WHEN No Games was released in 2008, singer Serani believed it would’ve connected with music lovers. Fourteen years later, it continues to resonate with new audiences, as it was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry last Friday. The song exceeded sales for more than 600,000 units.

“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,” Serani told the Jamaica Observer.

No Games was a huge hit locally. It also topped charts regionally and rose to number 53 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated January 3, 2009. To date, it is Serani’s signature crossover hit.

Serani is pleased about the song’s latest certification.

“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,” he stated.

No Games was featured on Serani’s debut album of the same name. The song’s success helped the 14-track album released by Phase One Communications/Rockstone Media rise to number 77 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number three on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.

Asked what it was about the song that has made it a hit with music lovers all these years, Serani said: “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 is credited as the producer of No Games, which was featured on a new version of Dave Kelly’s Showtime rhythm called The Unfinished Business rhythm.

Serani recalls the recording session for No Games.

“Jordan McClure recording me at his studio at Chimney Records. I did multiple takes because usually when I record, I don’t know the song word for word. I’m usually reading the words from my phone while recording. I’m generally uncertain of each melody I’ll use in each line or which tone of voice to use for each word or line. So, I do them in parts. Jordan did a great job with vocal direction. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

Asked what kind of doors the success of No Games had opened for him, Serani said: “Borderlines have been crossed and I gracefully walked across while they’ve allowed me to go all over the world. The song continues to grow, and borders continue to get crossed.”