Peter Gabriel- Games Without Frontiers (First Listen)

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Song Link: • Peter Gabriel - Games ...

[@peterandrews1177]

Interesting fact?... when he sings " Its a knockout" he's referencing an old uk tv programme where teams from 2 rival towns played silly games for points to find a winner. There was also an international version featuring rival towns from 6 towns from different countries...the programme was called Jeux sans Frontieres.As in his Genesis days Peter just cant resist a good play on words

[@downesy68]

I came here to make the same comment. We had an Australian version called It’s A Knockout and in the closing credits it referenced that it was based on the French show Jeux Sans Frontieres. I was a fan of the Gabriel song so made the connection straight away.

[@RoverT65536]

Thanks, I always thought it was “she's so funky now” at the start but apparently it is “Jeux Sans Fronteires”.

[@Hi-kq1vi]

@@RoverT65536 I always thought it was she's so popular until recent times.

[@drcarp7377]

Good post. Yes, Peter loves to experiment with themes. On this case the comparison between a stupid pointless games vs war. He is a pacifist, so from his point of view, he sees the futility and waste of war.

[@BRIANJAMESGIBB]

And Jeux sans Frontieres 'Games Without Frontiers' was the European version All very BBC and other European State media irgs doing their 'social duty' as seen through a very 1970s lens of editorial responsibilities. . kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6G6omBjoL2Yn5Y . So an o virus 20th century bread and circuses attempt to diffuse inter ethnic tensions in Europe....hardly surprising given post war trauma but then layering onto that the 'eternal truths' of war, politics and power. . All this done as pop song ...UK 80s stuff nailed that trick repeatedly ;)

[@donaldanderson6604]

It's A Knockout was a huge TV show here in England in the 70s and minor members of the Royal family even appeared on it. It mainly involved teams dressing up in stupid costumes and negotiating obstacle courses. The show was based on a French version, hence the chorus. What Gabriel does is to juxtapose the silly games on TV with American GIs urinating on the corpses of Vietnamese soldiers. His point is that war dehumanises the soldiers to the point where there is no difference between children playing games on sand dunes by the seaside and soldiers killing "geeks." Even the seemingly naive nature of the tunes makes the anti war point ironically. The happier the music, the more bitter Gabriel becomes.

[@Azabaxe80]

This came out during a particular high point of the Cold War, and your connection to the coldness of the track is very apt. Gabriel shows himself in this song to be a songwriter and lyricist of the first order. Roger Waters, who had been exploring these themes at the same time, couldn't be this subtle. And yes, the album is totally special.

[@Triplecenturies]

For Christmas in 1980 at age 15 I got my wish of a boom box and the sole cassette of Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt) - my very first prerecorded music ever - a choice due to Games Without Frontiers getting significant air play on radio stations I liked.. along with Solsbury Hill and DIY played on Double Shot Tuesdays. I was a Peter Gabriel fan before owning any of his music. Later in the year I bought my second cassette - ABACAB by Genesis as I liked the title song from radio play. Then shortly after that, a friend who was more into music and in the know well more than I, was over and saw that I only owned two cassettes and pointed out to me that Peter was once actually with Genesis not to too long ago in the past (this was 1981 at the time). The 80s were awesome seeing each gain popularity with their coincidental nearly simultaneous releases of PG 4 / Security and Genesis' self titled Genesis (Mama). Then PG So came out and Genesis Invisible Touch. Throw in there Phil Collins solo stuff and Mike and the Mechanics and the 80s were an incredible time. How fitting that the decade would end with Say Anything and the boombox scene. I meet my wife in early 1986 and we did the Peter Gabriel and Genesis concerts of the era, got engaged in Sep. 1988 (before Say Anything) and in June 1990 we married and are still so today.

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@HippoYnYGlaw I think he's referring to that shitty John Cusack film...

