{{Short description|1979 song by Janet Kay}} {{Infobox song | name = Silly Games | cover = SillyGames.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Janet Kay | album = | B-side = Dangerous | released = 1979 | format = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Lovers rock | length = 3:40 | label = Arawak | writer = Dennis Bovell | producer = Dennis Bovell | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} "'''Silly Games'''" is a song written by Dennis Bovell that was first released in 1979 as a single by English actress and vocalist Janet Kay.<ref>{{discogs master|79068|Silly Games}}.</ref> The single was a hit not only in the UK, where it reached number two that summer,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name=charts/> but throughout Europe.<ref name=itzcaribbean/><ref name=atwal/> Kay's appearance singing on ''Top of the Pops'' made it the first lover's rock tune on BBC Television's flagship popular music show.<ref name=saxonbaird/><ref name=saxonbaird2/> The song appeared again in 1990 as a re-recording, billed as by Lindy Layton featuring Janet Kay, which reached number 22 in the charts. A remix version of Kay's original recording spent three weeks in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 62.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
==Song background== Dennis Bovell has described "Silly Games" as "the story of a bold young lady proposing to a young man. C'mon, we've been giving each other the eye. I know you like me. Stop playing games. In 1978, when I wrote it, almost always the man made the first move."<ref name=Independent>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/lovers-rock-steve-mcqueen-silly-games-b1865561.html|title=My song 'Silly Games' and how I ended up in Steve McQueen's movie|first=Dennis|last=Bovell|newspaper=The Independent|date=17 June 2021}}</ref> Explaining how he approached the composition, Bovell says: "There was an advert for Memorex where Ella Fitzgerald sang a note and broke a glass, and I wanted a song with a note like that; little girls always try to sing a high note, so when I wrote ‘Silly Games’ and put that high note in there, it meant that every female in the dance would try and sing that note."<ref>Katz, David, [http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2014/08/key-tracks-janet-kay-silly-games "Key Tracks: Janet Kay’s 'Silly Games'"], Red Bull Music Academy Daily, 11 August 2014.</ref> Now considered an anthem of its genre,<ref name=jamaicaobserver/> "Silly Games" has been called "probably the most popular of the lover's rock songs from the '70s".<ref name=Afropop/> Bovell has said: "...it was a song constructed with a verse and a chorus and a bridge and a 'tickling piece' at the end and an intro to catch you so you would have to sit up and listen to what was coming next.... To this day, that song is still on the radio constantly. But that song, it was constructed to be a hit."<ref name=Afropop/>
Dennis Bovell played guitar, bass and synthesizer, Drummie Zeb from Aswad played the drums and Janet Kay sang.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/30685-dennis-bovell-baker-s-dozen-favourite-albums?page=10|title=The Quietus | Features | Baker's Dozen | No Boundaries: Dennis Bovell's Baker's Dozen}}</ref>
The song features prominently in Steve McQueen's film ''Lovers Rock'', the second film in his 2020 anthology series ''Small Axe''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/23/could-steve-mcqueen-small-axe-spark-a-lovers-rock-revival|title=Could Steve McQueen start a lovers rock revival with Small Axe?|first=Lanre|last=Bakare|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=Independent /> As ''The New York Times'' states: "The lovesick kiss-off 'Silly Games' and its indelible high note play a pivotal part" in the film, and Bovell has a cameo role.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/29/arts/music/lovers-rock-small-axe.html|title=The Beat at the Heart of 'Lovers Rock'|first=Jeremy|last= Gordon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
==Critical reception== ''The Guardian'' said, "Everything about "Silly Games" is perfect: its gently rolling rhythm, its beautiful melody, Dennis Bovell's subtle production, Kay's vocal that goes from understated to indelible."<ref>{{cite news| work= The Guardian | title=The 70 greatest No 2 singles – ranked!|author-link=Alexis Petridis|first=Alexis|last=Petridis| url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/nov/17/the-70-greatest-no-2-singles-ranked|date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
{{Infobox song | name = Silly Games | cover = Lindy Layton-Silly Games.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Lindy Layton | album = Pressure | released = 1990 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = | length = 4:11 | label = Arista | writer = * D. Bovell * J. Myatt | producer = Martyn Phillips | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Echo My Heart | next_year = 1991 | misc = }}
