Janet Kay (born Janet Kay Bogle, the first of six children, in London to Ja… Read Full Bio ↴Janet Kay (born Janet Kay Bogle, the first of six children, in London to Jamaican parents, Clifton and Monica Bogle, on 17 January 1958) is an English singer and actor, best known for her 1979 lovers rock hit "Silly Games".
A descendant of the Jamaican National Hero the Rt Excellent Deacon Paul Bogle, as a sixties child Kay was exposed to the singing greats, especially those from the Tamla Motown stable and as a result of the exposure and inspiration, Janet's love for singing was born. In 1977, whilst in Secretarial College, Kay was invited by her school friend Sonia Ferguson (who recorded a cover version of Smokey Robinson's 'Oh Baby Baby' in the late 70s) to a band rehearsal. As destiny had it, band member Tony Gad heard Kay singing in the rehearsal room. He was so impressed that he introduced her to the reggae legend, the great Alton Ellis. That meeting resulted in Kay recording a cover version of Minnie Ripperton's 'Loving You' (produced by Alton Ellis) that became a reggae smash hit spending many weeks at No. 1 in the reggae charts.
The following year, 1978, saw Kay record two more cover versions, 'I Do Love You' and 'That's What Friends Are For', again, both spending weeks at No. 1 in the reggae charts.
In 1979, Kay made history by becoming the first British-born black female to have a reggae song at the top of the British charts. The song, 'Silly Games', (produced by Dennis Bovell) was a hit not only in the UK but also in Europe. Kay's history making has been recorded in the Music Guiness Book of Records.
Kay's songwriting prowess became evident on the release of her first album 'Capricorn Woman'. The album was, and still is, a best seller. All the songs except two were penned by Kay.
By now, Kay had become known as the 'Queen of Lover's Rock'. In that same year Kay was presented with the awards for Best 7" single, Best 12" single and Best Female Vocalist 1979 by Black Echoes Music Newspaper.
Kay's voice was not exclusive to reggae music and in the early 80s she also penned and sung the soulful 'Eternally Grateful' which became an underground hit.
The early 80s also saw the collaboration between Kay and reggae legend Jackie Mitto with the Randy Crawford classic, 'You Bring The Sun Out'.
In 1980, after a chance meeting with actor/singer Victor Romero Evans, Kay as introduced to the theatre company 'Black Theatre Co-operative'. A successful audition saw the birth of Janet's theatrical career, in the play 'Mama Dragon' by Faroukh Dhondy's which toured England and Europe.
Kay's theatre credits include:
Mama Dragon - BTC
Shooting Stars At Day - BTC
Redemption Song - BTC
Sink or Swim - Foco Novo
Tewodos - BTC (Black Theatre Forum)
Say Hallelujah - Black Theatre Forum
Don,t Blame The Post Man - Roots Theatre
65 With a Bullett - BTC (song writer) On a Level - BIBI CREW
Another Level - BIBI CREW
Radio credits:
Pheonix England - BBC play
Read Peoms and short stories - BBC
Friends - BBC
Advertisements credits:
Job Club
Data Protection
Skip Crisps (Voice Over)
McEwan Lager
Tilda Rice (radio)
Malibu (radio)
In 1981, Kay starred in the 'Black Theatre Co-operative's' TV sitcom 'No Problem' (LWT/Channel 4), the first black TV show which was created and conceived by a black theatre company. The show became a cult classic.
Other television credits include:
Top of the Pops - BBC
Party at the Palace - with special guest Trevor McDonald and Gary Bird - LWT/CH4
Birds of a Feather - BBC
Verdict - CH4
Razamtaz - Southern TV
Runaround - ITV
Afternoon Plus - ITV
Hale and Pace - ITV (sung theme track for one episode)
Snakes and Ladders - CH4
Blacka and Bella Show - CH4
In Between the Lines "Cracker" - BBC1
Casualty - BBC1
A Touch of Frost – ITV
Film Credits:
Burning an Illusion
Time and Judgement
The late 80's saw Kay's collaboration with the singer/producer Lloyd Charmers with the cover album 'Sweet Surrender'.
In 1990 Kay collaborated with Beats International (Norman Cook aka Fat Boy Slim) on their track Burundi Blues. Following this collaboration, Janet was invited to feature on Lindy Layton's version of Silly Games.
In the early 90s Kay, along with fellow actresses Judith Jacob, Suzanne Packer, Suzette Llewellyn, Beverley Michaels, Josephine Melville and the Late Joanne Campbell formed the highly successful female theatre company the Bibi Crew. All the shows were written produced and directed by the Crew.