[@sspsfivefivefive]

I loved this song as a kid. Games without frontiers entered the UK Top 40 on the 9th Feb 1980 and it peaked at no.13. The top 10 this week. 1 - Kenny Rogers - Coward of the county 2 - The Specials - Too much too young 3 - The Whispers - And the beat goes on. 4 - Keith Michell - Captain Beaky 5 - Boomtown Rats - Someone's looking at you 6 - The Nolans - I'm in the mood for dancing. 7 - Cliff Richard - Carrier 8 - Jon & Vangelis - I hear you now 9 - Blonde - Atomic 10 - Joe Jackson - It's different for girls Climbers and new entries. Michael Jackson - Rock with you Elvis Costello - I can't stand up for falling down. The Ramones - Baby I love you Queen - Save me The Selector - Three minute hero The Buggles - Living in the plastic age Jeffersons Starship - Jane Peter Gabriel - Games without frontiers John Foxx - Underpass Rainbow - All night long ACDC - Touch too much Stiff Little Fingers - At the edge. A great week for rock music.

[@telynns8490]

Wow, I haven't heard this in forever. Was a decently big hit in the day.

[@rafaelhoracio731]

Yesterday was Kate Bush's birthday, and by coincidence you posted a day after this reaction with her vocals in it, i loved it! I remember hearing that song in a cassette that my cousin had, rewinding a lot of times to listen again with headphones. It's great that you liked it!!

[@michaelmulherin9952]

sooooo much emotion in the whistle gets me every time

[@Habichiwoowoo]

This is my favorite Gabriel album. Which surprises me. Musically and thematically (in the lyrics), every song deals with some form of human aberrance. And I love it. Because, as you said, he knows how to convert his attitude into musical expression. Family Snapshot rips my heart out every time. "I need some attention. I shoot into the light..." Devastating. Justin, I love your analyses; keep it up.

[@JustJP]

Very true about his transformation of emotion into sound. To Habichiwoowoo!

[@stpnwlf9]

Back when I was a radio DJ in the last years of vinyl, this was really my first exposure to Peter Gabriel solo and I was quite impressed. This is one of the more complex songs of this era of 'New Wave' and it was worthy of multiple listens to capture all of the nuances, both melodically and lyrically.

[@jeffmcdonald5901]

I discovered Genesis and loved them since 1976, right after A Trick of the Tail was released. And as of 1980, when this album came out and I heard Games Without Frontiers on the radio for the first time and became obsessed with it as well, I had no idea that I was listening to the one-time frontman to Genesis. It was quite a shock when I discovered it when later in 1980 I heard The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway for the first time. So this was the song that introduced me to Peter in any way shape or form and it still holds a special place in my heart.

[@gregjones861]

Wait'll you hear "Not One Of Us". Gabriel isn't even aware of it himself but with one lyric he exposes a staggering insight about the nature and motivations of violence. This entire album is still ahead of it's time.

[@robertjewell9727]

Great observations. This track almost seems intensely ironic to me, Kate always sounds like a ghost haunting a battlefield of the dead with no explanation for the reason and now way high up above it and only able to repeat herself, the dance rhythms primitive and alluring, but dangerous, and believe it or not it was something of an FM radio hit back in the day. The whistling by the way is an echo of soldiers, particularly WWI soldiers who often whistled patriotic anthems on their way to battle, but it's also somewhat reminiscent of the theme to the WWII film The Bridge on the River Kwai which is whistled. Good start to the morning. Thanks!

[@veloraloves]

I was a little too young to appreciate this during its initial FM radio success. However, it had a second run and became quite successful during the pre-grunge very late 80's and early 90's on college radio stations. MTV's 120 mins put the video back in rotation for a well deserved hot second. Hopefully the zoomer's will take their love of the dark analog days and give it another round of success. It wouldn't surprise me...LOL!

[@JustJP]

Great observations Rob! Agreed about Kate

[@jacquesdemolay2699]

When I was a young boy and lived in Europe and I was watching TV in the evening, every now and again there was this TV game called "Jeux sans Frontières" meaning in English "Games without Frontiers". They organised games for teams belonging to each European countries. Each venue would be in different towns all over Europe. Perhaps Peter Gabriel is referring to this TV game in this song.

