Hammer To Fall

I personally love Hammer To Fall, but I thought the version on ROTC was quite poor. It's supposed to be a heavy song.

I like it. Different. Vocal harmonies in choruses in the slow bit are absolutely amazing. paul's performance of the second verse is brilliant.

I think the new version is actually better than the old version.

As Brian has repeatedly said, he strives to interpret the songs on this tour in a slighty different manner while simultanteously holding a candle to the originals. I think this is a rather perfect example of that. And I agree Fenderek--Paul's vocals in the second verse are such that they make 'rockiness' in the last half that much more visceral. Well done, I would say.

While we should never discount the original recordings, I feel it is appropriate to at least consider what is currently offered to us in the context of this new dynamic.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Fenderek<br><h6>Not a REAL fan</h6> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Vocal harmonies in choruses in the slow bit are absolutely amazing. [/QUOTE]

Yes..and no stupid backup singers doing the harmonies this time..:-)

The version is great, but it was not an interpretation for this tour.
Brian has been doing it for years. In fact, on one of his tours, he slowed down the entire song.
He and Roger have performed the half-and-half version twice, at least, before this tour. In LA for the WoF gig and in Amsterdam on Queen's Day.

Hammer to fall F*CKING RULES! But the Paul Rogdgers version sucks.................like normal....................Christ, nothing changes *sigh*

Maybe some of you know the answer to this, but I suspect Hammer to Fall is one of those songs which Brian originally intended to be a ballad, but Freddie, strongly disliking Brian's ballads, insisted on cranking up to heavy rock.

Initially I didn't care for the song, as I thought it too noisy and musically too elementary. But over time I really began to appreciate the lyrics. Then after seeing the Wembley '86 performance, I began to consider it one of my favorites.

I have an even greater appreciation for the song after seeing and hearing Brian and Paul sing the first half of it as a ballad, which somehow seems to expose the song's deeper meaning. Seeing the second half of the song performed as a rock song then enables the viewer/listener to take in the full scope of the song's potential, as well as Queen's talent.

I give the half and half version a strong thumbs up.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Erin wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Fenderek<br><h6>Not a REAL fan</h6> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Vocal harmonies in choruses in the slow bit are absolutely amazing. [/QUOTE]

Yes..and no stupid backup singers doing the harmonies this time..:-)[/QUOTE]

They were horrid!!!

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Fenderek<br><h6>Not a REAL fan</h6> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I like it. Different. Vocal harmonies in choruses in the slow bit are absolutely amazing. paul's performance of the second verse is brilliant. [/QUOTE]

Yes- Indeed!! I have always (until the QPR Version) disliked this song-ever since it came out on The Works--I pretty much dislike most songs on The Works- except "GA GA"--

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Queen Of Wrestling wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Hammer to fall F*CKING RULES! But the Paul Rogdgers version sucks.................like normal....................Christ, nothing changes *sigh*[/QUOTE]

It's not "Paul Rodgers version" it's Brian May's alternate Version to be more accurate..don't blame Paul if you don't like the version

Yes, Brian performed this version first on his Another World tour in '98, so it's not that new. I like it just as much as the fast version. I'll always prefer the studio version though, IMHO it never sounded as tight live.

It's nice enough, but the original version is the best by MILES! And, if what rockyracoon says is true, then Freddie had better ideas for it than Brian, IMO. Surely, though, if this were true, it would be officially written by Brian & Freddie?

If this turns out to be true, the song already had been 'written' and then Brian changed something as Freddie 'forced' him to. Also, this would still mean, that Brian was the one who 'rewrote' it, even if it had been Freddie's idea.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]another one diets the bust wrote: [/QUOTENAME]If this turns out to be true, the song already had been 'written' and then Brian changed something as Freddie 'forced' him to. Also, this would still mean, that Brian was the one who 'rewrote' it, even if it had been Freddie's idea.[/QUOTE]

But its not like Freddie couldn't have rewrote it....as the songs chords are elementary.

Hammer to fall has to be a 90% Brian song...its not in Freddie's writing style at all.