Wicked Game

The song is in B Dorian,{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0126258 |title='Wicked Game' sheet music |work=musicnotes.com |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=September 4, 2016}} performed in what AllMusic describes as a "brooding, sorrowfully conflicted" tone.{{cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=Wicked Game – Chris Isaak |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/wicked-game-mt0010704597 |work=allmusic |publisher=Rovi Corp |access-date=January 25, 2013}}

Although it is often interpreted as a ballad about unrequited love,{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Jae-Ha |title=Chris Isaak finally wins success in wicked game |url=http://www.jaehakim.com/entertainment-reviews/music-reviews/chris-isaak-finally-wins-success-in-wicked-game/ |access-date=January 25, 2013 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=April 21, 1991}}{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Patrick |title=Isaak's 'Wicked Game' a Surprise Smash |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-17-ca-1705-story.html |access-date=January 25, 2013 |newspaper=L.A. Times |date=February 17, 1991}} Chris Isaak has said that the song was inspired by a telephone call from a woman seeking to arrange a hook-up and is about "what happens when you have a strong attraction to people that aren't necessarily good for you".{{cite web |url=https://www.rockhall.com/chris-isaak-shares-intimate-details-wicked-game-music-video |title=Chris Isaak Shares Intimate Details of "Wicked Game" Music Video |work=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |access-date=November 5, 2018}} It was written shortly after the call.{{cite web |url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/chris-isaak |title=Chris Isaak : Songwriter Interviews |website=www.songfacts.com |access-date=November 5, 2018}}

During the sessions for Isaak's third album Heart Shaped World, many different versions and arrangements of the song were made before the final version was completed. James Calvin Wilsey wrote and played the distinctive guitar lead using a Fender Stratocaster's whammy bar;{{cite web |url=https://rhythms.com.au/long-read-the-wilsey-sound-the-rise-fall-of-james-calvin-wilsey/ |title=The Rise and Fall of James Calvin Wilsey |publisher=Rhythms.com.au |date=February 16, 2019 |access-date=June 5, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chris-isaak-mn0000775323 |title=Chris Isaak |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |publisher= AllMusic |access-date=2024-09-03}} both the bassline and drums were sampled from previous recordings of the song and looped.{{cite web |url=http://mixonline.com/news/profiles/classic-tracks-chris-isaaks-wicked-game/365028/ |title=Classic Tracks: Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" |publisher=Mixonline.com |date=May 1, 2002 |access-date=May 22, 2011}}

The Aberdeen Evening Express extolled the "haunting strains" of "Wicked Game.""Guitar man Chris strikes a chord". Aberdeen Evening Express. May 4, 1991. p.50. Grant Walters of Albumism praised the song as a "pristine union of Isaak's aching vocal and the desolate wail of James Calvin Wilsey's '65 Stratocaster." He added, "Underneath, the brushed drum loop, simple bass line, and muted background vocals create a simmering atmospheric buzz."{{cite web|first= Grant |last= Walters |title= Chris Isaak's 'Heart Shaped World' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective |publisher= Albumism |date= June 10, 2019 |access-date= November 16, 2020 |url= https://www.albumism.com/features/chris-isaak-heart-shaped-world-turns-30-anniversary-retrospective}} Steve Huey of AllMusic described it as a "shimmering," "spare," "smoky," and "moody masterpiece."{{cite web|first= Steve |last= Huey |title= Chris Isaak – Heart Shaped World |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= November 4, 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/heart-shaped-world-mw0000200421}} Larry Flick from Billboard called it "[a] delicious treat."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= September 15, 1990 |page= 95 |access-date= October 28, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB1990.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} Alaister Moughan from Dazed wrote, "Some songs are masterpieces, some represent moments in time, and others are simply good jams. Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" is all three."{{cite magazine |url= http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/35775/1/chris-isaak-wicked-game-legacy |title= Is this the most influential love song in modern music? |first= Alaister |last= Moughan |date= May 2, 2017 |magazine= Dazed |access-date= November 28, 2020}} Joe Rhodes from Entertainment Weekly stated that this is "perhaps the album's darkest mood piece," noting its "otherworldly" opening guitar line.{{cite magazine|first= Joe |last= Rhodes |title= Chris Isaak's on top |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= March 8, 1991 |access-date= November 11, 2020 |url= https://ew.com/article/1991/03/08/chris-isaaks-top/}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as "[a] laid-back C&W tinged song featuring Isaak's Orbison-esque vocals."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-07-29.pdf|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=July 29, 1989|page=13|access-date=September 25, 2020}} Duncan Holland from Music Week felt that its "dexterity and panache is something rarely heard. The touches of Roy Orbison only make it stronger and given the right airplay, Isaak should score a significant, if unpredictable hit."{{cite magazine|first= Duncan |last= Holland |title= Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= November 3, 1990 |page= 23 |access-date= November 1, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1990/MW-1990-11-03.pdf}} A reviewer from Sunday Life complimented it as "[a] brooding ballad, image-laden, and worthy of Roy Orbison in his heyday.""Scoring Again In A Wicked Game". Sunday Life. February 3, 1991. p.24.

