Play & Win

Last updated

Play & Win
Play & Win.jpg
Background information
Origin Alba Iulia, Romania
Genres
Occupations
  • Music producers
  • songwriters
Years active2000–present
MembersRadu Bolfea
Past members
  • Marcel Botezan
  • Sebastian Barac

Play & Win is a Romanian songwriting and music production project that was formed as a trio in 2008 by Radu Bolfea, Marcel Botezan and Sebastian Barac. [1] It became a solo project by Bolfea after Botezan and Barac left and formed Marco & Seba in 2013. The production team have more than 500 songs to their credit registered at the PRS.[ citation needed ] As Play & Win, they have been produced some of Romania's biggest dance music hits, [1] collaborating with artists including Inna, Akcent, 3rei Sud Est, and Cătălin Josan. [2] As a musical group, they have released numerous singles that have charted on various music charts. [3] [4] They are among the pioneers of the Romanian popcorn music style.

Contents

History

Play & Win was formed in 2000 by Radu Bolfea, Marcel Botezan, and Sebastian Barac, all of whom are from Alba Iulia, a city in the Transylvania region of Romania. [1] Throughout their career, the trio collaborated with Activ, creating hits like "Superstar", "Dor", "Heaven" and "Lucruri Simple". Other collaborations include 3rei Sud Est's "Alături de Îngeri", Sistem's "Oare unde eşti", Andra's "We Go Crazy", [2] and Inna's House Music. [5] Their production debut came in 2005 with the single "Kylie" for the Romanian band Akcent. The song peaked in the top 5 of music charts in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey as well as No. 1 on the Dutch, Finnish and Romanian charts. [6] Play & Win produced Inna's first album Hot , released initially in 2009. The album included the single "Hot", which made Inna the first Romanian artist to top a Billboard chart in the United States when it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart. [7] The album also featured charted singles "Love", "Déjà Vu", "Amazing" and "10 Minutes", all of which were written and produced by Play & Win. [7] [8] [9] The singles "Hot" and "Love" from the album received more than 50 million views on YouTube in the first year of their release. [7] Play & Win also produced I Am the Club Rocker , Inna's second studio album released in 2011. [10] The album was certified Gold in both Romania and Poland and was described by Play & Win as their best record so far. [11] [12] The album contained the single "Sun Is Up", which reached No. 1 in Bulgaria [13] and No. 5 on the UK Dance Chart. [14]

Play & Win is also attributed with composing Zero's "Sunny Days", a single that came second in the Romanian National Eurovision Song Contest in 2009. They also produced Morris' "Desire", which reached No. 5 on the Fresh Top 40. [15] Play & Win have also collaborated with Andreea Bănică, producing her No. 1 single "Sexy" in 2010. [16]

Play & Win made their chart debut as singers in 2009 with the single "Slow Motion". It became one of the biggest hits in Romania in the spring of 2009, reaching No. 1 on the Kiss FM Fresh Top 40. [4] Their single "Ya BB" was another chart success in Romania, reaching No. 1 on the official Romanian Top 100 on 5 June 2011. It was the most broadcast song on Romanian radio for 16 weeks.[ citation needed ] They were featured in the song "Inndia", a single from Inna's third studio album, also produced by the trio. The song was written by Play & Win and released to Romanian mainstream radio stations on 28 June 2012. [17] Music produced by Play & Win for Inna received more than 1 billion views on YouTube and each of Inna's singles had more than 15 million views.[ citation needed ]

In 2013, Botezan and Barac started a project under the name Marco & Seba, with Radu Bolfea remaining the only member of Play & Win.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Albums

As Play & Win

List of albums
TitleDetails
Change the World

Singles

List of singles
YearTitleAlbum
2008"Summertime"Change the World
2009"Slow Motion"
2010"10 Minutes" (Inna featuring Play & Win) Hot
"Only"Change the World
2011"Ya BB"
2012"Inndia" (Inna featuring Play & Win) Party Never Ends
2013"Dance with Me" (featuring Antonia)Non-album singles
"Don't Try to Stop This"
"5 AM"
"Lady"

Music production

As Play & Win
YearArtistSong
2004 Akcent "SOS", "Kylie", "Dragoste de Închiriat"
2005 Activ "Motive", "Superstar", "Lucruri Simple"
2006 3 Sud Est "Iubire", "Miracle", "Mă iubeai", "Mă doare"
All Stars (Campanie anti-drog)"Don't Be a Hero"
Natalia Barbu "Îngerul Meu (Baby Don't Cry)"
2007 Andra "We Go Crazy"
2008Refflex"Fără ea"
Cătălin Josan"Megastart", "Run Away", "Între Noi"
Sistem featuring Andra"Oare unde Ești"
Morris "Desire", "Till the Morning"
Crazy Win"Beautiful Lover"
Play & Win"Summertime"
Inna "Hot"
2009Zero"Sunny Days"
Play & Win"Slow Motion"
Inna"Love"
Bob Taylor featuring Inna"Déjà Vu"
Inna"Amazing", "I Need You for Christmas"
2010 Andreea Bănică featuring Dony"Samba"
Inna featuring Play & Win"10 Minutes"
Inna"Sun Is Up"
Play & Win"Only"
Andreea Bănică "Sexy"
Ellie White "Nu te mai caut"
2011Play & Win"Ya BB"
Inna featuring Flo Rida "Club Rocker"
Inna featuring Juan Magan "Un Momento"
Inna"Endless"
Desperado"Inside I Want You"
2012Inna"Wow", "Caliente", "Tu și eu", "Crazy Sexy Wild"
Inna featuring Play & Win"Inndia"
Play & Win featuring Antonia "Dance with Me"
2013Play & Win"Don't Try to Stop This"
Play & Win"5 AM"
One"Till the End of Time"
Play & Win"Lady"
20153 Sud Est featuring Inna"Mai stai"

