WHEN No Games was released in 2008, singer Serani believed it might’ve connected with music lovers. Fourteen years later, it continues to resonate with new audiences, because it was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry last Friday. The song exceeded sales for greater than 600,000 units.
“I try to not live my life having such strong expectations. What I might say is, I had loved the song and I believed that in my moment between 2007 and 2008, any well-made song that I released had a stronger probability of being successful,” Serani told the Jamaica Observer.
No Games was an enormous hit locally. It also topped charts regionally and rose to number 53 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated January 3, 2009. To this point, it’s Serani’s signature crossover hit.
Serani is pleased concerning the song’s latest certification.
“I’m blissful to know I’ve completed something that seems almost unattainable to many musicians throughout our struggles. It makes me feel like ‘this is the reason I never gave up’. Make me feel like there’s way more to be completed. Make me remember never to count yourself out, even when many do. Imagine in yourself,” he stated.
No Games was featured on Serani’s debut album of the identical name. The song’s success helped the 14-track album released by Phase One Communications/Rockstone Media rise to number 77 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number three on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Asked what it was concerning the song that has made it successful with music lovers all these years, Serani said: “I’m undecided myself, to be honest. All I can do is study the song. Over the past 14 years I’ve listened to the vocals and the beat, and I believe they go well together. They sound like they were made to suit together. From a producer’s standpoint, that is what I might want from a song. The concept of the song is about being real and selfless in love. I don’t desire to play games. Everyone pertains to that. Original dancehall type beat with heavy bass and drums topped with sweet sounding phrases and nursery rhymes sounding hooks. Great engineers. You do the maths.”
Linton “TJ” White is credited because the producer of No Games, which was featured on a new version of Dave Kelly’s Showtime rhythm called The Unfinished Business rhythm.
Serani recalls the recording session for No Games.
“Jordan McClure recording me at his studio at Chimney Records. I did multiple takes because normally after I record, I do not know the song word for word. I’m normally reading the words from my phone while recording. I’m generally uncertain of every melody I’ll use in each line or which tone of voice to make use of for every word or line. So, I do them in parts. Jordan did an excellent job with vocal direction. I remember it prefer it was yesterday.”
Asked what sort of doors the success of No Games had opened for him, Serani said: “Borderlines have been crossed and I gracefully walked across while they’ve allowed me to go everywhere in the world. The song continues to grow, and borders proceed to get crossed.”
