This song was originally in the musical Chess written by the dudes from Abba. It's about international chess tournaments. This is when they're in Bangkok... A great musical.
@@Schudulaba you are missing the point. i bet you are american lol hes saying "the queens we use would not excite you" which means hes saying the queens we use in CHESS, are NOT the Queens, lady boys that YOU like. its not hard to uinderstand. trust me ion this, i live in a town in the uk that 1/3rd of the town are drag queens. hes saying we have queens but they arnt drag queens so wont excite you.
I have a deep admiration for the line "the queens we use would not excite you". It somehow works sexuality into a reference to playing chess and does it in way that mocks the listener. That's smooth.
Don't forget "I get my kicks above the waistline" a reference to Muay Tai boxing, (possibly the worlds preeminent striking art with among other things a, plethora of low kicks including some brutal shin to shin kicks) and, of course, sex.
The song is referring to the city being a tourist's sexual playground consisting of innumerable dens of prostitution alongside old pagan temples. Meanwhile, the chess tournament marches on with its players so focused on winning that they ignore the flesh palaces right outside. The fact that they see and feel the temptation, yet never stray, shows their mental fortitude for keeping their attention on the game. Like the man who draws a circle of chalk around himself so the demon cannot enter at midnight.
As most comments say, about a chess match (and all the shady stuff). "I get my kicks above the waistline sunshine" still one of my all time favorite lines in song. I've only seen the official video before so this was a new experience.
@@3DJapan I always thought he was referring to the brain. Mental stimulation excites him more than the physical. "the ultimate test of cerebral fitness".
@@Ozzy_2014 exactly, especially given the reputation Thailand has for certain other things. "If you're lucky then the god's a she", or the reference to "tea girls", and "the queens we use would not excite you".
This song exmplifies what was so awesome about 80's music. Music in that decade was so original and creative and mixed so many different styles- sometimes even in the same song. It was a great time to grow up.
This song is one of my guilty pleasures. If you ever watched "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" then you should know the singer is the brother of the guy who played 'Giles' Anthony Stewart Head.
Another example of the richness of music that was the 80's. A song with its backdrop a chess board was actually played on radio and became a hit. Hard to find that diversity in today's pop culture....
Today's pop culture is more about voices, and less about big hooks & instrumentation. I miss the great music of my youth. They have turned hit music into a boring machine, spitting out the same stuff over & over, with different wrapping paper.
@@BillGraper it isn't even about the voices. those are all auto tuned now. the people i grew up listening to wouldn't get a record deal today. a shame because the songs talked about life and pain that is to be human.
@@mikehenthorn1778 Exactly! Even the beats are all quantized. We never would've had the coolness of "Dream Weaver" or "Rock'n Me" if they had been quantized exactly to the beat. That is part of what made them special, not to mention the talent to write such songs & perform them flawlessly.
Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice, and book by Rice. The story involves a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters, one American and the other Soviet Russian, and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any real individuals, the character of the American grandmaster (named Freddie Trumper in the stage version) was loosely based on Bobby Fischer,[1] while elements of the story may have been inspired by the chess careers of Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.
You have no idea what the night clubs were like when this song came on, the place hit the roof. I have very fond memories of this time, friends, girlfriends and having a great time. So long ago now
The song is from 'Chess', a rock musical written in the 1980s about an international Chess tournament where the main competition is between the American chess prodigy and the Soviet chess champion during the height of the American-Soviet Cold War. The music was by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulveaus of the Swedish supergroup ABBA and musical theater lyricist Tim Rice (who wrote the Oscar-winning song "A Whole New World" from 'Aladdin' among many others of stage and screen). The song, which takes place in the second half of the musical, is the American commenting on Bangkok in his own crass way, while at the same time keeping himself psyched up for his match with the Soviet player. Murray Head, who is the singer of this song, was a British singer-actor who straddled pop and rock with the theater world. One of his best known roles was the role of Judas Iscariot in the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' concept album before it became a stage production. Off of that album he had one hit..."Superstar". This recording of "One Night In Bangkok is from the original concept album of 'Chess' before it also became a stage production.
that is an Musical Tune. the Musical is titeled "Chess" and Murray Head played "the American Grandmaster"who has to encounter "the Russian Grandmaster" in a Chess tournament ...And the lyrics are about a chess game which he compares in an abstract way to the Nightlife of Bankok and "the Queen" he was talking about was actually the Queen on the chess board.