[@und3rgroundman865]

He definitely is because he says "It's a knockout" which was what the show was called in the UK

[@a.k.1740]

I remember perfectly when this track was released as a single at the very beginning of 1980. It's a catchy composition but also very mysterious and dark like the rest of the album from which it is taken. I have always associated this third Peter Gabriel album with Never For Ever by Kate Bush, also her third album and released that same year. These two are my favorites from their respective discography

[@johnmavroudis2054]

The King and Queen of Visionary Pop. (This song, Breathing, and Army Dreamers are wonderfully linked)

[@JeromeDukes]

This was such a great tune when it came out. Love the melody and I also like the creativity of the song. Since it's been a while since I've heard the song, I was also getting that nostalgic feeling. You know when you are driving and listening to the radio, you reach your destination but you just have to finish the song. This song would be pretty darn close to that.

[@lmsrox2]

Still a great tune. Peter is a genius.

[@JustJP]

I know exactly what you mean Dukes

[@garycoates4987]

Pete and Kate together again,,, this song is in heavy rotation on my spotify playlist I love all the counterpoint melodies in the layers of the song

[@garycoates4987]

@Stephen B the chorus the french lyric

[@garycoates4987]

@@jaandrade very cool

[@jackreed7287]

Gabriel is a master at drum rhythms.

[@vanytasticsone9071]

This album showed us what was possible musically and lyrically and amazingly enough it is still showing us.

[@therealtwiggyleaf]

One of the very few songs where I actually bought the single because the album hadn't come out yet. Thanks for the review.

[@yes_head]

I was in high school when this came out, and for many younger people in the U.S. this was their first exposure (no pun intended) to Peter Gabriel. Nobody knew he had been in Genesis (who at the time were just starting to gain visibility with Duke.) "Solsbury Hill" didn't make much of a dent in the U.S. charts in '77, and nothing charted off the second album. This didn't make it into mainstream FM playlists, but it was all over alternative rock radio. Everyone knew about it.

[@100puremustard5]

"This Album is something special" said Justin. You are correct sir! This is Peter's masterpiece. Better than So and Security. This song is one of my favorites but I still favor Family Snapshot and No Self Control. Very powerful. Great review as always... next up "Not One of Us" ... this album is incredible!

[@johncase2408]

My favorite Peter Gabriel song, it's very cleverly written.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Big big song in the early years of new wave love love love love you

[@jgsrhythm100]

Pete Gabriel has a label for music from around the World(Real,World) and a World Music Fest(Womad Festival) All inspired by the Senegalese artist "YsouNdour". Check "Set" . I saw Yousou in 87 and was light years ahead of any American or European bamd by far. Best live experience I've ever. We are way too close minded here in the states.

[@raymondcpl]

PG3 was one of my fave albums for years... Cymbals was banned. and Kate is just lovely!!

[@GT-mq1dx]

Peter was way ahead of his time with this song, listening to all the different instrumentation in it made me aware of tons of songs that were still using these same sounds from this one album 15 years later. Big wow to him. Also, I have to say since everyone’s talking about how cold this song feels, to me it’s always been one of the most emotional songs I’ve ever heard, and just so happens to be one of my all time favorite songs.

[@chefren77]

The music video to the song is pretty chilling.

[@Hi-kq1vi]

Used to scare the hell out of me as a kid-him creeping through that room with the tv monitors shining a torch & that weird kids dinner party.

[@MrHisperia2001]

Such a great song from Peter Gabriel ☝️ thanks for the reaction ☝️

[@zenclover8468]

Album and song are a masterpiece! You are well overdue for watching one of his music videos by the way. They are all amazing in thier own way but the most popular in style are "sledgehammer", and "Big time".

