Susanna Hoffs (with Aimee Mann) – Name of the Game
Susanna Hoffs and Aimee Mann both fronted popular bands in the 1980s — Hoffs with the Bangles and Mann with ’til Tuesday.
But they left that behind long ago.
Both have had long, successful solo careers.
Mann is a GREAT songwriter. Hoffs writes less and records lots of covers — including a series of excellent albums with Matthew Sweet on which they do faithful covers of songs we know and love.
On her latest album, Bright Lights (2021), she steps into covers again.
Lots of good ones on this album. I’ve chosen one that’s written by Badfinger’s Pete Ham, from the band’s 1971 album “Straight Up.”
It’s a great song from an underrated album by an underrated band.
Todd Rundgren produced the album that included Bad Finger’s biggest hit, “Baby Blue.”
Hoffs and Mann cover the album’s sixth track. Their version is a beauty.
Here it is…
Today’s Song
Title: Name of the Game
Artist: Susanna Hoffs (with Aimee Mann)
Album: Bright Lights (2021)
YouTube Link (official video):
Lyrics
Saw the railway master
And I looked him in the eye
Said “Would you go much faster
If you thought that you would die?
He said “Not me sir I could not care
In fact I would not try
Protest would not take me far
It’s different me not being a star”
I lock my feelings in a jar until another day
Comfort me dear brother
Won’t you tell me what you know?
Somewhere in this painful world
Is a place where I can go
Oh long awaiting mother
Is it time to make yout the show?
And take your babies to your breast
No we never passed the test
And all our sins should be confessed before we carry on
Oh don’t refuse me
If you choose me you’ll follow my shame
No don’t confuse me
For I know it’s the name of the game
Got up off my pillow
And I looked up at the sun
Said “You can see quite clearly now
The things that we have done”
We burned your sacred willow
And our battles we have won
But did we get so very far?
It’s different me not being a star
Lock my feelings in a jar until we go away
Oh don’t refuse me
If you choose me you’ll follow my shame
No don’t confuse me
For I know it’s the name of the game
Oh don’t refuse me
If you choose me you’ll follow my shame
No don’t confuse me
For I know that’s the name of the game
Don’t refuse me
Don’t confuse me
Ohh ohh ohh
Don’t refuse me
Don’t confuse me
Ohh ohh ohh
Here are the Playlists:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xYKtYparrdJRYAjBj9kjx?si=eb6c3ebc30484204
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/ware-house-concerts-song-of-the-day/pl.u-Ggz26cZlAVLj
