Anthem from Chess The Musical (Tommy Körberg) Polar Studios original 1984 Benny

[@ABBAtalk]

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[@trufflehunter7149]

To see the smile on Benny's face when Tommy hits the end is fucking amazing. Thats a happy musician folk.

[@eddiewinehosen6665]

And to see a legend in his own right smile like that means you fucking nailed it!

[@jensbladt5498]

The final note is 4 bars...

[@louiseju]

The smile of a genius hearing his music performed to perfection ❤

[@TheSoderstrom77]

​@@jensbladt5498tommy never take a lesson in singing 😊😊.

[@norachristina4643]

Benny's class........so is tommy

[@darindotson2874]

Amazing. His voice is so resonant that on the last note, he begins to form an overtone, or harmonic, exactly one octave up. It is so powerful, moves me every time.

[@gdansk12349]

Sorry, that’s not in his voice.

[@kennykarlsson9888]

Amazing singer. And he still delivers to this day at the age of 71. World class singer.

[@AmandaJYoungs]

Sadly, not for me. I agree, this version is great, truly great and definitive, too. However, the most recent versions I've heard of this song show he has gotten into some very bad habits vocally, which might be partly because he's having to use little tricks to get around his voice not being as reliably strong and powerful as it used to be. So I would respectfully disagree with you on the point of him still delivering to this day - but here, surely nobody could top this?

[@markuschampos5750]

@@AmandaJYoungs He have aged, not been broke to pieces. As the most natural thing in the world his voice have grown lower, he can't sing this in it's former key. This is not "lerning bad habits" or I've been learning bad habits of not seeing as great as I did as young. Tommy Körberg still kicks ass well over his 70' and if you don't understand this journey life is and what it does to all of us, it's your loss.

[@LizaFan]

@@AmandaJYoungs Ah, interesting. I strongly prefer the maturer voice. I find the warbly vibrato on his younger version a bit off-putting. Feels oddly airy to me, also, whereas the maturer feels 'grounded.' Hard to explain. The 2006 on YT is probably my favorite.

[@jenslempke7501]

And still 2024, at 75.

[@quietmeow2936]

How Beautifully Sung! One of my most favorite songs from the Musical, Chess!

[@karenjackson6090]

Tommy is the original and best Anatoly ever. Many sing it passably but Tommy is the master; performance unsurpassed.

[@LogoMan7777]

Except by Josh Groban.

[@karenjackson6090]

@@LogoMan7777 Sorry, not even close .

[@josephoyewole6902]

@@karenjackson6090 groban is light years ahead

[@mikaelweiss9243]

@@josephoyewole6902 He has a horrible voice.

[@xtrnisse]

​@@josephoyewole6902I'm sorry, but you misspelled "behind".

[@looqischmidt5581]

I am crying and goosebumps all over! I know the voice from decades ago and he still sings like a champ!!❤❤❤

[@active_whipp]

The original cast and recording of Chess was a masterpiece, and one of the most beautiful displays of human expression ever. I wish that could be recreated. Tommy Körberg was (and is) an absolute genius! Through the process of making this beautiful musical there was so much that was going on in the world, and Chess was the purest form of portraying that, as well as "escaping" from the world. They did this in a way that, by telling the story of the world, they escaped from the world. Truly the best musical of all time, made by people who were able to move beyond mortal limits and create a true masterpiece.

[@MJRTunes]

INCREDIBLE! I have watched this non-stop. His vocals are like a well-tuned instrument. He uses every aspect of his mouth to sing the best notes possible. He actually uses his freakin' teeth to shape some of the notes (1:46, 2:30) when he deems necessary - Just astounding. I've been listening to the Broadway Cast version since I was a wee lad. And this...well...It just doesn't get better.

[@lekid5332]

It’s amazing that these guys steered the biggest pop act in the world from 1976-1980 and then started to write musicals with this kind of level…

[@josep226]

Best score ever! I must have listened to it a 1000 times over the years.

[@njdenney69]

I couldn't agree more. Utterly brilliant.

[@rogermoon1698]

josep226 Yes, addicted to listening to it! Fantastic singer and production!

[@kyleday5026]

did you know benny anderson was originally going to score the lion king movie with tim rice but dropped out because of another musical that would of been amazing.

[@darrenphillips9266]

josep226 great version 👍

[@andreavo6546]

kyle day, are you speaking about Mamma Mia? It is amazing withtaking!

[@mr7354]

no one comes close to singing this song like this guy.... amazing!

