They won't change a tune. The main reason they've been releasing loads of greatest hits albums and 80s DVDs is because they like to keep playing safe. That's the same reason they want to keep being "Queen" instead of "Newsuperband": if they agree to turn into something new, they won't be allowed to play the old hits, because they're supposed to be a different band, not "Queen". They'll have to leave comfort zone and face new audiences with new music. And simply they don't want to leave comfort zone anymore.
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[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sir GH wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Flat out, it varies from band to band. But generally speaking, if you're a band who has had success in the singles charts, you need to play what the majority of people know. Hardcore Queen fans would like nothing better than to hear the first four albums played cover to cover, but 99% of the people on hand will know less than 5 of those songs. However, simply put, it is that 99% of the audience who made it possible for the band to be in that arena in the first place.
You basically have to assume that most people attending the show listen to the radio and know about 10 of their songs, and have heard one or two Greatest Hits compilations. So, here's my take on the estimated percentage of the audience who'd know the songs (it varies by country, of course, but this is an approximation of the general North American perspective):
BoRhap, WWRY, WATC - 99-100%
Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Dust - 90%
Radio Ga Ga, Under Pressure - 80%
Tie Your Mother Down, Fat Bottomed Girls - 70%
....
'39, Dragon Attack - 20%
White Man, Tear It Up - 10%
Ogre Battle, White Queen - 0-1%
And you can simply judge these things by listening to the audience response at the beginning and end of the song (or the references to songs, like the White Man intro to Fat Bottomed Girls... the few hardcores acknowledge it, but most people don't know the A Day At The Races album).
It makes perfect sense why Under Pressure was played here in '06 (one of their last huge hits), why Break Free was dropped (not a huge hit here), and why Dragon Attack was added (because The Game hit #1).
Of course the band played a few more obscure things in Japan... that is the first place where Queen found success, and the people there are simply more familiar with the back catalogue.
Brian and Roger are obviously very conscious of these things. This is why they always put on a great show for the overwhelming majority of their audience wherever they go. It's possible that they may be tired of a few songs, but I'm sure the joy of watching people in the audience enjoy the songs overrides that.
Since day one, Queen have been a band who want to perfect their show. Once they've found their niche, they stick with it because it works with that 99% of the audience. But if you removed the songs under 100%, 90%, and 80%, how many of the 15,000 people in the arena do you think would leave in disappointment? Would the biggest songs and the Queen spirit be ringing through their heads on their ride home, while looking forward to the new album and perhaps seeing the band again?
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I get your point, but in the last years Queen will perform it's also good to try something new from the old days.
It will be a challenge to perform a song which you have never done and keeps things fresh. It's also a way to communicate with the audience. Will they like a song or not, what shape will it take live on stage etc.
You basically have to assume that most people attending the show listen to the radio and know about 10 of their songs, and have heard one or two Greatest Hits compilations. So, here's my take on the estimated percentage of the audience who'd know the songs (it varies by country, of course, but this is an approximation of the general North American perspective):
BoRhap, WWRY, WATC - 99-100%
Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Dust - 90%
Radio Ga Ga, Under Pressure - 80%
Tie Your Mother Down, Fat Bottomed Girls - 70%
....
'39, Dragon Attack - 20%
White Man, Tear It Up - 10%
Ogre Battle, White Queen - 0-1%
And you can simply judge these things by listening to the audience response at the beginning and end of the song (or the references to songs, like the White Man intro to Fat Bottomed Girls... the few hardcores acknowledge it, but most people don't know the A Day At The Races album).
It makes perfect sense why Under Pressure was played here in '06 (one of their last huge hits), why Break Free was dropped (not a huge hit here), and why Dragon Attack was added (because The Game hit #1).
Of course the band played a few more obscure things in Japan... that is the first place where Queen found success, and the people there are simply more familiar with the back catalogue.
Brian and Roger are obviously very conscious of these things. This is why they always put on a great show for the overwhelming majority of their audience wherever they go. It's possible that they may be tired of a few songs, but I'm sure the joy of watching people in the audience enjoy the songs overrides that.
Since day one, Queen have been a band who want to perfect their show. Once they've found their niche, they stick with it because it works with that 99% of the audience. But if you removed the songs under 100%, 90%, and 80%, how many of the 15,000 people in the arena do you think would leave in disappointment? Would the biggest songs and the Queen spirit be ringing through their heads on their ride home, while looking forward to the new album and perhaps seeing the band again?
[/QUOTE]
I get your point, but in the last years Queen will perform it's also good to try something new from the old days.
It will be a challenge to perform a song which you have never done and keeps things fresh. It's also a way to communicate with the audience. Will they like a song or not, what shape will it take live on stage etc.
I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more variety in Queens set list but for them not to perform WWRY, WATC etc. would be a terrible idea. We are talking about some of the most popular songs ever. These are the songs that drew a mass audience to Queen and the songs that the mass of concert goers want to hear. The people on this site represent the hardcore fanbase who own most if not every Queen album. We don't represent the mass audience. Would we expect Paul McCartney not to perform "Hey Jude" or any other of The Beatles huge hit songs?