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"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" is the fourth single from the Backstreet Boysinternational album. It was recorded in June 1995 in Stockholm,Sweden and released in 1996. It reached #1 in Switzerland and Austria, #2 in the United Kingdom, and #7 in the Netherlands. It was subsequently included on the band's debut US album, and was released as the first single in the summer of 1997. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it their most successful single on the chart (the #1 spot was occupied by Mo Money Mo Problems by The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddyand Mase and Honey by Mariah Carey). It sold 2 million copies in the US.[1]

Contents[]

 [hide*1 Background

Background[edit][]

The single was not the label's first choice as single from the US debut. They initially wanted to release the Mutt Lange-produced "If You Want It (To Be Good Girl)", but the band argued against it, claiming it to be one of their worst songs.[2] Jive president Barry Weiss claims that the serious contenders as first single also included "Anywhere for You" and "All I Have to Give".[2] The band wanted to redo the music video, but the label refused, arguing that they planned to market to radio, and not video. The song ultimately succeeded without MTV support.[2] The original recording of the song featuresBrian Littrell singing both verses, with A. J. McLean singing the bridge. This version was featured on the early release of the their 1995 debut album and is featured on the 1997 debut US album. Nick Carter had subsequently emerged as a popular member of the band, so before the song was released as a single, a year after it was recorded, Max Martin was flown to London in September 1996 to re-record the second verse with Nick at Battery Studios.[2] This version was later added to their 1996 debut album as a re-release and it was used for radio and the music video. It was also included on the re-release of the US album. All of the background vocals on the song, other than McLean's singing harmony with himself on the bridge, are those of Littrell and Kevin Richardson, who decided to finish up the song while the other members were having lunch.[2] The song was unexpectedly offered to the band while recording "We've Got It Goin' On" in June 1995 in StockholmSweden. They accepted the offer when they completed that recording in only two days of their planned week-long session.[2] There is also an Italian version of this song, titled "Non puoi lasciarmi così", dedicated to their fans in Italy. The lead vocals of the first two verses are sung by Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough. There is also an alternate version done by Craig Murray with the British symphony orchestra with an appearance by Nick Carter in 2007.

Track listing[edit][]

  • America
CD1 (Old Version)
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:52
  2. "Backstreet Boys Present... (Album Medley)" - 6:57
  3. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:30
  4. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (LP Version) - 3:49
CD2 (New Version)
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (LP Version)
  2. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (E-SMOOVE Vocal Mix)
  3. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Jazzy Jim's Mixxshoww Slamma)
  4. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Maurice Joshua Club Mix)
  • Europe
CD1 (Classic Version)
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:52
  2. "Nobody But You" (Long Version) - 6:07
  3. "Give Me Your Heart" - 5:06
  4. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Acoustic Version) - 3:56
CD2 (Winter Version)
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:56
  2. "Christmas Time" - 4:20
  3. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:32
  4. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Acoustic Version) - 3:57
  • UK
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:54
  2. "Nobody But You" (Long Version) - 6:08
  3. "Give Me Your Heart" - 5:08
  4. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:27
Cassette
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:52
  2. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:30
  • Japan
  1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:52
  2. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Acoustic Version) - 4:02
  3. "Anywhere For You" - 4:40
  4. "Don't Leave Me" - 4:18

Music video[edit][]

The music video was filmed on October 17, 1996 at Howard Middle School in OrlandoFlorida. It was directed by Kai Sehr, and shows the Boys dancing and singing on a deserted basketball court at night. Halfway through the video, it begins to rain. The boys dance in the rain, some of them have their shirts unbuttoned in the later half of the music video.[3] The video premiered on T.V. in July 1997, almost a year later.

Release history[edit][]

Country Release Date Format
Europe October 14, 1996 Radio
Europe October 29, 1996 CD Single
United States May 19, 1997 Radio
United States June 10, 1997 CD Single

Charts[edit][]

Certifications[edit][]

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Austria (IFPI Austria)[20] Gold 25,000x
Germany (BVMI)[21] Platinum 500,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[22] Gold 50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[24] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

  • sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

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