Chong

Album: not on an album (1919)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the second of a two-part documentary broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in 2011, presenter Terence Blacker said of "Chong" when it was written in the 1920s, "it was an innocent, comic song about the mysterious Orient, and in the circles in which it was played, it was neither unusual nor contentious."

    In fact, this song written by Harold Weeks was published by Leo Feist of New York in 1919. Also known as "Chong - He Come From Hong Kong" and "Chong (He Come From Hong Kong)," it's actually quite a passable number regardless of its apparent caricature of a certain type of ethnic Chinese, and certainly no more offensive than the later "The Scotsman Song." It was recorded by Irving Kaufman on both Columbia and Okeh, and twice by Billy Murray, and also, in 1919, by the vaudeville vocalist/violinist Odette Myrtil. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?