jmjiloveyou

<h2>Composition</h2><h2><br></h2><p>The song is in the key of B <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_mode" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dorian mode</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[3]</a> performed in what <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AllMusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AllMusic</a> describes as a "brooding, sorrowfully conflicted" tone.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a></p><p>Although it is often interpreted as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ballad</a> about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrequited_love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">unrequited love</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[5]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[6]</a> Isaak has said that the song was inspired by a telephone call from a woman seeking to arrange a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casual_sex" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">casual sexual</a> liaison and is about "what happens when you have a strong attraction to people that aren't necessarily good for you".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[7]</a> It was written shortly after the call.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[8]</a></p><h2>During the sessions for Isaak's third album, many different versions and arrangements of the song were made before the final version was completed. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Calvin_Wilsey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James Calvin Wilsey</a> both created and played the distinctive guitar lead;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-Rhythms.com.au-9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[9]</a> both the bassline and drums (except the cymbals) were <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampler_(musical_instrument)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sampled</a> from previous recordings of the song and then <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_loop" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">looped</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-Mixonline.com-10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[10]</a></h2><h2><br></h2><h2>Critical reception</h2><h2>Scottish newspaper <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Evening_Express" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Aberdeen Evening Express</em></a> extolled "[the] haunting strains" of "Wicked Game."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-11" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[11]</a> Grant Walters from Albumism praised the song as a "pristine union of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Isaak" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaak</a>'s aching vocal and the desolate wail of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Calvin_Wilsey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James Calvin Wilsey</a>'s '65 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratocaster" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stratocaster</a>." He added, "Underneath, the brushed drum loop, simple bass line, and muted background vocals create a simmering atmospheric buzz."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-12" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[12]</a> Steve Huey from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AllMusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AllMusic</a> described it as a "shimmering," "spare," and "moody masterpiece."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-13" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[13]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flick" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Larry Flick</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Billboard</em></a> called it "[a] delicious treat."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-14" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[14]</a> Alaister Moughan from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazed" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dazed</em></a> wrote, "Some songs are masterpieces, some represent moments in time, and others are simply good jams. Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" is all three."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-15" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[15]</a> Joe Rhodes from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Entertainment Weekly</em></a> stated that this is "perhaps the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Shaped_World_(Chris_Isaak_album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">album</a>'s darkest mood piece," noting its "otherworldly" opening guitar line.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-16" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[16]</a> Pan-European magazine <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_%26_Media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Music &amp; Media</em></a> described it as "[a] laid-back <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country-western" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">C&amp;W</a> tinged song featuring Isaak's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Orbison" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Orbison</a>-esque vocals."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-17" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[17]</a> Duncan Holland from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Week" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Music Week</em></a> 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."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-18" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[18]</a> A reviewer from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Life_(newspaper)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Sunday Life</em></a> complimented it as "[a] brooding <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ballad</a>, image-laden, and worthy of Roy Orbison in his heyday."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-19" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[19]</a></h2><h2><br></h2><h2>Music videos</h2><p>There are two different <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_videos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">music videos</a> for this song. The more well-known video was directed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Ritts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Herb Ritts</a> and shot in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hawaii</a> at what was formerly known as Kamoamoa Beach in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Volcanoes_National_Park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hawaii Volcanoes National Park</a> on the Big Island. The newly formed black-sand beach was created from lava from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%ABlauea" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kilauea</a> 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 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermodel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supermodel</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Christensen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Helena Christensen</a> 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 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bra</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panties" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">panty</a>; other times, she wears only a men's white <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briefs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">brief</a>. The video achieved <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotation_(music)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">heavy rotation</a> on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MTV</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Europe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MTV Europe</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[20]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-21" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[21]</a> winning the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Video_Music_Awards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MTV Video Music Awards</a> for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Video_Music_Award_for_Best_Male_Video" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Male Video</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Video_Music_Award_for_Best_Cinematography" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Cinematography</a>. It was ranked number 13 on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VH1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VH1</a>'s "100 Greatest Videos", number four on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VH1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VH1</a>'s "50 Sexiest Video Moments", number 73 on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a> magazine's "The 100 Top Music Videos", number one on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a> magazine's "The 30 Sexiest Music Videos of All Time", and number one on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_TV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fuse</a>'s "40 Sexiest Videos" in 2010.</p><p>Another video was commissioned for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_at_Heart_(film)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Wild at Heart</em></a> VHS release and was directed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Lynch</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-22" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[22]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Game#cite_note-23" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[23]</a> It features scenes of Lula (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Dern" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Laura Dern</a>) and Sailor (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Cage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nicolas Cage</a>) 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 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Video_Music_Award_for_Best_Video_from_a_Film" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Video from a Film</a>.</p>