It’s about a chess tournament in Bangkok, but alludes to and cross references the seedier side of the city. I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine. Love that line. Written by Benny and Bjorn from ABBA with Tim Rice.
Like others have said, this is from the musical Chess. It's really amazing. I recommend the taped 2009 concert/ recording. There are so many good performers. Plus, the visuals really help understand what's going on.
@@Emilaria Yeah she was my biggest problem with that concert. Just not right for the part and Josh sounded great but the emotion was not there in his performance. Especially the face. But I do agree the concert does help understand the story more
This was a hit when I was in high-school. I remember at the time two guys at my table in study hall for about a week were trying to figure out all the words to this song and would compare notes each day.
I have never heard this intro to the song before. But it's been one of my favorites for years. And it's real straight-forward. It's chess. No innuendo, no hidden meanings, no interpretation. "This is a thinking man's game, take your cheap thrills somewhere else."
Its the song that opens the second half of the musical Chess. The first Chess tournament takes place in Italy at the 'Tyrorelian spa' mentioned in this song. For the next tournament normally two years apart i believe its held in Bangkok. The guys thats singing it is the defeated American champion from the previous contest. Only this year he is reporting on the event and trying to manipulate the out come for his own personal gain. Another song that was a big hit from this show was 'I Know Him So Well'. Where two women the wife and the mistress sing about their love for the same man The Russian chess champion, that is well worth reacting too.
In this episode of Brad & Lex, the triumphant train of sound is derailed quickly as the first word is uttered completely dropping B&L into the mix, immediately stirring up Lex,s elbow and "shoulder bops" equipped with periodic hand work as snake charming vibes grace the place feeding her free spirit while the always analytical Brad consumes the melodic meal seemingly by securing his signature "side to side sway".
I went to Bangkok and met this gal. Even though she was in her thirties, she'd never heard this song. So I put the headphones on her and played it for her. She liked it so much and was groovin' out to it 😎😉
ugh I didn't see this when I was looking thru your videos thank you its great to see this reaction to what was such a cool song when it came out. be loved you are
The song is from the musical "Chess" and sung from the point of view of an egotistical American chess player who is obsessed with the game and doesn't care about the local tourist, uh, attractions
The play was reorganised a few times. This is sung by whoever is playing the arbiter of the second tournament - sometimes this is the American. Whoever is singing it is never competing in the match.
There was a point a few years ago when I would stay up late watching music videos on UA-cam. It seemed like no matter what sequence of songs I chose, UA-cam would end up recommending this to me. I tried to resist every time and failed every time. It was a massive hit when I was a kid. Completely unique and everyone loved it whether they admitted it or not. He was talking about queens because within the musical this song is from they are chess players. So when he says "the queens we use would not excite you" he's talking about chess pieces to someone who would prefer the yasssss queen type.
It's the call-and answer between the lead singer (Murray Head) and the chorus. The "queens" reference was a double-entendre, because it was written for the musical Chess.
@@plabaa1889 The entire song is about chess. It's literally being told from the perspective of a chess master who's so obsessed with the game that he isn't interested in "other activities". It's meaning is very well documented, so there's not really a debate here, the writers of the song (from ABBA) have explained it's meaning in detail.
@@ninja_tony I know what's this musical is about... Björn and Benny (ABBA),wrote this.... I'm from Sweden, I been talking to Benny a couple of times... It's not just about chess... Have you been in Thailand, Bangkok?
I saw the Musical "Chess" performed twice. Once by a University level group, minimalist. Another by a touring company where everyone acted and played instruments. Amazing
"One Night In Bangkok" was a big hit in the mid-1980s, peaking at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1985. There are two different intros to the song. The version you listened to, with the more traditional Thai-sounding musical intro, is the album version. The single version has an intro that sounds more like the rest of the song, including an extra chorus before Murray Head begins rapping his verses.
No, it was two different groups that recorded the same song... and they both came out at the same time with their own videos. It confused me so much as a little kid! ua-cam.com/video/aIoSlM1np1M/v-deo.html
I'm so freaking cool, I actually had this 45rpm single. Murray Head once played Hayley Mills' brother-in-law in the film "The Family Way", which was scored by Paul McCartney.
As retired sub sailor who pulled in to ports in Thailand, Philippines, and Hong Kong I can definitely get the feel of the night life of those countries!!!
