Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok "From CHESS" 

Hands down, the greatest song ever written about playing chess in Thailand.

One of those unique songs that no other sounds like.

Anyone is 2024 listening?!!

Murray Head's delivery is so SNARKY. It's perfect. Has been for 40 years.

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.

"I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine." So many great lines in this.

The people who love this song , are the coolest people ever

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.

I still admire how great this choir sounds. Male and female voices harmonize perfectly.

this song ages so well, still fresh 4 decades later! truly unique.

Who is listeing in 2024? Great music like this should neveer be forgotten.

Wow how time flies by 1984-2024 this song is officially 40years of pure memories listening to this .😊

Africa, Down Under, and this. The perfect trinity.

Again: Fantastic bass playing by Rutger Gunnarsson, ABBA's bass player. This guy was one of the most important ingredients of the ABBA sound. He deserves a lot of credit.

I'm in Bangkok right now and I can't get this song out of my head. Tomorrow I'll go and see the Reclining Buddha.... This song doesn't get old. But Benny and Björn from Abba have always written timeless music.

I have to admit the RU-vid algorithm isn't useless after all. Thanks for the wonderful memory.

one of the best things about 50 years old,is the fact that i lived my teenage years in the 80's that is priceless and Iam grateful !!!

Tbh there is NO song that feels the same way as this one. Absolute unique vibes!

They played this song on the radio today, and I think it's the first time I've ever heard it. What an absolute banger.

I’m listening to this master piece, in Bangkok!! 2024!

“I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine.” Always loved that line.

Absolutely unique 80s magic Nothing else sounds like this Fantastic!!

Ahhh the 80s and synthesizers... This song and "Puttin on the Ritz" are some of my favorite. New Order, Information Society, Depeche Mode,...those were the days 😄.

Listened to this song since the 80's and never saw the video. Even after 40 years, it did not disappoint. Mr. Head has himself a true hit, here.

This song was so ahead of it’s time!!!! I’m honored to have been a teen in the 80s…best decade of music!!!

As a Child of the 80's, this song is PRICELESS ... and the video is as much a treasure!

In 1986, I spent one night in Bangkok, listening to One Night in Bangkok...

I was able to see Chess in London as an abroad student; It blew my mind seeing Murray Head on stage! The 80s were magical for me because of the music.

*Haven't heard this in probably 20 years. Memories memories memories for this 55 year old man... from the 80's.*

Every time I hear this song I’m transported back to the early 80s doing laps at our local skate rink. So.much.nostalgia.

This song is one of the best Songs written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA

Still listening going into 2024.

Never will there be another decade like the 80”s.

"The Queens we use would not excite you." His delivery of that line alone is perfect!

I have to say, at 53 years old, after having heard this song since it first came out and many times on the radio, although now it's been awhile, and now today listening to it for the first time in a long time and seeing the subtitles, I have gained a whole new appreciation for the song. This song is too unrepentative to be commonly replayed but as it was sung, it is quite an amazing song. Now that I'm 53 years old and know this song came out over 40 years ago, I hope to keep it alive in human history so am making this post.

This is one of my favorite songs ever. A quirky and fun 80s vibe, I love it.

Almost 40 years, this song is still ahead of time

This is so eighties that my cat and dog are now in a nuclear standoff after hearing it.

I'm a one night in Bangkok survivor. I did everything a tourist is not supposed to do. Boy, some adventure! Dangerous city at night.

Very emotional for me to watch this. My grandfather selected this as part of his funeral soundtrack

this song was pure genius in the 80s. still sounds like no other in 2020!

An 80s song that somehow transcends the decade.

They keep playing this on the radio lately, reminds me how much I love it. Great song.

Song makes perfect sense when you know the nature of Bangkok.

That has got to be THE hardest collection of sonics ever arranged. The vocals, the tasty bass, the synths. The engineer is an absolute demon with the chorus mix. They hit a supernatural vibe with this one, beautiful! The clip as well, this is art.

This Song is SO clever on many levels.. The instrumental intro that grabs you in tight.. The delicate and intricately placed backing Vocals.. The wonderfully woven lyrics with metaphors that seem to tell two or three stories in one.. Massive chorus.. But what is left to say about the genius of Bjorn and Benny ??..

One of the greatest hits of ALL times ❤

I love that every shot in this looks like it was done in one take.

I'm guessing One Night in Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit wasn't as catchy a title.

Crazy to think this is almost 40 years old. I drop in on this now and again and it still doesn’t age.

It just occurred to me that 2024 is the 40th anniversary of the release of this excellent hit.

The 1980s was a fabulous decade 👏

The music of the 1980s had it all, energy, humour and originality, many genres, much talent and songs you'll remember forever. Thumbs up if you agree?

I woke up today and started singing this song and I have no idea why. I needed to hear it again 35 years later.

This is SO good…it’s like an 80s ABBA song that was originally planned, but never came out as such and was morphed into this brilliant piece for this amazing musical/soundtrack.

Im have just returned from Thailand and Bankog one of the best places on this planet. God bless that country and thai people.

