One Night in Bangkok - wikipedia One Night in Bangkok For the Sodom album, see One Night in Bangkok ( album ). `` One Night in Bangkok '' Single by Murray Head from the album Chess B - side `` Merano '' Released October 1984 Format 7 '' 12 '' Recorded 1984 Genre New wave Length 3 : 51 4 : 06 ( US 7 `` ) 5 : 02 ( album ) Label RCA Songwriter ( s ) Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus ( composers ) Tim Rice Björn Ulvaeus ( lyricists ) Producer ( s ) Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus Tim Rice Murray Head singles chronology `` Maman '' ( 1982 ) `` One Night in Bangkok '' ( 1984 ) `` When You 're in Love '' ( 1984 ) `` Maman '' ( 1982 ) `` One Night in Bangkok '' ( 1984 ) `` When You 're in Love '' ( 1984 ) Audio sample `` Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok '' file help `` 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 ( in the chorus ). 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. Contents 1 Lyrics and music 2 Track listings 3 Personnel 4 Charts and sales 4.1 Weekly charts 4.2 Year - end charts 4.3 Certifications 5 Robey version 5.1 Charts 6 Vinylshakerz version 6.1 Charts 7 References 8 External links Lyrics and music 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, Swedish artist Anders Glenmark sang in the chorus, 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 ridicule the city, describing its attractions -- Soi Cowboy, Chao Phraya River ( `` muddy old river '' ), Wat Pho ( `` reclining Buddha '' ) -- as less interesting to him than a game of chess. 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 ''. In the original London production of Chess, the setting for the song is an interview by Freddie, who is in Bangkok to serve as a TV analyst for a match involving his rival, world champion and Russian defector Anatoly Sergievsky. In the original Broadway production of the musical, the song appears not at the start of Act 2, but rather in the middle of Act 1, whereas in this version, the world championship of Freddie vs. Anatoly takes place in Bangkok. The lyrics mention actor Yul Brynner, who famously played the King of Siam in the Broadway musical and the 1956 film The King and I ( and for which Brynner received several Tony awards and the Oscar for best actor ). Other Thai - related references in the lyrics include ones to `` Siam '' ( Thailand 's former name ), the Oriental Hotel ( the `` Somerset Maugham suite '' ), ladyboys ( `` You 'll find a god in every golden cloister -- And if you 're lucky then the god 's a she '' ), and to Muay Thai ( Thai kickboxing ). The `` Tyrolean spa '' mentioned early in the song refers to Merano in the South Tyrol region of Italy, the site of Act 1 of the musical. It also mentions three places where chess tournaments were previously held : Iceland ; the Philippines ; and Hastings, UK. Track listings 7 '' single `` One Night in Bangkok '' -- 3 : 54 `` Merano '' by The London Symphony Orchestra & The Ambrosian Singers -- 7 : 08 12 '' maxi `` One Night in Bangkok '' -- 5 : 38 `` Merano '' by The London Symphony Orchestra & The Ambrosian Singers -- 7 : 08 The song was also re-released on Murray Head 's album Watching Ourselves Go By in 1990. Personnel Keyboards and synthesizers : Benny Andersson Bass : Rutger Gunnarsson Lead guitar : Lasse Wellander Drums : Per Lindvall Flute : Björn J : son Lindh Backing vocals : Anders Glenmark and Karin Glenmark Arrangement : Benny Andersson and Anders Eljas Conductor : Anders Eljas Engineer : Michael B. Tretow Producer : Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice Charts and sales Weekly charts Chart ( 1984 -- 85 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( VRT Top 30 Flanders ) Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Europe ( Eurochart Hot 100 ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) 7 Italy ( FIMI ) 9 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Poland ( LP3 ) 7 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) Spain ( AFYVE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 12 US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Hot Black Singles 89 US Billboard Hot Dance / Disco 5 US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales 8 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 35 US Cash Box Year - end charts Chart ( 1985 ) Position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 15 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 13 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 12 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 17 France ( SNEP ) 25 Italy ( FIMI ) 42 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 33 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 29 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 8 US Billboard Hot 100 54 US Cash Box 42 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Platinum 100,000 France ( SNEP ) Silver 413,000 Germany ( BVMI ) Gold 250,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Chart successions Preceded by `` I Want to Know What Love Is '' by Foreigner Australian Kent Music Report number - one single 18 March 1985 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Shout '' by Tears for Fears Preceded by `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? by Band Aid Eurochart Hot 100 number - one single 9 February 1985 -- 2 March 1985 ( 4 weeks ) German number - one single 21 January 1985 -- 28 January 1985 ( 2 weeks ) Single Top 100 number - one single 19 January 1985 -- 26 January 1985 ( 2 weeks ) Swiss number - one single 20 January 1985 -- 17 February 1985 ( 5 weeks ) Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number - one single 26 January 1985 -- 9 February 1985 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Do What You Do '' by Jermaine Jackson Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number - one single 26 January 1985 -- 9 February 1985 ( 3 weeks ) Preceded by `` Everything She Wants '' by Wham ! Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary number - one single 15 June 1985 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Suddenly '' by Billy Ocean Preceded by `` The Wild Boys '' by Duran Duran South African number - one single 22 February 1985 -- 29 March 1985 ( 6 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Loverboy '' by Billy Ocean Robey version While Head 's `` Bangkok '' was just starting to climb the Billboard Hot 100, Canadian singer and actress Robey hit the charts with her own version. It spent three weeks on the Hot 100 in March 1985, peaking at no. 77. Robey 's version fared even better on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at no. 5. Charts Chart ( 1985 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 77 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 9 US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales 45 US Cash Box 75 Vinylshakerz version `` One Night in Bangkok '' Single by Vinylshakerz from the album Very Superior Released 14 March 2005 Format CD single Length 3 : 28 Label Kontor Songwriter ( s ) Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus ( composers ) Tim Rice Björn Ulvaeus ( lyricists ) Producer ( s ) Vinylshakerz Vinylshakerz singles chronology `` One Night in Bangkok '' ( 2005 ) `` Tekkno Trash ( Pay No Cash ) '' ( 2005 ) `` One Night in Bangkok '' ( 2005 ) `` Tekkno Trash ( Pay No Cash ) '' ( 2005 ) In 2005, German group Vinylshakerz remixed the song. It was released in March 2005 as the lead single from their debut album, Very Superior. It was a hit across Europe, charting in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Charts Chart ( 2005 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 41 Belgium ( Ultratip Flanders ) 8 Belgium ( Ultratip Wallonia ) 14 Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) 6 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 26 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 53 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 87 References Jump up ^ Manning, Kara. `` You Ca n't Always Get What You Want ''. Theatre Communications Group. Retrieved 24 June 2013. Actor Murray Head scored an unlikely New Wave hit in 1984 with `` One Night in Bangkok '' from Chess. Jump up ^ `` May 18, 1985 -- The Hot 100 ''. Billboard. 18 May 1985. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` This week in religion history : What the butler saw, then stole ''. National Post. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Australian Top 50 -- Week Ending 24th March, 1985 ''. Imgur.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Radio 2 Top 30 : 9 februari 1985 '' ( in Dutch ). Top 30. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Adult Contemporary : Issue 9285. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 0509. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` MusicSeek.info -- UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No. 1 Hits ''. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006... MusicSeek.info. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Murray Head Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- One Night in Bangkok ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` I singoli più venduti del 1985 '' ( in Italian ). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Murray Head - One Night in Bangkok '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK -- Murray Head '' ( in Polish ). LP3. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 -- 1989 Acts ( H ) ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 1 June 2013. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( in Spanish ) ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Murray Head -- Awards ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 108. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending MAY 11, 1985 ''. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012... Cash Box magazine. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( Illustrated ed. ). St. Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. p. 437. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Jahreshitparade 1985 '' ( in German ). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten 1985 '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` RPM 's Top 100 Singles of 1985 ''. RPM. Vol. 43 no. 16. Library and Archives Canada. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` TOP -- 1985 '' ( in French ). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 - Jaaroverzicht van 1985 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten -- Single 1985 '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985 ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985 '' ( in German ). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits for 1985 ''. The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` The CASH BOX Year - End Charts : 1985 ''. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012... Cash Box magazine. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok ''. Music Canada. Jump up ^ `` French single certifications -- Murray Head -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in French ). InfoDisc. Select MURRAY HEAD and click OK Jump up ^ `` Les Singles en Argent '' ( in French ). InfoDisc. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( Murray Head ; ' One Night in Bangkok ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1991 ). The Billboard Hot 100 Charts : The Eighties ( 1st ed. ). Menomonee, Wisconsin : Record Research Inc. p. March 16, 1985. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 079 - 2. ^ Jump up to : `` Robey -- Awards ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 1 October 2014. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending MARCH 16, 1985 ''. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012... Cash Box magazine. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Vinylshakerz -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Vinylshakerz -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratip. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Vinylshakerz -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in French ). Ultratip. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Vinylshakerz : One Night in Bangkok '' ( in Finnish ). Musiikkituottajat -- IFPI Finland. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Vinylshakerz Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Vinylshakerz -- One Night in Bangkok '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Vinylshakerz -- One Night in Bangkok ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2014. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=One_Night_in_Bangkok&oldid=828673607 '' Categories : 1984 songs 1984 singles 1985 singles 2005 singles European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles Kontor Records singles Murray Head songs Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in Germany Number - one singles in South Africa Number - one singles in Spain Number - one singles in Switzerland RCA Records singles RPM Adult Contemporary number - one singles Songs about cities Songs about Thailand Songs from Chess ( musical ) Songs with lyrics by Tim Rice Songs written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus Ultratop 50 Singles ( Flanders ) number - one singles Hidden categories : CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) CS1 Polish - language sources ( pl ) CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Use dmy dates from October 2013 Use British English from October 2013 Articles with hAudio microformats Audio sample to be checked All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014 Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Canadaadultcontemporary Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for France Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Flanders Tip Singlechart usages for Wallonia Tip Singlechart usages for Finland Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Slovenčina Edit links This page was last edited on 4 March 2018, at 01 : 30. 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Question: who sings one night in bangkok in chess
Answer: Murray Head (verses)