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Chess: Cold War Politics on a Black and White Board
Manage episode 479519745 series 3464591
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What happens when ABBA's songwriters team up with Tim Rice to create a musical about Cold War chess champions? A fascinating collision of politics, strategy, and forbidden love that's been captivating audiences since 1984.
Our latest episode explores Chess, the rock musical that gave us chart-topping hits like "I Know Him So Well" and "One Night in Bangkok." We unpack the show's complex development history, from its concept album beginnings to its West End success and Broadway struggles. Discover how the storyline draws from real-life chess champions Bobby Fischer, Viktor Korchnoi, and Anatoly Karpov, transforming their Cold War rivalry into a dramatic love triangle that plays out against international tensions.
Why does Chess rank seventh in the BBC's poll of essential musicals despite never achieving the long-term theatrical success of other shows? We dive into the show's remarkable music - exploring how Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus blended their signature ABBA sound with rock elements to create a score that often works better in concert format than full productions. From the stirring patriotism of "Anthem" to the raw emotion of "Pity the Child," we celebrate what makes these songs enduring classics in the musical theatre canon.
Whether you're a chess enthusiast, an ABBA fan, or simply love powerful musical storytelling, this episode offers fresh insights into a show that continues to fascinate audiences worldwide. With a potential Broadway revival on the horizon, Chess might finally be positioned to achieve the checkmate it deserves in musical theatre history. Listen now and discover why this musical remains such a compelling meditation on how, in both chess and politics, every move has consequences.
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Chapters
1. Welcome to Musical Lyrical Lingo (00:00:00)
2. Theatre News and Updates (00:06:35)
3. Introducing Chess: The Musical (00:15:55)
4. Origins and Tim Rice's Vision (00:22:10)
5. The Real Chess Players Behind the Story (00:32:23)
6. [Ad] Stories Of Survival (00:39:06)
7. (Cont.) The Real Chess Players Behind the Story (00:39:51)
8. Memorable Songs and Musical Structure (00:44:24)
9. Favorite Musical Moments and Performances (00:52:49)
10. What Would Paddy Do? (00:59:41)
100 episodes
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