Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)

"Quit Playing Games"
Song

"Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" is the fourth single from the Backstreet Boys' international album. It was recorded in June 1995 in Stockholm, Sweden and released in 1996. It reached #1 in Switzerland and Austria, #2 on the UK Singles Chart, and #7 in the Netherlands. It was subsequently included on the band's debut US album, and was released as the first single in 1997. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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. Jive president Barry Weiss claims that the serious contenders as first single also included "Anywhere for You" and "All I Have To Give". 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.

The original recording of the song features Brian 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 late September 1996 to re-record the second verse with Nick at Battery Studios. This version was later added to their 1995 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. The song was unexpectedly offered to the band while recording "We've Got It Goin' On" in June 1995 in Stockholm, Sweden. They accepted the offer when they completed that recording in only two days of their planned week-long session.

There is also an Italian version of this song, titled "Non puoi lasciarmi così", sung by the Backstreet Boys for their fans in Italy. The lead vocals of the first two verses are sung by Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough.

Track listing

US CD Sampler

1. Quit Plating Games (With My Heart) (LP Version)
2. Excerpts of All I Have To Give, We've Got It Goin' On, Hey Mr. DJ (Keep Playing This Song), I'll Never Break Your Heart

US

1. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Video Version)
2. Lay Down Beside Me

Europe

1. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Video Version)
2. Nobody But You (Long Version)
3. Give Me Your Heart
4. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Acoustic Version)

Europe Christmas edition

1. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Video Version)
2. Christmas Time
3. Lay Down Beside Me
4. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Acoustic Version)

UK

1. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Video Version)
2. Nobody But You (Long Version)
3. Give Me Your Heart
4. Lay Down Beside Me

Japan

1. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Video Version)
2. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (Acoustic Version)
3. Anywhere for You
4. Don't Leave Me

US commercial vinyl

1. Quit Playing Games (E-SMOOVE Vocal Mix)
2. Quit Playing Games (LP Version)
3. Quit Playing Games (Jazzy Jim's Mixxshoww Slamma)
4. Quit Playing Games (Maurice Joshua Club Mix)

Remixes double vinyl

1. Quit Playing Games (E-SMOOVE Generator Mix)
2. Quit Playing Games (E-SMOOVE Reactor Mix)
3. Quit Playing Games (DJ Sneak's Hardsteppin' Mongoloid Mix)
4. Quit Playing Games (LP Version)
5. Quit Playing Games (Jazzy Jim's Mixxshoww Slamma)
6. Quit Playing Games (E-SMOOVE Vocal Mix)
7. Quit Playing Games (Maurice Joshua Club Mix)
8. Quit Playing Games (E-SMOOVE Generator Beatz)

Music video

The music video, was filmed on October 17, 1996 at Howard Middle School in Orlando, Florida. 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.

Release history

Country	Release Date
Europe	October 29, 1996 (1996-10-29)
United States	June 10, 1997 (1997-06-10)

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	1
Begium (Flanders) Singles Chart	8
Belgium (Walonia) Singles Chart	5
Dutch Singles Chart	7
German Singles Chart	1
Swedish Singles Chart	15
Swiss Singles Chart	1
Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	27
Irish Singles Chart	10
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	27
Norweigian Singles Chart	10
UK Singles Chart	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	2