Being in bands myself (one being a Queen tribute band), one of my small pleasures is doing the setlist for the coming concert. Normally I have a very distinctive idea on the opening sequence and the finale, then I get mixed emotions about the middle.
Being Queen+Paul Rodgers a "so-called" new band, one of the "dogmas" I would like to see the end was earing We Are The Champions as the finale. No question, it's a good ending.. but come on!!! They've been doing it since 1977 almost without exception.
For once, I would like to see/hear something different. And what more suitable than a song from the new album?
Don't get me wrong, I think concerts should end with a good blast :) but imagine our suprise if they played something more smooth after WATC.
I have seen Mark Knopfler on some of his tours, and how shall i explain this... he plays 2 or 3 heavier songs (if we can call it like this), and then finishes with Local Hero Theme. It's kind like an ears' cleaner... and you do get out of the arenas with a good sense.. a good feeling. David Gilmour was also capable of that "good feeling" when he ended his solo concerts with Hushabie Mountain.
Even more, the final song should be a "queen+rodgers" song, not something of the queen catalogue (nor paul's for that matter).
Althought the album does not contain any "masterpiece", "Small" and "Some Things That Glitter" are very good songs and, in my opinion, would turn into good live songs and be interesting to see if they worked as concert endings.
I would like to hear your views on this subject. Thank you.
Cheers from Portugal,
I certainly understand what you're saying about having the big blast "finale", but then playing something a bit more subtle, melancholy or uplifting as a closing number. Its a nice approach, particularly with these veteran bands for whom a lot of sentiment is attached with seeing them live "one last time" or whatever.
A perfect example being Genesis on their last tour - having rolled out the Invisible Touch/I Cant Dance explosion with the big lights and fireworks, they then closed out with the quite melancholy Carpet Crawlers, which I thought was a very nice way to end. Very chilled out and sentimental.
Id be interested to see QPR try a soft number after Champions, but I really dont see them breaking from established practice after so many years!
Hmmm! I actually don't know if I'd like that or not. Its certainly a decent idea, I've seen Knopfler a couple of times myself and the local hero thing is a very nice way to sign off but that is with just the spotlight on him where as we are talking a band finale here. Although if memory serves I also think when I saw Dire straits on their every street tour that local hero was also the finale. Anyway I'm getting off message here.
Finishing with a QPR song would be fitting given that we are supposed to take this a almost a new band but on the oter hand Queen have always been known for more shall we say bombastic rock rather than nice balads on the whole I think. It may or may not be a good idea but either way I'm not so sure it will happen, that is if indeed we get another tour?
How about changing the whole last half hour of the show? As long time fans, we know the song sequence, we know how they will be performed, and that just gets boring after a while.
What about something really revolutionary: Keep the established sequence WWRY/WATC/GSTQ (just because it HAS to be that way), but then - after a short pause following GSTQ – play an acoustic version of a song from the new album, just Brian, Roger and Paul on the small stage at the end of the catwalk.
It would clearly show that it's something new beyond Queen.
[quote]Nummer2 wrote: $0What about something really revolutionary: Keep the established sequence WWRY/WATC/GSTQ (just because it HAS to be that way), but then - after a short pause following GSTQ – play an acoustic version of a song from the new album, just Brian, Roger and Paul on the small stage at the end of the catwalk. $0$0It would clearly show that it's something new beyond Queen.[/quote]$0$0$0$0I think i would like that. I like the concert ending the way it is now and I don't mind if it stays the same. But adding to it a little emotional moment like this one sounds really promising. Why not try to mail this to Brian? I doubt it'd change anything, but who knows, it might give him some ideas? If I were you, I'd try to write Brian about it (I'd write Brian, because he's the only one I can reach by e-mail, obviously).$0
eheh no no Pittrek...that would be mean towards Paul i think :)
uhm i don't think they'll ever change the final, it was already a small surprise to see that the cosmos rocking took the place in the set list of the show must go on. i loved the idea i think it's a song that can remind the rock n roll "role" of tutti frutti, to make the audience shake the bum before the usual ending that we love so much.
Moreover we are the champions IS actually the melodic song we're talking baout: what's more melodic that the tune that the whole world knows and the whole world loves to sing? another song after we are the champions would not leave the audience with that feeling of "pride" that every Queen fan feels!
i would play "small" somewhere in the setlist though. it's a good singalong, fresh new material. Instead of seagull!
and shooting star wasn't bad at all. why dropping it?
For once I am going to agree, it would be nice for them to end the concert with some other songs, I dont know about finish it in a slow way, but I know I would enjoy listening to champions before the acoustic set