There are two different music videos for this song. The more well-known video was directed by Herb Ritts and shot in Hawaii at the short-lived Kamoamoa Beach in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. The newly formed black-sand beach was created from lava from Kilauea volcano flowing into the ocean about a mile away. The beach was covered by lava not long after the video was shot. The video features supermodel Helena Christensen rolling and frolicking on the beach with Isaak. It was mostly filmed in black and white. Christensen is topless through most of the video, although her nudity is concealed by camera angles. In the middle of the video, Christensen is seen only in her black lace bra and panty; other times, she wears only a men's white brief. The video achieved heavy rotation on MTV and MTV Europe,{{cite magazine|title=The Clip List|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-02-02.pdf#page=49|magazine=Billboard|date=February 2, 1991|page=51|accessdate=January 21, 2023}}{{cite magazine|first=|last=|title=Station Reports > TV > MTV/London|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-02-16.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|date=February 16, 1991|page=16|accessdate=December 12, 2022}} winning the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video and Best Cinematography at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. It was ranked number 13 on VH1's "100 Greatest Videos", number 3 on NME’s “Greatest Music Videos of all time”, number four on VH1's "50 Sexiest Video Moments", number 73 on Rolling Stone magazine's "The 100 Top Music Videos", number one on Rolling Stone magazine's "The 30 Sexiest Music Videos of All Time", and number one on Fuse's "40 Sexiest Videos" in 2010.

Another video was commissioned for the Wild at Heart VHS release and was directed by David Lynch.

{{cite web

| title= Watch: David Lynch Directed Alternate Video For Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game"

| first= Kevin

| last= Jagernauth

| date= July 3, 2012

| url= https://www.indiewire.com/2012/07/watch-david-lynch-directed-alternate-video-for-chris-isaaks-wicked-game-108913/

}}

{{cite news

| title= Is this the most influential love song in modern music?

| author= Dazed

| newspaper= Dazed

| date= May 2, 2017

| url= http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/35775/1/chris-isaak-wicked-game-legacy

}}

It features scenes of Lula Pace Fortune (Laura Dern) and Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage) from the film, interspersed with black-and-white footage of Isaak and his band performing the song. This video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.

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• US 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1990|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Reprise Records|id=7-19704}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1990|type=US cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Reprise Records|id=4-19704}}

:A. "Wicked Game" (edit) – 4:06

:B. "Wicked Game" (instrumental) – 4:48

• European 7-inch single (1989){{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1989|type=European 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Reprise Records|id=922 847-7}}

:A. "Wicked Game" – 4:46

:B. "Don't Make Me Dream About You" – 3:30

• UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1990|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=London Records|id=LON 279, 869 228-7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1990|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=London Records|id=LONCS 279, 869228 4}}

:A. "Wicked Game"

:B. "Cool Cat Walk" (by Angelo Badalamenti)

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• UK 12-inch and CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=London Records|id=LONX 279, 869 229 1}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1990|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=London Records|id=LONCD 279, 869 229 2}}