==Lindy Layton version== English singer Lindy Layton debuted as a solo singer in 1990 with her version of "Silly Games", which was released by Arista Records as the first single from her debut album, ''Pressure'' (1991). The song was produced by Martyn Phillips and features Janet Kay, peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
===Critical reception=== Dave Jennings from ''Melody Maker'' wrote: "The song is tender and lovely, as anyone who remembers Janet Kay's sensual original will know. Producers Martin Philips and Norman Cook have conjured up a fine, sturdy, shuffling rhythm track."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Jennings|work=Melody Maker|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52164181770/|date=4 August 1990|access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref> Reviewing Layton's debut album ''Pressure'', he felt the album version of "Silly Games" sounded far more interesting than it did on single, calling it "unpredictably remixed".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Jennings|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52407203309/|title=Albums|work=Melody Maker|date=27 July 1991|page=31|access-date=29 April 2023}}</ref>
===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1990) !Peak<br>position |- |Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-09-08.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|date=8 September 1990|page=|accessdate=20 June 2021|magazine=Music & Media}}</ref> |align="center"|65 |- |Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)<ref>[http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDate=19900826&ChMode=N Radio Luxembourg Singles. 2 September 1990.]</ref> |align="center"|17 |- |UK Singles (OCC) |align="center"|22 |}
==Tricky version== The British trip-hop musician Tricky included the song on his 2014 album ''Adrian Thaws'', featuring vocalist Tirzah in a version characterised as "low-slung soul".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/04/tricky-adrian-thaws-review-path|title=Review {{!}} Tricky: Adrian Thaws review – sticking to his own unnerving path|first=Lanre|last=Bakare|newspaper=The Guardian|date=4 September 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |page=297 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref> <ref name=charts>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/janet%20kay/ |title=UK Official charts - Janet Kay |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=30 July 2013}}</ref> <ref name=itzcaribbean>{{cite web |url=http://www.itzcaribbean.com/music/reggae/reggae-artists/janet-kay/ |title=About Janet Kay – Queen of Lover's Rock |work=itzCaribbean |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref> <ref name=atwal>{{cite web |url=http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/janet_kay_talks_about_silly_games_1_2232840 |title=Janet Kay talks about Silly Games |work=Newham Recorder |first=Kay |last=Atwal |date=12 June 2013 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref> <ref name=saxonbaird>{{cite web |url=http://saxonbaird.com/2013/11/19/the-making-of-a-lovers-rock-anthem-janet-kays-silly-games/ |title=The Making of a Lovers Rock Anthem: Dennis Bovell on Janet Kay's 'Silly Games' |work=saxonbaird.com |first=Saxon |last=Baird |date=19 November 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128114110/http://saxonbaird.com/2013/11/19/the-making-of-a-lovers-rock-anthem-janet-kays-silly-games/ |archivedate=28 November 2013 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref> <ref name=saxonbaird2>{{cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/saxonius/bovell-on-silly-games |title=Dennis Bovell On the making of 'Silly Games' |work=saxonbaird.com |first=Dennis |last=Bovell |date=19 November 2013 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref> <ref name=jamaicaobserver>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/music/Spotlight-on-British-female-singers_18608779 |title=Spotlight on British female singers |work=Jamaica Observer |first=Howard |last=Campbell |date=22 March 2015 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref> <ref name=Afropop>{{cite web |url=http://www.afropop.org/16769/16769/ |title=Dennis Bovell: UK Reggae, Lovers Rock, and the Power of Linton Kwesi Johnson |work=Hip Deep - Afropop Worldwide |first=Saxon |last=Baird |date=19 November 2013 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref>}}
==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNGasBAlASY "Janet Kay - Silly Games"]. YouTube
{{Authority control}} Category:1979 songs Category:1979 singles Category:1990 debut singles Category:Arista Records singles Category:Lovers rock songs Category:Songs written by Dennis Bovell