1) A Korean male duo featurin… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists named Chess.
1) A Korean male duo featuring Kim Woo Joo.
2) A early 90's Eurodance/Europop group who had minor success in Europe with a cover of the Chicago song "If you leave me now".
3) Chess is an edgy, sassy young performer. Coming to England all the way from Malta to further her career, Chess has taken dance and singing lessons since she was really young and surrounded by a loving and musically influenced family she has grown into the pop sensation that she is today. She blends Rn’B with Pop music to create something uniquely her own, tying in influential stars like Prince and Freddie Mercury into her daily playlists help her to keep a focus on what she’s all about.
4) Jason Williams (born July 6, 1991), better known by the stage name OG CHESS, is an American rapper from Houston, TX. In his early career OG CHESS was a former partner of Travi$ Scott a recent Grand Hustle & Good Music signee. Since then CHESS has branched off and worked with other well known and emerging (artists/producers) such as A$AP Ferg, Maxo Kream (Kream Clicc Gang) Cardo (TGOD Producer), RMB Justize (TGOD Producer), Vinny Cha$e and Rockie Fresh (MMG) just to name a few. The Houston native has been featured on several blogs including The Source, 2DopeBoyz, Earmilk, HotNewHipHop, HipHopDX, BOI-1DA.com, Hypebeast, and many more.
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For the musical, your tags should be Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson or for the individual artists performing in the production that you're listening to. The stage production details on wikipedia, including cast members and track listings to help you change your tags if you are so inclined. The easiest way is to use Picard.
The Golden Bangkok / One Night in Bangkok
Chess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the city don't know that the city is getting
The creme de la creme of the chess world in a
Show with everything but Yul Brynner
Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it
All change, don't you know that when you
It's Iceland, or the Philippines, or Hastings, or,
Or this place!
One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky then the god's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
One town's very like another
When your head's down over your pieces, brother
It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity
To be looking at the board, not looking at the city
Whaddya mean? Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
Tea, girls, warm, sweet
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
Whose every move's among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me
Siam's gonna be the witness
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This grips me more than would a
Muddy old river or reclining Buddha
And thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it
I don't see you guys rating
The kind of mate I'm contemplating
I'd let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite you
So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage
Parlors
One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me
The song "One Night in Bangkok" by Chess is a tribute to the city of Bangkok, which is depicted as an "Oriental setting" with a chess tournament taking place among the "creme de la creme of the chess world". The song talks about the contrast between the city's stunning beauty and the ugliness that lies within the society. The lyrics describe the bars as temples and the city is shown as a place where one can find God in every golden cloister. The song is successful in exploring the theme of contradictions and how they exist within the city of Bangkok, giving its visitors a taste of both heaven and hell.
The song shows the city from the perspective of a tourist who is obsessed with his intellectual pursuits and oblivious to the surroundings. He talks about getting his kicks above the waistline with the girl he meets, hinting that he is only interested in discovering the city's intellectual underbelly. The song alludes to the fact that the tourist is only interested in the cerebral aspect of the city and is blind to its cultural and sensual beauty.
The lyrics "One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster" is a reference to the fact that Bangkok is a city that offers endless possibilities and opportunities for visitors to explore. The song emphasizes the fact that the city can evoke feelings of despair and ecstasy in equal measure, and one needs to be careful with the company they keep.
Line by Line Meaning
Bangkok, Oriental setting
The song sets the scene in Bangkok, which is an exotic location with an Oriental touch to it.
And the city don't know that the city is getting
Although the city is hosting a major chess tournament, the citizens are unaware of the significance and the grandeur of the event.
The creme de la creme of the chess world in a
Only the best of the best in the world of chess are participating in the tournament.
Show with everything but Yul Brynner
The event has everything grand and extravagant, except for the presence of Yul Brynner who was a famous actor and performer known for his role in The King and I.
Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
The time is going by quickly, and it feels like only a moment has passed since the tournament began.
Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it
The players were last seen at the Tirolean spa, and it feels like only a short while has passed since then.
All change, don't you know that when you
Everything has changed since then, and one should expect such changes as they participate at this level of the game.
Play at this level there's no ordinary venue
There is no ordinary place for people to play chess at this level, and they can expect some grand and exotic locations.
It's Iceland, or the Philippines, or Hastings, or,
The game can be held at Iceland, the Philippines, Hastings or other such exotic locations.
Or this place!
Or at Bangkok, which is the current location of the tournament.
One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
A night in Bangkok can give the players a sense of freedom to explore the city and make the most of their time here.
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
The bars in Bangkok are exciting and offer many pleasures, but everything comes at a cost.
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
One can find a sense of divinity in the many temples and monuments of Bangkok.
And if you're lucky then the god's a she
One can be grateful to meet a goddess in Bangkok, who are worshipped in many forms and figures.
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer senses a divine presence that is slowly coming closer to him.
One town's very like another
The singer thinks that most cities are alike and have nothing unique to offer.
When your head's down over your pieces, brother
When people are focussed on the game they are playing, they can easily ignore the surroundings of the city.