1. "Wicked Game"
2. "Cool Cat Walk" (by Badalamenti)
3. "Dark Spanish Symphony" (by Badalamenti; string version)

• French CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1991|type=French CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362-40182-2}}

1. "Wicked Game" – 4:46
2. "Don't Make Me Dream About You" – 3:30
3. "Wicked Game" (instrumental) – 4:48

• French cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Wicked Game|others=Chris Isaak|year=1991|type=French cassette single sleeve|publisher=Reprise Records|id=7599-22847-4}}

1. "Wicked Game" (edit) – 4:46
2. "Don't Make Me Dream About You" – 3:30

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• Chris Isaak – vocals, acoustic guitar
• James Calvin Wilsey – electric guitar, backing vocals
• Rowland Salley – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Kenney Dale Johnson – drums, backing vocals
• Frank Martin – keyboards

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Platinum|id=12277|certyear=2023|access-date=March 29, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=2024|access-date=July 23, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=2023|id=11869|access-date=January 4, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=January 15, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=2024|access-date=July 23, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2006|certyear=2024|id=8258-1213-1|access-date=December 13, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Chris Isaak|title=Wicked Game|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=June 1, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Greece|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2024|certweek=46|id=20241120072238|access-date=November 20, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|streamsonly=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Wicked Game

| cover = Wicked Game.jpeg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = HIM

| album = Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 and Razorblade Romance (UK and US releases)

| released = September 28, 1998

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Gothic metal

| length = 3:54

| label = BMG

| producer =

| prev_title = Your Sweet Six Six Six

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = Join Me in Death

| next_year = 1999

}}

The Finnish band HIM remade this song, first using it in their demo This Is Only the Beginning, then on their 1996 EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue, followed by another recording of it on their first album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 in 1997, and again on the British and American versions of their second album Razorblade Romance in 2000. The last recording they made of it then reappeared on their compilation album And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004. "Wicked Game" became the band's breakthrough song in their native Finland.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=finland+music+charts+wicked+game&pg=PA1795|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music – Colin Larkin|isbn=9780857125958|last1=Larkin|first1=Colin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press }} Their version appeared in "Solitude", a 2005 season 5 episode of Smallville.

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• German release

1. "Wicked Game" – 3:54
2. "For You" – 4:00
3. "Our Diabolical Rapture" – 5:20
4. "Wicked Game" (666 Remix) – 3:58

• Finnish release

1. "Wicked Game"
2. "For You"

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• 2000 UK release

1. "Wicked Game" – 3:36
2. "When Love and Death Embrace" (Amnt Mix) – 3:34
3. "The Heartless" (Serdlidlim Mix) – 3:11

• 2000 Swedish release

1. "Wicked Game" 2000
2. "When Love and Death Embrace" (Amnt Mix) – 3:34

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{{Infobox song

| name = Wicked Games

| cover = Wicked-Games-by-Parra-For-Cuva.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Parra for Cuva featuring Anna Naklab

| album =

| released = October 14, 2013

| recorded = 2013

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:15

| label = Spinnin' Deep

| producer =

| chronology = Parra for Cuva

| prev_title = Luhya

| prev_year = 2013

| next_title = Sacred Feathers

| next_year = 2016

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Anna Naklab

| type = single

| prev_title = Something Near

| prev_year = 2013

| title = Wicked Games

| year = 2013

| next_title = Fading Nights

| next_year =

}}

}}

In 2013, German house producer Parra for Cuva released a cover version that featured Anna Naklab. The single was re-titled as "Wicked Games" in plural. It was first released on Beatport worldwide as a digital download in August 2013, then a mainstream release as a digital download in France in October 2013 and in Germany on February 14, 2014. The song has charted in Australia, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

1. "Wicked Games" (radio edit) – 3:15
2. "Wicked Games" (original mix) – 5:58

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Parra for Cuva feat. Anna Naklab|title=Wicked Games|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2013|certyear=2017|access-date=December 25, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Parra for Cuva ft Anna Naklab|title=Wicked Games|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2013|certyear=2021|id=13448-4090-1|access-date=December 24, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

