[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]BHM 0271 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]It's not a crime to hawk the hits, but recently Brian said upon his visit to the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland that "it was a bit of an eye-opener to see how odd some of the perception is in these halls...I'm kinda spoilt, I guess...all over the world, we're used to Bo Rap being regarded (rightly or wrongly) as the No. 1 song of all time, and Rock You/ Champions as a pivotal point in rock and roll history...and a lot more besides...Suddenly to be shown around this huge building filled with dusty artefacts, and realise that we had effectively been written out of Rock History in this part of Cleveland, was strangely sobering!!!" It's because Brian's perception of Queen (which is correct) is totally out of whack with America's. In the US, critics, and the overwhelming record buying public, know or knew Queen as a singles band. Again, Queen has no where near as many tracks as artists like Tom Petty, CCR, Van Halen or Zeppelin on American rock radio. Queen is known for its hits. And if you come to the States and play the songs people know, it perpetuates the myth that you're a singles band doesn't it? I'm not saying this is wrong as they're not appealing to the hardcore fan, but this was not a very ambitious tour from a risk POV.[/QUOTE]
In light of the fact that they were (a) touring the states for first time in 24 years and (b) doing so without the best known and most beloved member of the band, I think the tour was VERY ambitious, as-is. I think they did the right thing playing pretty well what people were going to know, given the two handicaps they had against them before they ever hit the road. To expect them to tour for the first time since 1982, with Paul Rodgers instead of Freddie Mercury, AND play "risky" material is asking too much IMO.
People in the US and Canada hadn't had the opportunity to hear the band play *anything* in almost a quarter of a century, so I think a lot of the audience - hardcore, softcore and medium-core - WANTED to hear the band play their hits because so many of them had never had the chance before. I think expecting them to have played fewer hits in favor of more album tracks is just an unrealistic and unfair expectation. If it perpetuates a perception among some that Queen was a "singles band" then that's really too bad, but I think the band and the audience were due a "play the hits" tour because there hadn't been any tour of any kind in almost 25 years. If they come back in a year or two, then by all means, let them play "Liar" and "Flick of the Wrist" and "White Man" and "Its a Hard Life" and whatever they fancy, but this time, I just don't think its a fair expectation.
People will get into the band the same way they have always gotten into the band, and those that never progress beyond the hits probably weren't going to anyway. Queen is not for everybody. And no act by the band now, no tour set list or album, is going to change the overall impression - right or wrong - that has developed about them over the last 33 years. At this point in their careers, they in large part have to play it where it lays. I think criticizing the band and its choices is entirely legitimate, but I don't think its fair to criticize them for not changing something that probably can't be changed 33 years into the game.
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[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Kelley_FloridlyAudacious wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Of course, I'm not suggesting an "Introduction to Queen" type album have anything too "weird" in it. But there are some that I think could easily bridge into the "music of today".
- "Flick of the Wrist", I made people listen to this once at drama, and a lot of people liked it, and had no idea that it wasn't an 'all new' something that I had nicked from the Indie market.
- "White Queen (As it Began)". I digress, it's a little like Zepplin. And the Zep's VERY popular here. That nonsense aside, it's a GREAT song.
- 'Things that Roger Sang'. Right... specific! "Sheer Heart Attack" or "Drowse".
- "Get Down, Make Love". Alright. Most people (my brother included) are closet fans of this song. It would be much easier for these people to love in the open if they didn't have to answer to "Wasn't that written by a gay guy?" Plus, sex sells! Or not.
- I propose there's a "God Save the Queen" WITH THE FUCKING LYRICS. Not in the song, of course, but in the little booklet thing. I had people singing that "America the Beautiful" song at me. "Why would a band from Ingle-Land play that?!" Horrible.
- "Sweet Lady".
- "Teo Torriate". Okay, I like this song, and the reason I would pick it is because half the nutters in my school are obsessed with Japan. Oh my goodness! Freddie in a kimono! EEE! Manga!
- "Tie Your Mother Down" and "Sheer Heart Attack" were great choices.
