The Crying Game (song)

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"The Crying Game"
Single by Dave Berry
B-side "Don't Gimme No Lip Child"
Released July 1964
Genre Pop
Label Decca
Songwriter(s) Geoff Stephens
Producer(s) Mike Smith
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"Baby It's You"
(1964)		 "The Crying Game"
(1964)		 "One Heart Between Two"
(1964)

"The Crying Game" is a song written by Geoff Stephens. It was first released by English rock singer Dave Berry in July 1964.[1] It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was covered by Boy George which reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Canada in 1992. Three versions of the song, by Dave Berry, Kate Robbins and Boy George, were used in the film titled after the song The Crying Game directed by Neil Jordan.[2]

Background

The song was written by Geoff Stephens. Stephens thought the main attraction of the song was the title; to him the title "seemed the perfect seed from which to grow a very good pop song." The sentiment of the song inspired the lyrics and the tune, which according to him, arrived in his "head simultaneously". He thought the line "One day soon, I'm going to tell the moon, about the crying game" was particularly effective. The line "I know all there is to know" was inspired by his father, according to Stephens. Stephens recorded a demo with fellow songwriter John Carter at the Southern Music studio in Denmark Street, and gave a copy to Decca producer Mike Smith. Mike Smith liked the song and arranged for Dave Berry to record the song.[3]

The song was included in Dave Berry's self-titled debut album, where session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan played lead guitar on the tracks, and Jimmy Page supported.[4] On "The Crying Game", Sullivan experimented a DeArmond pedal to change the sound of his guitar.[5]

The song became Dave Berry's first top 10 hit, peaking at No. 5 on the British singles chart.

Charts

Chart (1964) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 73
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 5

Boy George version

"The Crying Game"
Cryinggamecd.jpg
Single by Boy George
B-side "I Specialise in Loneliness"
Released 7 September 1992 (1992-09-07)[9]
Label
Songwriter(s) Geoff Stephens
Producer(s) Pet Shop Boys
Boy George/Jesus Loves You singles chronology
"After the Love"
(1991)		 "The Crying Game"
(1992)		 "Sweet Toxic Love"
(1992)
Music video
"The Crying Game" on YouTube

English singer Boy George covered and released "The Crying Game" in 1992, and both this version and the original Dave Berry recordings were used as the theme to the 1992 Neil Jordan movie The Crying Game. George's version of the song was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart, number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number one in Canada and Iceland. It became the biggest solo hit that George achieved in the US or Canada. The songs are heard during the end credits of the movie.

This version was also featured in the Jim Carrey comedy film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. This was a joke reference to the film The Crying Game, with which it shared a plot point.

Background

The Pet Shop Boys became involved in producing the song through the producer of The Crying Game film, Stephen Woolley. The duo had previously contributed the song "Nothing Has Been Proved", sung by Dusty Springfield, for the Woolley-produced 1989 film Scandal. Neil Tennant told NME in 1993, "I think George sings that song really well, he sounds a bit like Roy Orbison."[10]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard complimented George's "genius reading" of the song.[11] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report concluded, "It's been said again and again that all any performer needs is the right material to have a hit. Boy George is just the right singer to resurrect this song".[12] Dennis Hunt from Los Angeles Times wrote, "Those who have seen the movie will understand why Boy George is the perfect choice to sing the moody, Pet Shop Boys-produced title song--easily George’s best vocal since the early Culture Club days."[13] A reviewer from Music & Media felt it has the same "ethereal ambiance" as the one to TV series Twin Peaks, "punctuated by a similar big twanging guitar."[14]

Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "a strange little ballad, it's been pumped up in commercial house style by George, whose fragrantly fragile vocals never fail to impress."[15] Frank DeCaro from Newsday found that the singer's version of "The Crying Game" is "the most mesmerizing vocal since Annie Lennox first asked "Why" last summer. And, it's produced by (and sounds like) Pet Shop Boys, another fave." He also declared it as a "lush, synth update" of Dave Berry's 1964 Brit Hit.[16] Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, "The gender-bending karma chameleon teams up with the Pet Shop Boys for a stunning version of the title song that drips with bittersweet languor."[17] Charles Aaron from Spin said, "Heard it in a mall, wanted to weep in my Orange Julius."[18]

Track listings

  • UK and European 7-inch
A. "The Crying Game"
B. "I Specialise in Loneliness" (edit)
  • US 7-inch (red vinyl)
A. "The Crying Game"
B. "Stand by Your Man" (by Lyle Lovett)
  • European and UK 12-inch and CD single
1.(A) "The Crying Game"
2.(B1) "The Crying Game" (extended dance mix)
3.(B2) "I Specialise in Loneliness" (edit)
  • US cassette single
A. "The Crying Game" (Boy George)
B. "The Crying Game" (Dave Berry)

Charts

Other versions

  • Brenda Lee charted the first U.S. version of "The Crying Game." She reached number 87 in January 1965.[36]
  • Ian and the Zodiacs released a charting version in 1964 in the U.S.[37]
  • Kylie Minogue covered the song on her Fever Tour in 2002, incorporating it in a medley with several other ballads to rapturous response.

References

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  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Crying Game". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. ↑ "Dave Berry: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Wood, Sam (2 March 1993). "Intriguing Music from Two Movies". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Boy George – The Crying Game". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1713." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1785." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ "Musicline.de – Boy George Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Crying Game". Irish Singles Chart.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Boy George – The Crying Game". Singles Top 60.
  27. ↑ "Archive Chart: 19920926" UK Singles Chart.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ "Boy George – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Boy George.
  30. ↑ "Boy George – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Boy George.
  31. ↑ "Boy George – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Boy George.
  32. ↑ "Boy George – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Boy George.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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