OMG I played this so much in the 80's. I also recall having a cool 12" single of this one. Now I have to search UA-cam to see if they have it. I was SO addicted to12" remixes lol. And I still remembered every word, just now, without the lyrics lol
I happened to be vacationing in Thailand when this song came out. The first time I heard it was in a taxi when we first arrived in Pattaya from Bangkok. The Thai government tried to band the song but that only made it more popular.
Lots of people saying it’s about a chess tournament. And yes, obviously but I read somewhere that it was also about Cold War diplomacy depicted as a high stakes chess match.
Never would’ve guessed this had to do w chess. Never listened to the lyrics until now. Interesting. I also think of Mike Tyson singing this in “The Hangover 2.” 😂
Murray Head, the man who does this song, was the lead in the musical Chess for which this song was written. He played the lead on the day the show opened. His younger bother, Anthony Stewart Head, played the lead on the very last day of this show (And went on to play Giles in the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer). As the song was written for the musical Chess, it is about the international chess scene which does have tournaments in places mentioned in this song. "Play at this level there's no ordinary venue It's Iceland or the Philippines or Hastings or or this place!" There are also a TON of references to Bangkok itself. "The creme de la creme of the chess world in a Show with everything but Yul Brynner" He was not overly popular over there due to his role in "The King and I". "This grips me more than would a Muddy old river or reclining Buddha" is a reference to the Chao Phraya River which runs threw Bangkok and Bangkok also is known for the Wat Pho temple, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. If you really analyze the lyrics it was marvelously crafted and nothing was wasted at all.
What I love about watching you two react to songs is how Brad seems to always tey to figure out what makes a song tick & tock and and how Lex just bounces right into the song.... it's Greeereat!
The Land of the Smiles! This song was big during the 80s, and never realized the content of the song until I was in Thailand when I was a active duty US Marine during numerous Cobra Gold, and while in Muay Thai camp in Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai. Yup, Lex was right "The Patpong Sisters", thai whiskey, Muay Thai bars, weed, and all the sins in-between! Yes, tough guys tumble, and ended-up jumping the hotel balcony after spending all of their life savings.
I never thought about it, but this was ahead of it's time. The spoken word, into a catchy hook was something that it took hip hop a few years to come into.
@@brentottoson6974 name one song by the Beastie Boys or Grandmaster Flash pre 1985 that fits my description. Cookie Puss doesn't make the cut. I'm talking about when you rap the verse and sing the chorus.
@@jrmahan3405 White Lines? Yes, Mel E Melle but attributed to GMF. I originally misunderstood but White Lines fills the bill. And plenty of Whodini. Freaks Come Out at Night!
I remember living in a tiny, little, East Texas Town, and hearing this song on the midnight rock station. They had a midnight to three AM alt-rock show, and the DJ loved this tune, and Frankie goes to Hollywood, RELAX. I drove 70 miles to get to Tyler and the Mall to buy these albums. The early 80's had some fantastic music. Another one I bought back then was Jon & Vangelis The Friends of Mr. Cairo, and ELO's TIME Album. Styx, Kansas, Journey, RUSH, YES, Paul Simon, REM, Tragically Hip, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, DEVO, Talking Heads, Tubes... Seriously I could keep typing all night, I bet.
"What's this about" The song explores three levels: 1) The dangerous, neferious underworld of bangkok, 2) the naive, glitzy tourist bar scene and sex-traffic, and 3) the elite chess competition that rises above it all. Each level's participants criticize and mock the others -- exposing truths and conflicts. The lyric require close inspection.
Love this song... this was big right before I could drive (legally ;) ) We used to have sleepovers and watch Night Tracks... this video was played a lot when it was popular. You should check out "Pop Muzik" by M
Since you covered "Relax" from Frankie goes to hollywood, I was hoping you would listen to this one as well. Setting aside all of the sexual sub-texts, both songs had catchy beats and were on heavy rotation in dance clubs at the time.
It's about CHESS (the board game) "the queens we use would not excite you". When they sing about exotic places that's where world chess championships take place. The song is written from the viewpoint of one of the participants in such a tournament who basically comments on what tourists/sexpats would experience - they would most likely see a shallow, on-the-surface version of real life there. Btw, I only know this song but never encountered the musical. But I immediately got the meaning by the very first time hearing it, thanks to the above mentioned line of lyrics. Sometimes it pays out to really pay attention to them. Although I must admit that I love it when you're absolutely "on the woodway" (auf dem Holzweg sein" as we Germans like to call it). It amuses me a great deal, like with your reaction on Rammstein: Du hast". So funny - I just continually facepalmed myself!)
