"Games People Play" by The...

Engage with The Alan Parsons Project's "Games People Play," a 1980 track seamlessly blending Classic Rock, Progressive rock, and Art rock. Featuring a memorable chorus and sophisticated sound, this song delves into human interactions, becoming a popular hit and a prime example of their unique studio artistry.

Released in 1980 as a single from their acclaimed album The Turn of a Friendly Card, "Games People Play" showcases the core sound of The Alan Parsons Project. The song's blend of accessible pop rock structure with intricate progressive rock arrangements and the thematic depth of art rock resonated widely. Lenny Zakatek's powerful lead vocal adds a dynamic edge to the track's polished production.

The song's musical arrangement is characterized by its layered synthesisers, driving rhythm section, and a distinctive guitar solo, all hallmarks of the band's studio-centric approach. This combination of accessible melody and complex musicality is why "Games People Play" remains a classic rock radio staple, representing the Project's ability to be both commercially successful and artistically ambitious within the progressive rock landscape.

SONG MEANING: The song explores the manipulative or insincere interactions and emotional strategies people employ in their relationships and daily lives. Inspired partly by the Eric Berne book of the same name and the album's theme of gambling, the lyrics reflect on the hidden motives and lack of genuine communication often present in human connections, suggesting a sense of disillusionment with these superficial "games."