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/
Imagine That
Janet Kay Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Imagine That' by these artists:
Ani DiFranco imagine that i am onstage under a watchtower of punishing li…
CoMa & Owsey Things have been tough lately for dreamers. They say dreamin…
D.S.P. Yo shorty you don't want no drama with me Its heavy…
Diamond Rio What is the world coming to When lovers can't believe They g…
Don Williams No more nights sleeping alone in an empty bed, in an…
Donell Jones Whats up baby! Oh you can't say whats up back? Anyway…
Dos Whats up baby! Oh you can′t say whats up back? Anyway I…
DSP Dream Imagine Close your eyes Oh, Oh, Oh Now I may…
G.o.D.S. Yo shorty you don't want no drama with me Its heavy…
Heavy D Yo shorty you don't want no drama with me Its heavy…
J.W. I just want you to fantasize with imagination Know what I'm…
Kevin Gates No matter what, ain't no cryin' You ain't gotta tell me…
LL Cool J I just want you to fantasize with imagination Know what I'm…
Lost Dogs Here is order from chaos Here is light from the dark You…
Me not you Someone cut you off Someone turned you down Loveless and alo…
Melissa Etheridge A mother was grieving her loss Her soldier the ultimate cost…
Next Dream Imagine Close your eyes Oh, Oh, Oh Now I may not hav…
O Positive I'm scratching my head And my mind is far away It's only…
P&Q 가끔씩 무심코 길을 걷다보며는 이런저런 상상들이 걷잡을 수 없는 비행을 시작해 무모한…
Patsy Cline Imagine me still lovin' you After all you've put me through …
PRitty Need a big bag Niggas big trash And they wrong for it Whipla…
R Kelly ft Fat Joe Close your eyes Now relax your mind Now I want you to…
R. Kelly Close your eyes Now relax your mind Now I want you to…
R. Kelly & Ronald Isley Close your eyes Now relax your mind Now I want you to…
R.A.E.D Close your eyes Now relax your mind Now I want you to…
R.ケリー Close your eyes Now relax your mind Now I want you to…
Sara Evans Imagine me, still loving you After all you've put me through…
Seth Power I'm sitting by the way Side waiting on a good time When…
sobhhï Man i swear itu0027s crazy I been riding solo Looking for so…
Styl- Plus Everybody move your body now forget about the blue day…
Styl-Plus move your body now, forget about the blue day. Everybody mov…
The Mighty! Gotta find me, then I'll find you Had to find me,…
Trin-i-tee 5:7 [Chorus:] Imagine that I didn't have a perfect love, and…
truent I was tired of the dark thoughts Sitting in a dark…
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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@derekantoine4396
I am so glad i was there. Lover's rock/the sound /the music /movement, is so relevant / and important to what we listen to today, and we learnt so much.
I still miss that sound of the 70s, and 80s, with my tape recorder.
Wonderful times, despite what was happening in the world. Derek. 😀.
Proper Music. I recall going to Upton Park /and ridley market/forest gate for records. 🎧🎶🎵.
Janet kay appeared in the film, (Babylon), and it so reflected the time's. Dance halls , and sound systems were the only escape from daily persecution from the police, and authorities at the time.
@DerekAntoine
In 2023,Tune,tune,tune.❤❤❤.Lovers Rock forever. Thanks, and shout outs to the men/women who made it happen. Delboy. I hear you/i remember you.Thank you for the music, and memories. Sunday's will never be the same,as the 1970s/1980s.An old skool boy. 😂.
@legfighterz
Janet Kay performs this in the 1970s british film 'Burning an illusion'. Growing up in inner city england as a black person in the 70s was something special, there was much more unity. Pure niceness.
@johannaalexander2009
Just watched it on London Live in the UK in Aug 2020 during Covid! Britain is making an effort at the moment due to #Georgefloyd #blacklivesmatter movement. Her performance in the Movie was amazing! You're right👏🏾 there was more unity...& our venues & ability to gather to rave together & connect was cruelly taken away from us because of a few unruly people who gave the racist establishment an excuse to take our ability to gather & having fun, stopping entrepeneurialism & networking effectively, using age old Divide & Conquer strategies & consequently weaken us over a period of time...And Here We Are! Nothing Changes If We Don't...X #kitxanderapothercary #skincare #organicrich #instantstrengthening #instantthickening #instantprotection #oilinfused #hairshaftsmoothing #instantantibreakage #triedandtested #chemicalfree #hairscience #scalpisskintoo #skincarepro #scientifically #formulated #veganfriendly 100% Natural. #evegenequeen #invention 💣 #kitxanderhairfood20£ healthy hairgrowth from the Roots! #unisexproducts #recedinghairlines #stressinduced #hairloss treatment. If you have GOOD Hair & Want GREAT Hair, my products preserves the #hair YOU have AT SCALP LEVEL! Scalp Is Skin & Im a qualified skincare professional Clinique trained Managerial level consultant, 34 years expertise. #kitxander3in1ShampooMask30 £ SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES 👏🏾 CONSISTENTLY🤜🏾 >>> #Blacklives 👏🏾 >>> AND #SHARE 🤜🏾>>> #TALK 🤜🏾>>> & We Then Have Multi Level Entrepreneurial Growth! DM #kitxander TRY & BUY FROM YOUR OWN ..FIRST!
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@tomfield633
That's what brought me here,but always loved her
@lawdhammercy4448
I saw it there too and it was so familiar I had to go.looking for it. Then I remembered the jamaican ladies at the tropical store used to play this...I was maybe 2 or 3 but I remember that and the coconut candy they used to feed me.
@franckrob19
Unique voice, Sister Janet. More love. Great actress too.
@derekantoine4396
I am so glad i was there. Lover's rock/the sound /the music /movement, is so relevant / and important to what we listen to today, and we learnt so much.
I still miss that sound of the 70s, and 80s, with my tape recorder.
Wonderful times, despite what was happening in the world. Derek. 😀.
Proper Music. I recall going to Upton Park /and ridley market/forest gate for records. 🎧🎶🎵.
Janet kay appeared in the film, (Babylon), and it so reflected the time's. Dance halls , and sound systems were the only escape from daily persecution from the police, and authorities at the time.
@petersugar2185
Wicked tune Janet kay bring back memories... but wat di rass di cartoon ghal ah duh... guh sidung cartoon ghal guh siiiiiidung yuh fabah deeh white sumaddy ah try fi dance
@Sleepsound758
Still listening in 2019❤️
@JackyHapy
And 2020 watching "Burning an Ilusion" last weekend 😊