It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity
The singer is disappointed that people tend to ignore the beautiful city and its offerings while they are busy playing a game.
To be looking at the board, not looking at the city
The players are too focused on their board games while ignoring the city that has a lot to offer.
Whaddya mean? Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
The singer is challenging the idea that all cities are the same and suggesting that Bangkok is more special than others.
Tea, girls, warm, sweet
Bangkok offers a lot of pleasures like tea, beautiful girls and warm hospitality.
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
People can enjoy such pleasures in the luxurious and elegant Somerset Maugham suite.
Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
The singer is urging the listener to try and experience all the incredible things that come with being in Thailand.
Whose every move's among the purest
The listener is someone who is new to the city and is making an authentic effort to get the experience of the city.
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
The singer is being cheeky or funny with his comment, suggesting that he is enjoying the cultural or historical aspects of the city more than anything else that it has to offer.
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
A night in Bangkok can be an overwhelming experience that can make people humble and be grateful for the things and experiences they have.
Not much between despair and ecstasy
The experience can also be intense and one can feel the polar emotions of euphoria and hopelessness.
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Even the toughest of men can fall to the charm and energy of Bangkok.
Can't be too careful with your company
One should be careful with the people they surround themselves with in such a place as Bangkok.
I can feel the devil walking next to me
The singer feels that he is always close to temptation and sin when he is in Bangkok.
Siam's gonna be the witness
Siam, the old name for Thailand, will witness this grand tournament and the many experiences of the people in it.
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
The tournament will test the most advanced levels of skill and intelligence that the players possess.
This grips me more than would a
The experience of the tournament and being in Bangkok is more thrilling than staring at a muddy river or a statue of reclining Buddha.
Muddy old river or reclining Buddha
Sights and landmarks that might not be as exciting to an outsider, compared to being at the grand chess tournament in Bangkok.
And thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it
The singer is grateful that he is not participating in the tournament but is only watching it, thereby having the freedom to explore Bangkok and its many offerings.
I don't see you guys rating
The artist thinks that the listeners do not understand the level of the tournament and the extraordinary experience that it offers.
The kind of mate I'm contemplating
The singer is thinking of the kind of game moves and strategies he is planning to make, irrespective of whether or not others are aware of it.
I'd let you watch, I would invite you
The singer might allow the listeners to watch his game, but warns them that they might not understand the moves he is making or find them interesting.
But the queens we use would not excite you
The singer is suggesting that the listeners might not find the game as interesting as he does if he plays with lesser skilled people or uses the smaller version of chess pieces.
So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage parlors
The singer is suggesting that the listeners should go back to enjoying the pleasures of Bangkok like going to bars, temples, or massage parlors as watching him play chess might not be exciting.
A little flesh, a little history
One can get the experience of both modern pleasures and historical aspects of Bangkok on this exciting night.
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer senses that he is about to experience something truly divine and exceptional.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TIM RICE, BENNY GORAN BROR ANDERSSON, BJOERN K. ULVAEUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ww3tr4ze8w
Verse 1]
Bangkok, Oriental setting
The city don't know what the city is getting
The crème de la crème of the chess world
In a show with everything but Yul Brynner
Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
Since the Tyrolean Spa had the chess boards in it
All change, don't you know that when you
Play at this level, there's no ordinary venue?
It's Iceland, or the Philippines, or Hastings, or
Or this place
Kaliii “Area Codes” (Live...
[Chorus]
One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples, but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky, then the god's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
[Verse 2]
One town's very like another
When your head's down over your pieces, brother
It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity
To be looking at the board, not looking at the city
What do ya mean?
You've seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
Tea girls, warm and sweet (Warm, sweet)
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
Whose every move's among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
[Chorus]
One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walkin' next to me
[Verse 3]
Siam's gonna be the witness
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This grips me more than would a muddy old river
Or reclining Buddha
And thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it
I don't see you guys rating the kind of mate I'm contemplating
I'd let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite you
So you'd better go back to your bars
Your temples, your massage parlours
[Chorus]
One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples, but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walkin' next to me
@roosreviews472
Hands down, the greatest song ever written about playing chess in Thailand.
@meghanelaraby277
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@hollygolightly649
😂😂😂
@ReaperRob
As a lover of overly narrow superlatives, I believe this is the best comment ever made by a guy names Rudy on a video sharing platform about a video from a musical about Chess.
@RighteousBrother
Ah but what about..... No you're right!
@christinerush2351
:)
@nl_kripp
I played this song today when I was on a train that was entering Bangkok at night time. Third class, fully packed, no A/C, hot as fck, city lights outside and this playing on the headphones. It was something else.
@AlisonBryen
I love playing music in context!
@twinalphathree9147
I was a young man in 84 when I heard this. I thought this song was so bizarre yet enticing and enchanting. You couldn't help but like it. Some 40 years later and it still transports me back to those carefree days.
@markmunroe-hz8rf
Your words hit me. Born in 1978, I am glad to live through the magical and fun 80s and the laid back and cool 90s.