I love people like you. And thank you who have never been there but who allow themselves. to make videos, and I swear by experience I find everything you want in Bangkok, be it your delirium, your wishes, it's like that there
This song was originally in the musical Chess written by the dudes from Abba. It's about international chess tournaments. This is when they're in Bangkok... A great musical.
and lady boys "the queens we use would not excite you" as in drag queens lady boys
@@cyberash3000 I think he's referring to the queens in chess.
@@Schudulaba you are missing the point. i bet you are american lol
hes saying "the queens we use would not excite you"
which means hes saying the queens we use in CHESS, are NOT the Queens, lady boys that YOU like. its not hard to uinderstand. trust me ion this, i live in a town in the uk that 1/3rd of the town are drag queens.
hes saying we have queens but they arnt drag queens so wont excite you.
It is one of my favorite musicals and I really do not understand why it isn't more popular and known than it is.
@@Schudulaba yep, he is referring to the chess pieces. It's about a chess game played in Bangkok vs the nightlife.
I have a deep admiration for the line "the queens we use would not excite you". It somehow works sexuality into a reference to playing chess and does it in way that mocks the listener. That's smooth.
same with ''the bars are temples, but the pearls aint free'' felt that tho lol
The whole song is double entendres about chess and sex
Same with the "The mate I'm contemplating..." (i.e. looking for check mate and not a mate)
Don't forget "I get my kicks above the waistline" a reference to Muay Tai boxing, (possibly the worlds preeminent striking art with among other things a, plethora of low kicks including some brutal shin to shin kicks) and, of course, sex.
The song is referring to the city being a tourist's sexual playground consisting of innumerable dens of prostitution alongside old pagan temples. Meanwhile, the chess tournament marches on with its players so focused on winning that they ignore the flesh palaces right outside. The fact that they see and feel the temptation, yet never stray, shows their mental fortitude for keeping their attention on the game. Like the man who draws a circle of chalk around himself so the demon cannot enter at midnight.
This song is the perfect example of how fun the 80’s were. And how fun the music was, just a great time to be a kid!!!
It was a great time to be in your 20’s the whole 80’s decade also, like I was ✌🏽👍🏾
Another 80's classic. I've always loved this track, I remember it being a top ten hit when I was a kid.
Yep, it went all the way to #3. I remember it challenging for the top spot to this day.
FUn fact: the reference to Yul Brynner is because he played the King of Siam (now called Thailand) in a movie musical called “The King and I”.
If you watch Failrace videos, he starts his videos with "Welcome to the show." I always debate adding " With everything but Yul Brenner." 😅
I guess the Pharoah of Egypt didn't end up well lol
Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
The king and I, film is banned in Thailand 🇹🇭
Duh….
As most comments say, about a chess match (and all the shady stuff). "I get my kicks above the waistline sunshine" still one of my all time favorite lines in song. I've only seen the official video before so this was a new experience.
I was just thinning about that line. When you're playing chess you'd be sitting at a table so the pieces are indeed above the waistline.
@@3DJapan I always thought he was referring to the brain. Mental stimulation excites him more than the physical. "the ultimate test of cerebral fitness".
@@dr.burtgummerfan439 double entredes are what the song is all about.
@@3DJapan Good point!
@@Ozzy_2014 exactly, especially given the reputation Thailand has for certain other things. "If you're lucky then the god's a she", or the reference to "tea girls", and "the queens we use would not excite you".
This song exmplifies what was so awesome about 80's music. Music in that decade was so original and creative and mixed so many different styles- sometimes even in the same song. It was a great time to grow up.
Agree 100% this song is exactly what the 80’s were FUN
This song is one of my guilty pleasures. If you ever watched "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" then you should know the singer is the brother of the guy who played 'Giles' Anthony Stewart Head.
i had no idea Murray Head was Anthony's Head's brother! I love the scene where Giles is playing Open Mic night at a cafe and the gang are stunned 🤣
I was scrolling down the comments to see if anyone got to it before me. I loved Buffy.
Ohhhh no ways! Man I'm learning some good shit in the comments today!