- "Heaven for Everyone". Okay. Maybe this is me demonstrating pissy-ness at all the crap I hear on my bus-ride, and all the death and beatings in those songs... Good song, too!
Yeah. That's just a short list. Not from all albums, I know. But it's off the top o' my head.
One reason I wouldn't have so much from "Innuendo" on a "Beginner's Queen" album is because, well, "Innuendo" was very mature and grown-up. Not bad, in any way - but I don't think a lot of "kids" (no one here!) would necessarily "get" a song like "These are the Days of Our Lives". Which, by the way, is on "Stone Cold Classics". I'm not knocking the song, but it's not kiddie stuff.
I don't think "Greatest Hits" are bad, but there are plenty of people that are too reluctant to go and sample the actual albums. They're worried about their money - just look at "albums" today! Some have only one decent song! People might think the only worthwile thing on "A Night at the Opera" is "Bohemian Rhapsody" simply because they've not heard anything else.
Also, buying, say... "Sheer Heart Attack" requires a certain commitment these days. You have to order the sucker, since no one around here stocks it. Here, they didn't even have "Innuendo". I had (and am still) going up to the order counter every few weeks. You can't just pick it up and walk away. And some of the ordering prices are slightly steep if you cuy at the wrong place.
People have to be allured, and "Stone Cold Crazy" and "Tie Your Mother Down" are a good step. But I don't know if I would go through all the go-getting trouble if my mom hadn't already had "A Night at the Opera" and "A Kind of Magic". Plus, "casual people" aren't as likely to spend $30 on ye olde Platinum Collection, which my mom did for me and helped spark a riot.
Also, since it takes such effort to get your hands on one, there aren't any for cheap at the "used" stores. Only the "Greatest Hits" are at the used stores, that I've seen.[/QUOTE]
Every used store with Cassettes and CDs, I see a lot of cassettes of 'Made In Heaven' and CDs of 'The Miracle'
- "Flick of the Wrist", I made people listen to this once at drama, and a lot of people liked it, and had no idea that it wasn't an 'all new' something that I had nicked from the Indie market.
- "White Queen (As it Began)". I digress, it's a little like Zepplin. And the Zep's VERY popular here. That nonsense aside, it's a GREAT song.
- 'Things that Roger Sang'. Right... specific! "Sheer Heart Attack" or "Drowse".
- "Get Down, Make Love". Alright. Most people (my brother included) are closet fans of this song. It would be much easier for these people to love in the open if they didn't have to answer to "Wasn't that written by a gay guy?" Plus, sex sells! Or not.
- I propose there's a "God Save the Queen" WITH THE FUCKING LYRICS. Not in the song, of course, but in the little booklet thing. I had people singing that "America the Beautiful" song at me. "Why would a band from Ingle-Land play that?!" Horrible.
- "Sweet Lady".
- "Teo Torriate". Okay, I like this song, and the reason I would pick it is because half the nutters in my school are obsessed with Japan. Oh my goodness! Freddie in a kimono! EEE! Manga!
- "Tie Your Mother Down" and "Sheer Heart Attack" were great choices.
- "Heaven for Everyone". Okay. Maybe this is me demonstrating pissy-ness at all the crap I hear on my bus-ride, and all the death and beatings in those songs... Good song, too!
Yeah. That's just a short list. Not from all albums, I know. But it's off the top o' my head.
One reason I wouldn't have so much from "Innuendo" on a "Beginner's Queen" album is because, well, "Innuendo" was very mature and grown-up. Not bad, in any way - but I don't think a lot of "kids" (no one here!) would necessarily "get" a song like "These are the Days of Our Lives". Which, by the way, is on "Stone Cold Classics". I'm not knocking the song, but it's not kiddie stuff.
I don't think "Greatest Hits" are bad, but there are plenty of people that are too reluctant to go and sample the actual albums. They're worried about their money - just look at "albums" today! Some have only one decent song! People might think the only worthwile thing on "A Night at the Opera" is "Bohemian Rhapsody" simply because they've not heard anything else.