[@morilot]

Anthem was written specifically for Körbergs voice. Körberg is a great singer but not the best, but for anyone else to preform this at this level is very hard because of that.

[@robertplattner1636]

With the exception of Anthony Warlow, who doesn’t surpass, but certainly comes close.

[@QenaitheCustodianGuard]

​@@morilot no one said he was the best singer, the person above just said no one came close to singing this specific song like Tommy.

[@morilot]

@@QenaitheCustodianGuard Yes, and I gave the reason why that is.

[@CeRz]

​@@morilotand still no one comes close because they lack the skill, talent and hard work :)

[@alexcarlsen4996]

Masterpiece for eternity!! No man, no madness Though their sad power may prevail Can possess, conquer, my country's heart They rise to fail She is eternal Long before nations' lines were drawn When no flags flew, when no armies stood My land was born And you ask me why I love her Through wars, death, and despair She is the constant, we, who don't care And you wonder will I leave her But how? I cross over borders but I'm still there now How can I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart My land's only borders lie around my heart

[@Michael-Bennett]

Benny's smile at the end says it all!

[@amycrunch3812]

A friend asked Håkan Hagegård if he knew of any singers who never needed singing lessons. 'Two', he replied. 'Frank Sinatra and Tommy Körberg.'

[@JoeHarkinsHimself]

actually, Sinatra did have singing lessons and even went on to publish a booklet of singing lessons written by his voice teacher. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJjJnnupgdmYlaM). I have no information about Tommy's voice training or lack of t, but he does sing with flawless technique, especially in breath control. That makes for a mystery. The subtleties involved are just not natural.

[@JoeHarkinsHimself]

@@daw7563 based on what he said about the lessons, he seems to think so.

[@EterPuralis]

Meh, whenever there's a rumor about someone being an amazing singer without singing lessons, it either turns out to be a lie, or they end up losing their voice after a few years, and then it's wither ruined forever, or.. they get singing lessons.

[@JoeHarkinsHimself]

@@EterPuralis I just listened again to Tommy. If there is any doubt that his awesome talent has been perfected through deliberate technique, listen and watch how he shapes - and then changes the shape - of the final note for the last word "heart." Follow from 02:45 and notice how he changes at 02:48/49. That is technique at its most artistic perfection.

[@Teaniinja]

Marcelito Pomoy didnt have pro lessons and learned everything through imitation. It can be done if ur ear I'd good enough and u watch pros closely.

[@njdenney69]

Just UTTERLY brilliant. The best song EVER from the best musical EVER. Chess is simply timeless and Benny and Bjorn are utter legends. I recently saw the remake of Chess which certainly gave an interesting modern twist on this classic musical but the original from 1984 will simply NEVER be surpassed.

[@kyleday5026]

hi what did u like so much about that musical and benny was originally going to score the lion king movie with tim rice.

[@darrenphillips9266]

Nick Denney yes I agree best song ever !!! Love it

[@kyleday5026]

@@darrenphillips9266 they also did a musical kristene

[@darrenphillips9266]

kyle day liked everything about the show and i never knew that about Benny.

[@darrenphillips9266]

Kristine ? Never heard of that ? Going to google it now 👍

[@Sunway74]

As a Swede this makes me sooo proud! Tommy Körberg is freckin' amazing and his voice is divine! Sweden loves you :)

[@ursulabean3179]

Gorgeous song, beautifully sung, from a super musical, brought to life, quite a while ago. Chess needs a revival…..it was one great show….

[@looqischmidt5581]

Omg!! The score and Tommys singing is epic!! These swedish people are so gifted.❤

[@annabackman3028]

Björn and Benny wrote this part with Tommy in mind. One of the absolutely best singers. All times, with very little help from voice education, if any in the 80s.

[@davidsweeney111]

Excellent, powerful, brilliant; Benny's smile at the end says it all :) thank you for sharing, Merry Christmas!

[@zapfanzapfan]

Där satt den :-)

[@darrenphillips9266]

David fab 👍

[@justcutiecats2733]

I like every single expression he made. No one can beat him. He's the best.

[@sunnysim3583]

Coming from a musical theatre family background, I truly love and appreciate this music. Saw Chess in the West End during the 80's, and this still is, and always will be one of the most beautiful, powerful songs:)

[@FanofSmartCar]

I have loved this song since the musical debuted, I never saw this video before and this song means so much to me for so many reasons. I wish Tommy knew how much his version means to me. I am in tears right now. if you read this Tommy - thanks from a guy in Pennsylvania. You have taken me through some rough times over the years with this song. God bless you!

