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/
Move Over Darling
Janet Kay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Move over darling)
I like it too much
That gleam in your eyes
Is no big surprise anymore
Cos you fooled me before
I'm all in a spin
And though its not right
I'm too weak to fight it somehow
Cos I want you right now
*The way that you sigh
Has me waving conscience goodbye
You can call me a ficlkled thing
But I'm practically yours forever because
I yearn to be kissed
How can I resist
You've captured my heart
And now that I'm no longer free
Make love to me
*The way that you sigh
Has me waving conscience goodbye
You can call me a ficlkled thing
But I'm practically yours forever because
I yearn to be kissed
How can I resist
Please give me your love
I'm longing for you
I need all your love
Honest I do
You've captured my heart
And now that I'm no longer free
Make love to me
Janet Kay's song "Move Over Darling" is about a woman who is drawn to a man she knows is dangerous for her. The opening lyrics establish that the woman is aware that she shouldn't be too near this man but that she's attracted to him in spite of it. When the man looks at her, she recognises the look in his eyes, knowing he's seduced her before. She's in a daze and can feel herself succumbing to his charms. She acknowledges this isn't a healthy situation, but she's unable to resist the temptation as her desire for him is so strong. The way he sighs makes her conscience disappear and draws her towards him. She is willing to do anything, including giving up her freedom if it means he'll make love to her.
The song touches on the fact that sometimes, humans are drawn to the excitement of what they know they shouldn't have. The woman in the song has been fooled by the man before, but she's still unable to resist him. The lyrics highlight the power of attraction and how it can be overwhelming in certain situations, leading people to make unwise decisions. They warn of the risks of giving in to temptation, which can result in people surrendering their power and freedoms to others. "Move Over Darling" is a piece of music that reminds us of how seductive temptation can be, and how we need to be cautious about who we allow into our lives.
* "Move Over Darling" was written by Terry Melcher, Hal Kanter, and Joe Lubin.
* The song was first recorded in 1963 by Doris Day for her movie of the same name.
* In 1974, Janet Kay covered the song in a reggae version, which became her biggest hit and launched her career.
* The song reached number 2 on the UK singles chart in 1979.
* The song made Janet Kay the first British-born black female to have a top 10 hit in the UK.
* It has since been covered numerous times by other artists.
* The song has often been used in TV shows and movies, including the hit show "Friends."
* Janet Kay was just 17 years old when she recorded her version of the song.
* Janet Kay is a British singer who was born in London in 1958.
* Kay made history by being the first black female to sign with a major record label in the UK.
The chords for "Move Over Darling" are G, C, D, and A.
Line by Line Meaning
Our lips shouldn't touch
We should not be engaging in physical intimacy.
(Move over darling)
I am trying to resist temptation and need space to do so.
I like it too much
I am drawn to you despite knowing it is wrong.
That gleam in your eyes
Your seductive look no longer surprises me.
Is no big surprise anymore
I have been fooled before by your charm and cannot be deceived anymore.
Cos you fooled me before
You have lied to me in the past and I am still tempted by you.
I'm all in a spin
I am confused and overwhelmed by my feelings for you.
About to give in
I am close to succumbing to my attraction to you.
And though its not right
I know that pursuing this would be morally questionable.
I'm too weak to fight it somehow
Despite knowing it is not right, I am unable to resist my desires for you.
Cos I want you right now
I am consumed by my immediate desires for you.
*The way that you sigh
Your sounds of pleasure are irresistible to me.
Has me waving conscience goodbye
I am abandoning my moral principles to be with you.
You can call me a fickled thing
Others may judge me for my indecisiveness and contradictions.
But I'm practically yours forever because
I am completely enamored with you and devoted to you in this moment.
I yearn to be kissed
I crave physical affection from you.
How can I resist
I am powerless against my desire for you.
Please give me your love
I need your affection to feel complete.
I'm longing for you
I am deeply desirous of your presence and attention.
I need all your love
I require all of your emotional and physical affection.
Honest I do
I am sincere in my need for you.
You've captured my heart
You have completely entranced me and I cannot think of anything else.
And now that I'm no longer free
I am committed to you and no longer available to others.
Make love to me
I desire to engage in physical intimacy with you.
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kibito 83
I imported a car from Japan only to find this cd with the whole album in it. Amazing album. I didnt know this artist but i came here after being mesmerized by her songs. 🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