Why was Princes of the Universe never played live?

Seems like a prime example of classic Queen - and that it should of been played live. Wasn't the song a single in some territories? Just wondering why it was never played live.

Princess Of The Universe was never released in Europe, whilst the Magic Tour only took place in Europe - that's my guess.  Princes was released in the US, Canada, Australia, NZ and Japan and not until 2000 did it surface in Europe, when it was released in Holland on CD. All the tracks from the AKOM LP played at the Magic Tour were reasonably successful in European territories - so I guess the guys wanted to stick with familiarity and "hits".

That aside, I would love to have heard it played live, it's an excellent track IMHO.

Vocally, that's a very .... acrobatic tune.  I think you'd need rose-tinted earphones to think that Freddie could've done it live.  Rather; I think he (and the band) would've been able to give it their best and do a great performance, like they always do - but on the Magic Tour, Freddie had a sort of ceiling on his range, and a lot of Princes Of The Universe goes above that limit.  He could've done it, but there would've been more compromises on that song than there are on the others, because so much of it is so Goddamned high.

Would've been cool to hear, but it would not have been much like the studio version.

The main reason is most likely because Freddie simply wouldn't have been able to sing it live. True his voice was in MUCH better shape on the Magic Tour than the Works tour and there are some gigs where he is able to hit such high notes in the song, but he probably didn't want to have to sing it every night, especially when trying to preserve his voice.

Damn shame, but I have to agree with the others about Freddie on this one. Still, if they could pull it off, could you just imagine an entire stadium - with that song - I think epicness

It's quite a bitch to sing.

If Queen lowered the song down a full step (like Who Wants To Live Forever, or Friends Will Be Friends), Freddie would have little-to-no trouble singing that live. If Freddie could hit A4-B4s left and right, he'd do just fine with that song.

I don't think that this song would sound good live.

Album version have very 'thick' guitar sound, which would be hard to recreate on stage.

Remember Brian's "Business": fantastic "doomish" heavy metal sound on album and just a nonsence live.

I think it's the fact it wasn't released in Europe at the time, i think they could have sang it live no problem, they probably would have just sang the first part(ie. the Highlander opening part), they would have played it in the medley probably.

Thistleboy 1980 wrote: Princess Of The Universe was never released in Europe, whilst the Magic Tour only took place in Europe - that's my guess.  Princes was released in the US, Canada, Australia, NZ and Japan and not until 2000 did it surface in Europe, when it was released in Holland on CD.

are you all mad???? princess was a track on the akom album and that was realesed in europe and rest of world  in 1986

sexmachine wrote: Thistleboy 1980 wrote: Princess Of The Universe was never released in Europe, whilst the Magic Tour only took place in Europe - that's my guess.  Princes was released in the US, Canada, Australia, NZ and Japan and not until 2000 did it surface in Europe, when it was released in Holland on CD.

are you all mad???? princess was a track on the akom album and that was realesed in europe and rest of world  in 1986
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I think he was saying that it wasn't released as a single!

Gregsynth wrote:

I think he was saying that it wasn't released as a single!

Exactly.  Geez, some people!!!  LOL.

Yeah, basically the point is that the more successful tracks, released in the UK/Europe, were more favourable for a European tour.

I did know that it would be sooner rather than later before someone would say "but it's on the LP" haha.

At the end of the gig on the Magic Tour I was shattered.  I bought a program and suddenly thought - 'They forgot to play Princes of the Universe!'

The ultimate insult came soon after when WWTLF was released as a single instead of it.

Two strange decisions.  Your ideas above have helped to understand a little.

Funnily enough I had the urge to listen to Princes yesterday!  I must have sensed you were starting this thread!

The album AKOM has only a few potential live tracks, to be honest. They pretty much chose the right songs to play. The rest is either too hard to perform live or wouldn't work at all.

Voice of Reason 2010 wrote: At the end of the gig on the Magic Tour I was shattered.  I bought a program and suddenly thought - 'They forgot to play Princes of the Universe!'

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Which Magic Tour gig did you attend?