i find it hilarious that One Night In Bangkok became a popular song in the 80s but not the musical it was from and originally written for. like the song was originally written for a musical and references things in the musical multiple times. like imagine Burn or My Shot or something from Hamilton become super popular but not the musical. like the musical actively Flops on broadway but some of the songs tops the charts
One Night in Bangkok was written for a musical about chess and they specifically mention the game multiple times, Let’s See
1. “The creme de la creme of the chess world”
2. and 3 “Time flies doesn't seem a minute/Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it/Play at this level there's no ordinary venue/It's Iceland or the Philippines or Hastings or/Or this place!” ” That line specifically references things that happened earlier in the show and places where chess championships have been held! in the first act the chess championship happened in Merano Italy, which is apart of the Tyrol region and the city has many spas. Time passes and the next championship is in bangkok thailand funny enough while in real life there has been a chess world championship that happened in merano italy, there hasnt been one in bangkok or even thailand
then for places, Iceland: 1972 Chess world championship in Reykjavik, Hastings: an annual chess tournament takes place in the city, Philippines: 1975 Manila (sorta, one guy refused to play so no games where actually played) and 1978 Baguio chess world championships
4. “One town's very like another/When your head's down over your pieces, brother”
5. “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”
6. “Siam's gonna be the witness/To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness”
7. “And thank God I'm only watching the game controlling it” The character singing isnt apart of the championship, he’s apart of the media coverage and has his own agenda
8. “But the queens we use would not excite you”
