Two Can Play That Game (song)

"Two Can Play That Game" is a song by American R&B singer-songwriter Bobby Brown from his third album, Bobby (1992). The single release was remixed by K-Klass and originally reached No. 38 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1994. In April 1995, it re-entered the chart, peaking at No. 3. It received positive reviews from music critics and also reached No. 3 in the Netherlands. Additionally, it became a top-20 hit in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Denmark, Finland, Ireland, and Italy. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Two Can Play That Game" peaked at No. 10. This version of the song appeared on Brown's remix album of the same name, released later in 1995.

"Two Can Play That Game"
Single by Bobby Brown
from the album Bobby
ReleasedJune 13, 1994 (1994-06-13)
StudioNJS Future Records (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre
Length
  • 4:59 (album version)
  • 3:31 (K Klassic radio mix)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Teddy Riley
Bobby Brown singles chronology
"Something in Common"
(1993)		 "Two Can Play That Game"
(1994)		 "Feelin' Inside"
(1997)

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard stated that "Two Can Play That Game" has been "revamped brilliantly" by the "unstoppable" British electronic music group K-Klass.[2] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton noted that the track had been "drastically remixed", becoming a record "that towers head and shoulders over the original mix." He added, "Whereas the original album track was a fairly average piece of swingbeat, K-Klass' reworking transforms it into one of the more brilliant pop hits of recent months."[3] Andy Beevers from Music Week rated the remix four out of five, stating that "their catchy and commercial piano-powered treatment has helped take the tune to the upper reaches of the Club Chart."[4] Johnny Dee from NME complimented the remixers, that "do a sterling job". He added, "It's pretty smart until he starts rapping about how he's back and how brilliant he is but yer can't help feeling he's lost his moment."[5]

A reviewer from People Magazine felt it had the same potential to become a No. 1 R&B hit as "Humpin' Around".[6] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue remarked that it "at times" reminds of "Boom! Shake the Room" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.[7] Ralph Tee from the RM Dance Update wrote, "With K-Klass on the mix, the track now boasts sparkling pianos, bright snares, thudding house bassline and crispy handclaps as an accompaniment to parts of the original vocal that at times seems removed from its surroundings. After breaking down for a rap section atop some contrasting funky drummer style rhythms, the track is then left to build once again to a storming climax." He also added that it "looks like [becoming] Bobby's first house hit."[8] Another editor, James Hamilton, described it as "piano plonked [and] jiggly striding".[9]

Impact and legacy

In October 2018, Time Out ranked "Two Can Play That Game" at No. 30 in their "The 100 Best Party Songs" list, adding:

"We don’t know who the harlot was that broke Bobby’s heart, but we’re glad she did. In cooking up a dish of sweet revenge, Boston’s Robert Brown unwittingly created one of the biggest party tunes of all time. The track may have started out as a smooth R&B gem, but less than a year after its release it was transformed by Welsh producers K-Klass into the piano house banger we’ve all been doing the running man to ever since."[10]

Track listing
  1. "Two Can Play That Game" (K Klassic radio mix) – 3:31
  2. "Two Can Play That Game" (K Klassic mix) – 7:17
  3. "Two Can Play That Game" (The Games Over mix) – 5:18
  4. "Two Can Play That Game" (Pharmaceutical dub) – 6:22
  5. "Two Can Play That Game" (DJ Gem Cunnington ReMix) – 3:29
  6. "Two Can Play That Game" (2B3 Can Play That Game mix) – 4:45

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom June 13, 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 MCA [38]
United Kingdom (re-release) March 20, 1995 [39]

References
  1. Elan, Priya; Bromwich, Kathryn (September 6, 2015). "Playlists to live by: musicians choose soundtracks to their favourite pastimes". The Guardian. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  2. Flick, Larry. Billboard.
  3. Masterton, James (March 26, 1995). "Week Ending April 1st 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. Beevers, Andy (June 11, 1994). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  5. Dee, Johnny (June 11, 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 36. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  6. "Picks and Pans Review: Bobby". People. October 19, 1992. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. "Review: 'Bobby' by Bobby Brown (CD, 1992)". Pop Rescue. August 7, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. Tee, Ralph (June 18, 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 6. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  9. Hamilton, James (March 25, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 11. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  10. "The 100 best party songs". Time Out. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  13. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 25, 1994. p. 28. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  14. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). May 28, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  15. "Bobby Brown – Two Can Play That Game" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  16. "Bobby Brown – Two Can Play That Game" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  17. Danish Singles Chart. May 19, 1995.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 16. April 22, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  19. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. June 24, 1995. p. 23. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  20. Week 19, 1995.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Two Can Play That Game". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  22. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 31. August 5, 1995. p. 11. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bobby Brown" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  24. "Bobby Brown – Two Can Play That Game" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  26. "Bobby Brown – Two Can Play That Game". Singles Top 100.
  27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  28. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  29. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  30. "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). April 22, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  31. "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). December 24, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  32. "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  33. "1995 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. December 23, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  34. "Jaarlijsten 1995" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  35. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  36. "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. January 13, 1996. p. 9.
  37. "British single certifications – Bobby Brown – Two Can Play That Game". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  38. "Single Releases". Music Week. June 11, 1994. p. 25.
  39. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 18, 1995. p. 35.
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