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diggy Down</span> 2014 single by Inna featuring Marian Hill or remix featuring the latter and Yandel

"Diggy Down" is a song recorded by Romanian recording artist Inna for her eponymous and fourth studio album (2015) and its Japanese counterpart Body and the Sun (2015). Released for digital download on 15 December 2014 through Empire Music and Roton, it samples Marian Hill's "Got It" (2014), for which the American duo received credit as a featured artist. A remix of the song further featuring American artist Yandel was eventually made available. Written by Ilsey Juber, Marcel Botezan, Radu Bolfea and Sebastian Barac, and produced solely by Vlad Lucan, "Diggy Down" is a mid-tempo dance-pop and R&B recording which lyrically portrays Inna being 'diggy down' on her boyfriend's wishes.

<i>Hot</i> (Inna album) 2009 studio album by Inna

Hot is the debut studio album by Romanian singer Inna, released on 4 August 2009 by Magic Records. Inna collaborated on the record with Romanian trio Play & Win, who entirely wrote, produced and arranged Hot at their Play & Win Studios in Constanța, Romania. It was described as an electronic dance music (EDM) album, with influences varying from trance, electro house and techno to Hi-NRG, synth-pop and chillout. Lyrically, Hot deals with love themes. Music critics gave the album positive to mixed reviews, praising the danceable style but criticizing its lack of innovation. At the 2010 Romanian Music Awards, Hot won in the Best Album category, while also receiving an award at the 2011 Radio România Actualităţi Awards in the Pop/Dance Album of the Year section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot (Inna song)</span> 2008 song by Inna

"Hot" is the debut single by Romanian singer Inna, released on 12 August 2008. It is from her debut studio album of the same name (2009). The song was written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. Musically, "Hot" is a trance-inspired electro house and popcorn song, with its instrumentation consisting of synthesizer sounds and trance beats. Throughout the track, the hook is repeated multiple times, and male vocals are used to complement Inna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love (Inna song)</span> 2009 single by Inna

"Love" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her debut studio album, Hot (2009). It was released as the second single from the record on 16 February 2009. Written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, "Love" is an EDM and house track. Its lyrics revolve around the potential complications related with love. The song was described as containing high-pitched vocals by one reviewer, as well as compared to the work of English rock band New Order. Another critic foresaw the single to be commercially successful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazing (Inna song)</span> 2009 single by Inna

"Amazing" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her 2009 debut studio album, Hot. It was released as the fourth single from the record on 6 August 2009. Written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, "Amazing" is a Pop Music track with a Spanish guitar and beats in its instrumentation. One reviewer regarded the song as being similar to Inna's past work, however, with the addition of new elements. Other music critics gave positive reviews of the single, and praised its construction and foresaw its commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Déjà Vu (Bob Taylor and Inna song)</span> 2009 single by Bob Taylor and Inna

"Déjà Vu" is a song by Romanian musician Bob Taylor and Romanian recording artist Inna for the latter's debut studio album, Hot (2009). Released in June 2009, it was written and produced by Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. Musically, the single is of the dance genre, and originally contained the vocals of Romanian singer Alessia. However, after a feud over compensation between Taylor and her, the song was handed to Inna, although the early version had already been released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10 Minutes (Inna song)</span> 2010 single by Inna feat. Play & Win

"10 Minutes" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her debut studio album, Hot (2009), featuring Romanian trio Play & Win. It was released as the fifth and final single from the record on 25 January 2010. Written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, "10 Minutes" is a synth-pop and electropop track stylized to fit the style of music consumed in the United States. Its style was also regarded as a departure from her past work by both Inna and one critic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Is Up</span> 2010 single by Inna

"Sun Is Up" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her second studio album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011), and also included on several versions of her debut album Hot (2009). Written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, the song was released in October 2010 as the first single from I Am the Club Rocker. "Sun Is Up" is a rave pop track, and was compared to Sabrina's "Boys " (1987) by one reviewer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Un Momento</span> 2011 single by Inna featuring Juan Magán

"Un Momento" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna featuring Spanish singer and rapper Juan Magán. It was released as the third single from her second studio album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011), on 18 July 2011. The track was written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, along with additional production from Magán. "Un Momento" has been described as flamenco–influenced, with acoustic guitar instrumentation. The recording is bilingual, with lyrics written in both English and Spanish language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club Rocker</span> 2011 single by Inna or remix featuring Flo Rida

