Shah maht

(I never thought a year ago when I started that there's be even more reason to fall back on memories--and music--than what was prompting me then.)

I love musicals unabashedly. By which I mean I am fully aware that possibly 90% of what is out there is crap, and of the remaining 10%, maybe only a handful are good. Which makes it pretty much like any other genre of music--which is really what it is. Oh, sure you can go on about the story and the plot but really, that's just incidental to the music and the songs (and not, despite your protestations, the other way around.)

There's a lot I can say about my history with musicals--which ones I like, which ones I love, which ones I prefer to pretend don't exist--and, believe me, I will, over time. It just so happens that PBS just showed the 2008 Royal Albert Hall concert version of Chess, so it makes sense to start off with that.

I'm not going to give you an big overview of the musical and its backstory. In fact, I am not going to give you one at all--you're capable of bringing up a browser on your own and searching for it (which is something I tell my four year old in all seriousness, so no, I'm not even giving you a link). I will, however tell you three things

1- The music and lyrics are quintessential 80s. That they are quintessentially excellent 80s (no, that is not an oxymoron) is what makes this musical memorable.

2- I am not so blinded by my love of Adam Pascal to suggest his is a superior Freddie to Murray Head*. I think you should experience both the original concept album and the RAH concert version to get sense of what each one brings to the role. (By the way--sorry, Idina--no one can touch Elaine Paige)

3- The music for this show is strong enough to even withstand Josh Groban taking it on and still shine through. If that isn't endorsement enough, I don't know what is.

*I do, unfortunately, ever since Buffy the Vampire Slayer's musical episode, have this little nagging voice of Tony Head saying, "I've got a theory" whenever I listen to Murray Head singing the first song below...

***

One Night In Bangkok - Murray Head (Chess - Original Concept Album)
This is, of course, the video and song everyone knows from the musical...without (for most) actually knowing it is from a musical.



I was delighted to find the videos for three of the other lesser known songs. Really, any of them, especially the first two, could have and should have had the same success ONiB did.

Opening Ceremony - Bjorn Skifs (Chess - Original Concept Album)



Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige (Chess - Original Concept Album)
A little Bonnie Tyleresque, perhaps, but I think that's more due to the video than any actual similarity in styles.



Pity The Child - Murray Head (Chess - Original Concept Album)