One night in Bangkok

[FreshTressa]

I have been listening to this song for almost 20 years and just realized it is about CHESS???

Very strange.

 

[Ronda93]

Ahhh, the 80's.... I liked that song, too. It was from a musical/stage show. Tim Rice did a bunch of lyrics for it, though I'm not sure about this particular song.

from http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/artists/murrayhead.htm

A little something about Murray Head
As if to prove my point that early '80s pop music was infinitely more diverse than that of the '90s and today, Murray Head's "One Night in Bangkok" came from a highly unusual source for top forty songs, a musical stage show. Chess was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, both of ABBA fame, and renown lyricist Tim Rice. It was a cold-war parable taking place over a chess board, as Russians battled the West for the world title. At one point, a match is scheduled in an unusual locale for such a cerebral game, Bangkok, which of course prompts "the American" to break into song. The song is "One Night In Bangkok," and is performed in this case by Murray Head, "the American" in the original studio recording of the musical. Like the rest of the play, the song is pretty corny, and while I love sitting back and listening to the single I don't know that I could stomach an additional two hours of like material. Apparently, that's about how audiences and critics felt. The play was not extremely well received, though it was performed on both sides of the Atlantic and is still performed occasionally today. Part of the criticism may stem from the fact that it was written by half of ABBA, - a group never noted for their literary side - and serious critics went into the show with a preconceived notion that the show would be cheesey. In that respect the show did not disappoint. Still, to their credit this particular song is catchy and the lyrics are quite clever, though in my humble opinion they could have worked to achieve greater subtlety with sexual innuendos.

 

[KingsFanInRI]

I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine
I have no idea why I like that song but I do. It's just catchy.... kind of like the chicken pox

 

[Pop Daddy]

I always liked that song for some odd reason also

 

[Cindy B]

Remember the video... there are life sized chess pieces in it...

Yes, thats a great song.., and fun too

 

[Chipperdini]

.

 

[Cindy B]

YEs, Hubby pointed out the ABBA connection years ago...

My argument with that was that at least it wasnt the same women singing the same three chords...

And its good to see you Chip!

 

[Chipperdini]

.

 

[goofygirl]

There was a version sung by a male, Murray Head (the most popular version), there was also a version sung by a female named Robey.

You can tell I'm a real 80's buff