# games without frontiers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 20, 2000, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861 "2000-09-20T13:44:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861/1 "2000-09-20T13:44:33Z")

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Does anyone know what the song “Games without frontiers” by Peter Gabriel is referring to? Do the names mean anything specific?

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**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861/2 "2000-09-20T14:10:55Z")

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From [A New Peter Gabriel FAQ:](http://www.deltaforce.net/~jnu/pg/misc/newfaq.html)

> [@](#):
>
> . . . It is the name of a well known TV program (in the 70’s) where several teams from all over Europe competed together in all kinds of funny games. The game intended to unite people of Europe. The show was known as “It’s a Knockout” in the UK (another phrase repeated in the song).

He uses it as a thinly veiled metaphor (very thinly; it’s hardly a metaphor at all) for the need for people of different backgrounds to “play nice” together.

FWIW, the chorus _jeux sans frontieres_ is French for “games without frontiers” and is sung by the young and talented Miss Kate Bush.

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**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861/3 "2000-09-20T20:22:44Z")

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lissener, the line isn’t “jeux sans frontieres” - it’s “she’s so funky, yea.” Sheesh! Everybody knows that! 😉

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**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861/4 "2000-09-20T21:18:44Z")

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I always thought the chorus was either “She’s so punctual” or “She’s so hot for me.” Depending on my mood at the time. Killer song, though.

I love interpretive music.

“Excuse me, while I kiss this guy …”

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**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861/5 "2000-09-20T22:47:43Z")

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FYI-“frontiere” in French translates as border or frontier, as in “boundary between counties”, and doesn’t refer to “frontier” as in “wild west” (which is how it’s usually used in American English).

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by missbunny \*  
> \*\*lissener, the line isn’t “jeux sans frontieres” - it’s “she’s so funky, yea.” Sheesh! Everybody knows that! 😉 \*\*

Yup, went into that a bit here:  
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=36047](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=36047)

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**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-without-frontiers/33861/6 "2000-09-20T22:51:59Z")

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He’s talking about Asheron’s Call which, unlike Everquest, is not divided up into ‘zones’.