Santana: Game of Love featuring Michelle Branch

Capitalizing on his immense success with the album Supernatural, and its hits (including “Smooth,” “Maria Maria,” and “Love of My Life”), Carlos Santana repeated the process with his next album, Shaman.

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However, that album, while still quite successful in terms of sales, didn’t quite have the magic embodied in Supernatural. Whereas much of Supernatural felt like true collaboration, and the songs encompassed more of the “Santana sound,” Shaman displays a Carlos Santana who appears to be a bit farther from the core.

Emblematic of Shaman is the smash hit, “The Game of Love,” a duet with Michelle Branch. Whether true or not, The Game of Love appears primarily to be a song written by pro songwriters (in this case, Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowells), and sung by a pop star (Michelle Branch, platinum-selling singer-songwriter, and also a member of The Wreckers with Jessica Harp). Although the song was ostensibly produced by Carlos and Clive Davis, it doesn’t have what most people think of as the “Santana feel.”

For one thing, there is very little Latin percussion. Too, the song is in a major key (D major), and never modulates out of it. Finally, Santana’s playing — while tuneful enough — never seems to ascend to the status of hooks. Rather, it floats through the song, pleasant enough, but not as memorable as many of his riffs in other songs. Even his guitar tone seems a bit more generic than usual.

Latin-Rock Video

Check out the new video for this guitar and percussion-driven song by the leading Santana Tribute and Latin-rock band.

Watch the Video

Contrast that with “Smooth,” from Supernatural, where Santana’s guitar riffs form an integral part of the melody, the Latin percussion-driven Cha Cha groove is unending, and even the horns emphasize the minor key.

Still, The Game of Love is a well-crafted song, a perfect fit for Michelle Branch, and it became a hit for logical reasons. Perhaps hearing this song will encourage younger listeners to seek out earlier — and more iconic — Santana recordings.

Game of Love Lyrics

Tell me
Just what you want me to be
One kiss
And boom you’re the only one for me
So please tell me why don’t you come around no more
Cause right now I’m crying
Outside the door of your candy store

It just takes a little bit of this
A little bit of that
It started with a kiss
Now we we’re up to bat
A little bit of laughs

A little bit of pain
I’m telling you, my babe
It’s all in the game of love

Is whatever you make it to be
Sunshine set on this cold lonely sea
So please baby try and use me for what I’m good for
It ain’t sayin’ goodbye it’s knocking down the door
Of your candy store

It’s all in this game of love

You roll me, control me
Console me, please hold me
You guide me, divide me, into two

So please tell me why don’t you come around no more
Cause right now I’m dying outside the door
Of your loving store

It’s all in this game of love
It’s all in the game of love
Yeah, in the game of love

Roll me, 2ontrol me
Please hold me
(Make me feel good, yeah)

I’m out here on my own
On my own

Carlos’ Gear

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Game of Love Chords

Intro

Gmaj7/E – A/D
(repeat)

Verse
Gmaj7/E – A/D
(repeat)

PreChorus
Gmaj7/E – A/D – Gmaj7 – Asus4
Gmaj7/E – Fm7 – Gmaj7 – A (add 9)

Chorus
Gmaj7/E – Dmaj7 – Gmaj7/E – D
Gmaj7/E – Dmaj7 – Gmaj7/E – Asus4

Pre Bridge
Gmaj7/E – Dmaj7 – Gmaj7 – A (add 9)

Bridge
Gmaj7/E – Fm7 – Gmaj7 – Asus4
Gmaj7/E – Fm7 – Gmaj7 – A

Guitar Solo
Gmaj7/E – A/D – Gmaj7/E – A/D
Gmaj7/E – A/D – Gmaj7 – Asus4
(repeat)

Santana Tribute Band

Most accurate renditions of Santana songs anywhere. Hear their versions of Black Magic Woman, Europa, Smooth, more.

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