Play With Me

Album: Extreme (1989)
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Songfacts®:

  • The intro to this song is a souped-up variation on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Turkish March," a famous classical piece for piano.
  • In a Songfacts interview with Nuno Bettencourt, who wrote this song with lead singer Gary Cherone, the Extreme guitarist explained that musically, the song was inspired by the band Kix, one of his favorite artists.
  • This was used in the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure in a scene where Mozart comes into the present day and plays the song at a keyboard store in the mall. It also appears in the first episode of Stranger Things season 4, where it's an anachronism: this season is set in 1986 but the song wasn't released until 1989.
  • A track from Extreme's first album, this rocker contains rather rudimentary lyrics, simply listing children's games throughout the verses. It serves as a showcase for Gary Cherone's vocal dexterity and Nuno Bettencourt shredding guitar.

    The band's next album contained the smash hits "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted," both sensitive ballads. Concert goers expecting a mellow acoustic experience got quite a shock when they went to an Extreme show and heard songs like "Play With Me" and "Decadence Dance."

Comments: 9

  • Poomp King from Emothis song is number one
  • Tom from Hawkins IndianaSeason 4 of Stranger Things takes place during the spring of 1986 so if this song was used in an episode that means Bill and Ted changed the fabric of time by taking it back to 1986, exactly what Rufus told them not to do. See what happens Ted when you forget to wind your watch?
  • Al from WalsallIn Bill and Ted, it is actually Beethoven, rather than Mozart
  • Jeff from Boston, MaYou are all right...this song is about children's games *and* sex. The lyrics are making the point that sex had become so casual in the 80s that young people attached no more emotional or moral significance to it than they did to a game.
  • Mike from Lincoln Park, Miwhat a weird song!
  • Alice from Cwmbran,This song is about childrens games...not sex. This song is brilliant (:
  • Scott from Lapuente, CaThis song is amazing. to Jay from MS... how is it about sex?
  • Jay from Jackson, Msthis song is about sex
  • Chen from Greenville, NcThis song was used during the Mall chase in 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' [IMDB #tt0096928]
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