The Name Game
"The Name Game" | |
---|---|
SinglebyShirley Ellis | |
from the albumThe Name Game | |
B-side | "Whisper to Me Wind" |
Released | November 1964[1] |
Genre | |
Length | 2:39 |
Label | Congress |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Charles Calello |
"The Name Game"is a song co-written and performed byShirley Ellis[2]as a rhyming game that creates variations on a person's name.[3]She explains through speaking and singing how to play the game. The first verse is done using Ellis's first name; the other names used in the original version of the song are Lincoln, Arnold, Tony, Billy, Marsha, and Nick.
History
[edit]Written by American singer Shirley Ellis (who based the song on a game she played as a child[3]) andLincoln Chase.Ellis's recording, produced byCharles Calello,was released in late 1964 as "The Name Game". The record scored third on theBillboardHot 100,and fourth on the magazine's R&B charts during 1965. The record was re-released in 1966 and again in 1973. An R&B singer for 10 years before that success, Ellis was also successful with "The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)"(No.8 pop and No.16 R&B), and"The Nitty Gritty"(No.8 on the Hot 100 and No.4 on theCash BoxR&B chart). Ellis performed on then-major television programs, includingHullabaloo,American BandstandandThe Merv Griffin Show.It later became a popular children's singalong.[3]InCanadait reached No. 2.[4]
Rules
[edit]Using the nameKatieas an example, the song follows this pattern:
- Katie, Katie, bo-batie,
- Bonana-fanna fo-fatie
- Fee fi mo-matie
- Katie!
A verse can be created for any name, withXas the name andYas the name without the first consonant sound (if it begins with a consonant), as follows:
- (X), (X), bo-b (Y)
- Bonana-fanna fo-f (Y)
- Fee fi mo-m (Y)
- (X)!
If the name starts with ab,f,orm,that sound simply is not repeated. For example:Billybecomes "Billy Billybo-illy";Fredbecomes "bonana fannafo-red";Marthabecomes "fee fimo-artha"[3]
The song as originally performed gives no indication of what to do with names where the stress falls on a syllable after the first, like Anita or Antoinette, but during the live rendition of the song onThe Merv Griffin Show,Ellis uses the same rules as explained above ( "Tallulah, Tallulah, bo-ballulah" ).[5]However, the cover version on the workout videoSweatin' to the Oldies 3(vocals by Donna Miller) suggests that the first syllable should be dropped after the name is first said; the nameMadonnais sung as "Madonna-donna-bo-bonna," etc.
Laura Branigan version
[edit]"Name Game" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
SinglebyLaura Branigan | ||||
from the albumTouch | ||||
B-side | "Cry Wolf" | |||
Released | 1988 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:10 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | David Kesherbaun | |||
Laura Branigan singles chronology | ||||
|
Laura Branigancovered the song for her 1987 studio albumTouch.It was released as the last single from the album in thePhilippines.
Track listings
[edit]- Philippines 7-inch single[6]
- "Name Game" (Edited version) – 3:44
- "Cry Wolf"(LP version) – 4:48
- Philippines 12-inch single[7]
- "Name Game" (Extended version) – 6:32
- "Name Game" (Edited version) – 3:44
- "Cry Wolf"(LP version) – 4:48
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"45cat - Shirley Ellis - The Name Game / Whisper To Me Wind - Congress - USA - CG-230".
- ^"The Name Game".Billboard.
- ^abcd"Three Six Nine! Shirley Ellis Name Game / Soul Time Home Page".keepkey.yochanan.net.
- ^"RPM Top 40&5 - February 8, 1965"(PDF).
- ^Shirley Ellis • "The Name Game" • 1965 [Reelin' In The Years Archive].Retrieved2024-06-04– via YouTube.
- ^Name Game(Media notes). Laura Branigan.Atlantic.1988. ATR-0351.
{{cite AV media notes}}
:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^Name Game(Media notes). Laura Branigan.Atlantic.1988. DS-151.
{{cite AV media notes}}
:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)