I’ve always been a lyrics guy, so this song has always been special to me. Love the double entendres.

This is a very unusual song. Almost everything is not even sang, just reciting instead. Also the words and twists from one flow to the next are very unusual. Truly unique song

Love the way he says the phrase "...the crème de la _crèmmmmm_ ... of the chess world..." at 0:44. Sounds so cool with the music.

Man I love bangkok. I fell in love there and 7 months later she died in my arms due to a motorbike accident. I’ve never been to a place more special, but you really do have to be careful. Changed my life for the better. RIP Siriwan

When this came out, to me, it was one of those cool elusive songs that rarely got played where I lived. Back when the only way you would hear it was on the radio, and if the DJ didn't say who it was, you were lost. I never did find it on my own, but I sang a few words of it to my brother in law once, when we were talking about music we liked and he said he didn't know it. A year or so later he found it, bought it, and gave the album to me! Unreal! And a cool album jacket too ! Yeah...

"I'd let you watch, I would invite you, But the Queens we use would not excite you." Classic.

Forever and always one of my favorite songs! Take me back to my senior year and coming out of the closet. I was a happy teen man at that time! Now as I hit 60, I'd love to be back then.

I remember listening to this song on the radio as a teen.A weird late at night program that played off the charts (in Spain) music.This was in the 80's. The son burrowed in my head, cool, groovy,dark,mysterious...loved it back then and i still do.

I love the tongue-in-cheek lyrics... "I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine..."

His vocals are unique. One of a kind really. But those background singers, bass and horn section are just as impressive. This song was a flat out cut. One of the best white boy jams of the 80s. "One town's very like another, when your heads down over your pieces, brother."

I'm 66 years old....the 80's kicked serious music a$$!!!

I am back from Bangkok last January 7th 2024.....My last was before Pandemic in 2019...Still there again❤❤❤

I got lost in Bangkok one night in '92, but made it back to my friends without incident, thankfully. That song gained a very visceral meaning for me!

lyrics: Bangkok, Oriental setting 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 Play at this level there's no ordinary venue 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 parlours 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

"I dont see you guys rating the kind of mate that I'm contemplating" (They'll never guess the checkmate I've got planned!) God, the double meanings in this song are amazing!

Absolutely listening, love this song... the eighties were the greatest decade ever

Such an oddly specific vibe I can’t describe it ❤

This song, and Mexican Radio, were the first 2 rock / pop songs I ever liked as a kid.. I can still listen to this multiple times in a row and not be tired of it

I'm in Bangkok listening to this song. Bucket list completed.

The queens we use would not excite you. What a great line.

“I get my kicks above the waistline Sunshine,” is still one one fav song lyrics.....😂😂😂

No TV show or movie brought me here. I just love this kind of music.

As a teenager in the 80's this song fascinated me. Now at 57 I got to experience Bangkok for the first time! I miss the 80s

Skvělá píseň, skvělá choreografie a scéna klipu. 👍

You hear this song as a kid and you feel like the world is yours.

My ten year old son loves this song, lol! I played it for him one night and it blew his mind just like it did to me back in ‘85

33 years old. Stoned as hell. The first time I've ever listened to the lyrics properly. Chess is a serious, serious business.

No drugs, no sex,no idoligy pushing. No alcohol and no violence, pier genius, and talent. A true masterpiece

Im 15 but yet i still very much enjoy 80’s music

This is the most elusive song of the 80’s. In France it was broadcast very late at night, and while I remember loving it at first listening, I found it impossible to get a hold of afterwards. And since I had no idea who sang it or what the name of the song was, I couldn’t get it in any other shape. I had to wait for the age of Napster and later RU-vid to rediscover it proper…

Almost 40 years later and this song still slaps.

Classic! "I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine..." FTW...

This song was so different than anything I'd ever heard on the radio. Aside from Jethro Tull and Men At Work's, A Land Down Under...one of the only pop/rock songs you'll ever hear with a flute part in it! Seems like the first time I heard it was after soccer practice around 1984 as a kid. REO Speedwagon was also big at this time and Starship's "We Built This City".

It’s not just that it sounds terrific, but it’s so utterly weird that it is impossible to label. You know something is a creative masterpiece, when you don’t seem to tire of it......ever. Oddly, there always seems something more to discover.

Anyone from 2025 listening ?

There are three songs from the early 80s that sound so, so unique - This - Taco’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” - Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus”

I still think the 80's is the best decade for music, it had the most originality and inventions.

This song really showcases the talent and versatility of the ABBA boys in composing original music

"I'd let you watch, I would invite you, but the queens we use would not excite you." I remember being too young to understand what that actually meant but old enough to know there was a double-entendre just lurking around in there somewhere and my parents were no help when I asked about it.

The sound of '80's ❤❤❤

The benefit of having a 50 year old father is he has good taste in music. 19 years old and this song is crazy good.

Excellent song, amazing video. His attitude is pure 80s. :)

I always loved the beginning of this song, its so beautiful.

I litereally have my jaw dropped... YOU are FOUND again! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