In 1991, the album 'Sweet Surrender' was renamed 'Lovin' You, Best of Janet Kay', (which included a newly recorded version of 'Lovin' You'), and was released in Japan.; The track 'Lovin' You' propelled Janet to stardom in Japan. Kay subsequently signed to Sony Music (Japan). As a Sony artist Kay has, to date released the following albums:
Loving You (The Best of Janet Kay) - 1991
Love You Always - 1993
For the Love of You – 1994
In Paradise - 1996
Making History - 1998
Through The Years - 1999
Lovin' You … More - 2003
Over the years Kay has collaborated with top producers, Drummie Zeb and Tony Gad (Aswad), Junior Giscombe ('Mama Used To Say'), Jeremy Meehan, Shinichi Osawa (Japan), Kodama & Gota (Japan), Omar and Sly and Robbie. Janet's albums have sold in excess of a million copies in Japan, 'Love You Always' selling over 400 thousand copies in its first year alone.
Japan entitled 'La Dolce Vita', alongside the renowned Japanese composer Taro Iwashiro.
Kay has visited Japan at least once a year every year since 1990. Such visits have included performing at the exclusive Blue Note Night Club for 2 to 3 weeks at a time in Fukuoka, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and Tokyo.
2006-7 saw Kay's return to theatre, where she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in Hackney Empire's Pantomime, 'Cinderella', which the Evening Standard rated the best 'Panto of the season'. Janet is currently promoting and performing, along with Victor Romero Evans and Carroll Thompson, their newly devised ‘Lover’s Rock Unplugged’ shows.
Kay is an accomplished Machine Knitter/Designer and Lacemaker her works have been published in craft editorials. Janet has recently completed a Film Editors course and already she has co-edited a short feature film by Clive Gandison ('Evergreen Man') which was recently nominated for an award by the BFM.
Kay has been voted one of Britain's Top 100 Black Britain's by the Evening Standard and she has also been presented with an award for her Outstanding Contribution to Black Music by Darker Than Blue in association with Barclays.
http://www.janetkay.com/
A descendant of the Jamaican National Hero the Rt Excellent Deacon Paul Bogle, as a sixties child Kay was exposed to the singing greats, especially those from the Tamla Motown stable and as a result of the exposure and inspiration, Janet's love for singing was born. In 1977, whilst in Secretarial College, Kay was invited by her school friend Sonia Ferguson (who recorded a cover version of Smokey Robinson's 'Oh Baby Baby' in the late 70s) to a band rehearsal. As destiny had it, band member Tony Gad heard Kay singing in the rehearsal room. He was so impressed that he introduced her to the reggae legend, the great Alton Ellis. That meeting resulted in Kay recording a cover version of Minnie Ripperton's 'Loving You' (produced by Alton Ellis) that became a reggae smash hit spending many weeks at No. 1 in the reggae charts.
The following year, 1978, saw Kay record two more cover versions, 'I Do Love You' and 'That's What Friends Are For', again, both spending weeks at No. 1 in the reggae charts.
In 1979, Kay made history by becoming the first British-born black female to have a reggae song at the top of the British charts. The song, 'Silly Games', (produced by Dennis Bovell) was a hit not only in the UK but also in Europe. Kay's history making has been recorded in the Music Guiness Book of Records.
Kay's songwriting prowess became evident on the release of her first album 'Capricorn Woman'. The album was, and still is, a best seller. All the songs except two were penned by Kay.
By now, Kay had become known as the 'Queen of Lover's Rock'. In that same year Kay was presented with the awards for Best 7" single, Best 12" single and Best Female Vocalist 1979 by Black Echoes Music Newspaper.
Kay's voice was not exclusive to reggae music and in the early 80s she also penned and sung the soulful 'Eternally Grateful' which became an underground hit.
The early 80s also saw the collaboration between Kay and reggae legend Jackie Mitto with the Randy Crawford classic, 'You Bring The Sun Out'.
In 1980, after a chance meeting with actor/singer Victor Romero Evans, Kay as introduced to the theatre company 'Black Theatre Co-operative'. A successful audition saw the birth of Janet's theatrical career, in the play 'Mama Dragon' by Faroukh Dhondy's which toured England and Europe.
Kay's theatre credits include:
Mama Dragon - BTC
Shooting Stars At Day - BTC
Redemption Song - BTC
Sink or Swim - Foco Novo
Tewodos - BTC (Black Theatre Forum)
Say Hallelujah - Black Theatre Forum
Don,t Blame The Post Man - Roots Theatre
65 With a Bullett - BTC (song writer) On a Level - BIBI CREW
Another Level - BIBI CREW
Radio credits:
Pheonix England - BBC play
Read Peoms and short stories - BBC
Friends - BBC
Advertisements credits:
Job Club
Data Protection
Skip Crisps (Voice Over)
McEwan Lager
Tilda Rice (radio)
Malibu (radio)
In 1981, Kay starred in the 'Black Theatre Co-operative's' TV sitcom 'No Problem' (LWT/Channel 4), the first black TV show which was created and conceived by a black theatre company. The show became a cult classic.
Other television credits include:
Top of the Pops - BBC
Party at the Palace - with special guest Trevor McDonald and Gary Bird - LWT/CH4
Birds of a Feather - BBC
Verdict - CH4
Razamtaz - Southern TV
Runaround - ITV
Afternoon Plus - ITV
Hale and Pace - ITV (sung theme track for one episode)
Snakes and Ladders - CH4
Blacka and Bella Show - CH4
In Between the Lines "Cracker" - BBC1
Casualty - BBC1
A Touch of Frost – ITV
Film Credits:
Burning an Illusion
Time and Judgement
The late 80's saw Kay's collaboration with the singer/producer Lloyd Charmers with the cover album 'Sweet Surrender'.
In 1990 Kay collaborated with Beats International (Norman Cook aka Fat Boy Slim) on their track Burundi Blues. Following this collaboration, Janet was invited to feature on Lindy Layton's version of Silly Games.
In the early 90s Kay, along with fellow actresses Judith Jacob, Suzanne Packer, Suzette Llewellyn, Beverley Michaels, Josephine Melville and the Late Joanne Campbell formed the highly successful female theatre company the Bibi Crew. All the shows were written produced and directed by the Crew.
In 1991, the album 'Sweet Surrender' was renamed 'Lovin' You, Best of Janet Kay', (which included a newly recorded version of 'Lovin' You'), and was released in Japan.; The track 'Lovin' You' propelled Janet to stardom in Japan. Kay subsequently signed to Sony Music (Japan). As a Sony artist Kay has, to date released the following albums:
Loving You (The Best of Janet Kay) - 1991
Love You Always - 1993
For the Love of You – 1994
In Paradise - 1996
Making History - 1998
Through The Years - 1999
Lovin' You … More - 2003
Over the years Kay has collaborated with top producers, Drummie Zeb and Tony Gad (Aswad), Junior Giscombe ('Mama Used To Say'), Jeremy Meehan, Shinichi Osawa (Japan), Kodama & Gota (Japan), Omar and Sly and Robbie. Janet's albums have sold in excess of a million copies in Japan, 'Love You Always' selling over 400 thousand copies in its first year alone.
Japan entitled 'La Dolce Vita', alongside the renowned Japanese composer Taro Iwashiro.
Kay has visited Japan at least once a year every year since 1990. Such visits have included performing at the exclusive Blue Note Night Club for 2 to 3 weeks at a time in Fukuoka, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and Tokyo.
2006-7 saw Kay's return to theatre, where she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in Hackney Empire's Pantomime, 'Cinderella', which the Evening Standard rated the best 'Panto of the season'. Janet is currently promoting and performing, along with Victor Romero Evans and Carroll Thompson, their newly devised ‘Lover’s Rock Unplugged’ shows.
Kay is an accomplished Machine Knitter/Designer and Lacemaker her works have been published in craft editorials. Janet has recently completed a Film Editors course and already she has co-edited a short feature film by Clive Gandison ('Evergreen Man') which was recently nominated for an award by the BFM.
Kay has been voted one of Britain's Top 100 Black Britain's by the Evening Standard and she has also been presented with an award for her Outstanding Contribution to Black Music by Darker Than Blue in association with Barclays.
http://www.janetkay.com/
Closer To You
Janet Kay Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Closer To You' by these artists:
27 Oh, all the things That I hold That I hold onto So I…
Adam Douglas Someday soon, I'll be far away And I'll walk every…
Adam Lambert Sorry it's late, I know I missed your call again Been…
Adam Merrin Slow down I hear you calling me I saw you go down It's…
Adelitas Way As you walk my way Do you see my face Sad behind…
Amo Amo Closer to you More than I ever knew Closer to you More than…
Ananda Yogiji The seasons come and they go, changing over time The leaves…
Arty feat. Clarence Coffe Jr Hey... Lost in the dark I've got no place to hide Your fire…
B. Morr & Teddy P. I been goin' through this pain and shit Everythingis crazy F…
Beta 2 As you walk my way do you see my face sad behind…
Beyoncé & Luther Vandross The closer I get to you The more you make me…
Brandi Carlile It's hard to let the miles pass me by Yellow lines…
Brett Dennen Well I've tasted love so sweet Played around but not for…
Carly Pearce I got a fast car, gassed up, sitting in the…
Carrie Newcomer Missouri's tied together like a rolling rag rug Bit and pie…
Cassandra Wilson How soft a whisper can get When you're walking through a…
Chicago Have you seen the ladies passing by? They don't seem to…
Christian Carcamo And this is how we run And it's how we fall What…
Cisko & Jessica I don't take no for an answer I be hot in…
Clairo I feel it in my bones Even when I'm alone Mama said,…
Colin It's been so long Since we last met I wonder now How I…
Counting Crows Well come a little closer if you can, And just forget…
Cross Movement (Chorus: J.R.) I wanna be closer to you I wanna be your…
D.M.P The closer I get to you The more you'll make me…
Dan Bern Please give me notice So I can buy a ticket for…
Dan Bern & the IJBC Please give me notice So I can buy a ticket…
Dan Caplen Started off so sweet, take you out to eat But rolling…
Daniel Ash Ohh, ohh, I just don't know why That I can live…
Darden Smith You would think I was born yesterday The way I act…
Dennis Quaid Lace curtains blowing on a rivers breeze, Slips across the b…
Dik Cadbury I've got this feeling and it's tugging at my heart I…
DNY Closer to you Closer to you You and You and you and…
Dubaholics Yeah {Uh}, uh-huh Yeah, uh-huh {Uh} Yeah, uh-huh {Uh} Yeah, …
Dum Dums Falling asleep on the family couch, Rain falling down on th…
Emmit Fenn Don't know what to say I'm doing fine, I'm just okay Still…
Erik Rapp Always wanted everything I could never get enough of waiting…
EXO SC 넌 배우 뺨 때려 형광등 아래 있을 때도 (yeah) 넌 가수…
G.LEF feat. Vera Guba Tainted conditions of rising man we might be closer than…
Gino Padilla Hey, there's a look in your eyes Must be love at…
Glass Tiger It's sad, you keep me waiting Listen, hear falling tears Wat…
Hyphen Hyphen Oh I feel closer to you there's something in you I…
Iakopo Iakopo mugeez (R2bees) drei Ros sean a Paul Because me love…
Ijahman Levi Closer I get to you Girl I know I'm showing you What…
J-TRAX Wish I was a stocking clanging to your thigh Everytime you'd…
J.J.ケイル Wish I was a stocking clanging to your thigh Everytime you'…
Jackie Greene You can listen to the money you can listen to…
Jaylene Johnson Oouuuh ouuh ouuh hmm hmm i decided i could be happy on…
Jimpster I can see it in your eyes I can read it…
Jordan T For my special lady Baby you're my angel I've been looking f…
Jordan T. For my special lady Baby you′re my angel I've been looking f…
Josef It's pouring down like rain Aint no denying it baby And now…
Julian Perretta Don′t know Could be pain, could be pleasure When you go, it…
Jung Kook Feelin' like I'm floatin' Something's in the air tonight We'…
Justin Lanning Zoe won't you come to the beach with me And show…
Ka Hao Tried to find a way to go And through it all,…
KIKKR KIKKR - Closer To You ft Gigi Daái [verse] are you there a…
Lamar Campbell Oh Lord, I felt Your presence When I opened my eyes…
Lime (Richard Buck) Baby, come on, let's spend the night together…
Liz Phair I see the things you do Do you think I wander…
Love & The Outcome if i put my hand out would you put yours…
Major Lazer & Jung Kook Feelin' like I'm floatin' Something's in the air tonight We'…
MakTub 그런가봐 아직은 아닌가봐 너무 멀리 있는 너에게 닿질 않아 지켜 볼 수…
Mandi Perkins Do you know what you have done? Silver teardrops you…
Marcia Griffiths Can you hear me calling Out your name You know that I'm…
Mark Schultz Closer to me, I'm tired and I'm weak. Every breath within me…
Michael Franti & Spearhead I've been down for far too long Till my faith was…
Momus And maybe you're the Circle Line girl trying so hard not…