@@joemachine4714 I believe he was singing the Who's Behind Blue Eyes
Anthony Head was also in Chess, taking over the role from his brother. So he would have sung this song on stage too.
Another example of the richness of music that was the 80's. A song with its backdrop a chess board was actually played on radio and became a hit. Hard to find that diversity in today's pop culture....
Today's pop culture is more about voices, and less about big hooks & instrumentation. I miss the great music of my youth. They have turned hit music into a boring machine, spitting out the same stuff over & over, with different wrapping paper.
@@BillGraper it isn't even about the voices. those are all auto tuned now. the people i grew up listening to wouldn't get a record deal today. a shame because the songs talked about life and pain that is to be human.
@@mikehenthorn1778 Exactly! Even the beats are all quantized. We never would've had the coolness of "Dream Weaver" or "Rock'n Me" if they had been quantized exactly to the beat. That is part of what made them special, not to mention the talent to write such songs & perform them flawlessly.
Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice, and book by Rice. The story involves a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters, one American and the other Soviet Russian, and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any real individuals, the character of the American grandmaster (named Freddie Trumper in the stage version) was loosely based on Bobby Fischer,[1] while elements of the story may have been inspired by the chess careers of Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.
Along with the song "I Know Him So Well" sung by Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige, that was in the charts.
You have no idea what the night clubs were like when this song came on, the place hit the roof. I have very fond memories of this time, friends, girlfriends and having a great time. So long ago now
Hell yeah, this was the song when it came out
Hands down the best song about a chess tournament in Thailand ever!
Lex having the time of her life. Brad is trying to figure out what time zone he is in.
So right!
lol
The song is from 'Chess', a rock musical written in the 1980s about an international Chess tournament where the main competition is between the American chess prodigy and the Soviet chess champion during the height of the American-Soviet Cold War. The music was by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulveaus of the Swedish supergroup ABBA and musical theater lyricist Tim Rice (who wrote the Oscar-winning song "A Whole New World" from 'Aladdin' among many others of stage and screen). The song, which takes place in the second half of the musical, is the American commenting on Bangkok in his own crass way, while at the same time keeping himself psyched up for his match with the Soviet player.
Murray Head, who is the singer of this song, was a British singer-actor who straddled pop and rock with the theater world. One of his best known roles was the role of Judas Iscariot in the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' concept album before it became a stage production. Off of that album he had one hit..."Superstar". This recording of "One Night In Bangkok is from the original concept album of 'Chess' before it also became a stage production.
I've lived in Thailand for many years now and every time I visit Bangkok, I have this song in my head. I can't help it.
that is an Musical Tune. the Musical is titeled "Chess" and Murray Head played "the American Grandmaster"who has to encounter "the Russian Grandmaster" in a Chess tournament ...And the lyrics are about a chess game which he compares in an abstract way to the Nightlife of Bankok and "the Queen" he was talking about was actually the Queen on the chess board.
It’s about a chess tournament in Bangkok, but alludes to and cross references the seedier side of the city. I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine. Love that line. Written by Benny and Bjorn from ABBA with Tim Rice.
Like others have said, this is from the musical Chess. It's really amazing. I recommend the taped 2009 concert/ recording. There are so many good performers. Plus, the visuals really help understand what's going on.
OH GOD NO!!! That was horrible!
@@toriboy25 The only performer I didn't like was Idina Menzel. I hate her voice so much. It's like a dying goat.
@@Emilaria Yeah she was my biggest problem with that concert. Just not right for the part and Josh sounded great but the emotion was not there in his performance. Especially the face. But I do agree the concert does help understand the story more
This was a hit when I was in high-school. I remember at the time two guys at my table in study hall for about a week were trying to figure out all the words to this song and would compare notes each day.
Maybe my favorite one hit wonder of the 80's! Thanks for the reaction!
One hit wonder ?
ua-cam.com/video/TmOtlNwOGWc/v-deo.html
What an amazing song. There are so many hooks in it!
One of the most concentrated source of 80's, right here in this song!
I have never heard this intro to the song before. But it's been one of my favorites for years. And it's real straight-forward. It's chess. No innuendo, no hidden meanings, no interpretation. "This is a thinking man's game, take your cheap thrills somewhere else."
Then I guess you haven't heard the soundtrack to the Musical, only the version playesdon the radio.
Of course there is innuendo, talking about queens that would NOT excite you!
Oh you of pure heart and thought!
