1980 Peter Gabriel – Games Without Frontiers (US:#48 UK:#4)
“Games Without Frontiers” is a song written and recorded by English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released on his 1980 self-titled solo album, where it included backing vocals by Kate Bush. The song’s lyrics are interpreted as a commentary on war and international diplomacy being like children’s games. The video includes film clips of Olympic events and scenes from the 1951 educational film Duck and Cover, which used a cartoon turtle to instruct US schoolchildren on what to do in case of nuclear attack. This forlorn imagery tends to reinforce the song’s anti-war theme. Two versions of the music video were initially created for the song, followed by a third one made in 2004.
The single became Gabriel’s first top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 4, and – tied with 1986’s “Sledgehammer” – his highest-charting song in the United Kingdom. It peaked at No. 7 in Canada, but only at No. 48 in the United States. The B-side of the single consisted of two tracks combined into one: “Start” and “I Don’t Remember”
Album
Peter Gabriel is the third solo studio album by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released on 30 May 1980 by Charisma Records. The album, produced by Steve Lillywhite, has been acclaimed as Gabriel’s artistic breakthrough as a solo artist. AllMusic wrote that it established him as “one of rock’s most ambitious, innovative musicians”. Building […]
Muscians
| Bass (synthesizer) | Peter Gabriel |
| Bass (synthesizer) | Larry Fast |
| Drums | Jerry Marotta |
| Guitar | David Rhodes |
| Synthesizer | Peter Gabriel |
| Percussion | Jerry Marotta |
| Background Vocals | Kate Bush |
| Whistle | Hugh Padgham |
| Whistle | Peter Gabriel |
| Whistle | Steve Lillywhite |
| Vocals | Peter Gabriel |
Produced By
Steve Lillywhite
Larry Fast
Songwriters
Peter Gabriel
Charts
US:#48
UK:# 4