Queen of Chinatown
"Queen of Chinatown" (also typed "Queen of China-Town") is a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 1977 by Ariola Records.
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 Photograph (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 oriental 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.[1]
"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".[2]
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 remixed 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.
Music video
In 1977 Amanda Lear shot a music video 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 dancers. 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?.
Track listing
- A. "Queen of China-Town" - 4:15
- B. "My Alphabet" - 4:00
- Japanese 7" Single (1978)[5][6]
- A. "Queen of China-Town" - 4:15
- B. "The Lady in Black" - 3:30
- Italian 12" Promotional Single (1998)[7]
- 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)[8]
- "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
References
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My Life with Dalí · L'Immortelle · Between Dream and Reality · Je Ne Suis Pas Celle Que Vous Croyez
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