The song is about the singer's impression of Bangkok, Thailand, as he arrives there for a chess tournament.
Its the song that opens the second half of the musical Chess. The first Chess tournament takes place in Italy at the 'Tyrorelian spa' mentioned in this song. For the next tournament normally two years apart i believe its held in Bangkok. The guys thats singing it is the defeated American champion from the previous contest. Only this year he is reporting on the event and trying to manipulate the out come for his own personal gain. Another song that was a big hit from this show was 'I Know Him So Well'. Where two women the wife and the mistress sing about their love for the same man The Russian chess champion, that is well worth reacting too.
In this episode of Brad & Lex, the triumphant train of sound is derailed quickly as the first word is uttered completely dropping B&L into the mix, immediately stirring up Lex,s elbow and "shoulder bops" equipped with periodic hand work as snake charming vibes grace the place feeding her free spirit while the always analytical Brad consumes the melodic meal seemingly by securing his signature "side to side sway".
😄
And now... back to you in the studio...
Perfect!!!😂
Apt and Poetic!
I went to Bangkok and met this gal. Even though she was in her thirties, she'd never heard this song. So I put the headphones on her and played it for her. She liked it so much and was groovin' out to it 😎😉
"I get my kicks ABOVE the waistline, Sunshine".
Murray Head will always be Judas to me - a brilliant performance in the original soundtrack for "Jesus Christ Superstar."
@Parker Allen
I always thought he should have been cast in the movie, too.
@@ZEPnALE Totally agree.
ugh I didn't see this when I was looking thru your videos thank you its great to see this reaction to what was such a cool song when it came out.
be loved you are
The song is from the musical "Chess" and sung from the point of view of an egotistical American chess player who is obsessed with the game and doesn't care about the local tourist, uh, attractions
The play was reorganised a few times. This is sung by whoever is playing the arbiter of the second tournament - sometimes this is the American. Whoever is singing it is never competing in the match.
There was a point a few years ago when I would stay up late watching music videos on UA-cam. It seemed like no matter what sequence of songs I chose, UA-cam would end up recommending this to me. I tried to resist every time and failed every time. It was a massive hit when I was a kid. Completely unique and everyone loved it whether they admitted it or not. He was talking about queens because within the musical this song is from they are chess players. So when he says "the queens we use would not excite you" he's talking about chess pieces to someone who would prefer the yasssss queen type.
One of my All-Time Favourite 80's Classics.
The Head Boys are excellent vocalists. 👍🤘
Fantastic mid 1980s hit....imagine people dancing to this in an 80s disco. Brought back so many memories. 👍👍🤗🤗
The lyrics are so clever, I love the play on words with ‘Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite’
The 80's in all there glory. Fun song. You'll have to listen to this one a few more times. 😁❤🤘
It's the call-and answer between the lead singer (Murray Head) and the chorus.
The "queens" reference was a double-entendre, because it was written for the musical Chess.
Lex's energy is so contagious.
I saw Chess in the West End in the late 80's. Fantastic show.
Now I'm thinking of West End Girls, thanks.
At one point he is talking about playing chess. "The mate he is seeking" and "the queens we use wouldn't excite you "
It's entirely about a chess game - it's a song from the musical 'Chess'.
The queens he talk about is not about chess.. It's "dudes looks like a lady" 😉
@@plabaa1889 The entire song is about chess. It's literally being told from the perspective of a chess master who's so obsessed with the game that he isn't interested in "other activities". It's meaning is very well documented, so there's not really a debate here, the writers of the song (from ABBA) have explained it's meaning in detail.
@@ninja_tony I know what's this musical is about... Björn and Benny (ABBA),wrote this.... I'm from Sweden, I been talking to Benny a couple of times... It's not just about chess... Have you been in Thailand, Bangkok?
The transition from weird intro to banging verse is amazing. Made Lex jump, which was awesome.
Loved this song back in tha day!!!! Lex i just love your vibe!!!!!!
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.......... They really mean Bangkok
My former commanding officer actually said that before we pulled into port in Thailand. Lol.
This was a real dance groove back in the 80's or even today.
"One night in Bangkok will make a hard man humble". If you spent time in Bangkok, you know how true that lyric is.
I saw the Musical "Chess" performed twice. Once by a University level group, minimalist. Another by a touring company where everyone acted and played instruments. Amazing
"One Night In Bangkok" was a big hit in the mid-1980s, peaking at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1985.
