"One Night in Bangkok" | ||||||||
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Single by Murray Head | ||||||||
from the album Chess | ||||||||
B-side | "Merano" | |||||||
Released | October 1984 | |||||||
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Recorded | 1984 | |||||||
Genre | New wave | |||||||
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Label | RCA | |||||||
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Murray Head singles chronology | ||||||||
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"One Night in Bangkok" | ||||
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Single by Vinylshakerz | ||||
from the album Very Superior | ||||
Released | 14 March 2005 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
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Length | 3:28 | |||
Label | Kontor | |||
Producer(s) | Vinylshakerz | |||
Vinylshakerz singles chronology | ||||
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"One Night in Bangkok" is a song from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It was originally rapped by the British actor and singer Murray Head (verses) and sung by the Swedish singer and songwriter Anders Glenmark (choruses).
The release topped the charts in many countries, including South Africa, West Germany, Switzerland and Australia. It peaked at no. 3 in both Canada and the United States in May 1985, and at no. 12 in Head's native United Kingdom.
The full version of the song begins with an orchestral introduction, entitled "Bangkok", of Oriental style. This serves as the introduction to Act 2 in the original musical album, feeding into the first verse of "One Night in Bangkok" itself with an abrupt change in musical style.
The main song has a pop styling, whose lyrics compare the Thai capital city and its nightlife with the game of chess. In the original concept album for the musical, the choruses are sung by Swedish artist Anders Glenmark, whereas the verses are a rap originally performed by Murray Head as the American chess grandmaster, a character known as Frederick "Freddie" Trumper in the staged versions. In the staged versions, a musical ensemble performs the choruses. Whereas the choruses extol Bangkok's reputation and exciting atmosphere, the American's verses denounce the city, including Soi Cowboy, Chao Phraya River ("muddy old river"), Wat Pho ("reclining Buddha"), and ladyboys ("You'll find a god in every golden cloister — And if you're lucky then the god's a she"). These sarcastic denunciations led to Thailand's Mass Communications Organisation issuing a ban on the song in 1985, saying its lyrics "cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism".