- Play (Swedish girl group)
Infobox musical artist
Name = Play
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Origin =Stockholm ,Sweden
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Genre = Pop,teen pop , dance,bubblegum pop ,Europop
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Years_active =2001 –2005
Label =Sony BMG , Columbia, (Music World)
Associated_acts =Amanda Lameche
URL = http://www.playmaniafans.blogspot.com/ http://groups.msn.com/Playalicioushttp://playfan.de/Current_members =
Past_members =Anaïs Lameche ('01-'05)Anna Sundstrand ('01-'05)Rosie Munter ('01-'05)Janet Leon ('03-'05)Faye Hamlin ('01-'03)
Notable_instruments =Play was a popular Swedish pop
girl group that made its debut on the music scene in2001 . Five young women in total have been Play members -Faye Hamlin ,Anna Sundstrand ,Anais Lameche , andRosie Munter formed Play's original line-up from the band's formation until late 2003, andJanet Leon joined Play after Faye Hamlin's departure. This group has released a total of five albums and toured the United States several times, gaining a large fanbase among a pre-teen and teenaged audience in theUnited States andCanada and, to a lesser extent, theEuropean Union .Fact|date=February 2007 Though Play performed as a group for the last time in December 2004 and rumors of the group's break-up abounded throughout2005 , official word was released by the members of Play onSeptember 29 2005 , that the group was indeed on an indefinite break.History
It's "Us Against the World"
Play was formed as a result of a nation-wide talent search led by
Laila Bagge , a recording artist and dance studio owner. Her original line-up for Play consisted of two girls discovered at her dance studio - 12-year-oldAnna Sundstrand , a relative of the legendaryGreta Garbo , and 13-year-oldAnais Lameche , younger sister of recording artistAmanda Lameche - and two girls found in the audition process, 13-year-old Fanny, orFaye Hamlin , who had done modeling work, and 13-year-old Rosanna, orRosie Munter , who had starred in a popular Swedish film called "Eva and Adam". Unbeknownst to Laila, Faye and Rosie had also been best friends before being selected to be in Play.Play's career was launched both in
Sweden and in theUnited States in 2001-2002. Play's first single and video, "Us Against the World," was released in September2001 in the United States and featured anEPK of the girls. In Sweden, Play's first full-length English-language album "Us Against the World," was released, while in the United States, a self-titled Play mini-album consisting of 7 of the 11 "Us Against the World" tracks was released onJune 25 2002 . Play toured in the United States in the subsequent months, often partnering with girls' clothing chainLimited Too . Play's music was also featured in the 2002 big-screen flick "The Master of Disguise ", for which they filmed a video with numerous well-known co-stars includingLil' Fizz who rapped on the track,J-Boog andSolange Knowles . The girls of Play concluded 2002 with an appearance on the nationally-televisedMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade , in which they, standing atop theBuild-a-Bear float, performed a rendition of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," which they had originally recorded withChris Trousdale ofDream Street . The album peaked at number #74 on theBillboard 200 and eventually went gold.Play returned to the studio to begin recording their second album, "Replay". Before their second album was released, a concert DVD called "
Playin' Around " hit stores, featuring several Play music videos, special "Making of" segments, footage from a live concert, and clips of the girls of Play recording and preparing for their second album. "Replay", a more mature and R&B-influenced effort, was released onJune 10 2003 , and on that day Play made several appearances to perform, including a guest spot on popular daytime talk showLive With Regis and Kelly . In this new stage of Play's career,Faye Hamlin emerged as the group's lead singer.Rosie Munter was most notably the quartet'ssoprano ,Anna Sundstrand themezzo-soprano , andAnaïs Lameche the powerhouse-vocalscontralto During this time period, a cover of British girl groupAtomic Kitten 's "Whole Again" and a coming-of-age song called "I Must Not Chase the Boys" were recorded, and released as singles in the US. The video made for "I Must Not Chase the Boys" was aired on MTV's TRL and made the top 10 requested videos countdown, and it also managed to be featured onCarson Daly 's radio show as one of his picks of the week. The album debuted at number 67 and managed to stay in the top 200 albums for a couple of months.Play continued to tour in 2003 while still affiliated with
Limited Too and promoting "Clickits", a new decorative girls' product. The girls of Play also appeared on several Nickelodeon television specials as featured guests and performers."Don't Stop the Music": a new beginning for Play
In October 2003, Play's lead singer
Faye Hamlin , then 16 years old, decided to leave Play to pursue a college education. Faye continued to make appearances with Play until December 2003, even appearing in Play's video "It's A Hard Knock Life," featured on a DVD re-release of the hit musical Annie. OnDecember 15 , a formal press release on the group's official site informed fans of the line-up change and introduced new memberJanet Leon , a 13-year-old who would step up to become Play's new lead singer.Play's third US album, "Don't Stop the Music", was released on