There are two different intros to the song. The version you listened to, with the more traditional Thai-sounding musical intro, is the album version. The single version has an intro that sounds more like the rest of the song, including an extra chorus before Murray Head begins rapping his verses.
No, it was two different groups that recorded the same song... and they both came out at the same time with their own videos. It confused me so much as a little kid! ua-cam.com/video/aIoSlM1np1M/v-deo.html
Back when this came out it didn't matter what dance club you were at, this song was played...period.
I'm so freaking cool, I actually had this 45rpm single. Murray Head once played Hayley Mills' brother-in-law in the film "The Family Way", which was scored by Paul McCartney.
As retired sub sailor who pulled in to ports in Thailand, Philippines, and Hong Kong I can definitely get the feel of the night life of those countries!!!
OMG I played this so much in the 80's. I also recall having a cool 12" single of this one. Now I have to search UA-cam to see if they have it. I was SO addicted to12" remixes lol. And I still remembered every word, just now, without the lyrics lol
I still have my 12" vinyl with the remix .
I love this song. The lyrics are great.
The ABBA guys co-wrote this Top 3 hit in USA/CANADA And also No1 in Europe's hot 100 and Australia's as well.
I happened to be vacationing in Thailand when this song came out. The first time I heard it was in a taxi when we first arrived in Pattaya from Bangkok. The Thai government tried to band the song but that only made it more popular.
Lots of people saying it’s about a chess tournament. And yes, obviously but I read somewhere that it was also about Cold War diplomacy depicted as a high stakes chess match.
Never would’ve guessed this had to do w chess. Never listened to the lyrics until now. Interesting. I also think of Mike Tyson singing this in “The Hangover 2.” 😂
The song is a "showtune"....but, this video has the best Brad thumbnail ever (!)
Arriving at Bangkok and the first thing you hear is this song 🤪🤪😝
I hated this song when I was young, but now I ABSOLUTELY ADORE IT; it's pretty good
After being to Bangkok, I always smile when I hear this song. LoL. Good times.
Overdue!! SUCH a timeless classic.
Murray Head, the man who does this song, was the lead in the musical Chess for which this song was written. He played the lead on the day the show opened. His younger bother, Anthony Stewart Head, played the lead on the very last day of this show (And went on to play Giles in the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
As the song was written for the musical Chess, it is about the international chess scene which does have tournaments in places mentioned in this song. "Play at this level there's no ordinary venue
It's Iceland or the Philippines or Hastings or or this place!" There are also a TON of references to Bangkok itself. "The creme de la creme of the chess world in a Show with everything but Yul Brynner" He was not overly popular over there due to his role in "The King and I". "This grips me more than would a Muddy old river or reclining Buddha" is a reference to the Chao Phraya River which runs threw Bangkok and Bangkok also is known for the Wat Pho temple, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. If you really analyze the lyrics it was marvelously crafted and nothing was wasted at all.
What I love about watching you two react to songs is how Brad seems to always tey to figure out what makes a song tick & tock and and how Lex just bounces right into the song.... it's Greeereat!
love this song stayed up for days to record it from the radio LOL
Lex, you're sharp. I'm impressed with what you picked up on in the lyrics upon your first time listening to this song.
This is also one of the best Italo - Disco style song from the 80s.
"Not much between despair and ecstasy."
Hey, there were definitely a few real hard bars mixed in there...
This is actually a very good song. Lyrics and beat gel each other perfectly.
Such clever clever lyrics. You could write a doctoral dissertation explicating each word.
I haven't heard this song in many years. forgot about it. too awesome.
The Land of the Smiles! This song was big during the 80s, and never realized the content of the song until I was in Thailand when I was a active duty US Marine during numerous Cobra Gold, and while in Muay Thai camp in Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai. Yup, Lex was right "The Patpong Sisters", thai whiskey, Muay Thai bars, weed, and all the sins in-between! Yes, tough guys tumble, and ended-up jumping the hotel balcony after spending all of their life savings.
I never thought about it, but this was ahead of it's time. The spoken word, into a catchy hook was something that it took hip hop a few years to come into.
The Sugarhill Gang, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, Whodini, Beastie Boys, etc. would disagree.
@@brentottoson6974 name one song by the Beastie Boys or Grandmaster Flash pre 1985 that fits my description. Cookie Puss doesn't make the cut. I'm talking about when you rap the verse and sing the chorus.