[@ZalMoxis]

Gabriel's first 4 albums are all essential

[@neilhinks5734]

This was the first single I ever bought by Peter.. I just fell in love with is solo work from here on Justin. Very clever lyrics, quite dark. I love the groove, guitar is fab imo. And, it is quite a catchy song for Peter Justin. This album IMHO is a bona fide masterpiece by Peter. The writing, and subject matter are so unique to him imo. Just superb stuff Justin. Your review, as always is spot on butty.. You definitely get Gabriel's writing. 😊 😊 😊 All the best from Wales butty 👌👌🤘🤘

[@epbeagle4242]

That Percussion is a straight up demo for the at the time brand new Roland 808!

[@xingmieh1709]

No, at this time PG used a CR78

[@theartistformerlyknownasje6358]

Love this song 💯🔥

[@harripalomaki8796]

Justin, three points: 1) Before I realised Kate Bush was singing in French, I thought the lyric went "she's so popular". 2) Excellent use of this song was made in the TV series The Americans. Because the 80s and the Cold War. 3) My favourite frontier is the border between Finland and Sweden because you can pretty much just wave your hand and cross it to get a pint of milk or whatever. The Russians are a tad touchier about their border.

[@todvball]

I thought the same as your #1 point. It's funny how the mind can "make up" its own story... without delving into the lyric meaning. My initial interpretation was "a bunch of kids playing Capture the Flag" . Lol. Well... partially right.

[@googlebotkiller7118]

Pt 3 - we went to Lapland one year to see Santa with the kids. Part of the package was walking about half a mile across the bridge into Sweden to go to a Christmas service.

[@julientardieux]

1°) I'm french, and even if I know it, it's very hard to catch. Her french was very poor I guess.

[@colinhorsey2313]

I always treated this as a symbolic song about the eastern block and war (may be cold war reference). Perhaps it underlines the childish attitudes for justifying for countries to go to war.

[@todvball]

JP, I'd say this is my fav reaction of yours thus far. I remember in college "lip synching" this song with friends....so fun. It's uniqueness gives it a timeless listening quality. Great each listen.

[@JustJP]

Ty so much Todd!

[@MilosDaddy]

Thanks, Justin. Another of my favorites.

[@JustJP]

Ty Charles!

[@brucecampo6543]

love this song!

[@tommycanadasmobazimmer]

In Germany it was called Spiel ohne Grenzen. Teams playing silly games. Greeting from Toronto, prog Rock Capital of the world. When bands like Genesis etc were play in 3000 seaters in the US in 1973 they were filling 18,000 seater arenas in Toronto and Montreal. Same goes for ELP and others.

[@todvball]

Isn't the intro to this song so cool??! It grabs ya. Great songs have that ability to pull you in for "the listen". This is one.

[@bigmanpigman3436]

I've heard this song for 40 years and I never knew that was Kate Bush! Always thought it was Peter singing falsetto. Live and learn. Thanks Justin!

[@todvball]

...so good!!! Intro: "Jeux sans frontieres"... it's French!! Great video... This song has humor too!! Love it!! Great...loud!!! :D

[@dionisioiacobelli6689]

Peter' s'"digging in the dirt" is about painful things in our past we all have buried in the dirt .

[@afterforever9212]

Ty love your analysis

[@Panoptese19]

Good Morning Justin! He is obviously singing about the horrors of war and it always made me think of this old saying. "To act or talk as if one is relaxed and not afraid when one is actually afraid or nervous, He shows a confident manner but he may just be whistling passed the graveyard." Thank you for the Extra shot!

[@spencergarrison1162]

Love your analysis of this awesome song! The next Peter Gabriel song you should listen to is Growing Up. Absolutely amazing.

[@mariobaert8346]

Always liked this song a lot. Best song on the album for me.

