Songs About Chess

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Avatar of ParadiseDestroyed

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?

Avatar of Dreadnought

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

Avatar of oginschile

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

One night in Bangkok from the musical Chess.

Avatar of onosson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctzIEjjOfd4

Avatar of erik

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

Avatar of Billium248

What does the Abba video have to do with chess?

Avatar of oginschile

Who cares, it's Abba baby!

WOOHOO

Avatar of onosson

She is the dancing QUEEN!

Avatar of Cratercat

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

Avatar of vlade12

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

Avatar of brianb42

"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.

Avatar of WuGambinoKillaBee

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

Avatar of danbunting

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

Avatar of justin_3483

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

Avatar of goldendog

"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.

Avatar of GoldenBearBW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I've_Seen_All_Good_People

Avatar of InsertSobriquetHere

The Arcade Fire song, "Deep Blue," mentions the 1996 match in which IBM's Deep Blue was defeated by Kasparov. Also, it's an awesome song.

Avatar of whatem

Are we forgetting "Like a g6" by Far east movement

That song is always in my head as black begins to fianchetto :P

Avatar of Conquistador

Bob Segar taught me how the knight moves.

Avatar of hukes

But Suzanne Vega actually has a song named Kinght Moves.

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

Watch while the queen
In one false move
Turns herself into a pawn