"Quit Playing Games " is a song by American boy bandBackstreet Boys. Released as the fourth single from their international debut album in October 1996, it reached No. 1 in Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, No. 2 in the United Kingdom, and No. 7 in the Netherlands. It was later included on the band's debut US album, and was released as the second single in June 1997, where it reached No. 2 on the BillboardHot 100 chart, making it their most successful single on the chart. It sold 2 million copies in the US. Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 26 in their list of75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time in 2020.
Background
Initially, Nick Carter, aged 15 at the time, was unable to sing on the recording of the song as he was undergoing puberty. The remaining band members were brought over to Stockholm for a week to record "We've Got It Goin' On" in late June 1995. They unexpectedly finished the song in just two days and decided to record "Quit Playing Games " immediately afterwards. The single was not the label's first choice to release for the group's US return, as they initially wanted to release the Mutt Lange-produced "If You Want It to Be Good Girl ", but the band argued against it, claiming that it was one of their worst songs. Jive president Barry Weiss claimed that the other serious contenders included "Anywhere for You" and "All I Have to Give". The group also wanted to reshoot the music video, but the label refused, arguing that they only planned to market towards radio, not video. The song ultimately succeeded without MTV support. The background vocals in the song, besides McLean's self-harmonization on the bridge, consisted of Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, who decided to finish the song while the remaining members were having lunch.
Critical reception
editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that the "slick production adds luster to the singles "Quit Playin' Games " and "As Long as You Love Me", making them as irresistible as teen pop can be." Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the song "cruises at a sweet jeep/funk pace, leaving plenty of room for a romantic lead vocal and layers of smooth harmonies." The Day said that on "Quit Playing Games " and "As Long As You Love Me", "the boys embodied teen-dream vulnerability." People Magazine described it as a "peppy" ballad and noted that "despite a tinge of melancholy in the group's harmonies, one can't help smiling." Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In noted that on the song, "the singer longs to return to days before insensitivity and manipulation threatened to destroy the friendship." Porcys listed it at number 96 in their ranking of "100 Singles 1990-1999", noting it as a "clever" ballad.
Variations
Original version
The original recording of the song features Brian Littrell singing both verses. This version was featured on the early release of their 1996 debut album and is featured on the 1997 debut US album.
Single version
A year and half after it was recorded, Max Martin was flown to London in August 1996 to re-record the second verse with Nick Carter at Battery Studios. This version was added to the later pressings of their 1996 international debut album and on the 1998 re-release of the US debut album. This is the version that was released as a single.
There is also an Italian version of this song, titled "Non Puoi Lasciarmi Così", included in the Italian release of the international debut album. The lead vocals of the first two verses are sung by Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough.
Modern Talking
"Don't Play with My Heart", a song from Modern Talking's 1998 album Back for Good closely resembles this song.
Music video
The music video was filmed in Orlando, Florida on July 1, 1996. It was directed by Kai Sehr, and shows the group dancing and singing on a deserted basketball court at night. Halfway in the video, it begins to rain. As of February 2020, the video has over 88 million views on YouTube. During the video shoot, Nick Carter lip-synced over Brian Littrell's vocals, as he didn't record his vocals until August that year. Initially, MTV was hesitant to air the video due to the boys taking their shirts off in the rain, but reluctantly embraced it after TRL viewership caught on with audiences. The music video premiered in October 1996 in Germany and in July 1997 in the U.S..
