Chess and pop culture

Happy and I’m smilin’, walk a mile to drink your water
You know I’d love to love you and above you there’s no other
We’ll go walking out while others shout of war’s disaster
Oh, we won’t give in, let’s go living in the past

Once I used to join in, every boy and girl was my friend
Now there’s revolution but they don’t know what they’re fighting
Let us close our eyes, outside their lives go on much faster

Oh, we won’t give in, we’ll keep living in the past
Oh, we won’t give in, let’s go living in the past
Oh no, no, we won’t give in, let’s go living in the past

I assumed Allen was a Jethro Tull fan.

All these references to pop culture are going over the heads of those of us who never followed pop culture.

Bill Smythe

Well, I hope you at least followed the song “I’ve Seen All Good People” by YES. In the song, chess is used as a metaphor for relationships.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ve_Se … ood_People

I’ve Seen All Good People
Yes
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
Take a straight and stronger course
To the corner of your life
Make the white queen run so fast
She hasn’t got time to make you a wife
'Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Move me on to any black square
Use me anytime you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want (Move me on to any black square)
Don’t surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care (Don’t surround yourself)
'Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Don’t surround yourself with yourself)
Don’t surround yourself with yourself (Don’t surround yourself)
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me (Send an instant karma to me)
Initial it with loving care (Don’t surround yourself)
'Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance
'Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time
And it’s news is captured
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way

Yes, that’s a nice one.

Bill Smythe

I’m old enough to remember this. It was Yes’s response to, or contribution to, the Fischer-Spassky match hysteria. I didn’t realize it for a while – I kept hearing an interesting, nice, tune on the radio, not thinking too much of it until I realized it was supposed to be about chess. Of course, listening closely, I soon realized that the writer of the lyrics knew as much about chess as the guys who put the black square on the right corner in chess games in movies. This can be irritating, but at the time, I understood that millions of people who had never thought about chess before were suddenly coming in contact with it, and, what else can you expect? At least we got a good tune out of it.

Great posts. Can we create a Forum for them?

It’s called /dev/null.

This topic is a spin-off from Election: Vote For R&R in the US Chess Issues forum.