This is superb, i had previously commented the sing song scene was the most joyous TV of 2020. this is a fitting tribute.

Makes me feel hopeful for the first time in ages

I was blown away by Steve McQueen's recent Small Axe series of films on BBC1. One of them, Lovers Rock, featured a life affirming scene using Janet Kay's "Silly Games", to incredible effect. "Silly Games" is an all time favourite of mine (see below if interested) and one night recently I couldn't sleep so decided to take the A Cappella singing from the film and weld it to Dennis Bovell's dub mix of "Silly Games". Easier said than done, it took hours and hours and did not help me sleep as it was lunch time when I finished. I only ever did it for my own amusement but played it on my NTS Radio show and have been inundated with requests for it, so here it is. If you don't know the original, which got to no. 2 in the UK Top 40 in 1979, and is now a bona fide evergreen classic, I thoroughly recommend checking it out.


"Silly Games" by Janet Kay is one of my all time favourite songs; a definite desert island disc. In the summer of 1979 it was ubiquitous and seemed to be on the radio all the time. I was just falling deeply in love with pop music and this song in particular stood out, both for myself and my sister, and indeed to this day, whenever I hear Silly Games I think of her and that glorious summer spent listening to the radio all day, every day.

In 1979, I didn’t know "Silly Games" was Reggae, let alone Lovers Rock, but it was the catalyst for me falling in love with Jamaican music in all its myriad forms which is a passion that has only grown as the years have passed.

Incidentally, 1979 was such a formative year for me and music that looking at the top 100 most popular hits in the UK singles music charts in 1979 I note that nearly a third of them have featured in my DJ sets over the years - http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1979.shtml

"Silly Games" was written and produced by Dennis Bovell, a genuine UK music legend who I am deeply honoured to have had appear on Optimo Music on two occasions. He features in the Lovers Rock episode of Small Axe and indeed you can hear his deep, booming bass heavy voice on this version. As stated, this version was done purely for my own amusement and I don't want to take anything away from the wonderful Janet Kay whose voice is such a wondrous and integral part of what makes "Silly Games" such a great, timeless song.

Janet Kay - Silly Games (JD Twitch Small Axe Version)

I started DJ'ing in 1987, am 50% of Optimo (Espacio) and I also run the Optimo Music record label.


“We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.”
Mark Vonnegut

Email - kmcivor@me.com

Optimo Music Soundcloud here - https://soundcloud.com/optimo-music

DJ bookings (worldwide) - caroline@spunoutagency.com



Press - optimopr@mac.com


Discography - http://www.optimo.co.uk/discography/

Comments

Hernando Guevara Pineda

Career Snacks

Hifi Sean

Urban Country

SourKraut presents...

Crimson Horn

manilahammer

petewilliams

celtic67

Michael Murnin