Also, buying, say... "Sheer Heart Attack" requires a certain commitment these days. You have to order the sucker, since no one around here stocks it. Here, they didn't even have "Innuendo". I had (and am still) going up to the order counter every few weeks. You can't just pick it up and walk away. And some of the ordering prices are slightly steep if you cuy at the wrong place.
People have to be allured, and "Stone Cold Crazy" and "Tie Your Mother Down" are a good step. But I don't know if I would go through all the go-getting trouble if my mom hadn't already had "A Night at the Opera" and "A Kind of Magic". Plus, "casual people" aren't as likely to spend $30 on ye olde Platinum Collection, which my mom did for me and helped spark a riot.
Also, since it takes such effort to get your hands on one, there aren't any for cheap at the "used" stores. Only the "Greatest Hits" are at the used stores, that I've seen.[/QUOTE]
Every used store with Cassettes and CDs, I see a lot of cassettes of 'Made In Heaven' and CDs of 'The Miracle'
Touring with out your front man ,no new material, not to mention that they haven't played here in 24 years and to play the venues they did, I'd say they took a very big risk. About the songs Faron Hyte is right you have to play the hits this time around .Maybe next time they might open with Ogre Battle.
Ummmmmm...
"America, The Beautiful..." goes "O' beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..."
A previous poster must have it confused with "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee"
"America, The Beautiful..." goes "O' beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..."
A previous poster must have it confused with "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee"
Um....
I think that is the plan love.
The plan is to get together in the studio and do just that, and quite possibly follow it up with another round of touring.
Be patient.....this is'nt over yet! :)
I think that is the plan love.
The plan is to get together in the studio and do just that, and quite possibly follow it up with another round of touring.
Be patient.....this is'nt over yet! :)
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]PhoenixRising wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Ummmmmm...
"America, The Beautiful..." goes "O' beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..."
A previous poster must have it confused with "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee"
[/QUOTE]
Yeah... I did. ^_^ I hate both of those songs equally (and I'll mix them together...). Actually, I dislike the "Star-Spangled Banner" even more because they made us sing it to "determine our vocal range". ::Shudder:: I want to learn the drinking song it's to the tune of, but I saw it once and it looked... odd...
---
And Messenger of Leah... In the only "used store" around here that deals in casettes doesn't have anything Queen... They've got a bunch of bootlegs of live stuff from Bruce Springsteen concerts and Brownsville Station... They DO have old albums (I don't know if they have any Queen, though)... but our record player is... no more.
My music purchasing district is rather restricted and is mostly the MSU campus shopping strip...
Reguarly, they've got... ANATO, ADATR... lots of Greatest Hits... Q+PR... and Best Buy had "The Game" and somewhere else had "Jazz" and I saw "Hot Space" somewhere, but someone else bought it and it was never re-stocked. And the wait is about two weeks for an ordered CD...
Was there a point to that...? I don't know. I may give up and become a fan of... Britney Spears... nah...
"America, The Beautiful..." goes "O' beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..."
A previous poster must have it confused with "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee"
[/QUOTE]
Yeah... I did. ^_^ I hate both of those songs equally (and I'll mix them together...). Actually, I dislike the "Star-Spangled Banner" even more because they made us sing it to "determine our vocal range". ::Shudder:: I want to learn the drinking song it's to the tune of, but I saw it once and it looked... odd...
---
And Messenger of Leah... In the only "used store" around here that deals in casettes doesn't have anything Queen... They've got a bunch of bootlegs of live stuff from Bruce Springsteen concerts and Brownsville Station... They DO have old albums (I don't know if they have any Queen, though)... but our record player is... no more.
My music purchasing district is rather restricted and is mostly the MSU campus shopping strip...
Reguarly, they've got... ANATO, ADATR... lots of Greatest Hits... Q+PR... and Best Buy had "The Game" and somewhere else had "Jazz" and I saw "Hot Space" somewhere, but someone else bought it and it was never re-stocked. And the wait is about two weeks for an ordered CD...
Was there a point to that...? I don't know. I may give up and become a fan of... Britney Spears... nah...