CHESS Opening Ceremony

Song from the musical CHESS

35 Comments

  1. Love it! The Arbiter is the man! ^.^

  2. He definitely knows the score.

  3. I havent heard this for so long , I used to listen to it all the time when it came out . Listening now the way it starts is kind of Flash dance esq.

  4. wudnt ya know bjorn ulvaeus wrote this i sounds exaxtly like abba!

  5. Awesome! I hope they make a Chess movie someday soon!

  6. I realy hope they make a mowie but any chanse the original
    singer's probebly not.
    The coald war a big paret off my life.
    I donth miss that but maybee donth understand the compromiss
    something fore the new generation????

  7. @nanotechcre8or It's the ARBITER + US vs USSR

  8. @Pauldasafetyfirstguy its a Musical

  9. Whenever you have Kings and Queens on bouncing breasts, it's pure win!

  10. I miss my school's production of Chess…great music, so much fun!!!!!!!

  11. @fourplusseven Hi!

    The orchestrations were by Anders Eljas and guitar was by ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander. It's a great show and have been lucky enough to take part in a production of the show this year. I played Leonid Viigand which was really good fun and it was great to be able to sing such challenging music

    Kind Regards
    Chris

  12. This rocks! One of the best musicals ever! I hope someone makes Chess into a movie musical soon!

  13. Best song in the CHESS soundtrack by far, but do love the whole score. Hoping to do some behind the scenes help in a production of this in Abergavenny next April – couldn't perform in it due to commitments in another amdram company, but would love to see how it's staged.

  14. at 5:28 you can notice this has been recorded from a cassette :/

  15. What do you mean? I can't hear any dropouts

  16. Everybody tapped in the 80s

  17. Doing CHESS in April 2014 with Newport Operatic Society!! Think this'll be my audition song!!

  18. If they make a movie, I want them to use this version.  I keep hearing about modernizations and giving the American and Russian names and it just.  Completely misses the point, you know?

  19. I've seen this in about 1985…

  20. It's the US vs USSR

  21. 07:20 Wine is fine but Whiskey's quicker…..?

  22. …" it really doesn't matter who comes out on top, who gets the chop…… BUT we're gonna smash that bastard!." wow i just noticed.

  23. I don t like women, I don t take dope 😀

  24. The Arbiter is so intense. 😂 I love it.
    ~:~

  25. The intro in The Arbiter is the best part imo

  26. I'd forgotten how great this was…so glad I found the original album here. Takes me straight back to college days. Thanks for posting!

  27. It just came to Russia, it took long time for the system, the society, and finally for the theatre. The musical is great and actual as never before.

  28. ughhh what a great track, arbiter followed by the russian intro??? literally godly i love this musical 🙁

  29. 3:34 i remember listening to this track with my family and we all stomped on tune lmao

  30. We’re doing Chess as our marching band show this year

  31. I just realised this version is different from the single. Bass line is way more groovy here IMO.

  32. [THE ARBITER]
    I've a duty as the referee
    At the start of the match
    On behalf of all our sponsors
    I must welcome you
    Which I do — there's a catch

    I don't care if you're a champion
    No one messes with me
    I am ruthless in upholding
    What I know is right
    Black or white — as you'll see

    I'm on the case
    Can't be fooled
    Any objection
    Is overruled
    Yes I'm the arbiter and I know best

    [COMPANY]
    He's impartial, don't push him, he's unimpressed

    [THE ARBITER]
    You got your tricks, good for you
    But there's no gambit I don't see through
    Oh I'm the arbiter, I know the score

    [COMPANY]
    From square one he'll be watching all 64

    [THE ARBITER]
    If you're thinking of the kind of thing
    That we've seen in the past
    Chanting gurus, walkie-talkies
    Walkouts, hypnotists
    Tempers, fists, not so fast
    This is not the start of World War Three
    No political ploys
    I think both your constitutions are terrific so
    Now you know, be good boys

    I'm on the case
    Can't be fooled
    Any objection
    Is overruled
    Yes I'm the arbiter and I know best

    [COMPANY]
    He's impartial, don't push him, he's unimpressed

    [THE ARBITER]
    You got your tricks
    Good for you
    But there's no gambit I don't see through
    Oh I'm the arbiter, I know the score

    [COMPANY]
    From square one he'll be watching all 64

    [THE ARBITER]
    Yes I'm the arbiter, I know the score

    [Chorus]
    From square one he's watching all 64

    [DIPLOMATS 1]
    No one can deny that these are difficult times
    No one can deny that these are difficult times
    No one can deny that these are difficult times

    [DIPLOMATS 2]
    It's the U.S. versus U.S.S.R
    Yet we more or less are —

    [DIPLOMATS 1]
    No one can deny that these are difficult times

    [DIPLOMATS 2]
    — to our credit putting all that aside
    We have swallowed our pride

    [DIPLOMATS 1]
    These are very difficult and dangerous times

    [MOLOKOV (& DIPLOMATS)]
    It really doesn't matter who comes out on top
    (Who gets the chop)
    No one's way of life is threatened by a flop

    [DIPLOMATS]
    But we're gonna smash their bastard
    Make him wanna change his name
    Take him to the cleaners and devastate him
    Wipe him out, humiliate him
    We don't want the whole world saying
    They can't even win a game
    We have never reckoned
    On coming second
    There's no use in losing

    [DIPLOMATS 2]
    It's the U.S. versus U.S.S.R
    Yet we more or less are —

    [DIPLOMATS 1]
    No one can deny that these are difficult times

    [DIPLOMATS 2]
    — to our credit putting all that aside
    We have swallowed our pride

    [DIPLOMATS 1]
    These are very difficult and dangerous times

    [MOLOKOV (& DIPLOMATS)]
    The value of events like this need not be stressed
    (When East and West)
    Can meet as comrades, ease the tension over drinks
    Through sporting links
    (As long as their man sinks)

    [MERCHANDISERS]
    Whether you are pro or anti
    Or could not care less
    We are here to tell you
    We are here to sell you chess
    Not a chance of you escaping from our wiles
    We've locked the doors, we've blocked the aisles
    We've a franchise worth exploiting
    And we will, yes we will!
    When it comes to merchandising
    We could kill
    When you get up
    When you get up in the morning
    Till you crash at night
    You will have to live your life
    With bishop, rook and knight
    Clean your teeth with chequered toothpaste
    Wear our vests
    Our kings and queens on bouncing breasts
    You could even buy a set
    And learn to play
    We don't mind, we'll sell you something
    Anyway

    [Instrumental break]

    We've done all our market research
    And our findings show
    That this game of chess could be around
    A month or so
    Maybe it's a bit confusing
    For a game
    But Rubik's Cubes were much the same
    In the end the whole world bought one
    All were gone
    By which time we merchandisers
    Had moved on
    By which time we had moved on

    [THE ARBITER]
    I'm on the case, can't be fooled
    Any objection is overruled
    Don't try to tempt me, you've no hope
    I don't like women, I don't take dope
    I'm the arbiter, I know the score

    [COMPANY]
    From square one he'll be watching all 64

    [THE ARBITER]
    You got your tricks — good for you
    But there is no gambit I don't see through
    I'm the arbiter and I know best

    [COMPANY]
    He's impartial, don't push him, he's unimpressed

    [THE ARBITER]
    I'm the arbiter, my word is law

    [COMPANY]
    From square one he'll be watching you

    [EVERYONE]
    Don't you find it rather touching to behold
    The game that came in from the cold
    Seen for what it is, religion plus finesse
    Countries, classes
    Creeds, as one in love of chess

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