Queen of Chinatown
Encyclopedia
"Queen of Chinatown" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear
released in 1977 by Ariola Records
.
(the track replaced "La Bagarre" on that edition). It was the sixth and the last single off I Am a Photograph. The song was written by Amanda Lear herself (lyrics) and Anthony Monn
(music), her long-time producer. It's an uptempo euro disco
composition with characteristic orient
al elements. The B-side of the single was another I Am a Photograph song, "Alphabet
", which had also had a separate A-side single release in the Netherlands
. The exceptions was Japan
, with "The Lady in Black" as the B-side.
"Queen of Chinatown" became one of Amanda's biggest hits and one of her most memorable songs. The track reached number 2 in Germany and remains her highest-charting single in that country to date. In Italy the song stayed on the number 2 position for four consecutive weeks in February 1978, being kept off the top spot by Matia Bazar
's singles "Solo tu" and "...E dirsi ciao".
The song was recorded again in 1998 for the Back in Your Arms
album. Minor label Mag Music released that re-recording as a promotional only vinyl single. In 2006 German musician DJenetix remix
ed the track and the new version was released as a single. In 2008 Amanda recorded an updated dance version of the song for Amour Toujours, a re-release of her 2006 With Love
album. Hungarian DJ Sterbinszky
produced a remix of "Queen of Chinatown", using a sample
from the original recording. Music video was also shot.
for "Queen of Chinatown" for German TV show Musikladen
. It presents the singer performing the title song in front of the camera with two backup dancer
s. Lear wears an oriental dress and holds a hand fan. In 1983 another video was produced, for Amanda's Italian television special
Ma chi è Amanda?.
Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
released in 1977 by Ariola Records
Ariola Records
Ariola Records is a German record label. As of the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of BMG which in turn has since become a part of the international media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment...
.
Song information
"Queen of Chinatown" was released as a single in late 1977, promoting the second pressing of Lear's debut album I Am a PhotographI Am a Photograph
I Am A Photograph is the debut album by French singer Amanda Lear, released in April 1977 by West German label Ariola Records. It contains the European hit singles "La Bagarre" , "Blood and Honey" , "Tomorrow", "Alphabet" and "Blue Tango." Later editions of the album also feature the single "Queen...
(the track replaced "La Bagarre" on that edition). It was the sixth and the last single off I Am a Photograph. The song was written by Amanda Lear herself (lyrics) and Anthony Monn
Anthony Monn
Anthony Monn a.k.a. Tony Monn is a German singer, composer, and record producer.Monn started his career as a singer in the German schlager genre in the early 1970s...
(music), her long-time producer. It's an uptempo euro disco
Euro disco
Euro disco is an all encompassing colloquial term used to describe a variety of European electronic dance music that first originated from disco in the 1970s; incorporating elements of pop, New Wave and rock into disco-like continuous dance atmosphere...
composition with characteristic orient
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
al elements. The B-side of the single was another I Am a Photograph song, "Alphabet
Alphabet (song)
"Alphabet" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 1977 by Ariola Records.-Song information:The song's full title, that appears in I Am a Photograph track listing, is "Alphabet ". It is also known as "My Alphabet" as under such title it appeared on "Queen of Chinatown" single and chosen...
", which had also had a separate A-side single release in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The exceptions was Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, with "The Lady in Black" as the B-side.
"Queen of Chinatown" became one of Amanda's biggest hits and one of her most memorable songs. The track reached number 2 in Germany and remains her highest-charting single in that country to date. In Italy the song stayed on the number 2 position for four consecutive weeks in February 1978, being kept off the top spot by Matia Bazar
Matia Bazar
Matia Bazar is an Italian musical group formed in Genoa in 1975. The original members of the group are Piero Cassano, Aldo Stellita and Carlo Marrale. Antonella Ruggiero was the first singer in the group. The group represented Italy in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with a song called Raggio di...
's singles "Solo tu" and "...E dirsi ciao".
The song was recorded again in 1998 for the Back in Your Arms
Back in Your Arms
Back In Your Arms is the third compilation album by French singer Amanda Lear, released in May 1998 by Dig It Int'l. The release follows her two previous greatest hits albums, Ieri, Oggi released in Italy, and Poet Amanda Lear released in the former U.S.S.R....
album. Minor label Mag Music released that re-recording as a promotional only vinyl single. In 2006 German musician DJenetix remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed the track and the new version was released as a single. In 2008 Amanda recorded an updated dance version of the song for Amour Toujours, a re-release of her 2006 With Love
With Love (Amanda Lear album)
With Love is the thirteen studio album by French singer Amanda Lear, released on October 16, 2006 by Dance Street.- Album information :With Love a.k.a. Amour Toujours a.k.a. My Baby Just Cares for Me is a cover album by French singer Amanda Lear, first released in France in October 2006, and...
album. Hungarian DJ Sterbinszky
Sterbinszky
DJ Sterbinszky is a successful DJ of Hungary.Sterbinszky got his start at age 16 becoming resident DJ of several small clubs. Five years later he won the Hungarian Disco Mix Club Competition of 1993. This event earned him a prominent position in the trade...
produced a remix of "Queen of Chinatown", using a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from the original recording. Music video was also shot.
Music video
In 1977 Amanda Lear shot a music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Queen of Chinatown" for German TV show Musikladen
Musikladen
Der Musikladen was a West German music television programme that ran from December 13, 1972 to November 29, 1984. The show continued the 1960s Beat-Club under a new name, and in turn was replaced by Extratour.-History:...
. It presents the singer performing the title song in front of the camera with two backup dancer
Backup dancer
A backup dancer is a performer who dances with or behind the lead performers in a live musical act or in a music video. Their movements provide a visual symmetry and rhythm to accompany the music....
s. Lear wears an oriental dress and holds a hand fan. In 1983 another video was produced, for Amanda's Italian television special
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
Ma chi è Amanda?.
Track listing
- 7" Single (1977)
- A. "Queen of China-Town" - 4:15
- B. "My Alphabet" - 4:00
- Japanese 7" Single (1978)
- A. "Queen of China-Town" - 4:15
- B. "The Lady in Black" - 3:30
- Italian 12" Promotional Single (1998)
- A1. "Queen of Chinatown" (Paramour Radio Vox) - 4:22
- A2. "Queen of Chinatown" (Paramour Summer Mix) - 9:14
- B1. "Queen of Chinatown" (Super Eel Cool Gran Manzana) - 7:25
- B2. "Queen of Chinatown" (Blow Appella) - 7:00
- German CD Maxi-Single feat. DJenetix (2006)
- "Queen of Chinatown 2006" (Single Version) - 3:53
- "Queen of Chinatown 2006" (Club Remix) - 4:54
- "Queen of Chinatown 2006" (Extended Mix) - 5:43
Chart performance
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
2 |
| Switzerland Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
5 |
| Austria Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
11 |
| Italy Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
2 |