Foolish Games#Charts

"Foolish Games" was never released commercially in the United States. Instead, when previous single "You Were Meant for Me" was descending the Billboard Hot 100, radio stations flipped the single and began playing its B-side: "Foolish Games". Because of Billboard{{'}}s chart rules regarding airplay, "Foolish Games" was eventually listed as the single's A-side.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=SL680-PA8|title=The Year in Music 1997: The Year in Charts|last=Bronson|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Bronson|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=52|page=YE-8|date=December 27, 1997|access-date=June 2, 2023}} The single was removed from retail in July, but frequent airplay allowed it to continue charting.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA75|title='Batman' Soundtrack Soars at Radio, but Sales Disappoint|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|author-link=Chuck Taylor (music journalist)|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=38|page=75|date=September 20, 1997|access-date=June 2, 2023}} The single was resent to retail outlets on October 7, 1997, and it rebounded to number seven on the Hot 100 in early November.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA97|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|last=Sandiford-Waller|first=Theda|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=43|page=97|date=October 25, 1997|access-date=June 2, 2023}}{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6QkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA92|title=Chart Beat|last=Bronson|first=Fred|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=46|page=92|date=November 15, 1997|access-date=June 2, 2023}}

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described the song as "superior".{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |title= Jewel – Pieces of You |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= November 18, 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/pieces-of-you-mw0000123794 |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine}} Chuck Taylor from Billboard stated that it is the "quintessential musical moment" of the Pieces of You album. He wrote that "the vocally sweeping ballad offers the richest arrangement among her hits, with lyrics that affectingly express the emotional descent of a woman whose love is unappreciated, perhaps even unseen, by her object of affection".{{cite magazine|first=Chuck|last=Taylor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBAEAAAAMBAJ|title=Jewel Of A Single From 'Pieces Of You'|magazine=Billboard|date=June 21, 1997|access-date=March 17, 2020|page=78|author-link=Chuck Taylor (music journalist)}} The magazine also noted that "this piano-anchored ballad places the singer/songwriter in a setting that is almost orchestral and far more lush than those of her previous hits".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-07-19.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=July 19, 1997|access-date=March 17, 2020|page=88}} A reviewer from The Daily Vault said "Foolish Games" "works because of the wailing chorus both tired and yearning".{{cite web|author= JB |title= Pieces Of You – Jewel |publisher= The Daily Vault |date= May 1, 1997 |access-date= November 20, 2020 |url= http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=108}}

David Browne from Entertainment Weekly compared Jewel to British singer Kate Bush on the track, in his review.{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Browne|url=https://ew.com/article/1997/08/15/pieces-you/|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 15, 1997|access-date=March 17, 2020|author-link=David Browne (journalist)}} Australian music channel Max placed the song at number 503 in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2011.{{cite web |title= TOP 1000 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME – 2011 |publisher= Max |date= 2011 |access-date= April 26, 2020 |url= https://www.maxtv.com.au/top-1000-greatest-songs-of-all-time-3 |archive-date= April 25, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200425183513/https://www.maxtv.com.au/top-1000-greatest-songs-of-all-time-3 |url-status= dead }} British magazine Music Week wrote, "This 22-year-old Alaskan singer-songwriter has a voice that simply demands your attention and this song of emotional entanglement complements it wonderfully. A gem."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-12-27.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=December 27, 1997|page=21|accessdate=September 25, 2022}} Ed Masley from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described it as an "emotional ballad" with a "chilling climax".{{cite magazine|first=Ed|last=Masley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=prNRAAAAIBAJ|title=Lilith's songstresses give their sensitive best|magazine=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=August 14, 1997|access-date=March 17, 2020}} Sal Cinquemani from Slant called it "a female-centric take" on Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat", and noted that "Foolish Games" "remains one of the great pop songs of the '90s, buoyed by the singer's impeccably wrenching vocal performance".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/jewel-greatest-hits/|title=Review: Jewel, Greatest Hits|author=Cinquemani, Sal|magazine=Slant|date=February 16, 2013|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

The accompanying music video for "Foolish Games" was directed by American artist, photographer, director, and creative director Matthew Rolston.{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6wkEAAAAMBAJ|title=MTV Taps Into The Opinions Of Its Audience For 'Viewers'|magazine=Billboard|date=October 11, 1997|page=94|accessdate=June 15, 2022}} It is almost colorless and features Jewel performing the song in a pale and barren landscape. Some scenes also feature her riding a horse.

• UK, European, and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Foolish Games|others=Jewel|year=1997|type=European & Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=7567-85421-2}}

1. "Foolish Games" (radio edit) – 4:00
2. "Angel Needs a Ride" – 4:17
3. "Everything Breaks" – 3:21

• UK cassette single

1. "Foolish Games"
2. "Angel Needs a Ride"

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=July 18, 2019}}

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Category:1990s ballads

Category:1997 singles

Category:1995 songs

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:Batman (1989 film series) music

Category:Jewel (singer) songs

Category:Kelly Clarkson songs

Category:Music videos directed by Matthew Rolston

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Songs about heartache

Category:Songs written by Jewel (singer)