[@ChataCovers]

omg Justin you are just unbelievable and i mean in an awesome way. You listen to songs for the very first time and your ability to disect the music and the lyrics and pick up the exact meaning with such Uncanny Accuracy is so incredible you have a gift man....your very insightful i hope your not wasting this talent you have loading trucks for a living?.......lol. I am being serious there is a career out there waiting for you if u don't already have one , either in psychology or in Music Blogging for a Record Label or Company or anything of that Nature. Anyways i'm always waiting for one of my favorite Songs to come up and this was one of them and you never disappoint when it does. thx again

[@JustJP]

Thank you so much for that comment Dan. I would love to put this to more use, but I'm happy here with all of you enjoying the music😄

[@focusstudios1296]

Nice! He compares war and international diplomacy to children’s games, “wearing silly costumes, playing silly games, hiding out in treetops, calling out rude names”. Games without frontiers was also a French sports show I think

[@Merlinsgames]

Another element Peter uses are the specific names that represent Nations that warred with one another in modern times. For example: Aldolf (Germany) builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it (Spanish Civil War). None of name pairings is accidental. All have specific incidents or wars reflective in the names. I think I made that clear as mud!

[@peetee303]

Yes I did read once about the meaning of this song which I can no longer find for reference, but all the names are specific to a particular nation or country involved in war at some time in history, when you dig deep into the lyrics there's a lot to uncover which totally goes over heads of most people listening to this jilted but genius pop song, a clever guy Mr Gabriel.

[@DavidTimberDKT]

This album, his third solo, was my touch stone when it came out. I was living alone in my own apartment as a teenager and I felt disconnected and some what marginalized, working a midnight shift at an incinerator plant. , going to college part time and having a compromised social life. I was a die hard Peter Gabriel fan and this album spoke to me.

[@Ifyoudonttakeitucantfakeit]

PG4 is epic on every level! I also love the last temptation of Christ😗

[@guydelorme8641]

There was a tv show in France,back in the 80's,that was called "Jeux sans frontière".Good analyse my friend!

[@VerMaarte]

Always liked this song ... it's unbelievably on point but pretty dark ... Love that you got that

[@VerMaarte]

And all the (children's ?) first names that he mentioned are first names of dictators...

[@roddmcleodable]

Very thoughtful response to the lyrics.

[@ricobonifacio1095]

peter is always unique. thats what i love about him.

[@iainweller452]

My favourite Peter Gabriel song is still “Biko”

[@crazyfingers19]

Great song.

[@O_Towne_Bear]

It's coming

[@funkyfurballs1078]

Here Comes the Flood is one of my faves.

[@michaelbochnia5686]

Took me a year to get that cowbell muted "bink" out of my head. Now look what you did.... shit! It's been decades.

[@JustJP]

😄😄

[@realbser1956]

Great analysis young man. 👍

[@JustJP]

Ty Barry!

[@Rowenband]

“Jeux sans frontière” (which he pronounces all along the song) was a famous french game that appeared on TV in the 70 and 80. And of course it means Games without Frontiers. But his pronounciation is completely wrong. Your pronouciation last try) was correct (as someone else mentionned already). Thanks for the explanations. Once more it allows me to better get in the meanings of the song. All these songs you listen, those I know, I know since 40 years or more. At that time my english was poor and I didn't get the meanings. And most of them I never got back to the lyrics. So this is really helpful.

[@JustJP]

Ty Chris! I think we're all learning quite a bit here😁

[@krisdoggett483]

I really enjoy this song

[@thishappybreed6505]

Outstanding PG composition and an acute analysis, (as always). 1980 was closer in time to WW2 than to us now! How sad that this track has lost none of its relevance in the four decades since it was released.

[@crazyfingers19]

Steve Lillywhite (the producer) said once in an interview that it would be more dramatic if they removed the cymbal tracks. Gave it a more austere and unsettling tone I think.

[@matthiascerebri3315]

This is one of my favourite songs. And my favourite board game is Trivial Pursuit

[@matthewrobinson9558]

This was on the radio in 1980 at the same time as Genesis "Duke"

[@latheofheaven1017]

When the single came out, I was listening on the radio, and when it finished the DJ said he really liked the song, especially the female vocals singing, 'She's so funky, yeah'. It's soured my perception of DJs for forty years!

[@latheofheaven1017]

By the way, 'Jeux sans frontières' was a popular game show in Europe at the time, (meaning games without frontiers). The UK version of it was called 'It's a Knockout'.

[@rossknowles5608]

the list of names is genius.

