Songs About Chess

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4th August 2008, 09:02am
#1
by ParadiseDestroyed
San Diego United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 31

Weezer has a song called "Chess" and its the only song that I know of that is about chess and they use it as a metaphor for relationships. You can check out the lyrics here: http://www.lyrics007.com/Weezer%20Lyrics/Chess%20Lyrics.html

The Weezer song is pretty good too. I like it.

Are there any other bands that have written songs using chess as the main subject of thier lyrics?

4th August 2008, 09:08am
#2
by Dreadnought
Illinois United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 37

There's the musical Chess, which is very good.  The plot centers around Cold War politics, so some of it may seem dated.

4th August 2008, 09:14am
#3
by oginschile
Salt Lake City, UT United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1053

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmoEHnUpjk&feature=related

One night in Bangkok from the musical Chess.

4th August 2008, 11:04am
#4
by onosson
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 727
4th August 2008, 11:29am
#5
by erik
Mountain View, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 10172

i think john mayer has a song where he talks about playing chess with salt and pepper shakers? ah, found it. "I played a quick game of chess with the salt and pepper shakers" :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic0FCyZUo1E

4th August 2008, 11:53am
#6
by Billium248
Detroit Rock City (GMT-4), MI United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 9384

What does the Abba video have to do with chess?

4th August 2008, 01:34pm
#7
by oginschile
Salt Lake City, UT United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1053

Who cares, it's Abba baby!

WOOHOO

4th August 2008, 01:54pm
#8
by onosson
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 727

She is the dancing QUEEN!

1st October 2008, 11:00pm
#9
by Cratercat
Santa Clara United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 52

I'm not crazy about rap music, but this song's got a groove and gives chess the hip aura it deserves...(also dig the Kasparov lecture samples floating in the background Cool)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPEf-DFKHRQ&feature=related

1st October 2008, 11:25pm
#10
by FascistPiglet
North Land O', MI United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 10

Various GZA songs have chess references in them.

2nd October 2008, 11:09pm
#11
by NM tonydal
United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 4801

Your Move--Yes

White Rabbit--Jefferson Airplane (mentions a chessboard)

22nd June 2009, 08:13pm
#12
by vlade12
pa United States
Member Since: Feb 2009
Member Points: 1

One Night in Bangkok is a chess song, look up the lyrics ... plus it's awesome.

22nd June 2009, 08:26pm
#13
by brianb42
Dayton, OH United States
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 79

"Only a Pawn in Their Game" by Bob Dylan.  That's more of a chess metaphor than actually about chess.  http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/only-pawn-their-game  BTW, I loved One Night in Bangkok when they performed it in Chess, the Musical on PBS.

28th November 2009, 08:51am
#14
by WuGambinoKillaBee
Sydney Australia
Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 148

haha i was about to write a post on the topic when i came across this one.

the GZA has a whole album dedicated to chess called Grandmasters with song titles such as, Smothered Mate, Destruction of a Gaurd, Unprotected Pieces etc.

also, i like the opening line of Red Hot Chilli Pepper's Fortune Faded

28th November 2009, 09:06am
#15
by RainbowRising
United Kingdom
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 3060

Black Sabbath - War Pigs

'treating people just like pawns in chess'

28th November 2009, 09:33am
#16
by danbunting
London United Kingdom
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 51

Half Man, Half Biscuit (I've been plugging them a bit!) have one:

http://www.chrisrand.com/hmhb/csi-ambleside/bad-losers-on-yahoo-chess/

 

Think they have some references in other songs too

28th November 2009, 09:43am
#17
by justin_3483
Canada
Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 6

HA... Judging from the song titles, most of that GZA album is chess related... interesting.

28th November 2009, 09:17pm
#18
by NM tonydal
United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 4801

Two mentions from Elton John/Bernie Taupin:

"he was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day..."

--Levon

"just a pawn outplayed by a dominating queen..."

--Someone Saved My Life Tonight

28th November 2009, 09:22pm
#19
by goldendog
beertopia United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 2387

"THE BALLAD OF BOBBY FISCHER

By DAVID L. AMKRAUT, USCF Expert

"THE BALLAD OF BOBBY FISCHER," (record) sung by Joe Glazer and the Fianchettoed Bishops. Available from Collector Records, Suite 209, 8422 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

In addition to everything else, Bobby is now being idolized in song.

Sung in twangy, country-music style by Joe Glazer and the Fianchettoed Bishops, the seven-minute "Ballad of Bobby Fischer" relates Bobby's career from the beginning ("He opened his mouth on the day he was born... and said move that pawn") through his school days ("Sittin' in the classroom he barely could think, 'cause chess was his food, chess was his drink") on through the Interzonal and the Candidates Matches ("Despite his attempts to innovate Larsen was bent right out of shape") and concludes with Bobby Fischer Champion of the World and a disgraced Boris Spassky being hustled off to Siberia."

I have on hand a British chess mag from the time that has all the lyrics.

28th November 2009, 09:29pm
#20
by GoldenBearBW
Berkeley United States
Member Since: Jun 2009
Member Points: 6
 

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