“ Games People Play ” is a song by American author-singer Joe South , written by him in 1968 and included in Introspect's debut album. A year later, South's second album was named after this song (which was not included in it). Also in 1969, the single "Games People Play" released by Capitol Records (# 2248) [1] rose to # 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 [2] (# 6 - UK Singles Chart [3] , # 7 - Canadian Pop Charts) and provided the author with Grammy in the nomination “Best Song of the Year”. [four]
| Games people play | ||||
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| Single Joe South from Introspect album | ||||
| Released | 1969 | |||
| Format | 7 "single | |||
| Recorded by | 1968 | |||
| Genre | pop rock country rock | |||
| Duration | 3:33 | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Composer | Joe south | |||
| Label | Capitol records | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
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| Chart Seats | ||||
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| Timeline of the Joe South Singles | ||||
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Content
Creation History
It is believed that the source of inspiration for South was the book of Dr. Eric Burn, "Games that people play," released in 1964 and devoted to the "gaming" aspect of human communication.
Lyrics
“Games People Play” is classified as a protest song: it provides a satirical view of modern society and its citizens, who - “Don't think, say, don't say what they think” ( Eng. Never meaning what they say now, never saying what they mean ) and while away hours in their "ebony towers", waiting for when they will be taken away, littered with flowers, in the back of a black limousine ( Eng. And they wile away the hours In their ivory towers Till they're covered up with flowers In the back of a black limousine ). The song also talks about the inferiority of human relations, when everyone is inclined to blame anyone, but not himself. But its main target is religion and pseudo-religious cults:
First, the author mentions those who sing “glory halleluyah,” trying to speak on behalf of God:
Here they come, sing Glory Halleluyah and hope to hammer all of this into you - in the name of the Lord. They will teach you how to meditate, read a horoscope, deceive you in your faith and "cross over" to the underworld filled with hatred: come on, join them! ...
Original textPeople walking up to you, singing Glory Halleluyah, and they hope to sock it to you in the name of the Lord. They're gonna teach you how to meditate Read your horoscope, cheat your faith And further more to hell with hate Come on and get on board ...
The song’s ending contains, first, a request addressed to God for the gift of peace (“... to remember who I am” - English God grant me the serenity to remember who I am ) and, finally, a critical remark to God himself, who "exchanged sanity for pride and vanity" ( Eng. ... God, you've given up your sanity For your pride and your vanity ) turning away from humanity, which he does not care ( Eng. Turn your back on humanity And you don ' t give a da ... <... mn> )
Musical influences
Among the musical sources that formed the basis of the melodic part of the arrangement, the specialists called traditional kajun The song "Tit Galop Pour Mamou", performed, among others, by Balfa Brothers ( Balfas' Play Traditional Cajun Music LP).
Joe Villone ( Allmusic ) reminds those who “applauded Vinnie Bell’s watery guitar sounds in the Midnight Cowboy theme” that Joe South had demonstrated the same type of sound nine months earlier. He discovers here, in addition, certain similarities with “But You Know I Love You,” a song by Kenny Rogers of the same time, noting that the arrangement of South is more experimental and innovative. The reviewer of Allmusic also draws attention to the “unique work of percussion”, which ideally merges with backing vocals, highlighting the vocal part, sustained in the traditions of soul and country. [one]
The combination of organ and violin parts in the middle, as suggested by singer Buzzy Lynhart, may have been “matched” by South during his in-session work with Bob Dylan ( Blonde on Blonde , 1966). [one]
Video
- Games People Play , Joe South, 1969
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 Joe Viglione. Games People Play . www.allmusic.com. Date of treatment January 18, 2010. Archived April 15, 2012.
- ↑ Joe South Billboard singles . www.allmusic.com. Date of treatment January 18, 2010. Archived April 15, 2012.
- ↑ Games People Play: UK Charts . www.chartstats.com. Date of treatment January 18, 2010. Archived April 15, 2012.
- ↑ 1969 Grammy Award Winners . www.popculturemadness.com. Date of treatment January 18, 2010. Archived April 15, 2012.