Added: 5 years ago
From: virgisa
Views: 64,286
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (111)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • Listening to this and the version with Anthony Head (Brother) and you think, how can all of them have such good voices.

  • This just might be the finest lyric written since Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, emotive and very cleverly structured.

  • Lyrics are just awesome, beautifully sung, just an awesome track!!!!

  • Comment removed

  • made me cry

    

  • Not to be confused with Pity The Fool.

    

  • I would LOVE to see his brother, Anthony Head, do this role. He did it in the revival, but apparently there's no footage or recordings that I can find. :(

  • if this had been a written for abba!! this had been the most great song of all the times of abba!!

  • @mariangoldenville totally, with all the respect to the women from ABBA, but Murray sang better those two put together.

  • Wicked is lame propoganda

  • chess is coming to Nottingham this year. I cant wait to see it

  • I am yet to see a Live Performance of this song that is actually GOOD!!! Ine of the most demanding songs to sing yet...... This is not live..... Too bad....

  • @Mikio75 Watch one of Adam Pascal's versions...there's a couple on here. He is AWESOME! Well......I think so :)

  • @NatalieMasterton agreed. EPIC

  • @NatalieMasterton I don´t agree, but I do respect your opinion, one of the fine things with the taste of things: It´s personal! =D And yes, Adam´s version is good to, but I´m sort of grown up on this version Swede as I am... ;0)

  • @NatalieMasterton

    Yeah, Pascal's feeling is unrivaled. :)

  • @Mikio75

    watch?v=MYyqeIx1bNY

    watch?v=6bY__xtl7yI

    watch?v=L0z4tnnXuHo

  • This song ALWAYS gives me the chills, the video is the icing on the already perfect cake :)

    Bjorn and Benny, in my mind, pure musical genius (that's not denying Tim Rice's achievements, but they are just this amazing combination not often seen, especially in today's 'music' scene, where it all sounds the same!)

  • It does not get more METAL than that!!!

    Just awesome!!!

  • I dunno, I really really like this version. I don't find him that bad of a singer..

  • Is there any live version of Head singing this? To me this version sounds totally engineered, par for the course in the 80s I would suspect ... however it's impossible to compare him with Pascal when Pascal's only versions of this song are live, and usually flawless.

  • This was the original version. It does sound very cold if you listen to it through YouTube thats true.

  • This synthesizer/echoing drum backing is truly awful.

  • I don't remember Lennon and McCartney writing songs like this. OK the lyrics for this song are written by Tim Rice but Bjorns lyrics have always been just as good. The Winner Takes It All for instance, must be the best break up song of all time. Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus are the best songwriters we will ever see. A unique combination. There is no arguement, they are the best.

  • He needs to hold out his notes longer. It sounds too choppy.

  • Hard to say, considering this is the original version. Maybe everyone else hold the notes too long?

  • It was suposed to sound like that in the original musical. It has to come over as hard and short.

  • Saw a student Adam perform 'pity the child' in a local school production - have listened to it performed by many more experienced performers, may sound biased (I am his mother) but he was as good as any of them - he went on to do many more productions and general gigs

    has travelled the world through the experiences he has gained through his local colledge arts/drama curriculum

  • The section in 10/4 is awesome.

  • This is a very tough song to sing unless you're a true first tenor. I performed in this show 15 years ago (I played Molokov) and being a baritone, there is no way that I could hit those high notes in this song so take it easy on Murray.

    I love this musical and we performed a hybrid between the London and American versions of the show.

    Z

  • Comment removed

  • I like Adam better.

  • I gotta admit, Murray's probably my favorite. Adam Pascal's pretty good, and I was also impressed with Colm Wilkinson's performance on "Stage Heroes" (his CD)

  • Isn't he just a little bit - monotonous? And his "pity" sounds like it has two t's. Well, whatever. It's such an amazing song.

  • Very cool! I never saw this before. Murray Head does the definitive version of this song. Thanks for sharing!

  • I'm sorry, but Murray Head sounds slightly off-pitch through the song... I don't know whether it's me, the old video quality, or whether he really is off-pitch...

    I don't have anything against him, but I think Adam Pascal and Anders Ekborg sound a bit more on-key in their performances.

  • I love Murray Head. I love him as the American, and in fact I have his recording of Pity the Child, and it sounds much better than this; I think it must be the pitch of it. I'm not sure.

    I think Adam Pascal is fantastic. I hadn't heard of him until Chess in Concert; I was ready to hate him because I love the original cast. But he was fantastic.

  • I also have the original Chess LP, so I guess we're two head-scratchers on the pitch of "Pity the Child".

    Yeah, I really liked Adam Pascal. I liked him already through RENT, but he gained a lot more respect to me for his version of this song.

    Maybe another thing would be the vocal strength of the two singers... If you're not strong enough, then the more demanding notes might sound off...

  • @Felicity1247 Murry Head is never off pitch - even live. This recording is from the original cast recording of "Chess" done by the writers of Abba. Their recoding production is also perfect. Possibly there is something wrong with your sound. I've literally grown up with this man and decided to go into Musical Theater from hearing him sing Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar when I wore that album out too. I find his voice to be exceptional, even in this recording.

