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The Game of Love (album)

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The Game of Love
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 25, 2006
Recorded2005-2006
GenreDance-pop, pop folk, pop
Length47:10
LanguageEnglish, Greek
LabelSony BMG Greece/RCA
Helena Paparizou chronology
Iparhi Logos
(2006)
The Game of Love
(2006)
Vrisko To Logo Na Zo
(2008)
Singles from The Game of Love
  1. "Mambo!"
    Released: November, 2005
  2. "Heroes"
    Released: August 7, 2006
  3. "Gigolo"
    Released: November 15, 2006
  4. "Teardrops (Radio-Promo-Only)"
    Released: December, 2006
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Music Corner =(favourable)[1]

The Game of Love is the Greek singer Helena Paparizou's second English-language international album after the release of My Number One in 2005. It was first released in Greece on 25 October 2006.[2][3] The album is composed of 12 tracks and a bonus track; seven of these had been previously released on Paparizou's previous album Iparhi Logos, and another was released exclusively to Scandinavia as the official song of the European Athletics Championships. Five of the songs were just English translations of Greek songs as well as two covers. The album was Paparizou's second album in Scandinavia. The album has enjoyed mild success in Greece and Cyprus where it topped the charts and quickly attained platinum certification, while it failed to chart in other countries.

Album information

Released as an attempt to break the international market, the album was originally intended to be released all over Europe, including France and the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, North Africa and Asia, in at least 45 countries initially, with a possible release in the United States. However, after little to no promotional performances by Paparizou, and the failure of the album in Sweden and lack of success of the singles, the international release of the album became an aborted project by Sony BMG and thus it was released in only 14 countries. Paparizou had also stated at the time, that she did not wish to leave her family and loved ones behind in Greece, to go out and try to make a career internationally. She had stated that if it meant to be, it will happen on its own.[citation needed]

The album contains 13 tracks, 7 of which have already been released, 6 songs are English translations of Greek songs released on album Helena's previous album Υπάρχει Λόγος. The song "Heroes" has already been released as a single in Finland and Sweden. The 6 remaining tracks have been written especially for this album. It also includes the hit single "Mambo!" which had success in many charts around the world. In the Japanese version of The Game of Love, "It's Gone Tomorrow" is not included.

The songs "Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)" and "Teardrops" have been written by Elena herself. There is also a bonus track called "Ό,τι Αξίζει Είναι Οι Στιγμές" (Oti Axizi Ine I Stigmes (Le Bonheur)), which was originally a song by Manos Hadjidakis, and was a big hit in France in 1962. "You Set My Heart on Fire" belongs to Tina Charles.

In December 2007, the song "It's Gone Tomorrow" (Iparhi Logos) (Originally track 9) was removed from The Game of Love because of problems with the original lyricist. All copies with the track still on store shelves were returned to Sony BMG with new copies being sent out minus that track. The new version also came with the Nokia logo on the front cover, as well as Helena's Nokia advertisement picture inside the CD booklet. The CD also comes in a special paper case that the jewel case slides into.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gigolo"Alex Papaconstantinou, Marcus Englöf & Mack3:22
2."Somebody's Burning (Put The Fire Out)"Toni Mavridis, Niclas Olausson & Sam Mcarthy3:12
3."The Game of Love"Alex Papaconstantinou, Marcus Englöf & Mack3:09
4."Mambo!"Alex Papaconstantinou, Marcus Englöf & Samuel Waerno3:04
5."Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)"Toni Mavridis, Niclas Olausson, Elena Paparizou & Sam Mcarthy3:37
6."Teardrops"Toni Mavridis, Niclas Olauson & Elena Paparizou3:49
7."Let Me Let Go" (English version of Pote Ksana)Alex Papaconstantinou, Marcus Englöf & Mack2:54
8."Heroes" (The official theme song of the 2006 European Championships in Athletics)N. Molinder, J. Persson & P. Ankarberg2:55
9."It's Gone Tomorrow" (English version of Iparhei Logos)Eftivoulos & Mack4:16
10."Heart of Mine" (English version of Me Theloun Ki Alloi)Martin Hanxen, Jimmy Thornfeldy & Urban Robertsson2:56
11."You Set My Heart on Fire"Biddu3:12
12."Voulez Vous?"Marcus Englöf, Alex Papaconstantinou & Mack3:03
13."Seven Days"Per Liden3:26
14."Oti Axizi Ine I Stigmes (Le Bonheur)"Manos Hadjidakis & Eleana Vrahali3:39

Bonus tracks

South African Edition

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."My Number One"Christos Dantis & Natalia Germanou2:55

Japanese Edition

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Mambo! (P.K.G / Slashmix)"Alex Papaconstantinou, Marcus Englof & Samuel Waerno Remixed by Hiromitsu Watanabe7:39

Singles

"Mambo!"

The first single from the album was "Mambo!". The song was released as a CD single almost a full year prior to the album's release in Greece and Cyprus in November 2005. After the album's release, the song was released all across Europe where it charted on various national charts, as well as the United States.

"Heroes"

The second single from the album was "Heroes". The song was the official theme song of the 2006 European Championships in Athletics in Sweden. The song was released only in Sweden as a CD single in August 2006, prior to the album's release, where it topped the Swedish single charts.

"Gigolo"

The third single from the album was "Gigolo". The song was released as a radio single in Greece and Cyprus in July 2006, prior to the album's release. The song was later released as a CD single in Scandinavia, where it charted on various national charts.

"Teardrops"

The last single from the album was "Teardrops". The song was only released to radio stations in Greece and Cyprus in December 2006, where it reached number one on both of the countries respective airplay charts.

Release history

Region Date Label
Greece October 25, 2006 Sony BMG
Cyprus
South Africa November 13, 2006 Gallo Record Company
Scandinavia November 15, 2006 Bonnier Music
Russia April 29, 2007 Sony BMG
Japan[4] October 24, 2007 BMG Japan

Charts

Chart Providers Peak
position
Weeks on Chart Certification
Greek Albums Chart IFPI 1 36 Platinum
Cypriot Album Chart All Records Top 20[5] 1 50 Platinum
Swedish Albums Chart GLF 18 4

References

  1. ^ "Music Corner Νέες Κυκλοφορίες". Musiccorner.gr. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  2. ^ "MadTV report of new album". Mad.tv. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. ^ "MadTV report on details of the new album". Mad.tv. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  4. ^ "エレナ". Sony Music. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  5. ^ "Cypriot Top 40 Albums Chart". Music.net.cy. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2017.