"Games" is a song by American boyband New Kids on the Block,[2] released as the first single from their first compilation/remix album, No More Games/The Remix Album (1990). Employing hip-hop samples with riffs sung by Jordan Knight, and defensive rhymes by Donnie Wahlberg, the song was a dramatic departure from their previously clean cut sound. It also includes shout-outs to Donnie's brother Mark Wahlberg and his group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The song features a chorus section taken from the movie the wizard of Oz, namely the West witch's soldiers chant: oh ee oh, oh oh. The accompanying music video for "Games" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.[3]
| "Games" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by New Kids on the Block | ||||
| from the album No More Games/The Remix Album | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | October 17, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Genre | New jack swing[1] | |||
| Length | 3:51 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Maurice Starr, Donnie Wahlberg | |||
| Producer(s) | Maurice Starr, David Cole, Robert Clivillés | |||
| New Kids on the Block singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Feeling the name "New Kids on the Block" was too childish for the group, the band shortened their name to "NKOTB" during the time of the single's release. The song received decent airplay from stations nationwide.
Critical reception
editTerry Staunton from NME wrote, "We have to be pretty honest here. This is probably the best thing they'll ever do and it is strangely adult. There's a touch of early Earth, Wind & Fire to it ("Saturday Night", "Shining Star", that sort of stuff) and it's not altogether dissimilar to Grandmaster Melle Mel's "White Lines". A bit of a corker, I have to admit."[4]
Track listings
edit- 12" maxi - Promo[5]
- "Games" (the kids get hard mix) – 5:22
- "What'cha Gonna Do (About It)" (Arthur Baker remix) – 5:51
- "Call It What You Want" (C&C pump it mix) – 5:31
- "My Favorite Girl" (remix) – 5:29
- CD maxi[6]
- "Games (the kids get hard mix extended version) – 5:22
- "Games (album version) – 3:27
- "(You've Got It) The Right Stuff" (New Kids in the house mix) – 5:36
- "Treat Me Right" – 4:17
- 7" single
- "Games" (the kids get hard mix 7" mix) – 3:58
- "Games" (the album version) – 3:27
Charts
edit| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[7] | 33 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 39 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] | 52 |
| France (SNEP)[10] | 19 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 9 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] | 33 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] | 30 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] | 27 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 14 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 58 |
| Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[16] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ Adams, Gregory (July 10, 2011). "Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block, aka NKOTBSB, feel the love at Vancouver concert". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ NKOTB Games song, retrieved 2021-09-10
- ^ "Station Reports > TV > MTV/London" (PDF). Music & Media. 1991-02-16. p. 16. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ Staunton, Terry (February 2, 1991). "Singles". NME. p. 18. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ Discogs.com
- ^ Discogs.com
- ^ "NKOTB – Games". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "NKOTB – Games" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1430." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "Games", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 13, 2009)
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Games". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – New Kids on the Block" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "NKOTB – Games" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "NKOTB – Games". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
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