Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)

"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album Backstreet Boys
Released	October 14, 1996 (1996-10-14) (See release history)
Format	CD single
Recorded	June 22, 1995 Cheiron Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) September 1996; Battery Studios (New York City)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:52
Label	Jive Records
Writer(s)	Max Martin Herbert Crichlow
Producer	Max Martin Kristian Lundin
Certification	#2 (USA, UK)
Backstreet Boys int'l singles chronology "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" (1996) "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" (1996) "Anywhere for You" (1997) Backstreet Boys US singles chronology "We've Got It Goin' On" (1995) "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" (1997) "As Long As You Love Me" (1997)

"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 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. It sold 2 million copies in the US.

Background

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 September 1996 to re-record the second verse with Nick at Battery Studios. 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. 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. There is also rumoured to be a version done by Craig Murray with the British symphony orchestra with an appearance by Nick Carter in 2007.

Track listing

• America

CD1

1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (LP Version) - 3:49
2. "Backstreet Boys Present... (Album Medley)" - 6:57
3. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:30
4. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Video Version) - 3:52

CD2

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

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) - 4:02

CD2

1. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Christmas Version) - 4:15
2. "Don't Leave Me" - 4:18
3. "Christmas Time" - 4:15
4. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:30

• UK

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. "Lay Down Beside Me" - 5:30

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

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	Format
Europe	October 29, 1996 (1996-10-29)	CD Single
Europe	October 14, 1996 (1996-10-14)	Radio
United States	May 19, 1997 (1997-05-19)	Radio
United States	June 10, 1997 (1997-06-10)	CD Single

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	1
Begium (Flanders) Singles chart	8
Belgium (Walonia) Singles chart	5
Dutch Singles Chart	7
European Hot 100 Singles	1
German Singles Chart	1
Swedish Singles Chart	15
Swiss Singles Chart	1
Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	27
Canadian Singles Chart	3
Canadian RPM Singles Chart	18
Irish Singles Chart	10
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	27
Norwegian Singles Chart	10
UK Singles Chart	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Songs	12
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	2

End of year charts

End of year chart (1997)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	11
End of year chart (1998)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	62

End of decade charts

Chart (1990–1999)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	86

Chart successions

Preceded by "How Bizarre" by The OMC	Austrian Singles Chart 24 November 1996 (7 weeks)	Succeeded by "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton
Preceded by "Say You'll Be There" by Spice Girls	Eurochart Hot 100 number one single 30 November 1996 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Breathe" by The Prodigy
Preceded by "Zehn kleine Jagermeister" by Die Toten Hosen	German number one single 8 November 1996 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Verpiss Dich" by Tic Tac Toe
Preceded by "Zehn kleine Jagermeister" by The Die Toten Hosen	Swiss Singles Chart 24 November (3 weeks)	Succeeded by "Verpiss Dich" by Tic Tac Toe