One Night in Bangkok

"One Night in Bangkok"
Single by Murray Head
from the album Chess
B-side"Merano"
ReleasedOctober 1984
Genre
Length
  • 3:56 (promo 45 version)
  • 4:06 (single version)
  • 5:00 (album version)
  • 5:38 (12" version)
LabelRCA Victor
Composers
Lyricists
Producers
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
  • Tim Rice
Murray Head singles chronology
"Maman"
(1982)		 "One Night in Bangkok"
(1984)		 "When You're in Love"
(1984)
Music video
"One Night in Bangkok" on YouTube

"One Night in Bangkok" is a song from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson, and Björn Ulvaeus. English actor and singer Murray Head raps the verses, while the chorus is sung by Anders Glenmark, a Swedish singer, songwriter, and producer.

The release topped the charts in many countries, including South Africa, the Netherlands, West Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Australia. It peaked at No. 3 in both Canada and the United States in May 1985 and at No. 12 in the United Kingdom.

Lyrics and music

Whereas the choruses extol Bangkok's reputation and exciting atmosphere, the American's verses ridicule the city, describing its attractions—the red-light districts, 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, stating its lyrics "cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism".

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "One Night in Bangkok" – 3:54
  2. "Merano" by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Ambrosian Singers – 7:08

12-inch maxi

  1. "One Night in Bangkok" – 5:38
  2. "Merano" by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Ambrosian Singers – 7:08

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP) Silver 250,000*
Germany (BVMI) Gold 500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) Gold 15,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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 version. It spent three weeks on the Hot 100 in March 1985, peaking at No. 77. Robey's version fared better on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at No. 9.

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

C21 version

"One Night In Bangkok"
Single by C21
from the album C21
ReleasedOctober 2003
Recorded2002
GenrePop
Length3:18
LabelMedley / EMI
Composers
Lyricists
C21 singles chronology
"She Cries"
(2003)		 "One Night In Bangkok"
(2003)		 "All That I Want"
(2004)
Alternate cover
Cover artwork for the Danish release

The Danish boy band C21 released their version in October 2003 as the fourth and final single from their debut album C21.

It reached No. 11 in Denmark. and spent four weeks on the chart.

Release

The single was released in multiple editions, with the European release issued by EMI featuring different cover artwork from the Danish edition released by Parlophone Music Denmark.

Tracklisting

No.TitleLength
1."One Night In Bangkok" (Main Radio Version)3:18
2."One Night In Bangkok" (Bangkok Radio Version)3:17
3."One Night In Bangkok" (Acoustic Version)2:03
4."One Night In Bangkok" (Peter Millward Remix)5:23

Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)11

Vinylshakerz version

"One Night in Bangkok"
Single by Vinylshakerz
from the album Very Superior
Released2005
Length3:28 (radio edit)
5:20 (extended version)
LabelKontor
Songwriters
(lyricists)
Producers
  • Mike Griesheimer
  • Thomas Detert
Vinylshakerz singles chronology
"One Night in Bangkok"
(2005)		 "Tekkno Trash (Pay No Cash)"
(2005)
Audio
"One Night in Bangkok" on YouTube

In 2005, the German group Vinylshakerz covered the song. It was released in 2005 as the lead single from their debut studio album Very Superior, reaching number 6 in Finland and charting in several other European countries.

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)41
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)8
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)14
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)6
Germany (GfK)26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)53
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)87

See also

References

  1. ↑ Manning, Kara. "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Theatre Communications Group. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Hunt, Dennis (12 May 1985). "HEAD MASTERS THE RAP IN 'BANGKOK'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 August 2022. The reason for the confusion is that "Bangkok" is a rap song, with Head reciting the lyrics to the accompaniment of a sizzling dance track.
  3. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (28 June 2019). "The Lullaby of Broadway Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Breihan, Tom (31 January 2022). "The Number Ones: Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson's "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 August 2024. The Chess album featured "One Night in Bangkok", a synthpop track that was quasi-rapped by the stage actor Murray Head...
  5. ↑ "May 18, 1985 – The Hot 100". Billboard. 18 May 1985. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "This week in religion history: What the butler saw, then stole". National Post. Toronto. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. 1 2 3 "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Australian Top 50 – Week Ending 24th March, 1985". Retrieved 3 February 2016 – via Imgur.
  9. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 16. 20 April 1985. p. 65.
  11. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 42, Issue 5 (1985-04-13)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Adult Contemporary. Volume 42, Issue 14 (1985-06-15)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 4. 28 January 1985. p. 2. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 27 May 2022 – via World Radio History.
  14. ↑ "UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits". MusicSeek.info. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006.
  15. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-9-5112-1053-5.
  16. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "One Night in Bangkok | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok". VG-lista. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (H)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  23. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  24. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok – hitparade.ch". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 15/12/1984 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Murray Head – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  28. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 108.
  29. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MAY 11, 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
  30. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  31. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  32. ↑ 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.
  33. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1985" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  34. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  35. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. Library and Archives Canada. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "TOP – 1985". Top-france.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  38. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  39. ↑ "End of Year Top 50 Singles 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  40. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  41. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  42. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1985". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  43. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
  44. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  45. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok". Music Canada.
  46. ↑ "French single certifications – Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok" (in French). InfoDisc. Select MURRAY HEAD and click OK. 
  47. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Murray Head; 'One Night in Bangkok')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  48. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok". Radioscope. Retrieved 6 February 2026. Type One Night in Bangkok in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  49. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1991). The Billboard Hot 100 Charts: The Eighties (1st ed.). Menomonee, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 16 March 1985. ISBN 0-89820-079-2.
  50. 1 2 3 4 "Robey – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  51. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 16, 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
  52. 1 2 "C21 – One Night in Bangkok". Tracklisten. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  53. ↑ "C21 – One Night In Bangkok". Discogs. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  54. 1 2 3 "Vinylshakerz – One Night in Bangkok" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  55. ↑ "Vinylshakerz – One Night in Bangkok" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  56. ↑ "Vinylshakerz – One Night in Bangkok" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  57. ↑ "Vinylshakerz: One Night in Bangkok" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  58. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  59. ↑ "Vinylshakerz – One Night in Bangkok" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  60. ↑ "Vinylshakerz – One Night in Bangkok – hitparade.ch". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2014.