Loved this song when I was a kid and had no idea it was part of a musical...that a song from a musical made it onto the pop charts must have been a rarity.
The only things that come to mind are like "You're the one that I want" from Grease and the Disney songs like "Can you feel the love Tonight" and the like
There’s been a bunch of hit pop songs from Broadway shows: “Superstar” and “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from “Jesus Christ Superstar” we’re both mainstream hits. Also “Memory” (Cats), “Maybe” (Annie), “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (Promises Promises), “Send in the Clowns” (A Little Night Music) and “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” (Hair).
Well, that used to be the case for musicals in the golden age. In fact many of the pop hits during that time came from musicals and were covered by numerous artists.
pop charts and musical theater have gone hand in hand for ages! Til There Was You, a song from The Music Man, was very popular in the 50s and was covered by The Beatles! and Michael Jackson's cover of Morning Glow from Pippin is the only version anyone ever remembers.
Listening to Casnoff singing this and watching him as Elkanah Bent in North and South gives me an appreciation for this phenomenally underrated actor/singer. I can almost picture Bent singing this.
You can really hear the Disco, House Music and early rap references they originally built into the original. Very much a snapshot on New York radio of the era.
Listening to this version as I type it, I normally do not like other versions of songs but this is an exception, It is not a bad version, I like the Murray Head version better but only because I heard It first, can not believe Bjorn from abba was involved in this Album.
@@joshuavandyne7334 True fans know that this version is mediocre! They literally ruined the original West End show when it came to the US by changing the plot and writing new weak lyrics for songs that didn’t need any modification! No wonder it flopped on Broadway...
@Nerpha As far as I can tell, it was original for the Broadway production and used in the Sydney production, but the latter production didn't have an official recording.
I have a question that I'm hoping someone who saw this version of chess can answer. I'm not really a big fan of this version plot wise but one thing that intrigued me was the song Walter and Molokov had "lets work together". Its not on the soundtrack ,so I;m just wondering does anyone know what it sounded like. Did it use a previous tune from the show or original music?
My high school did this version and it had the tune to One Night In Bangkok, but acoustic and a little more imposing. I'm so sad it never got an official studio recording.
In all fairness, I think he’s supposed to be kind of drunk off his ass and the studio recordings don’t always give a look into what the songs are really like live. Maybe they recorded late and he was tired, which could explain the robotic feel (he sounds fine the rest of the recording)-but also, if you look at the lyrics, they are actually sarcastic and bitter...so maybe the robotic feeling here was to highlight that?
The London on the other hand, Freddie is sarcastically singing the song, that's why Murray's version got a little attack. I also noticed that the Broadway version was fairly accurate, since Freddie was sort of drunk. On the London and Concept album Freddie was supposed to be sarcastic and angry.
@emanuelepolloni4002 that's correct. The original version is 1984 with Murray Head and Elaine Paige. This was 88 with Philip Cassnoff and Judy Khun (famous for being Pocahontas' singing voice in the cartoon)
How can people say this is better than Murray's version? Murray's is way much better, even tho I don't like to compare too much but this one just...kinda lacks of emotion
Loved this song when I was a kid and had no idea it was part of a musical...that a song from a musical made it onto the pop charts must have been a rarity.
The only things that come to mind are like "You're the one that I want" from Grease and the Disney songs like "Can you feel the love Tonight" and the like
Age of Aquarius from Hair did it
There’s been a bunch of hit pop songs from Broadway shows: “Superstar” and “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from “Jesus Christ Superstar” we’re both mainstream hits. Also “Memory” (Cats), “Maybe” (Annie), “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (Promises Promises), “Send in the Clowns” (A Little Night Music) and “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” (Hair).
Well, that used to be the case for musicals in the golden age. In fact many of the pop hits during that time came from musicals and were covered by numerous artists.
pop charts and musical theater have gone hand in hand for ages! Til There Was You, a song from The Music Man, was very popular in the 50s and was covered by The Beatles! and Michael Jackson's cover of Morning Glow from Pippin is the only version anyone ever remembers.
Listening to Casnoff singing this and watching him as Elkanah Bent in North and South gives me an appreciation for this phenomenally underrated actor/singer. I can almost picture Bent singing this.
You can really hear the Disco, House Music and early rap references they originally built into the original. Very much a snapshot on New York radio of the era.