[@jotskiaren]

He is a national treasure man, we will keep him warm trust me!

[@PrinsPrygel]

In hopes this message finds you well. You and me both. I keep coming back to this every now and then.

[@milsluker]

Makes me cry.

[@FanofSmartCar]

@@milsluker It makes me cry every time! The man is a genius!

[@sigilork785]

It always makes me cry always has and always will - from the first time i heared it til now heart wrenching and beautiful

[@adriennefuller4984]

one day this musical will get the acclaim it deserves

[@johnwilson6111]

Such a magnificent voice! I had the great pleasure of seeing Tommy perform in the Chess musical in London in 1987.

[@MagnusAnand]

Great singer. I must confess that just today I learned about him.

[@Sauromannen]

Look up when he sings together with Celine Dion.

[@masun0000]

It does not get any more better than this..

[@rogermoon1698]

This gets better every time I listen to it.Since this first recording no one has sung it as good . Beautiful!!

[@hakanniemi8369]

Tommy Körberg "still going strong"!

[@heatherwhitworth9765]

The first time I heard this song ( which is only recently ) It reduced me to a quivering wreck .The voice ,the music. PERFECTION. it's like your inside the song as he sings it. ♥️🖤🧡🧡💚

[@frankly-he1kf]

Yes, this is like an anthem for the world.....timeless. ...have you heard "dimash "singing s.o.s. ..it will make the hairs stand.....

[@marilynwoolford-chandler1161]

@Niclas Eriksson thanks for this information. A huge privilege to be admitted into this recording studio.

[@msumague]

I am in love with this song! Tommy’s voice is unique and embodies hope. The way he says “apart” is so gut wrenching and powerful!! Gives me the chills listening to his voice. ❤❤❤

[@leandrobayonito]

Goosebumps. It brings chills to my body when I listen to music and his song. I felt like my hair is rising to the end.

[@izbavitelj1464]

Those rare moments of pure genius.

[@Skumberg74]

Nice to see Tim Rice and Michael B Tretow too. Very rare clip!

[@jenniferbreaux1327]

GOOSEBUMPS!!!

[@happyhawaii0711]

This really moved me to tears. This is the best version of all i have ever heard.

[@annabackman3028]

It was basically written for Tommy. Björn and Benny are long time friends with Tommy. Sweden is a small country, and they have been around for a while, since the 60s.

[@Justicia007]

Tears only 2 min in

[@thomasschatton3481]

Fantastic! Phenomenal! Outstanding! I am a trained singer myself (baritone), but I bow my head in respect for such almost perfect quality!

[@ЕленаШварц-ж5ю]

До слез... 😢Томми неповторим. Мюзикл великолепный 🔥👏💓

[@FranceBernardof0609]

Fantastic song, a fantastic singer, I can't have enough of it and my regret is that it is too short... Thank you very much for keeping ABB's memory alive

[@KAF128]

The original and best. Thank you for this (or, "the music", as someone once sang)

[@monikadear3594]

I LOVE this song - and his voice - and the orchestration - so much! I always cry - after all these decades, it still touches me so deeply - and I never saw this video to this day! Thank you! What an epic song and what a fantastic musical at a whole! (... but we go on pretending stories like ours have happy endings....)

[@rogermoon1698]

I have listened to quite a few renditions of this song and this is my favourite. It is for me a beautifully composed, produced and performed. All one fabric. Many thanks to you all. X

[@magnustjerneld2594]

It is the original after all. Hard to beat when the original is a timeless masterpiece.

[@ccf9908]

Benny And Bjorn had originally wrote this song all the way back in 1975. They had not figured out a way to include this sort of song on a pop record so it was sitting around for about nearly a decade, popping up in late ABBA demos recordings in the early 80s titled "Nationalsang", and even a portion of the song can be heard in the guitar solo of "Our Last Summer". It goes to show how the duo had a fondness for the tune. Which brings us to this video. You could see in the end the joy in Benny to finally see this amazing song work after all this time!

[@CeRz]

great piece of trivia!

[@jonaselfstrand4327]

I come back to this masterpiece at least 7-10 times a year on youtube and listen to it spotify too.. Tommy is the orginal and best singer in my perspective😊

[@petterbruun-larsen3447]

This song is pure perfection and mastership from both Bjørn and Benny and Tommy. A world class anthem that still brings me to tears. Thank you gentlemen for giving us this ❤️

[@AaronRichardsMusic]

This has got to be one of my favorite performances of all time, how am I only just discovering this

[@racheljcutler]

Amazing voice. This is so beautiful.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Well, if that's not perfection I don't know what is :-)

[@amycrunch3812]

No worries, it is. 😃

[@malawigw]

there are quite a few mistakes tbh

[@walterwhite4862]

@@malawigw where

[@claytonpascoe480]

One of the best singers of all times.

