QueenZone discussion #1115883

AmeriQueen wrote: I do contradict this post slightly in that I think the Brighton Rock 3 harmony Brian May solo should always continue it's path of evolution,

Benn wrote: AmeriQueen, Of course, you're absolutely right. Wouldn't it be great to have set lists changed on a nightly basis and arrive at a show not knowing what you're going to get. After all, Springsteen & The E-Street Band can do it, can't then and they play for 3+ hours every time. However, many bands simply like the feeling of being incredibly good at playing a certain set of songs night after night - it makes them feel more comfortable and allows them to then stretch themselves within the confines of what they know if you get my drift. The technical side of it also comes into play here too. Where a band like Queen relies HEAVILY on a structured light show, there is very little scope for movement outside of the rehearsed set list. Computers are programmed for the players to be playing songs in order. Unfortunately, Queen seem to think that it's great to have a highly structured stage performance and light show. For me, and I think plenty of others too, I'd prefer NO lights and simply the band playing as if they were in a small theatre and just doing what comes naturally, not relying on rehearsed moves and formal structure. Although The Who has relied on a structured set list for some time now, you never quite know what you're going to get. With Springsteen, every show is a joy in that requests come from the audience and the band members themselves. I'm sad to say that Queen now bores me. There's NOTHING exciting about what they play or how they play it. Brian trots out LOLM at each show as if we're all still paying homage to Freddie whilst he takes a paid break on the stage. They need to move themselves on and get away from what is easy to play. Challenge themselves and bring out some material that's fun and interesting. I'd rather see a completely ballsed up version of White Queen or Ogre Battle than a note perfect, well lit Radio GaGa or AOBTD........

Benn wrote: AmeriQueen, Of course, you're absolutely right. Wouldn't it be great to have set lists changed on a nightly basis and arrive at a show not knowing what you're going to get. After all, Springsteen & The E-Street Band can do it, can't then and they play for 3+ hours every time. However, many bands simply like the feeling of being incredibly good at playing a certain set of songs night after night - it makes them feel more comfortable and allows them to then stretch themselves within the confines of what they know if you get my drift. The technical side of it also comes into play here too. Where a band like Queen relies HEAVILY on a structured light show, there is very little scope for movement outside of the rehearsed set list. Computers are programmed for the players to be playing songs in order. Unfortunately, Queen seem to think that it's great to have a highly structured stage performance and light show. For me, and I think plenty of others too, I'd prefer NO lights and simply the band playing as if they were in a small theatre and just doing what comes naturally, not relying on rehearsed moves and formal structure. Although The Who has relied on a structured set list for some time now, you never quite know what you're going to get. With Springsteen, every show is a joy in that requests come from the audience and the band members themselves. I'm sad to say that Queen now bores me. There's NOTHING exciting about what they play or how they play it. Brian trots out LOLM at each show as if we're all still paying homage to Freddie whilst he takes a paid break on the stage. They need to move themselves on and get away from what is easy to play. Challenge themselves and bring out some material that's fun and interesting. I'd rather see a completely ballsed up version of White Queen or Ogre Battle than a note perfect, well lit Radio GaGa or AOBTD........

Sir GH wrote: 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?