Submitted by London-Roma-1980 t3_114pobs in todayilearned
In every version, bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
Omg yeah. I thought it was just a ridiculous thing to have a play about, then a friend was in it and after seeing it's it was excellent. The whole thing is set during the cold war with the us vs Soviet, and has got all the bullshit of the time with defectors and politics and kgb and international rivalries and all that.
Seriously, it's much better than it sounds by the name.
A quick Googling says it should be back on Broadway in the fall of this year, and I've already got a trip to New York planned in October. It sounds just interesting enough to try and get tickets.
Americans can't stand to be portrayed as inferior losers.
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I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine.
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Now I'm where I want be and who I want to be and doing what I always said I would but I feel I haven't won at all...
More precisely, that's the world view of writers and producers, not Americans.
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Wait a sec, that game in The Queen's Gambit is from a musical?!
I remember for the first time I was really paying attention to the Lyrics of One Night in Bangkok, and realizing, wtf, is this song about chess?
… and a song from the musical topped the international pop music charts. It remember it being in the top 10 rotation for awhile when I was in 6th grade.
That song and “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco were my 6th grade jams.
Is this where One night in Bangkok came from?
that and name dropping Yul Brenner
and shocking this wasnt Andrew Lloyd Weber
and remember 10+ years before that he was belting out Jesus Christ Superstar, and 10ish years later was singing Under the Sea.
Sure is!
The song came first, on a concept album, which was used to raise money to put on the musical.
works for me
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister.
If you’re lucky then the gods a she.
The queens we use would not excite you.
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Holy hell!
I think it’s more of a Pippin situation. Pippin has two unique endings that changed between the original and touring/revival.
A musical about chess with music written by the male half of ABBA and book by Tim Rice
Its a show with everything but Yul Brenner.
"One Night in Bangkok" is sung by Murray Head, who is the older brother of Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Anthony is also the bad guy in the 10th Doctor episode that brought back K9 and Sara Jane. and was in Paris Hiltons only good movie: Repo! The Genetic Opera
The Bobsledder?
hmmm fair point
Wait till you google en passant.
Murray Head also sang Judas in the original version of Jesus Christ Superstar.
I prefer the work-in-progress version, but I got to see the West End version twice in 1986.
The quartet is so difficult to do, but so awesome when everyone has their timing down. I know him so well, you and I, anthem, pitty the child; that show is crammed with amazing music, but Bangkok is the only one anyone ever remembers.
In the book version of The Natural, he strikes out in the end.
A collaboration of the 2 guys from Abba and the lyricist who had spent about a decade collaborating with Andrew Lloyd Webber on his biggest hits. The concept album cast some of the biggest names in musical theatre.
Webber wrote arrangements. This was written by the same lyricist who Webber typically collaborated with.
There are almost as many versions of the book (a musical's "script") as there are professional productions of Chess. Every time it's mounted the thing goes in a blender with a couple of new plot lines, cut or expanded characters, songs being reassigned etc etc.
It's actually mostly about cold war politics, spycraft, and international grandstanding (which was all a major factor in the sport of chess at the time).
Chess and Bangkok and Ladyboys
Y'all be making "One Night In Bangkok" references but "Nobody's Side" is the real soul of the show.
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People really like that board game for some reason. It's decent, but it's no Mouse Trap.
Due to his portayal of the King of Siam (Thailand)
Absolutely!!! "Nobody's Side" always gets to me, it really is the heart of the show.
Sung by Murray Head, brother of Anthony Stewart Head - Giles from Buffy.
Tea girls, warm and sweet (Warm, sweet)
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
I've played this musical twice, really love it. Especially the ballet of the chess pieces...good theater! Written by ABBA!
Love Raul Esparza’s version of One Night in Bangkok. Will never see him in Law and Order quite the same way.
Everybody are talking about One Night In Bangkok, but I would take the chance to highlight Chess' ballad song "I Know Him so Well" (Elaine Page, Barbara Dickson). That song is super great!
Chess had a troubled production, they made major changes to it several times and it still is pretty crap. A few good songs, the book itself doesn’t work on any level.
Here is Körberg from the studio recording session of the Chess song "Anthem": https://youtu.be/DWLlB41GlvU
Quite incredible.
And Sébastien the crab from the little mermaid
Murray Head Cheese
One night in Bangkok.
I know him so well is amazing.
...I don't think that's true at all.
I'd plan a trip out to New York to see it!
The SNL skit with Phil Hartman was a classic...
>"Yul Brenner, Yul Brenner, Yul Brenner!"
As an American, our movies seem to require the happy ending a la Disney.
Except the movie The American, which is set in Italy
I listen to the concert every so often. I love it and it has some of my favorite performers ever. I just can't listen to Pity The Child #2 without crying. And I'm not always feeling that.
I can never decide if Nobody's Side or Pity The Child is the bigger emotional motivator. I love them both. And then Anthem. Linda Eder's cover of Anthem gives me chills every single time.
It is not.
Written by BB...Björn & Benny. Agneta & Anni-Frid had nothing to do with it, as far as I know.
Heja Sverige.
When my husband and I were dating, he popped this CD in. I said, “Wow. This reminds me of ABBA”. He was like, “Haha! Yeah, let me tell you why.”
“Embassy Lament” is not only my favourite, it is possibly the most British song in the history of Britain.
deep breath oh my dear so boring...
He’s defecting
True enough. I guess I figured most people wouldn't know the names and responsibilities of the members of ABBA?
Good point good sir! It’s just that as a Swede I had to make sure the info about Björn & Benny’s escapades was as correct as possible, IKEA?
enter_the_slatrix t1_j8x36m3 wrote
TIL there's a musical about chess lol