Just A Game

ⓘ This lostwave is classified as solved.
Just A Game
Alternative name(s)	Here I Stand, All Alone Again, (And) Now I Know It's Just a Game, Choose The Way To Play, Rules To Play
Artist(s)	Change To Win (Christof Bachmeier, Regina Simon, Mario Lehner, Karli Mayer)
Genre	Rock
Length	4:52
Year	1988
Original poster	Gabor72
Search duration	2018 - 2024
File:JustAGameMasterTape.mp3

Just A Game is a solved rock / AOR (album-oriented rock) song that was uploaded to WatZatSong by Gabor72 on December 22nd, 2018. On July 1st 2024, it was identified as Just A Game by Christof Bachmeier.

Background

On December 22nd, 2018, WatZatSong user Gabor72 shared a snippet of a mysterious song. The song received little to no traction, with no attention for approximately five years, until late 2023, when multiple YouTube reuploads of the song were published, increasing its popularity. The OP was determined to be from either Italy or Hungary based on the large number of Italian song uploads and the fact that Gabor is a common Hungarian name.

On May 7th, 2024, searchers reverse image searched Gabor72's profile picture on WatZatSong and found his Facebook account, where it was revealed that he had died on March 6th, 2024.

On May 9th, 2024, reddit user Rich-Truck-2820 contacted Gabor's daughter via email, where she revealed that he was from Hungary and had downloaded the song from Limewire. Three days later, she revealed to user DodoBird4444 that Gabor had a strong preference for Italian music, which if not downloaded online, was recorded from Hungarian radio between 1985 and 1996, and Gabor did not own any vinyl records.

Discovery

On June 30th, 2024, Gabor's daughter discovered the full version of the song on his computer and promptly uploaded it to Google Drive. Through this full version, searchers were able to find a listing in the GEMA database called "Just A Game" by Christof Bachmeier, a German multi-instrumentalist who has produced music for TV since 1997, and has recorded AOR music similar in style to the song. Additionally, the song has an alternate title of "Here I Stand, All Alone Again", which is the first line of the song and has the same runtime.

Bachmeier was contacted on July 1st, 2024, and confirmed he composed the song, stating that the full version only exists on vinyl and that he plans to create a new digital version from the original master tape.

Bachmeier explained on July 2nd, 2024, that the song was written in 1988 for a charity concert for African children and recorded by Change To Win, a German supergroup formed specifically for the event. The band created 500 singles and sold them at a live concert where the song was performed with a large band, and all the money went to charity.

Debunked Leads

• Shower Team - Just A Game:
• GustI Lütjens & Nina Blazewski - Game of Love:
• Millennya - Just A Game: Not the same song
• Cats in Exile - All A Game: Not the same song
• The Love Buttons: Now I Know: Not the same song
• Limited Edition: Packet From Herbie: Not on the album
• The Answer - Just A Game: Not the same song
• Piero Cotto: Did not make the song
• The Strategy/Yvonne Morrison: Did not make the song
• The Flower Band - Rules: AI hoax
• Soulseek "Full Version": AI hoax
• "Rillo.exe" lead: Hoax, confirmed by OP

Lyrics

Presumed Lyrics (Verse 1) - Christof Bachmeier

Here I stand all alone again

Now I realize the signs are pushed away

A thousand times, I tried to remind myself

To live for the moment, be happy with me

But I lost the chance 'cause I didn't take to my heart

And it hurts so much to feel everything has gone

(Verse 2) - Regina Simon

Lets make a new start

and realize what we're doin'

Not the money, or the power

Will catch you when you fall

See the children in the desert

See the hopeless, desperate eyes

Ask the father what he feels, when his hungry baby cries

But I lost the chance 'cause you tried to get it all

And you won't understand until your back is to the wall

(Chorus) - Mario Lehner

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad

But you can't choose the way to play

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad

But you can't choose the way to play

(Verse 3) - Karli Mayer

Dead or alive, that's the password (I put in time?)

We've got all we want, but we got no time to leave

Oh, we don't care about, the real things in life

While we kill ourselves, for a little bit of printed paper

Oh god, and we will understand until our back is to the wall

(Chorus) - All vocalists

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad

But you can't choose the way to play

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad

But you can't choose the way to play

(Guitar Solo)

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad

But you can't choose (you can't!)

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad

But you can't choose the way to play

And now I know (Oh now I know), it's just a game

(It's just a game) and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad (Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad)

But you can't choose the way to play

And now I know, it's just a game

and I don't need the rules to play

Maybe it's happy, maybe it's sad (oh, it's sad, so sad)

But you can't choose the way to play

(Outro)

I need no rules to play

No rules to play

I don't need no rules to play

To play, no rules

Personnel

• Christof Bachmeier – vocals, bass, piano
• Regina Simon – vocals
• Karli Mayer – vocals
• Mario Lehner – vocals (chorus)
• Gerhard "Angel" Schleifer – guitar
• Wolfgang Lohmeier – drums

References

• Just A Game Lead Document
• The original WatZatSong snippet.
• Song for comparison with Christof Bachmeier.