[@AlexandraWindsor-t9l]

this ladies and gentlemen is Breath control!

[@strat4ordgirl]

Amazingly astoundingly wonderfully beautiful. Moves me to tears. I adore it. ❤️

[@BobBrewster]

Fantastic! This song always gave me chills ... even more so now! Please post more from Chess if you have them!

[@khart1825]

One of my all-time favorite songs. So thrilled to get to perform it before an audience later this month.

[@cyrene7784]

😲😲

[@melissag1859]

What a beautiful voice

[@terrylewis_]

I love this man's voice. I listen nearly daily.

[@-NiEr]

Then I can recommend (here on YT): _Chess (The Original Recording / Remastered / Deluxe Edition)_ - Tommy and Elaine singing with synchronized vibrato on _You and I_ for example...

[@terrylewis_]

@@-NiEr Yes!! I love listening to this whole album!! I love the "in Concert" versions as well. So phenomenally done, and I love Elaine's Florence.

[@-NiEr]

@@terrylewis_ _Chess 1989 Skellefteå Sweden Concert_ is very nice here on YT. With Judy Kuhn doing a great job as Florence. (If you haven't seen that video?)

[@terrylewis_]

@@-NiEr Yess!!! I love seeing the backing singer step up to sing when Barbara Dickson doesn't make it for "Endgame". I first saw Chess in Concert with Josh Groban, Adam Pascal and Idina Menzel. I do love Adam Pascal, and Josh Groban's "Anthem" is beautiful, but nothing touches Tommy's performance for me. I love Adam's vocals as well, and his choices of emotion and inflection. I didn't love Idina, I think Kerry Ellis was phenomenal and would've rather heard her as Florence frankly. Sorry I could talk about Chess and musicals in general forever!! Hahaha

[@-NiEr]

@@terrylewis_ Me being swedish, I saw the swedish version "Chess På Cirkus 2003"... Sadly I visited London a year to early (1985), so I missed that version.

[@garywoolton1875]

Doesn't Benny's smile at the end just melt the heart.

[@DancerOfClouds]

Possibly the best sang song ever. This song is timeless to us all.

[@FFL3001]

Tommy Körberg is such an amazing singer that I even have to listen to all his crappy songs. He is the Midas of music. Kinda like John Travolta in acting.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Amazing quality. They certainly got it in that take!!!

[@SveinungMhle]

I've always loved his voice. The best.

[@thomashellstrom4151]

Tommy the king. Top 3 of all time if u ask me.

[@yorkalbanys9599]

Perfectly sung, I have never heard anyone sing better!

[@scottbabus7088]

Still the best version of this amazing ballad.

[@rasmuslernevall6938]

I saw Tommy Körberg sing this live at Chess in Concert. (It was only the songs, not the whole musical) If I cried?! Of course i did, I was a wreck. 😥😢😭

[@LilacSnowBun]

Wow, you’re lucky! 🥰

[@awesomemom533]

Absolutely gorgeous- no words

[@darrenphillips9266]

Awesome Mom fab 👍

[@fairlyvague82]

Oh God, that ‘But how?’ destroys me every single time 🫠😭

[@WALES1154]

My favourite song from a musical.

[@lie188]

an extraordinary performance... one of a handful of songs that, in the correct mood... can bring me to tears 🎉🤝🎉

[@Heyjay454]

Wow!!!So amazingly powerful and how fantastic it must’ve been to be the first one to sing this!

[@rubythesheep2]

We sing this at choir and honestly singing it last night (after a while) was rather emotional. 💙💛😢

[@CeRz]

No man, no madness Though their sad power may prevail Can posses, conquer my country's heart They rise to fail She is eternal Long before nation's lines were drawn When no flags flew, when no armies stood My land was born And you ask me why I love her Through war, death and despair She is the constant We who don't care And you wonder, will I leave her - but how? I cross the borders but I'm still there now How can I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart My land's only borders lie around my heart

[@cyrene7784]

I LOVE the smile at the end: *Nailed It!* 💖

[@tmfromdenmark9158]

Benny and Bjørn from ABBA ARE SO TALENTED They WROTE ALL THE songs TO CHESS❤️🙏😄

[@ewajohansson8398]

...and also to " Kristina från Duvemåla"❤❤❤

[@collie3350]

The best version of "Anthem", sung by Tommy Körberg.

