Serani had a hunch No Games would resonate with music lovers when the song was released in 2008. But he had no clues; fourteen years later, the song would continue to appeal to new audiences. On Friday, October 21, 2022, the song was certified platinum by the British phonographic Industry. To date, the song sold more than 600,000 units.
Speaking to the Observer, Serani said:
“I try not to live my life having such strong expectations. What I would say is, I had loved the song and I believed that during my moment between 2007 and 2008, any well-made song that I released had a stronger chance of being a hit.”
No Games became a huge hit locally, and it also topped regional charts and rose to #53 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. To date, No Games is Serani’s biggest song that crossed over into the US and other markets.
The artist is thrilled about No Games’ latest achievement.
“I’m happy to know I’ve accomplished something that seems almost impossible to many musicians throughout our struggles. It makes me feel like ‘this is why I never gave up’. Make me feel like there’s much more to be accomplished. Make me remember never to count yourself out, even when many do. Believe in yourself,”
No Games was the feature song on Serani’s debut album of the same name. The song’s notoriety helped the 14-track album. Phase One Communications/Rockstone Media released it. The album rose to #77 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart and #3 on the Billboard Reggae album chart.
erani cannot pinpoint what it was about No Games that made it resonate so well with music lovers over the years.
“I’m not sure myself, to be honest. All I can do is study the song. Over the past 14 years, I’ve listened to the vocals and the beat, and I think they go well together. They sound like they were made to fit together. From a producer’s standpoint, that’s what I would want from a song. The concept of the song is about being real and selfless in love. I don’t want to play games. Everyone relates to that. Original dancehall type beat with heavy bass and drums topped with sweet sounding phrases and nursery rhymes sounding hooks. Great engineers. You do the math.”
Linton “TJ” White was the producer of No Games.
The article was first published in the Jamaica Observer: Serani goes platinum – Jamaica Observer. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/serani-goes-platinum/