"Club Rocker" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her second studio album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011). The song was released on 30 May 2011, as the second single from the record; a remix version featuring American rapper Flo Rida was eventually made available. It was written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. "Club Rocker" is a techno–influenced electropop song, with its lyrics revolving around celebrating and partying. The recording samples "Bass Atitude" (2010) by French disc jockey Seight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless (Inna song)</span> 2011 single by Inna

"Endless" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her second studio album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011). The song was released on 25 November 2011 as the fourth single from the album. It was written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. A flamenco-influenced mid-tempo club-ballad, "Endless" features an acoustic and Spanish guitar in its instrumentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wow (Inna song)</span> 2012 single by Inna

"Wow" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her second studio album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011). Written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, it was made available for digital download on 20 April 2012 as the fifth single from the record through DIY Records. Musically, "Wow" is an electropop song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caliente (Inna song)</span> 2012 single by Inna

"Caliente" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her third studio album, Party Never Ends (2013). It was released on 4 May 2012 through Roton. The track was written by the singer, while production was handled by Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. "Caliente" features lyrics in Spanish, marking Inna's first song in that language. It is a salsa and 90s dance music-influenced song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Sexy Wild</span> 2012 single by Inna

"Crazy Sexy Wild" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna from her third studio album, Party Never Ends (2013). It was digitally released on 14 September 2012 by DIY, while a Romanian-language version titled "Tu și eu" was previously made available on 12 June 2012 through Roton. The track was written by Henri Lanz, Kimberly Cole, Will Rappaport and Inna, while production was handled by Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. Musically, it is a dance track featuring 90s sounds in its instrumentation. One music critic compared it to Nicki Minaj's "Starships" (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inndia</span> 2012 single by Inna featuring Play & Win

"Inndia" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna from her third studio album, Party Never Ends (2013). It was released on 11 October 2012 through Roton and features Romanian trio Play & Win. The track was written by Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea, Marcel Botezan and Joddie Connor, while production was handled by the first three under the name of Play & Win. "Inndia" is an Arabic and oriental-influenced song encompassing guitar accords and male vocals which complement Inna.

<i>Party Never Ends</i> 2013 studio album by Inna

Party Never Ends is the third studio album recorded by Romanian singer Inna, released on 4 March 2013 by Roton, and re-issued on 14 October 2014, by Atlantic Records in the US. The singer collaborated with several producers on the record, including DJ Frank E, Orange Factory, Steve Mac, Lucas Secon, DJ Smash and Play & Win. Party Never Ends has been described as approaching dance music and its subgenres, with influences varying from Latin, hip hop and house to electropop, salsa and dubstep. The Times of India gave the album a mixed review; while commending some tracks, other were deemed passable or mediocre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balans (song)</span> 2016 single by Alexandra Stan featuring Mohombi

"Balans" is a song recorded by Romanian recording artist Alexandra Stan for her third studio album, Alesta (2016). Released on 2 March 2016 through Global Records, the track features the vocal collaboration of Swedish-Congolese singer-songwriter Mohombi. "Balans" was produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac and Marcel Botezan, while the writing process was handled by the latter two in collaboration with Mohombi and Breyan Isaac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven (Inna song)</span> 2016 single by Inna

"Heaven" is a song recorded by Romanian recording artist Inna, included on the deluxe edition of her fifth studio album Nirvana (2017). It was released for digital download on 10 June 2016 through Roton. The recording was written by Andreas Schuller, Leroy Clampitt, Sebastian Barac, Marcel Botezan, Laila Samulesen, Trey Campbell and Theea Eliza Miculescu, while production was handled by Barac and Botezan. A dance-pop and tropical house recording, the single was generally acclaimed by music critics, who praised it as an earworm with Middle Eastern influences. While reviews noted lyrics in English, French, and Spanish, the singer explained that the refrain was written in a language she invented with her label. At the 2017 Radio România Actualități Awards, "Heaven" was nominated in three categories.

<i>Heartbreaker</i> (Inna album) 2020 studio album by Inna

Heartbreaker is the seventh studio album by Romanian singer Inna. It was released for streaming to YouTube and SoundCloud by Global Records on 27 November 2020, and was issued to fellow platforms and released for digital download a week later under the same label. An EDM, Middle Eastern and Latin-influenced dance-pop release, the album was preceded by Inna's retransition to the EDM genre following the release of Yo (2019), her experimental and gypsy-inspired sixth studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie (song)</span> 2005 single by Akcent

"Kylie" is a song by Romanian group Akcent from their fourth studio album, S.O.S. (2005). It was written by two of the group's members, Adrian Sînă and Marius Nedelcu, alongside its producers Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea, Marcel Botezan and Viorel Şipoş. The track was initially released as "Dragoste de închiriat" on 28 January 2005, before being re-released in June in English under its current title. "Kylie" is a dance track which describes the group's fondness of Australian singer Kylie Minogue.

References

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