[@michaelmulherin9952]

hes top notch

[@visualanimal5634]

Gabriel is a true artist, capable of creating difficult music to make a point, The fact that he released this as a single says it all. Catchy with a twist.Uncompromising.

[@brinmoody]

Personally my favourite Peter Gabriel song is The Blood of Eden, featuring Sínead O'Connor, closely followed by Mercy Street and then both In Your Eyes and Solsbury Hill are tied at my third position.

[@peetee303]

A great song and a suprise hit for Gabriel and well deserved, definitely a anti war song and was quite often how he would introduce it when performed live, it's a take on how world leaders fight like children and start or threaten war as like children would pick fights in the playground, a clever use of the It's A Knockout game show where qualifying teams would then participate in the French version Jeux Sans Frontiers where different nations would battle out silly games in silly costumes. Genius song, genius album, genius Gabriel.

[@lisastygall9062]

This, sledgehammer and don't give up his most commercial successes, but still have a deep, meaningful message. Very clever man, kissed him on the cheek at hammersmith odeon on his second album tour, then thrown back into my seat by a bouncer! High point for me, probably not for him!

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

One of my favorite all-time albums. The unique sound and instrumentation on this song, that plays through this album is a theme in itself. I find the arching theme throughout the songs to me is insanity. Normal Life, Family Snapshot, and war itself as a form of madness. The cover also reflects the sound, the melting face and the background beats, buzzes and are very acidic - not in such a free-spirited psychodelica way, but hallucinatory, as a decent into madness.

[@michaelmulherin9952]

the whistle!!!

[@chaunceyhill7907]

I had heard it was about the Olympics. This song came out around boycott of 1980 Olympics...' dressing up in costumes, playing silly games...'

[@Amanda-si1qz]

Hi Justin, I’ve always loved this song and of course Peter Gabriel, along with this album since day one. (Sooo many years ago now) It IS definitely cold, deliberately though no doubt and for good reason, as is any war there was no room for warmth. I can’t help but try to imagine as to the head space, particularly of our Grandfathers etc, mine included and others of any generation who had no choice but to throw themselves into it, just to deal with the atrocities that they had forced upon them and were constantly surrounded by for years. You’d definitely lose yourself just to survive but only then to be wrecked by PTSD for years to come. I’ve unfortunately never had any member of my family, now all passed, fondly speak of their war years, in fact they NEVER spoke of it at all. My Grandfather came back ‘Shellshocked’ after both WWI and WWII, my Father-in-law became an almost life long alcoholic, and my uncle a recluse who was pretty much totally antisocial, spending most of his time fishing alone after spending years in a Japanese Camp. It doesn’t solve anything except to kill, wreck and waste the lives of young boys whose futures were way more deserving than just lining the coffers of others. What a complete waste. PG sums this up in its entirety as only he could. Enjoyed hearing it again though along with the beautiful Kate Bush, another of my all time favourites. As always, take care, and stay safe and well.

[@JustJP]

Ty for sharing that AJ, very well written and a sad and all too common tale for those involved in war.

[@carlgrant9785]

Everything you said about the song is valid but it's also about nuclear war: A Game without Frontiers, A War without Tears, because there's no one left to weep.

[@damianmousseau4125]

It's a song meant to make you think. It made me think when I was just 10 in 1980. I'm 50 now and still love this song. It happens every day.

[@BigC.]

Interesting track but I always liked it. Modern love is also solid.

[@markspooner1224]

'Jeux sans frontières' is the French name for 'It's A Knockout' which was a European show where teams from different countries plated silly games against each other. I've no idea if this is a reference to the show or not. Anyway Gabriel is always interesting if not always great.

[@adamp2029]

It means “games without frontiers”.

[@markspooner1224]

@@adamp2029 I didn't say it was the French translation, I said it was the French name for the TV show n'est-ce pas?

[@markspooner1224]

@@silvertube52 I do speak French, see my reply to the previous comment. BTW thank you for your helpful reply.

[@adamp2029]

Mark Spooner oh ok. That’s weird that it would have such different names.

