GAMES PEOPLE PLAY... IN SONGS

A) CARD GAMES

1) BlackJack

Go Down Gamblin’ - BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS (1971 / Blackjack hand)

2) Poker

Lucky In Love - MICK JAGGER (1985 / A Royal flush... & other Casino games)

Spanish Train - CHRIS DeBURGH (1975 / Joker is the name, poker is the game)

3) Solitaire (Πασιέντζα)

I Feel Like Buddy Holly - ALVIN STARDUST (1984 / So I sit here playing Solitaire It's a game I know so well)

also see:

Shape Of My Heart - STING (1993)

He deals the cards as a meditation

And those he plays never suspect

He doesn't play for the money he wins

He don't play for respect

He deals the cards to find the answer

The sacred geometry of chance

The hidden law of a probable outcome

The numbers lead a dance

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier

I know that the clubs are weapons of war

I know that diamonds mean money for this art

But that's not the shape of my heart

He may play the jack of diamonds

He may lay the queen of spades

He may conceal a king in his hand

While the memory of it fades

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier

I know that the clubs are weapons of war

I know that diamonds mean money for this art

But that's not the shape of my heart

That's not the shape

The shape of my heart

The Winner Takes It All - ABBA (1980)

I've played all my cards

The Gods may throw a dice

B) STRATEGY GAMES

1) Checkers

McArthur Park - RICHARD HARRIS (1968), DONNA SUMMER (1978 / and the old men playing checkers by the trees)

2) Chess

One Night In Bangkok - MURRAY HEAD (1984 / Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it)




C) CHILDREN'S GAMES

1) Hide & Seek (in Greek: kryftouli)

Hide & Seek - HOWARD JONES (1984)
Straight Up - PAULA ABDUL (1988 / you play hide & seek)
(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me - ALEXANDER O’NEAL
(1987 / playing games of Hide & Seek... looking high & low)


2) Peek A Boo (in Greek: koo-koo tsa!)


Peek-A-Boo - SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (1988)
Peek-A-Boo - STYLISTICS (1973)

3) Table games

Calling It Quits - AIMEE MANN (1999 / Monopoly money)
Man On The Moon - REM (1992 / Game of Life, Monopoly, Twenty one, Chess, Twister, Risk)

D) FAIRGROUND GAMES

1a) Carousel

Highway Of Love - LAID BACK (1989 / Driving on a carousel of love Riding on a carousel of love)
I Love You But You’re Boring - BEAUTIFUL SOUTH (1989 / You must've been listening to your Carousel)
Spaceman - BABYLON ZOO (1995 / can’t get off the carousel)

Under The Boardwalk - THE DRIFTERS (1964 / From the park you hear the happy sound of the carousel You can almost taste the hot dogs and french fries they sell, yes you can)

Wedding Bell Blues - THE 5TH DIMENSION (1969 / in your voice I hear a choir of carousels)
Why Can’t I Have You - CARS (1984 / carousel up and down)

Windmills Of Your Mind - NOEL HARRISON (1969 / Like a carousel that's turning running rings around the moon)

1b) Merry-Go-Round

Blinded By The Light - MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND
(1976 / I tripped the Merry go round)
Carnival - CARDIGANS (1995 / Merry go round)
Magic - CARS (1984 / it’s like a Merry go round)
I Am Love - JENNIFER HOLIDAY (1983 / Merry go round)
Is It Love You're After - ROSE ROYCE (1979 / do I have to ride the Merry go round)
Puppet On A String - SANDIE SHAW (1967 / Merry go round)


2) Roller Coaster

Come Together - BEATLES (1969 / roller coaster)
Life Is A Roller Coaster - RONAN KEATING (2000 / roller coaster)

There Are The Days Of Our Lives - QUEEN  (1999 / roller coaster)
Wish You Were Here - INCUBUS (2001 / roller coaster)

3a) Spinning Wheel

Spinning Wheel - BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS (1969)


3b) Wheel Of Fortune

Feel So High - DES’REE (1992 / I’m riding on the wheel of fortune)

High On You - SURVIVOR (1984 / I let the wheel of fortune spin)
The Wheel Of Fortune (O Fortuna) - RAY MANZAREK (1983)

E) DANGEROUS / LETHAL GAMES

Don’t Need A Gun - BILLY IDOL (1987 / "Russian Roulette"’s no fun)
Master & Servant - DEPECHE MODE (1984 / Domination’s the name of the game... let’s play "Master & Servant")
Original Sin - INXS (1984 / you might know how to play with fire)
Somewhere Down The Crazy River - ROBBIE ROBERTSON
(1988 / where people play games with the night)
Superfly - CURTIS MAYFIELD (1972 / the only game you know is "Do Or Die")




