Santana feat. Tina Turner – The Game of Love (WATCH)

I thought I loved Santana’s “The Game of Love” featuring Michelle Branch. I mean, his 2002 release Shaman was a beautifully crafted album and again as with 1999’s Supernatural, Carlos Santana featured a star-studded cast of talented musicians sharing in his craft, and “The Game of Love” did exceptionally well – a Grammy Award for “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals” and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. However, another version also existed that wouldn’t actually see the light of day until the release of Santana’s 2007 album, Ultimate Santana – an amalgam of early Santana classics and newer hits featured on Supernatural, Shaman, and All That I Am.

In 2002, Santana collaborated with the legendary Tina Turner on an early version of “The Game of Love” and it was beautiful. In fact, it was the only one Santana actually wanted to use! Saying that while he loved Michelle’s interpretation of the song, Santana also admitted, “It’s just that with all honor and respect to Michelle, there’s the girl and there’s the woman, and Michelle is unfolding into a woman…but it takes time to go from a girl to a woman.” Honestly, he’s right; while I love the youthful innocence of Michelle’s interpretation of “The Game of Love”, there’s something about Tina’s that’s just so much more soulful and knowing. It’s as if Michelle’s just starting out on her journey as a young woman in love and everything is still shiny and beautiful and new, yet Tina’s telling the same story from the perspective of a woman who’s seen and done it all and loved every single second of it.

Regardless of the how and why, I’m so glad that we were able to finally hear this gem. While I’m disappointed that it didn’t make the final cut for Shaman, I also understand why – much like the game of love, you appreciate it so much more when you aren’t expecting it. Check out Tina’s rendition of “The Game of Love” – I promise, you won’t be disappointed!

++++++++++++ LYRICS ++++++++++++

Tell me just what you want me to be
One kiss and boom you’re the only one for me
So please tell me why don’t you come around no more
Cause right now I’m crying outside the door of your candy store

It just takes a little bit of this
A little bit of that
It started with a kiss
Now we’re up to bat
A little bit of laughs
A little bit of pain
I’m telling you, my babe
It’s all in the game of love

This, whatever you make it to be
Sunshine set on this cold lonely sea
So please baby try and use me for what I’m good for
It ain’t sayin’ goodbye that’s knocking down the door of your candy store

It’s all in this game of love
You roll me
Control me
Console me
Please hold me
You guide me
Divide me
Into what…

Make me feel good, yeah

So please tell me why don’t you come around no more
Cause right now I’m dying outside the door of your loving store

It’s all in this game of love
It’s all in the game of love
Yeah, in the game of love

Roll me
Control me
Please hold me
(make me feel good, yeah)