Chris De Burgh, the Lebanon, and naming songs after places as a marketing device

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Cheeky Chris De Burgh has recorded a song called 'Lebanese Nights', a cod Arabic pop duet with Lebanese singing sensation Elissa. The result: Chris breaks the Lebanese market and looks poised for massive success in the Arab world.

Are there any other great examples of people naming songs after places or countries so as to get lots of airplay there?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 17 October 2002 11:23 (twenty-three years ago)

How can Chris De Burgh hope to have a hit in the Lebanon. Where is anyone going to be able to buy his record when, as we all know, there USED to be some shops.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 17 October 2002 11:26 (twenty-three years ago)

"Laaaaaady in Burqa....she's dancing with me. Cheek to eye"

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:03 (twenty-three years ago)

While I am delighted that the terrorists have released the Dirty Vicar from his radiator long enough to get a message to the outside world I can't help thinking that an ILM thread is somewhat of a wasted opportunity.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Scooter retitled their "Back In The UK" as "Back In Ireland" to curry favour there.

Also of course there's the Billy Ocean trilogy - Caribbean Queen, European Queen and African Queen.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I think it was as much in response to the massive popularity they had as to curry favour.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Chris, that's one of the funniest things I've ever read on ILM. Maybe because the Daily Show just did a 1920's flapper version of La-ady in Re-e-e-ed

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I've never seen you looking so covered as you did tonight
I've never seen your eyes shine so bright
You were amazing
I have never seen whats under that dress you're wearing
Or those highlights in your hair
Because you not allowed to show them
If I see them allah will strike me blind

Chorus

THE LADY IN burqa
is dancing with me
cheek to eye
there's nobody here
It's just you and me and 20,000 afghan refugees
It's where I wanna be
I hardly know
This mujadeen by my side
I'll never forget
The way you look tonight

I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to join the jihad
Looking for a little romance
They all have sandals and no pants
I have never had such a feeling
Such a feeling of complete and utter bliss
As I do tonight

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:57 (twenty-three years ago)

*vomits blood*

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 17 October 2002 14:46 (twenty-three years ago)

*pisses blood*

― mt, Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey, Lebanon is a pretty secular country, nobody's required to wear a burka there (and besides, burkas are pretty much an Afghanistan/Pakistan thing, not necessarily Islamic).

I've never been to Lebanon, but I've heard from some Lebanese friends that it's gotten quite a bit better since the end of the Civil War/Israeli occupation. It was once called "The Switzerland of the Middle East," y'know.

Anybody know how well "One Night in Bangkok" charted in Thailand?

― hstencil, Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Just how popular *are* the Mountain Goats in Sweden, anyway? Or in Ghana, for that matter?

― Chris Piuma, Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:33 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah its bad, but i hadn't had my coffee.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:41 (twenty-three years ago)

There's an awful lot of coffee in Brazil...

― Siegbran (eofor), Thursday, 17 October 2002 17:51 (twenty-three years ago)

but can you *actually* bang cock in Bangkok, or was Ludacris fooling me?

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:13 (twenty-three years ago)

but can you *actually* bang cock in Bangkok, or was Ludacris fooling me?

You can do just about anything of a sexual nature in Patpong. It's pretty foul.

I was surprised to see a Thai restaurant in NYC (in the Village, I think) with that name. I wonder if they have any idea...

...or maybe the "ping-pong ball trick" comes with an entree.

― hstencil, Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Well after releasing "Canton", "Visions of China", "Communist China" and "Cantonese Boy" I'm sure state radio in 80s China must have been well aware of David Sylvian and his eye-linered men !

― Darren, Friday, 18 October 2002 17:12 (twenty-three years ago)

three years pass...

make it bump

― Baaderonixx: the lost ILX years (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 08:35 (nineteen years ago)

There were something like 22 regional versions of "High School U.S.A." by Tommy Facenda in 1958 after a Virginia release made some noise.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 08:40 (nineteen years ago)

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