Chris and Anna go Abba with Knowing Me, Knowing You

Date: 14/09/00

There seems to be no end to the talents of Chris Patten. Not only is the External Relations Commissioner a connoisseur of fine French food, but he also recently proved that he can take on Asia at their favourite sport - karaoke.

At the end of the Asian Regional Forum in Bangkok, the host, Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, asked the delegates to perform a song of their choice.Inspired by the presence of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, the EU delegation decided to modify the words of one of the biggest hits of Scandinavian pop megastars Abba: Knowing Me, Knowing You.

A French version of the first verse was added to address the sensibilities of Charles Josselin, the French minister for cooperation with Francophone countries. Here's a flavour of what they sang:

Farewell, so long, see you
No more ASEAN-EU
Walking through the empty halls
Tears in our eyes
This is how the conference ends
This is goodbye
Knowing me, knowing EU, ah hah
We are not the Clinton crew
Knowing me, knowing EU, ah hah
We have come from Brussels to put our view
Communiqués are never easy we know but we have to try
Knowing me, knowing you, wish we'd said it in Thai
One G8 pavilion cost 500 million
An awful lot of money, true
But that's not our fate
We are just humble ministers
Not heads of state
Knowing me, knowing EU, ah hah
We don't want the premier cru
Knowing me, knowing EU, ah hah
They picked Okinawa as their venue
Choosing right is never easy I know, but our choice was Thai
Thanking me, thanking you
Thanking Chuan Leekpai