[@silvertube52]

@@markspooner1224 Yes I realized my mistake and tried to delete the post. It's still there though. Actually before posting, I back spaced over it. Sorry for posting a dumb comment.

[@edwardthorne9875]

And here I always heard the one line as 'Kissing baboons in the jungle". You learn something new every day.

[@mcolford]

Glad you knew it was Kate! You need to go deeper into her catalog. I second some of her wild stuff on The Dreaming. Or her more recent stuff in Aerial.

[@jamiegagnon6390]

I was born in 1954, we grew up believing that war was inevitable, and that the best case was that it would be strictly conventional; no Nuclear, biological or chemical. But we knew that once the shooting started the escalation would follow. The dunes reference is to folks trying to hide from something impossible to escape. One treatment for some chemicals is urine. In WWI soldiers soaked cloths in urine to cover their faces because it absorbed the chlorine gas. The coldness of the song is deliberate. Not only is he calling it childish, he is showing cold contempt for it. During the cold war there were dozens of little wars around the world which were referred to as surrogate wars; the US would back one side and the Soviets the other and both would send equipment and advisers.

[@bobdelp2023]

THAT'S A GOOD THING JUSTIN! :) WATER'S YOUR BEST FRIEND, NEVERRRRR FORGET IT! HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. :)

[@elgonwilliams7624]

After reading the lyrics of Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, I always figured that Peter Gabriel was likely the only person on Earth who has weirder dreams than mine. Lots of respect for that in that I write syfy & fantasy. Obviously, he's a musical genius, so he has that one on me. His music has a cerebral element that he overlays to a funky beat that takes off on tangential adventures with some catchy hooks thrown in here and there.

[@markgatica12]

Great song, great video reaction. I'd really like to see a reaction to my favorite Peter Gabriel track, "Biko". Especially a live version from the Amnesty International concert.

[@veloraloves]

Astute observations, JP! I'm always impressed with your perceptive intuition, and admire this gift you have. I just listened to Eric Weinstein's podcast with Bret Easton Ellis, where he was given the title of The Dark Laureate of Gen X. Granted, both he and the host are technically late boomers, they spoke of their late 70's and early 80's teenaged years being "numb...as a feeling". By the mid/late 80's (where I spent my youth) this shifted into the "ambiguous irony" phase of Gen X. Clearly, this is reflected in the attitudes, music and art of the pre-internet world.

[@JustJP]

Ty Velora!

[@simonpercy8549]

Best pg song since genesis

[@arminreuter5151]

There are live versions bringing it to an even higher level.

[@Rickhorse1]

This was one of a handful of Gabriel songs which was ahead of the curve in taking full advantage of the (then new) phenomenon of MTV. The music video made for the song played a big part in boosting it.

[@Hi-kq1vi]

This was released way before MTV-early 1980 & MTV didn't launch until August 1981.

[@Rickhorse1]

@@Hi-kq1vi True, but he did make a video for it which ran on MTV in 81 & helped get the song some belated exposure. (It was a big hit in the UK & Canada but not so much in the US.)

[@alanmcewen8456]

During the cheerful whistling bars, I always think of a group of Blitzkrieg soldiers after a successful advance.

[@-davidolivares]

I still love pinball, actual mechanical or simulation. I want to play it right now. Maybe later, after work. Saw this MTV video so so many times... not really my favorite on the album but it’s catchy. Didn’t know about the game shows so I just learned something. Thx people. I just took the world political angle as the message. Love this album. It’s so good. Gotta get going... work is calling me. Take care everyone, a simple mask can keep us alive and our peeps, Peace, Music and Pinball

[@JustJP]

I've many a coin to pinball machines; so much fun though, especially mechanical

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Hot climate -Cold War? The whole wave of Disco shaped a lot of popular music back in this period! Always appreciate his intelligence in tune and verse! Peace and dont go out and stand under any trees- flash,crash-boom!!!

[@IllumeEltanin]

Good morning, Justin. My favorite game is a home grown role playing campaign I'm in. Unfortunately with social distancing, we haven't played since March. As others have said, Games Without Frontiers was a pretty solid hit both on radio and MTV. My personal Gabriel favorites are Biko and Solisbury Hill, though.

