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Play Information
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'Play' was a popular Swedish pop band that made its debut on the music scene in 2001. Five young women in total have been Play members - Faye Hamlin, Anna Sundstrand, Anais Lameche, and Rosie Munter formed Play's original line-up from the band's formation until late 2003, and Janet 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 North America and, to a lesser extent, the European Union. Though rumors of Play's break-up abounded throughout 2005, official word was released by the members of Play on September 29 2005, that the group was indeed on an indefinite break.
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-old Anna Sundstrand, a relative of the legendary Greta Garbo, and 13-year-old Anais Lameche, younger sister of recording artist Amanda Lameche - and two girls found in the audition process, 13-year-old Fanny, or Faye Hamlin, who had done modeling work, and 13-year-old Rosanna, or Rosie Munter, who had starred in a popular Swedish film called Eva and Adam. 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 the United States in 2001-2002. Play's first single and video, "Us Against the World," was released in September 2001 in the United States and featured an EPK 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 on June 25 2002. Play toured in the United States in the subsequent months, often partnering with girls' clothing chain Limited Too. Play 's music was also featured in the 2002 big-screen flick "M.A.S.T.E.R. of Disguise," for which they filmed a video with numerous well-known co-stars. The girls of Play concluded 2002 with an appearance on the nationally-televised Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, in which they, standing atop the Build-a-Bear float, performed a rendition of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," which they had originally recorded with Chris Trousdale of Dream Street.
Replaying in 2003
Play returned to the studio to begin recording their sophomore 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 on June 10 2003, and on that day Play made several appearances to perform, including a guest spot on popular daytime talk show Live With Regis and Kelly. In this new stage of Play's career, Faye Hamlin emerged as the group's lead singer while Anais Lameche contributed many vocals, especially in the two singles released from the album, a cover of British girl group Atomic Kitten's "Whole Again" and a coming-of-age song called "I Must Not Chase the Boys". The video made for "I Must Not Chase the Boys" was aired on MTV's TRL and made the top 10 requested videos countdown.
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 her college education, which in Sweden, begins when a student is about sixteen. 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. On December 15, a formal press release on the group's official site informed fans of the line-up change and introduced new member Janet 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 in Limited Too stores across the country and in the Spring Thing Tour, along with J-Me, Stevie Brock, and Jump5. 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 April 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 with Kohl's new clothing brand for girls called everGirl, recording a song as well as a video to promote this new clothing line.
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 appearances in Limited Too stores and Build-a-Bear stores in the Northeastern United States. Other than this short set of appearances and performances, this Play album was, up to that point, Play's least promoted release
2005 - Play's Greatest Hits released on the eve of the group's disbanding
After the late 2004 release of Play Around the Christmas Tree, little news of Play (collectively) was heard. In April 2005, 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 member Faye 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.
As solo performers, some of the Play girls had starting making their own mark. 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. She recently performed live at the opening ceremony of the Gothia Cup 2005. Anna Sundstrand, Rosie Munter, and former member Faye Hamlin have all begun work in modeling, Rosie and Faye have performed solo in Sweden, and Faye has 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. Anais Lameche is said to be working on a solo project of her own.
Individual Members
* Anaé¯s Lameche (member 2001-2005)
* Anna Sundstrand (member 2001-2005)
* Rosie Munter (member 2001-2005)
* Janet Leon (member 2003-2005)
* Faye Hamlin (member 2001-2003)
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
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