  • @SingerAR I have the original LP of Chess, and the needle on my record player and my speakers cost ridiculous (but well-spent) amounts, so I highly doubt there are sound issues. It is just probably a matter of tastes between us and nothing more. If you decided to go into musical theatre because you were inspired by him, then good for you. Let's just agree to disagree, shall we?

  • i love zubin varla's rendition of this song

  • I´ve also been in love with Chess since it came in the 80´s. Luckily Björn and Benny from Sweden also made a swedish version that is better. The story is much the same and the songs. We have our best singers in the musical - look up Anders Ekborg, Tommy Körberg and Helene Sjöholm here on youtube on Chess.

    Look at video:

    Chess Pa Svenska - Pity the Child - English subs test

  • This song always make me cry.

    I have never seen CHESS, but I found the soundtrack at a yard sale back in the 80's when I was a teen and became obsessed with it and I still dream of seeing it one day. Thank God for YouTube or I would never have seen these great CHESS videos.

  • is murray head any relation to anthony head [the headmaster mr finch in doctor who school reunion ]

  • They're brothers. Anthony Head's daughter is an actress too now.

  • Fun fact: Anthony Head is famous for more than that, being a well-respected performer in his own right. For example, he actually took over the role of Freddie in CHESS during its London run, a while after Murray left the production.

  • this song makes me feel sorry for the american because until this song he doesnt seem at all likeable [well i like his songs are likeable but hes a very selfish character this song makes you pity him]

  • With the finest guitar solo playout in all of musical theatre history.

  • Agree, guitar palyed by Lasse Wellander orginal Abba guitarist

  • I agree too, and I think this is a good example of how CHESS works spectacularly as a record -- it's hard to pull that solo off during a live production.

  • I love this song. Thank you so much for posting it! I wonder if Murray Head is still a hottie like his brother, Anthony.

  • He always was pretty cute ;o) Loved him so much !!!!

  • My abolut favorit song form the musical Chess, there is so much nerve in his voice. I actually saw Chess in London back in februar 1987, were on vacation with my parents, but they would rather see Les Miserable. But nothing could stop at 15 years old danish girl who was totally in love with the music, and knew the lyrics forward and backwards..............

  • indeed. it's an alltime favorite. didn't have a chance to see it in london, but years later in germany on tour.

    thanks björn, thanks benny.

  • Saw it 15 times in London!!! This, too, is my favourite song from Chess and the best version ever of this song !!! Love the video, too!!!

  • God. There are not words to describe this musical or this song.

    This song is IMMENSELY difficult to sing.

  • For musical theater, in terms of difficulty, you're right: It's probably within the top ten hardest male solos. The notes are all over the place, the speed gets faster and slower, and it is relatively long. I sing it in the shower sometime, and even when I do a bad job, even when I do a half-ass job, it's still tough!

  • At 5:24 is the best cello part in the whole of the musical!!! you can't hear it that well on the recording:(

  • It's so sad...

    "Pity the child,

    who has ambitions...

    Knows what he wants to do -

    knows, he will never fit the system..."

    One of my favorite parts...

  • I was fortunate enough to see him do this in the West End show... and at the very end of the song, he curls up in a fetal position on his hotel bed.

    ...and I thought I was gonna die (in a good way)! Awesome.

  • Powerfully, and emotionally sung by Murray Head. The best version of this song ever! 10 stars!

  • To dndnerdboy, the Autotune or other pitch-

    correction tools were'nt invented in 1983!

    So, before 1997 all singers had to sing in

    tune doing records! Almost all artists today

    uses pitch-correction tools.

    PS! I am a sound engineer.

  • A truly great song, one of my all-time favorites! Please check out my video of Kurt Bowen's performance of PTC...powerful and overwhelming!

  • The man playing guitar is Mr. Lasse Welander - one of the best guitar players in Sweden has ever produced.

  • Yes, that was Tim Rice. I'd love to know who the musicians were on this session, the guitarist hauls ass. Cheers Mr. Ulvaeus and Mr. Andersson.

  • the man who talk on first, is tim rice?

  • They should have made a movie of Chess.

    It really shows the brilliance of Benny & Bjorn.

    Anyone know if Christina(?) has been translated to english yet?

  • Yeah I think they should make Chess a movie too!!

  • Are you joking? Seriously...

  • You just know that that elongated, porcelain chess piece is obviously a phallic image, right? I mean, in the context of the song; "...how he became the complex individual he is today?" "I was probably queer?"

    ...Not that there's anything wrong with that...

  • uhm no, silly.. But you might wanna go talk to someone about your obvious doubts in your own sexuality.

    He is clearly singing about his fathers thoughts/words:

    ~2:06

    "I didnt miss him - He made it perfectly clear - I was a fool and probably queer"

    His fathers enters the room and throws the kids chessboard to the floor in anger.