MONKEY MAJIK It's always on a Friday night, when everybody seems to…
Monsterboy I knew that I never really was part of your…
Newcomer Carrie Missouri's tied together like a rolling rag rug Bit and pie…
Novastar In the jagged streets I stumble Trampled on and underfoot a…
Owen Norton Owen Norton & Lucas Watt Closer To You Lyrics Up all night I…
Pantommind When the morning comes And you stand alone by the window T…
paper HEART From your silence I guess you've drawn a line through my…
Past M.D. Lonely on the roof Prepared to prove I´m searchin´ for signs…
Planetshakers Verse1: All of my life Ive searched for this Its hard to…
Proto-J Wish I was a stocking clanging to your thigh Everytime you'd…
Pussycat Closer to you I found love I didn't know Closer to…
Qendresa I've been searching for the Right words to say There always …
R.O.R. uh I don't know…
Rick Huckaby Just when I think I got you figured out you make…
River Ratts Everything inside this room, Everything, everything inside t…
ruti There's something about you I'm looking twice In the calm o…
S.S.O.L. uh I don't know…
sam day Closer to you…
Sam Wartenbee & Friends I feel better when I feel happy I feel worse when…
Samantha Mollen Some people living in this world and don't know why Some…
Sammy Rae & The Friends I feel better when I feel happy I feel worse when…
Sied van Riel & R.O.R uh I don't know…
Sied Van Riel and R.O.R. Lord, forgive me... that I departed from You I was caught…
Sied van Riel vs. R.O.R Houston Houston means that I'm a one day closer to you Oh,…
Sied van Riel vs. R.O.R. Houston Houston means that I'm a one day closer to you Oh,…
Sied van RielVs.R.O.R. uh I don't know…
Sofya Wang Tangled our vices Feelings still deep down inside Building …
Sound of Contact closer to you closer to me eroding with time like shells …
Stephen Stills Have you seen The ladies passing by They don't seem to notic…
Stoney LaRue In lieu of an answer I ask you this question It's not…
Tex La Homa The priory across the moon lit river A dying moon, a…
Thalia The hand of time, start to unwind Thinking how things could…
Thalia (Www.CdMundial.Com) The hand of time, start to unwind Thinking how things could…
The Coronas Wasn't looking for love But you found me anyway Like a sho…
The Cross Movement (Chorus: J.R.) I wanna be closer to you I wanna be your…
The Dead Brothers i'm not from here can't you hear i'm knocking i'm knocking s…
The Icarus Account These miles and miles that keep me from your heart Seem…
The Jimmies I lost my way More than a few times before I fell…
The Wallflowers How soft a whisper can get When you're walking through a…
Wallflowers How soft a whisper can get When you're walking through a…
Wellmess You touch me, so tenderly I want you, tremendously My heart …
William Becton & Friends I feel better when I feel happy I feel worse when…
Young Love if i put my hand out would you put yours…
정국 Feelin' like I'm floatin' Something's in the air tonight We'…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Janet Kay:
Feel No Way When you wake up in the morning, and you realise the…
Glad I Met You Hey babe, why don′t you hold me close I like to…
Got to Be There Be there in the morning When he says hello to the…
Look What Love Can Do No, I never met a man like you You wanna…
Love You Always Love you always You sweeten me with your loving smile Hope …
Lovin' You Loving you, is easy cause you´re beautiful every day of my l…
Loving You Lovin' you is easy cause you're beautiful Makin' love with y…
Missing You Since you've been away I've been down and lonely Since you'v…
Move Over Darling Our lips shouldn't touch (Move over darling) I like it too m…
My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
Natural Love なんてトロピカル まるでミュージカル ステキなひびき なんごくの 風をはこぶうた いつもフェスティバル まちはカーニ…
Need Your Loving I need your loving every day It would hurt me if…
Never Be Denied The time is now Can't wait til later Go to let my…
Rock The Rhythm Rock it, rock it, yeah Rock it, rock it Rock…
Show Me The Way Hoo...hoo...hoo Yeah...yeah....hey...yeah, mmm (Show m…
Silly Games I've been wanting you For so long, it's a shame…
Wishing On a Star I'm wishing on a star To follow where you are I'm wishing…
You Make Me so Very Happy I lost at love before God mad and I closed the…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@antdan5787
How is it even possible to have such perfect unity between each musical note each beat. My mind is truly blown at the complexity of this beauty.
@Murkzzzz
Amazing brings me back to my roots xxx
@MrReggayOldies
lovely tune!
@Tommy09a
my love...many thanks to you.....too much love
@patrickhepburn50
Classic Janet Kay and Dennis (Black Beard) Bovell