[@silgen]

Have a look at Rolld20, we've been using that for our D&D campaign since March, we use Discord for sound so we can talk to each other. Works fine.

[@IllumeEltanin]

@@silgen Thanks for the reply! We have a website for the campaign at high-fantasy.obsidianportal.com/ However, the GM is pretty old school in that he wants to read facial reactions as things occur. So, he won't even consider using Zoom or other technology. It's hard to not immerse myself back in to the setting, but will be all the more sweet once we do.

[@JustJP]

Was just about to recommend Zoom to continue your sessions! Alas, hopefully you'll be able to resume soon!

[@IllumeEltanin]

@@JustJP We're taking reopening very slowly here in Washington State, Justin. But as a three different types of cancer thriver, awaiting results on biopsies of two new areas, I'm OK with not rushing to socialize at this time. I miss my campaign and fellow adventurers, but again, it will be all the more sweet to reimmerse in to the setting and campaign when we can all safely do so.

[@craigfazekas3923]

Favorite game ? A board game from 1976 called, "Bermuda Triangle". Board is a map of the Caribbean, you have 4 ships to move along designated spaces in hope of collecting tonnage at different ports (oil, lumber, sugar, bananas) Thing is, the ships have magnets in them & there's a storm cloud/hurricane that moves around the board with metal in it. If the hurricane moves over your ship ? Gone for the remainder of the game, eaten up in the Bermuda Triangle. Object is to collect 200,000 tons of materials first. This game has entertained me for many a year...🤪

[@craigfazekas3923]

@@HippoYnYGlaw I dont think. This game was semi-popular in it's day. Cop one from eBay, possibly. With a few interested friends or family ? The game is a gas... I got mine off of eBay for like $15. I was scanning their board games for sale, and immediately got excited. I remembered the Bermuda Triangle board game very fondly & had to own it again....😎

[@silgen]

I had a copy of that game, one day it mysteriously disappeared...

[@JustJP]

That actually sounds pretty fun!

[@kengregory6026]

There was a difference between the single and album versions lyrically....one line(can't repeat it here) was changed to 'kissing baboons in the jungle' as ,even then, the album lyric wasn't considered 'radio -friendly'...(wouldn't make the album these days)..keep up the good work JP..cheers Ken

[@andrewharris4336]

You completely got the point of the song!

[@JustJP]

Ty Andrew 😊

[@robmongar]

Genesis's bass and guitarist solo Mike and the Mechanics-silent running

[@johnmavroudis2054]

This song was a surprising "hit" for Gabriel as it was completely unique in its sound and content. This was released at a very scary time in the midst of the Cold War... Reagan had come into office and the nuclear arms threat was a massive fear among the population of the planet. The video of the song juxtaposes the Olympic Games with War in an amazing way.... The imagery of the song is fantastic, as Gabriel boils down nations into little children (Hans, Lotte, Jane, Willi, Suki, Leo, Sacha, Britt...and... or course, Adolph) playing silly games that actually cost lives. This whole album is a masterpiece... and can hardly wait for you to react to "Biko"...

[@dennismason3740]

@JustJP - When this song was A HIT ON L.A.RADIO in 1980 or whatever I thought he was singing "she's so popular" - when I realized it was French I said "ah screw..." no I didn't. To say the French phrase just imitate the chorus. O dance to all of Gabriel's work until So. Then I began to imitate his writing style. When I unearthed his tricks I said, out loud, "oh, clever lad". No matter what I think of Pete G. I will forever honor the best whistle chorus since Bridge on the River Kwai (google the theme song) and go ahead, Pete, tell me you got sober. Here's a challenge that probably requires shrooms...The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Say it again. Talk about hooks. The entire album is nothing but an extremely personal (some say self-indulgent) graveyard of hooks. I call it that because apparently Pete needs a little help. He is turning into Marlon Brando - won't you please donate to the Save Peter Gabriel fund? Lamb Lies Down.