March 9 2004 , accompanied by numerous appearances and performances by Janet, Anais, Rosie, and Anna inLimited Too stores across the country and in the Spring Thing Tour, along with J-Me,Stevie Brock , andJump5 . This album was decidedly more aimed at a younger crowd and received a mixed reception by Play fans, especially older fans. However, Play proved to be as strong as ever, returning to the US in May 2004 to headline a school tour sponsored by anti-drug organization MADD About Music, for which Play is the official teen group. Play also became affiliated withKohl's new clothing brand for girls calledeverGirl , recording a song as well as a video to promote this new clothing line. The title track from the album, "Don't Stop the Music", was originally recorded and written by Swedish singerRobyn in 2002 for her album, also entitled "Don't Stop the Music". Music fans have criticised Play for coveting Robyn's song and album title, which could have hindered the singer's possible comeback in the United States. However, as a co-writer on the track, it would be wise to assume that Robyn could have asserted discretion over Play's re-recording and so such claims of 'foul play' are disputable. The album had disappointing record sales."Play Around the Christmas Tree"
In November 2004, Play released their fourth US album, a Christmas collection entitled "
Play Around the Christmas Tree ". A brief trip to the US followed as the four girls of Play made what would be their final appearances inLimited Too stores and Build-a-Bear stores in theNortheastern United States . Other than this short set of appearances and performances, this Play album was, up to that point, their least promoted release.2005 - Play's Greatest Hits
After the late 2004 release of
Play Around the Christmas Tree , little news of Play (collectively) was heard. In April2005 , a fifth US album by Play entitled "Girl's Mind " was released. This compilation, which seems to be best described as a "Greatest Hits" album, features ten of the best-known Play songs all recorded when former memberFaye Hamlin was a member of the group. None of the girls of Play came to the US to promote this album, and it was not widely released in stores across the country on its supposed release date. Finally, in September 2005, an official statement from the members of Play confirmed that they are on an indefinite break as a group.Post-breakup
As solo performers, some of the Play girls have begun making their own marks. Following the expiration of Play-Central.com, the group's former official site run by Columbia Records, the girls of Play (most notably Anna and Rosie) have kept in touch with their still-dedicated grassroots audience by way of Play-Mania.com, a very active fan site that had been owned and maintained since 2003 by now 17-year-old Lisa Tardo. The site was featured in Popstar! Magazine when it was a few months old, and it has since held its own as the definitive information site for Play. In September 2007, Lisa felt like it was time to close Play-Mania, but she still keeps fans updated through her website's Myspace page.
Janet Leon recorded a song exclusively released by Build-a-Bear in 2005 and a new song for everGirl. Janet has continued to record songs in a studio and hopes to release a solo album in the future.Anna Sundstrand ,Rosie Munter , and former memberFaye Hamlin have all signed with modeling agencies and begun working in the modeling industry. Rosie is working on a new solo album featuring the single "Tick Tock," and also worked with Swedish producer Kocky on his new album. Faye recorded a duet with Swedish singer Adam Appel that appeared on the soundtrack to a 2004 Swedish film. Anna, in addition to releasing a 2006 calendar in the United States featuring her modeling photos, is also said to be working on her own solo album, and she has performed several times withChris Trousdale since 2005.Fact|date=February 2007Anais Lameche is said to be working on a solo project of her own.Discography
* "Play" -
June 25 ,2002
* "Playin' Around CD/DVD" -January 28 ,2003
* "Replay" -June 10 ,2003
* "Don't Stop the Music" -March 9 ,2004
* "Play Around the Christmas Tree " -November 23 ,2004
* "Girl's Mind " -April 15 ,2005 External links
* [http://www.rosanna-munter.com/ Rosanna Munter's Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rosannamunter Rosanna Munter's Official Myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/leonjanet Janet Leon's Official Myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/anaislamechemusic Anaïs Lameche's Official Myspace]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=110405822 Anaïs Lameche's Second Official Myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/46968720 Anna Sundstrand's Official Myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/fayehamlinmusic Faye Hamlin's Official Myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/fayehamlinmusic2 Faye Hamlin's Second Official Myspace]
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