On June 26, 2007, Stone Sour released a cover of the song on the special edition version of the album Come What(ever) May.{{cite news |title = Stone Sour: More Details Revealed About 'Come What(ever) May' Special-Edition Reissue |website = Blabbermouth.netuth.net |date = May 7, 2007 |url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=72150 |access-date = July 6, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070711171210/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=72150 |archive-date = July 11, 2007 }} It was certified Gold by both the ARIA in 2024 and Recorded Music NZ in 2021.{{cite certification|region=Australia|certyear=2024|type=single|access-date=28 September 2024}}{{cite certification|region=New Zealand|type=single|title=Wicked Game|artist=Stone Sour|access-date=December 28, 2024|source=radioscope}}

Phillip Phillips, winner of the eleventh season of American Idol, included a cover of "Wicked Game" in the deluxe edition of his 2012 debut album, The World from the Side of the Moon.

Australian indie folk band Boy & Bear recorded a cover of this song which was released as a single on February 14, 2020{{cite web |title=Wicked Game - Single by Boy & Bear |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/wicked-game/1619860080 |access-date=4 May 2023 |date=14 February 2020}} and was later included on their album Boy & Bear at Golden Retriever Studio. It was certified Gold by ARIA in 2023.{{cite certification|region=Australia|certyear=2023|type=single|access-date=3 May 2023}}

In 2022, Norwegian dance-pop duo Marcus & Martinus released their version after performing it on season 2 of Masked Singer Sverige. The song was later included on their 2024 album Unforgettable.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-27 |title=Album Review: 'Unforgettable' by Marcus & Martinus |url=https://melomaniacsmag.com/album-review-unforgettable-by-marcus-martinus/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |language=en-GB}}

On June 1, 2023, American comedy rock duo Tenacious D released a cover of the song as a single, with an accompanying music video.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tenacious-d-chris-isaak-wicked-game-cover-video-1234746015/|title=Tenacious D Unleash Cover of 'Wicked Game' in Glorious Video|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 2, 2023|last=Madarang|first=Charisma}}

In 2024, English-Irish girl group Girls Aloud released a cover of "Wicked Game" as part of a 20th anniversary reissue of their 2004 studio album What Will The Neighbours Say?{{Cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=2024-03-11 |title=Girls Aloud Share Previously Unreleased Songs Featuring the Late Sarah Harding |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/girls-aloud-previously-unreleased-songs-late-sarah-harding-1235629627/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} While the track was originally intended to serve as a lead single for their 2005 studio album Chemistry, it was scrapped in favor of the single "Long Hot Summer" and eventually excluded from the album upon its release.

Along with the two other songs released as part of the album's reissue, "Disco Bunny" and "Baby When You Go", the track is notable as the first posthumous release of material containing vocals from Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding, who died of breast cancer in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=Girls Aloud release previously-unheard music with the late Sarah Harding's vocals |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girls-aloud-wicked-game-new-music/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}

In 2024, Texan heavy-metal band Oceans of Slumber released a cover of "Wicked Game" on their album Where Gods Fear to Speak.

Gina Miles

In 2024, Gina Miles released her cover or "Wicked Game" as a single after winning season 23 of "The Voice" on Team Niall Horan.

{{Reflist}}

{{Chris Isaak}}

{{HIM}}

{{David Lynch}}

{{Boy & Bear}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film}}

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Category:1989 songs

Category:1989 singles

Category:1990 singles

Category:1998 singles

Category:American folk rock songs

Category:Chris Isaak songs

Category:HIM (Finnish band) songs

Category:Il Divo songs

Category:MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video

Category:Music videos directed by Herb Ritts

Category:Music videos directed by David Lynch

Category:Black-and-white music videos

Category:Song recordings produced by Erik Jacobsen

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles

Category:Reprise Records singles

Category:Syco Music singles

Category:Spinnin' Records singles

Category:Songs written by Chris Isaak

Category:Country ballads

Category:1980s ballads

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