THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

420-Janet Kay-Silly Games.

1979-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 4.20. For those about to ‘Lovers Rock’ we salute you.

The genre of music that is known as Lovers Rock has nothing to do with Rock music, it is in fact a style of Reggae music that is noted for it’s romantic content, rather than carrying a political message. It combines the Soul sounds that were coming out of Chicago, and Philadelphia in the early 1970’s, with Rocksteady, and Reggae bassline rhythms. The genre evolved out of London, England, and would go on to inspire future acts such as Boy George and Culture Club to bring it in to the mainstream.

‘Silly Games’ was written by Dennis Bovell who was born on May 22nd, 1953, in Saint Peter, Barbados, West Indies, in the 2021 Birthday Honours he was awarded an ‘MBE’ for services to music. He has released 14 studio Albums between 1978-2015, either using his real name, or the stage name ‘Blackbeard.’ He is also a long term associate of the Jamaican ‘Dub Poet’ Linton Kwesi Johnson,’ working with him on several of his Albums. Bovell is also a music producer, having worked with artists as diverse as Madness, The Thompson Twins, The Slits, and I-Roy.

Janet Kay Bogle was born on January 17th, 1958, in Willesden, London, England, she has released 12 studio Albums between 1982-2012. She came to the attention of Tony ‘Gad’ Robinson of the British Reggae band Aswad while singing impromptu at a rehearsal studio. Robinson was impressed and recommended her to the Jamaician singer/songwriter Alton Ellis who was now based in London, and was looking for a female singer who could hit the high notes comfortably. One of Kay’s earliest recordings was a cover of the Minnie Ripperton song ‘Lovin’ You,’ (see also best songs 503) which was produced by Ellis.

‘Silly Games’ was written by Dennis Bovell who has explained how it came about.’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.’

‘Silly Games’ was split in to two parts for the 7 inch single release, with the ‘Dub’ part of the song released as the ‘B’ side, and called ‘Dangerous.’ For the 12 inch release the full six minutes and 18 seconds appears in full as one track. This song would prove to be Janet Kay’s only solo chart entry, although in 1990 a cover version by Lindy Layton featuring Janet Kay on backing vocals reached Number 22 in the UK.

‘I’ve been wanting you for so long, it’s a shame, oh baby. Every time I hear your name, oh the pain, boy how it hurts inside.’