F) SUPERNATURAL GAMES

Der Teufel Und Der Junge Mann - PAOLA (1980)
The Devil Went Down To Georgia - CHARLIE DANIELS BAND (1979)
The Seventh Seal - SCOTT WALKER (1969 / tonight I played Chess with Death)
Spanish Train - CHRIS DE BURGH (1975 /  "Joker is the name, Poker is the game, we'll play right here on this bed, And then we'll bet for the biggest stakes yet, the souls of the dead!!")
Sympathy For The Devil - ROLLING STONES (1968 / the nature of my game)
There Must Be An Angel-EURYTHMICS (1985 / ...playing with my heart)




G) ABOUT THE GAME OF LOVE

1) Is love a game? (Love Games Part 1)

All In Love Is Fair-STEVIE WONDER (love's a crazy game)
All Of Me - SABRINA (they (boys) think that love’s a game)
Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying - GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS (don’t you know that love is a game)
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn - POISON (hear the DJ say love’s a game of easy come easy go)
Game Of Love - JIM CAPALDI (1978)
Game Of Love - FAIGROUND ATTRACTION
Game Of Love - MINDBENDERS (1965)
Get Ready - RARE EARTH (if you wanna play hide & seek with love)
Give It Up - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (come on & play the game of love)
I’m On Your Side - ANGELA BOFILL, JENNIFER HOLIDAY (game of love)
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over - LENNY KRAVITZ (1991 / So much time wasted playing games with love)
Just Be Good To Me - SOS BAND  (1983) / Dub Be Good To Me - BEATS INTERNATIONAL (1990 / love is a game of chances)
L-O-V-E - NAT KING COLE (love is more than just a game for 2)

Love Games - LEVEL 42 (1981)

(Love Is Just) The Game - PETER BROWN (1984 / I'm just a Trivial Pursuit)
Love Is Strange - EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL (1992)
Put Your Head On My Shoulder-PAUL ANKA (people say that love’s a game, a game you just can’t win)
Singing In The Shower-RITA MITSUKO featuring THE SPARKS (It was only a lovers game)
Still Got The Blues-GARY MOORE (I found that love was more than just a game)
To Be With You-MR BIG (game of love)
Yesterday-BEATLES (love was such an easy game to play)
Yesterday When I Was Young-SHIRLEY BASSEY (The game of love I played with arrogance and pride)
You Can’t Hurry Love-SUPREMES, PHIL COLLINS (it’s a game of give & take)


2) Playing Love Games In General (Love Games Part 2)

Angel - FRA LIPPO LIPPI (She plays a game of longing Sympathize some big time living)
Back To Life - SOUL II SOUL (foolish game)
Boy Who Cried Wolf - STYLE COUNCIL (for playing this stupid game)
Broken Land - THE ADVENTURES (1988 / these are the games we played at school)

Brown Eyed Girl - VAN MORRISON (1967 / Hey, where did we go? Days when the rains came Down in the hollow Playin' a new game Laughing and a running hey, hey Skipping and a jumping In the misty morning fog with Our hearts a thumpin')
Candy - IGGY & KATE (I need love, not games)

Caroline - ROBIN TROWER (It's a funny game we're playing You try to play it down when you see me low You know what my eyes are saying I believe you read me like a book)
Classic - ADRIAN GURVITZ (you was my best toy)

Cry - GODLEY & CREME (1985 / You don't know how to play the game You cheat You lie You make me wanna cry)

Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying - GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS (But don't forget that love's a game And it can always come again)
Everything Will Flow - SUEDE (so many games to play)
Freedom 90 - GEORGE MICHAEL (the way I play the game is not the same)
Great Pretender - PLATTERS (I play the game)
Handsome Dudes - HELEN REDDY (I know the game you’re playing)
Hang On To Your Love - SADE (in heavens name why do you play this game)
Heart Turns To Stone - FOREIGNER (1987 /what you thought was a game, a game you were winning)
Hot & Soul - VICTOR LAZLO (try to see it as a game)
I’m Only Shooting Love - TIME BANDITS (Come with me, our game has just began)
I Don’t Care Anymore - PHIL COLLINS (I don’t play the same games that you play)
It’s A Heartache - BONNIE TYLER (fools game)
Just My Imagination - CRANBERRIES (game we used to play)
The Last To Know - JOHNNY HATES JAZZ (Innocence it’s just a game you play with me)
Let’s Go To Bed - THE CURE (stupid game)
Looking For The Summer - CHRIS REA (this ain’t no game of kiss & tell)
Lowdown - BOZ SCAGGS (same old school boy game got you into this)
Make Me Smile - COCKNEY REBEL (a game for us to play)
Maria Magdalena - SANDRA (play for affection & win the prize, I know those party games too)
Memories Fade - TEARS FOR FEARS (with hungry joy I’ll be your toy, just hoping you will play)
The Model - KRAFTWERK (she plays hard to get)
Multiplication - BOBBY DARIN (that’s the name of the game)
Music To Watch Girls By - ANDY WILLIAMS (the name of the game)
My Eyes Adored You - FRANKIE VALLI (playing make believe you’re married to me)
Never Never - ASSEMBLY (1983 / it’s just a game I play)
No No No - TERRY HALL (1995 /what is this game you're playing)
The Night As A Thousand Eyes - BOBBY VEE (cause your game I’m gonna play)
Of Course I’m Lying - YELLO (I love your games)
One Night Stand - JANIS JOPLIN (play that game again)
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - ST. ETTIENE (games that I was playing)
Only You - YAZOO (when it’s only a game)
Part Time Lover - STEVIE WONDER (two can play the game of part time lovers)
Perfect - FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION (life is too short too play silly games)
Playing Your Game - BARRY WHITE
Prisoner Of The Light - ANIMALS (1983)
Private Eyes - HALL & OATES (you play with love)
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number - STEELY DAN (we could stay inside & play games)
Say You Say Me - LIONEL RICHIE (playing games)

Should Have Known Better-RICHARD MARX (I thought time might help me win this game)
So You Win Again - HOT CHOCOLATE (1977 / You took the game this time with ease)
St. Elmo’s Fire - JOHN PARR (play the game)
Stay With Me Till Dawn - JUDIE TZUKE (1991)
Take My Breath Away - BERLIN (Watching every motion in my foolish lover’s game)
Tell It Like It Is - AARON NEVILLE, DON JOHNSON (If you want something to play with, go & find yourself a toy)
This Is Your Life - BANDERAS (You act like a child Playing games now Play and pretend the art of disguise)

Touch By Touch-JOY (1985 / love's the game that we play night & day)
We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off - JERMAIN STEWART (a quick hit that’s your game)
What’s On Your Mind - INFORMATION SOCIETY (it’s a game I have to play)
You And I - MADLEEN KANE (playing games we'll live together)
You Give Love A Bad Name - BON JOVI (you play your game)
You’re A Woman - BAD BOYS BLUE (this is more than just a game)
You Keep Me Hanging On - SUPREMES (playing with my heart)
You’ll Never Know - HI GLOSE (what a childish game to play)



H) GAME OF LIFE

Life Is Just A Ballgame - WOMACK & WOMACK
Street Life - CRUSADERS featuring RANDY CRAWFORD (I play the street life... play your life away)
Suicide Is Painless - THEME FROM MASH (the game of life is hard to play)
You Are - LIONEL RICHIE (you are the sun, you are the rain that makes my life this foolish game)




I) VARIOUS OTHER GAMES

Double Dutch - MALCOLM McLAREN
Games Without Frontiers - PETER GABRIEL
Giddy Up A Gogo - AD VISSER & DANIEL SACHULEGA (up down like a yo-yo)
Jeopardy - GREG KIHN BAND

Late In The Evening - PAUL SIMON (Some guys were shootin' pool)
Magic Moments - PERRY COMO (The penny arcade, the games that we played, the fun and the prizes)
Summertime - D.J. JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE (Double Dutch)




J) GAMES IN GENERAL

Crying Game - DAVE BERRY, BOY GEORGE
Hey Matthew - KAREL FIALKA (it’s all a game, I hope)
Hurricane - BOB DYLAN (where justice is a game)

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - THE BLOW MONKEYS (You've only got yourself to blame For playing the game / the song is a referrence to Margret Thatcher)

Juliet - ROBIN GIBB (playing a Joker's game)
Name Of The Game - DAN HARTMAN
Vicious Games - YELLO
Limbo Rock - CHUBBY CHECKER
Play Dead - BJORK
Time Passages - AL STEWART (1978 / It's just a game that you play)

You Left Yor Mark On Me - MARTY BALIN (We want the games to follow All the rules we lay down)

Δικαίωμα στο όνειρο-ΛΑΚΗΣ ΜΕ ΤΑ ΨΗΛΑ ΡΕΒΕΡ (σ’ ένα παιχνίδι χαμένο ψάχνεις για κερδισμένο)