[@olepilgaard26]

Listened to chess all of my childhood. This song was always my favorite. It still is. Körberg sings this song to perfection.

[@pw5803]

Absolut perfekt och världsklass av Tommy Körberg. Absolute perfection and worldclass performance of Tommy Körberg.

[@andreavo6546]

josep226, I feel exactly like you. Goosebumps all over every time I listen to it!!!!

[@ericmathiasson8572]

Tretow at 2:43 almost brings tears to my eyes

[@alfredd.5576]

He did appear moved, even considering the wonderful recordings he'd engineered over his career.

[@CeRz]

does tretow mean Powerful, Dedicator, Noble? It was quite difficult to find the meaning of that word.

[@heatherwhitworth9765]

Pure pure perfection .

[@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131]

The secret of Körbergs amazing performance is, in my humble opinion, that he BECOMES the russian in his mind, while performing "The Anthem"...

[@JimmyOlsson]

Music history in the making! Goosebumps!

[@arnijs]

Shivers down my spine. And tears, lots of tears streaming down my cheeks.

[@PernillaLindberg-o8i]

No man, no madness Though their sad power may prevail, Can posses, conquer my country's heart They rise to fail. She is eternal Long before nation's lines were drawn. When no flags flew, when no armies stood, My land was born. And you ask me why I love her Through wars, death and despair. She is the constant, We who don't care. And you wonder, will I leave her - but how? I cross over borders but I'm still there now How can I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart. My land's only borders lie around my heart.

[@marksharmanmusic1]

Such a stunning tune and delivered brilliantly by one amazing voice and performance. Off to see Chess in .auckland tomorrow night. Excited :)

[@David31567]

How can I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart My land's only borders lie around my heart

[@audiocancer]

With those final lyrics, his voice, the composition, everything: the best piece of music ever written

[@bw5879]

This is so beautiful. I could listen to his voice for hours😍

[@alejandromorales9516]

OMG PEFECTION! So gorgeous!

[@JoeyKneecap]

One of the all time greats within the musical genre. Right up there with Colm Wilkinson.

[@tomkent4656]

And Anthony Warlow.

[@JoeyKneecap]

@Frenchie Loaf Boi Agreed!

[@jaimhaas5170]

Only a handful of people will ever experience the joy of watching all pieces fall into place.

[@loritazachbauer1063]

Best voice ever❤️

[@jaimhaas5170]

Massive production...love the quality put into this.

[@gabin682000]

I don't know why critics bagged this musical. clearly they have no idea what musicals are all about. do yourself a favor and buy the sound track, its brilliant. If you have a home theater system, play it on that. you will love it, or a good set of headphones will do the trick as well, and listen to the story.

[@adriennefuller4984]

the look on the faces of sir Tim and Bjorn it's like they're thinking I think we have found our russian.

[@johanlarsson4249]

This is so beautiful i'm speechless

[@jgarganoiii]

My voice teacher at WCC was Barry Mccauley and I played this for him. He said, Tommy was afraid of the G key.

[@ericthulin7318]

Yes, Tommy has one of the best voices, (maybe in comparison with the swedish tenor Jussi Björling. Perhaps he works a bit like Freddie Mercury, using both the inner and outer vocal cords. Admired Tommy since his early days in the 1960-s, such as ”Tom-Mick and the Maniacs.

[@frankpasano2070]

Beautiful man, awesome voice!

[@bh5606]

Gorgeous voice and rendition.

[@kajsablomberg]

This is actually the original version! :)

[@tekkhero9767]

Tommy Körberg just has a perfect voice for this song. And his many nuances of voice expresses the feeling perfectly. His voice is somewhat rough but yet silky smooth. The combination is what makes it so interesting to and breathtaking to listen to. The arrangements of course are exquisit!! You can be sure he didnt record his vocals wearing those tiny headphones in the video. The video must have been recorded separately for a photo shoot only. Good times. Top quality all around

[@tekkhero9767]

@Nick Emerson that might be the case, but recording with them would not be ideal because of the amount of leakage into the microphone. i would bet money that the actual recording headphones would have been "over ear" style of head phones that minimize leakage. knowing how technical and quality minded bjorn and benny are i would think their engineers are the same. but who knows what really happened :)

[@tekkhero9767]

@Nick Emerson well im a sound engineer too and i would beg to differ about the leakage. But maybe they did use them i dont know. I wouldnt have