Pity The Child

[@driftwoodms14ms]

A true blast from the past. Mr. Head had me in tears when I first heard him sing this great song. Chess to this day is one of my favorite Broadway Musicals. But it also sadly remains the most under-rated Broadway Musical.

[@marlonbo]

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).

[@IELTSpassExamPrep]

Blast from the past! With funky looking blazers and before dental treatment became mainstream. I had the pleasure of watching the original musical in London late 1980s and it blew me away as it continues to move me profoundly. Amazing song!!

[@jsbach15]

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

[@jasman71]

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!)

[@sparkler1000]

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!!!

[@BigTabby33]

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

[@LFabricius]

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..............

[@downy63]

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

[@jvd897]

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.

[@Coolestsixkids]

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

[@jvd897]

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.

[@sEIGu]

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.

[@neckapb]

R.I.P. Lasse Wellander who provided the amazing guitar work on this - especially the breathtaking final guitar solo - as well as on the whole album.

[@speedrunnerpeter]

It does not get more METAL than that!!! Just awesome!!!

[@batmandannyb]

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!

[@grahamcoo]

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.

[@MonstroLoaf]

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

[@brissyfag]

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?

[@Zespara]

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

[@autopilotflight]

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....

[@Chipmaker]

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.

[@dreamichristini]

@LFabricius ~ I have always adored Tim Rice in collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and I wasn't sure how CHESS would turn out without Webber... however, Ulvaeus & Anderssen with Tim Rice ROCKED that musical! Additionally, Murray Head is STILL the only person who has sung "Pity the Child" with as much soul-stirring, powerful emotion. I have yet to hear any performer in these 28 years ((holy crap!!)) who can compare to his voice--in later versions of CHESS.

[@Reeal15]

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)

[@iduefoscari]

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!!

[@nathalieheart]

so beautiful even in swedish lyrics...fantastic

[@mariangoldenville]

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

[@JMFowlkes]

It sooo 80s I love it lol

[@HugeEaglesFan92]

I'm having a wee giggle at the very English singing accent coming from "The American" at the start of the song :P

[@JellyKate1]

Murray Head is awesome doing this!

[@sparkler1000]

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

[@gibbspaulus]

Ooooh

[@Kristina30p]

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

[@andysbg77]

AWESOME!!!!!!

[@grindoftheday]

The section in 10/4 is awesome.

[@MWK1303]

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

[@KtangMC]

made me cry

[@CrazyCellist92]

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

[@bunky060171]

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.

[@InspectorKaramazov]

How does this have four dislikes? This version is amazing.

[@wefond]

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!!!

[@glgree1]

Phil Casnoff will always be my favorite. I know everyone has their own opinions and it truly is a matter of taste.

[@alexalexides8947]

+glgree1 He killed it live on this, IIRC!

[@Ander01SE]

@NatalieMasterton Yeah, Pascal's feeling is unrivaled. :)

[@tonissive]

the "masterpiece" of benny and bjorn

[@snurten]

Agree, guitar palyed by Lasse Wellander orginal Abba guitarist

[@mithramusic5909]

@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.

[@adamgray83]

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

[@MWK1303]

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

[@gadreel23]

@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.

[@NatalieMasterton]

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

[@tonissive]

the man who talk on first, is tim rice?

[@pittymendoza8203]

hola

[@neilbradley]

Not to be confused with Pity The Fool.

[@babymordred121]

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...

[@tedsler]

In other words, singers had to be able to sing to do their job properly. Not just have the 'right look'...

[@TopdollarStudio]

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