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 roots of ‘Lovers Rock’ lie in the last days of ‘Rocksteady’ in Jamaica, and the early days of ‘Reggae,’ with Jamaican and American singers such as Ken Boothe, Johnny Nash, (1940-2020) (see also best songs 584) and John Holt (1947-2014) enjoying international hits with versions of well known love songs. 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. Perhaps the most commercially successful ‘Lovers Rock’ song in the UK is the 1986 Number 1 single by the Jamaican singer/songwriter Boris Gardener with ‘I Wanna Wake Up with You.’

Janet Kay Bogle MBE was born on January 17th, 1958, in Willesden, London, England, she was appointed ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to music. He breakthrough in the music business occurred when 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 Jamaican singer/songwriter Alton Ellis (1938-2008) (see also best songs 101) who was now based in London, and was looking for a female singer who could hit the high notes comfortably. One of Janet Kay’s earliest recordings was a cover of the Minnie Ripperton (1947-1979) song ‘Lovin’ You,’ (see also best songs 503) which was produced by Ellis. As well as pursuing a career in music, Janet Kay is also an actress, and was a founding member of the ‘BiBi Crew,’ Britain’s first theatre troupe made up entirely of Black women. The discography of Janet Kay includes 12 Albums released between 1982-2012, and eight singles released between 1978-1990. As the lead artist ‘Silly Games’ remains as her only charting single on the UK top 40, with a 1990 remix of the track reaching Number 62. Also in 1990 a cover version of ‘Silly Games’ by the English singer Lindy Layton featuring Janet Kay on backing vocals reached Number 22 in the UK.

‘Silly Games’ was the second single released by Janet Kay, from 1979, the song was written and produced by Dennis Bovell MBE, who was born on May 22nd, 1953, in Saint Peter, Barbados, West Indies, he was appointed ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to music. Dennis Bovell has released 17 Albums to date 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. Dennis Bovell had begun his music career as a founding member of the British Reggae band ‘Matumbi’ in 1971, they would remain active through until 1982, releasing five studio Albums between 1978-1982, and nine singles between 1973-1983, there are also three official compilation Albums available. In the UK ‘Matumbi’ are best remembered for performing the opening theme song to ‘Empire Road,’ a British television series made by the ‘BBC’ in 1978, and running until 1979.

Dennis Bovell has explained how ‘Silly Games’ 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.’ As for the songs meaning 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.’ ‘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.

‘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.’