"One Night in Bangkok" is a song originally sung by the British actor and P… Read Full Bio ↴"One Night in Bangkok" is a song originally sung by the British actor and Pop-dance singer Murray Head on the 1984 concept album for the musical Chess. Its music was composed by former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with lyrics written by Tim Rice & Björn Ulvaeus.
The release topped the charts in many countries, including South Africa, West Germany, Switzerland and Australia. It peaked at #3 in both Canada and the United States, and at #12 in Head's native United Kingdom.
In 1985, Thailand's Mass Communications Organization banned One Night in Bangkok, saying its lyrics "cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism."
The full version of the song begins with an orchestral intro, "Bangkok", which has oriental styling, but cannot be confused with Thai folk music. This serves as the introduction to Act 2 in the original musical album, and feeds into the first verse of the song itself.
The main song is a pop song, whose lyrics sarcastically juxtapose the city and its night life with the game of chess. Whereas the choruses - sung by Swedish artist Anders Glenmark - extol Bangkok's reputation, the verses - a rap by Murray Head, who performed as American chess grandmaster Freddie in the original concept album for the musical - denounce the city, including its "muddy old river" and its "reclining Buddha".
The setting for the song is an interview by Freddie, who is in Bangkok to serve as a TV analyst for a match involving his rival, world champion and Russian defector Anatoly. Freddie states a preference for what he sees as an intellectual purity in chess, as compared to the seedier aspects of Bangkok's night life, e.g. "the queens we use would not excite you". His statements suggest a personal lack of interest for the exotic settings typically involved in international chess, preferring to focus on the game itself.
The lyrics also mention actor Yul Brynner, who famously played the King of Siam in The King and I. The "Tyrolean spa" mentioned early in the song refers to Merano in Italy, the site of Act 1 of the musical.
12" maxi
"One Night in Bangkok" — 5:38
"Merano" by The London Symphony Orchestra & The Ambrosian Singers — 7:08
The release topped the charts in many countries, including South Africa, West Germany, Switzerland and Australia. It peaked at #3 in both Canada and the United States, and at #12 in Head's native United Kingdom.
In 1985, Thailand's Mass Communications Organization banned One Night in Bangkok, saying its lyrics "cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism."
The full version of the song begins with an orchestral intro, "Bangkok", which has oriental styling, but cannot be confused with Thai folk music. This serves as the introduction to Act 2 in the original musical album, and feeds into the first verse of the song itself.
The main song is a pop song, whose lyrics sarcastically juxtapose the city and its night life with the game of chess. Whereas the choruses - sung by Swedish artist Anders Glenmark - extol Bangkok's reputation, the verses - a rap by Murray Head, who performed as American chess grandmaster Freddie in the original concept album for the musical - denounce the city, including its "muddy old river" and its "reclining Buddha".
The setting for the song is an interview by Freddie, who is in Bangkok to serve as a TV analyst for a match involving his rival, world champion and Russian defector Anatoly. Freddie states a preference for what he sees as an intellectual purity in chess, as compared to the seedier aspects of Bangkok's night life, e.g. "the queens we use would not excite you". His statements suggest a personal lack of interest for the exotic settings typically involved in international chess, preferring to focus on the game itself.
The lyrics also mention actor Yul Brynner, who famously played the King of Siam in The King and I. The "Tyrolean spa" mentioned early in the song refers to Merano in Italy, the site of Act 1 of the musical.
12" maxi
"One Night in Bangkok" — 5:38
"Merano" by The London Symphony Orchestra & The Ambrosian Singers — 7:08
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