    CLEARLY this is not about being gay or not.

    lol

  • the "masterpiece" of benny and bjorn

  • This is an incredibly powerful song.

  • What is this song about? Is it about, Trumpers life?

  • Great!!!

  • It reminds me of Alanis Morrisette's The Couch Song.

  • My father sang this song along with many others at the Mpls performance of this musical, I grew to love the entire soundtrack.

  • This video makes me actually like this song.

  • I wish I ad seen this live. Was too poor as a boy then though. Still, have heard the album many times and loved it... O how I loved the 80's.. carefree, glasses were rose tinted, sigh, nostalgia....

  • I sang this on an audition once...not so easy as it might sound...lot's of small tone-adjustments and tempo-changes...

    Hope the musical soon reaches Norway again:-(

  • Beautiful.

  • Oh, I´m so glad that I found this. I´ve listened to the soundtrack over and over again and wanted to see the people who were behind the amazing voices. I would so want to see the whole musical that was in London. Too bad I missed it by being born a year after... I guess they didn´t tape it either? The Swedish lyrics to all songs sucks btw. Anyway, thanks for posting this. :D

  • so beautiful even in swedish lyrics...fantastic

  • I was fortunate to see the first preview in London. Then went back home to NYC to watch the political scene change. Suddenly the cold war was ending and the musical seemed dated in one short year.

    So we went to see the brilliantly sharp Chess of London become a gray washout on Broadway. It didn't help that Frank Rich had panned the London production. He was wrong.

    The whole show could be remounted as a period piece now. Get Chess back on the boards!!!

  • For a kid with a crappy childhood, his parents had a pretty good house. at least three stories...

  • This WAS one of the best musicals EVER. It can only have been politcal in New York .Or maybe something like the first performance of La Traviata at the Fenice in Venice which was a disaster.All I can say is that The New Yorkers did not know what they missed!In a way it would be like "Wicked" lasting 4 performances!!

  • @iduefoscari To be fair to New Yorkers, Trevor Nunn DESTROYED Chess when it was moved to NY. THAT is why it failed in the states.

  • @iduefoscari I think the reason it didn't do well in NYC is because they butchered the plot to pieces. The music and story of the original version are unforgettable! Truly awesome.

  • I also was lucky enough to see Chess in London in the summer of 1986. Heard someone rave about the London production after it opened. Happened to be in Europe that summer and went to see it. One of the best musicals I'd ever seen. I'm a native New Yorker, and I was afraid to see it later on Broadway, especially after I read that they'd rewritten the show. Didn't want to spoil my superb memories of Elaine Page, Korberg and Murray Head, not to mention the Svetlana (can't remember her name).

  • Well, that's why you pity the child.

  • There were indeed five videos. I saw the Broadway version, and while there were some good aspects to it and it was a treat to finally WATCH the show rather than listen to the songs, it was sorely wanting in many respects. Would have loved to see the London version.

  • I was lucky to have seen the show in London in '87 before they DESTROYED it. :(

  • I love this video. Someone took off with my Chess Moves videotape years ago, and this was the one I missed the most!

  • Someday, Tim Rice will be recognized as one of the great writers of the 20th century, and perhaps beyond. Whether over the music of Sir Andrew, Sir Elton or Benny and Bjorn, his lyrics are always intelligent, thought-provoking and incrdibly well-crafted; and the emotional depth of Murray Head's performances have always served those lyrics well. Curiously, I always thought it would be interesting to hear Peter Gabriel cover this particular piece, my favorite from Chess.

  • interesting note: that amazing guitar solo at the end is David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame. Makes sense when you consider how much Murray sounds like Roger Waters on this track. Great song, I've been waiting YEARS to see this video, thanks for posting it!

  • Having the records! I can inform you that it's

    Lasse (Lars) Wellander that plays that guitar.

    All the "pop" musicians are former ABBA-musicians...

    The symphonic orchestra is London Symphony Orchestra.

  • I love 80s videos. Everything's so literal. This is a wonderful vid from the best song of the nearly best musical ever.

  • tell that to the people in New York City, i heard CHESS closed after 4 performances.......

  • It closed after a total of 85 performances on Broadway, including the previews. The Broadway version sucked. The London version, as is usually the case, wiped the floor with it.

  • Ooooh

  • THE best song from a musical ever!

  • mahvelous dahlink!!! just found the 2 disc cd import of this wonderful original version, not broadway...had no idea this existed....thhanks oodles, toodles....

  • I thort there was only 2 Chess music vids:

    I Know Him So Well

    &

    One Night In Bangkok,

    thnx 4 dis, neva seen this B4

  • wonderful! one of my favorite soundtracks. I love Murray head on this.

  • Great to see the video. Do you know if Anthem was filmed as well? That would be fantastic to see!

  • hi my friend, the only Chess videos that was recorded was One Night In Bangkok, Nobody Side, The Arbiter, I know him so well and Pity The Child. About Anthem I only had seen one sung by Tommy Körberg in English in Good Morning America and in swedish at SVT special and of course in Chees På Cirkus

Loading...
Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more