Play (group)

Play
Origin	, Sweden
Genres	Pop, europop, electropop, teen pop, bubblegum pop
Years active	2001–2005, 2009–11
Labels	Columbia (2001–05) Bonnier Music (2009–11)
Associated acts	Amanda Lameche, Dream Street, A-Teens, B2K, Eden's Crush
Website	http://play-mania.com/
Past members	Anaïs Lameche Faye Hamlin Emelie Norenberg Rosie Munter Anna Sundstrand Janet Leon Sanne Karlsson

Play was a Swedish pop girl group consisting of, in total, seven young women. Faye Hamlin, Anna Sundstrand, Anaïs Lameche, and Rosie Munter formed Play's original line-up from the band's formation from 2001 until late 2003. After founding member Faye left the group, fifth member Janet Leon joined Play to fill Hamlin's position as lead singer. In 2005, the group officially announced an "indefinite break" and split up. At that time, Play had sold almost one million albums. Four years later, in 2009, the group reformed with a new line-up of three members consisting of Anaïs, Faye, and the sixth and oldest member of Play, Sanne Karlsson. In February 2011, an official statement was made that Faye had once again left the group in 2010 and would be replaced by Emelie Norenberg. It was announced in May 2011 that the band had separated for the second time.

Play was formed as a result of a nationwide talent search led by Laila Bagge, a recording artist and dance studio owner. Her original line-up for Play consisted of four girls. Two girls were discovered at her dance studio: eleven-year-old Anna Sundstrand and thirteen-year-old Anaïs Lameche, younger sister of recording artist Amanda Lameche. The other two girls were found in the audition process: thirteen-year-olds Faye Hamlin and Rosie Munter, the latter of which had also starred in a popular Swedish film called Eva och 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 and 2002. Their first single and video, "Us Against the World", was released in September 2001. The song hit number 14 on the Sverigetopplistan chart, and was later certified Gold. it also charted at number 10 on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart. The song also charted in France, Germany and Canada. In Sweden, Play's first full-length English-language album, Us Against the World, was released on December 12, 2001. In the United States the album was released on June 25, 2002 and named as Play. In 2002 the group released the second single, "Cinderella".

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