@@jrmahan3405 White Lines? Yes, Mel E Melle but attributed to GMF. I originally misunderstood but White Lines fills the bill. And plenty of Whodini. Freaks Come Out at Night!
Mike Tyson's cover of this song is hilarious :-)
I remember living in a tiny, little, East Texas Town, and hearing this song on the midnight rock station. They had a midnight to three AM alt-rock show, and the DJ loved this tune, and Frankie goes to Hollywood, RELAX. I drove 70 miles to get to Tyler and the Mall to buy these albums. The early 80's had some fantastic music. Another one I bought back then was Jon & Vangelis The Friends of Mr. Cairo, and ELO's TIME Album. Styx, Kansas, Journey, RUSH, YES, Paul Simon, REM, Tragically Hip, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, DEVO, Talking Heads, Tubes... Seriously I could keep typing all night, I bet.
"What's this about" The song explores three levels: 1) The dangerous, neferious underworld of bangkok, 2) the naive, glitzy tourist bar scene and sex-traffic, and 3) the elite chess competition that rises above it all. Each level's participants criticize and mock the others -- exposing truths and conflicts. The lyric require close inspection.
Love this song... this was big right before I could drive (legally ;) ) We used to have sleepovers and watch Night Tracks... this video was played a lot when it was popular.
You should check out "Pop Muzik" by M
Since you covered "Relax" from Frankie goes to hollywood, I was hoping you would listen to this one as well. Setting aside all of the sexual sub-texts, both songs had catchy beats and were on heavy rotation in dance clubs at the time.
I had a hat just like that in the 70's....Love It!!! You look so cute:)
A great,great song created by the magic musicians of ABBA, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulveaus..a really good song...great hit..
I love how, in the 80s, the "clarity" of the music was just as important as anything else.
that's a CLASSIC will play forever and always 👍🏾👌🏾🤘🏾🤟🏾😁💯🏆
there are a lot of chess references in this song. i would think that this song is mostly used for caution when traveling to bangkok.
It's a song from a musical called 'Chess' - be a bit weird if there weren't.
wow very insightful for a first hearing, well done Brad. Lex
Love Lex's reaction to alot of the songs.
It's from the huge Broadway Play- Chess written by the guys from ABBA. Brilliant show.
It's about CHESS (the board game) "the queens we use would not excite you". When they sing about exotic places that's where world chess championships take place. The song is written from the viewpoint of one of the participants in such a tournament who basically comments on what tourists/sexpats would experience - they would most likely see a shallow, on-the-surface version of real life there. Btw, I only know this song but never encountered the musical. But I immediately got the meaning by the very first time hearing it, thanks to the above mentioned line of lyrics. Sometimes it pays out to really pay attention to them. Although I must admit that I love it when you're absolutely "on the woodway" (auf dem Holzweg sein" as we Germans like to call it). It amuses me a great deal, like with your reaction on Rammstein: Du hast". So funny - I just continually facepalmed myself!)
This video/song used to scare the crap out of me as a kid and I don’t know why
Same lol
Dust in the wind creeped me out.
Same
Because it makes the tough guys tumble
I have this on 12 inch Dance mix vinyl , Bought it when this was released … Listening brings back lots of memories out clubbing ..
A bit if trivia, this song is sang by the brother of Anthony Stewart Head, best known for as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I can feel the devil walking next to meeeee...
Yay Finally!!!! I voted for this numerous times during one of your streams in the past.
I love people like you. And thank you who have never been there but who allow themselves. to make videos, and I swear by experience I find everything you want in Bangkok, be it your delirium, your wishes, it's like that there
These guys are great!....I love Lex's reaction!
Co-written by Benny and Njorn from ABBA and Tim Rice
Murray Head is the brother of Anthony Head - the slayer's old guide in the Buffy tv series
This was a huge song in Montreal back in the day. They still play it on French radio.
I forgot all about this song. Played at a lot of parties back in the day.
One of the best songs of the 80s!!!
The 80s.... It was a rough time for me but I still miss it. I was younger and healthier. Thanks for video
Sorry you had it rough, for me it was 10yrs of fun. 😅
I lived in Bangkok for 15 years and the song really captures the mood.
The original video makes a huge difference, totally worth checking out. Definitely an interesting and unique song!
P. S. Chess!!!!
Looks like Lex really enjoyed it when Murray said Bangkok haha.