Philip Casnoff is undoubtedly one of the bright spots of the Broadway version.
Hell the entire cast could be argued as this.
philip casnoff has such an amazing voice .... ♥
By far my favourite version of this song
just brillant! i luv this song so much! we r doing this show with my theatre group! luv it! :)
Listening to this version as I type it, I normally do not like other versions of songs but this is an exception, It is not a bad version, I like the Murray Head version better but only because I heard It first, can not believe Bjorn from abba was involved in this Album.
This was the only version of the show I ever knew as a kid and I can't handle of the any other stuff.
YES! the other versions are blasphemous
@@joshuavandyne7334 True fans know that this version is mediocre! They literally ruined the original West End show when it came to the US by changing the plot and writing new weak lyrics for songs that didn’t need any modification! No wonder it flopped on Broadway...
Great music. Love it.
Can't beat Murray Head from the original album and London production.
Agree 💯% with that!👌🏼
@Nerpha As far as I can tell, it was original for the Broadway production and used in the Sydney production, but the latter production didn't have an official recording.
Just brilliant ;-)
Love it!
I really don't know all of the technical details. This brings wonderful memories of playing the album, and singing out loud with great friends.
Nick Metzger was such a player in this song. He was so best.
nice
No way to compare with Murray. Totally different.
Now I understand why that music video is so strange.
I have a question that I'm hoping someone who saw this version of chess can answer. I'm not really a big fan of this version plot wise but one thing that intrigued me was the song Walter and Molokov had "lets work together". Its not on the soundtrack ,so I;m just wondering does anyone know what it sounded like. Did it use a previous tune from the show or original music?
paul watt 5 years and still nobody :(
I know what it sounds like. We did the American Version in High School. Back in 1998! If I ever go home, I'll dig out the tape.
My high school did this version and it had the tune to One Night In Bangkok, but acoustic and a little more imposing. I'm so sad it never got an official studio recording.
I seriously prefer Adam Pascal. He has energy. This sounds kinda sorta robotic. Chorus sounds kinda sloppy and unblended too
In all fairness, I think he’s supposed to be kind of drunk off his ass and the studio recordings don’t always give a look into what the songs are really like live. Maybe they recorded late and he was tired, which could explain the robotic feel (he sounds fine the rest of the recording)-but also, if you look at the lyrics, they are actually sarcastic and bitter...so maybe the robotic feeling here was to highlight that?
The London on the other hand, Freddie is sarcastically singing the song, that's why Murray's version got a little attack.
I also noticed that the Broadway version was fairly accurate, since Freddie was sort of drunk. On the London and Concept album Freddie was supposed to be sarcastic and angry.
idk if it's just because I'm so used to the London and 2009 Concert versions but the vibes are wrong here
Isn't this version a little bit more faster than the original?
Wasn't this the original? Much better tempo here.
@@toniisaacson6282 I thought that the concept album was released first and then the musical was made
@emanuelepolloni4002 that's correct. The original version is 1984 with Murray Head and Elaine Paige. This was 88 with Philip Cassnoff and Judy Khun (famous for being Pocahontas' singing voice in the cartoon)
Gotta say that the london version wins here. This feels comparatively sloppy.
I prefer the Gothenburg Concert version with Anders Glenmark. This isn't half-bad, though.
oh my god this version is so different
This version is much better than the Murray Head performance; sounds more natural, less exaggerated.
no
Amen brother
London version with Murray Head is way better!
Oh no. I’ll look for Murray’s version instead.
Are Freddie and the ensemble quite drunk during this number? Sounds like it, due to his slurring of the lyrics and the sloppiness during it.
Murray Head's version still better.
Much, much better than the Murray Head version.
what isnt?
Murray Head's version of One Night in Bangkok was way better.
no
Agreed.
agreed.
jesus.... lol
While I like Adam Pascal's version better, this one isn't so bad.
How can people say this is better than Murray's version?
Murray's is way much better, even tho I don't like to compare too much but this one just...kinda lacks of emotion
I am here because of Murray Head
Ugh, give me Adam. This sounds so stuffy.
Give me Murray Head.
Yeah... The American is supposed to be a rock star, which Murray Head sounded like. This dude... not so much.
Is he drunk? He sounds like it!
This is awful. Give me the original Murray Head version.
This is so flat and disappointing compared to the Murray Head version
The orchestrations for this soundrack sucks