving her but we then see her picking up a suitcase and making her way down the set of hotel stairs. The camera then shoots to Kelly who is seen lying propped up by the door, surrounded by the broken parts of vases and other such furniture. A note is pushed through the bottom of the door saying ‘I’m sorry xx’. Kelly is seen going over to grab the note then proceeding to smash more furniture (Guuurl has issues). The final shot shows Ama being thrown out of her flat by her husband, as he throws her belongings out into the middle of the hallway, as a crowd of people begin to spill into the corridor as she is seen attempting to gather all her belongings up. The camera focuses on James who is seen turning his back, looking straight at Ama, who then proceeds to cry further.

Tracklisting
CD1

•1) The Game •2) You Want What?! •3) Keep Walking •4) The Game (Phoenix Rising's Gamebreaker Dub) •5) You Want What?!(Bella-May's "Not In A Million Years Bbz" Mix) CD2 •1) The Game •2) You Want What?! •3) Do It •4) You Want The Game (Meli's AR Mash Up) •5) The Game (The Rain Game Mix)

Chart
The single as part of the Double A Side has so far sold over 250,000 singles in the UK Market

Chart Peak Singles Chart #2 Download Chart #3 Airplay Chart #6