Does anyone else think that the HTF intro seems a bit forced? One, Hammer just isn't suited to being an intro song. Two, it sounds weird hacked into pieces like that, and three, the transition into TYMD is awkward (the notes don't jive). I've actually got an idea I'd love to hear. Feel free to comment, whether it's "yeah, that sounds cool," or anything less friendly.
Play the intro tape as it exists now. Thunder, TCR, SUSO intros. As I was listening, though, it strikes me how similar the SUSO intro is to Now I'm Here. After the scream, instead of abruptly stopping the music until HTF kicks in, why not start playing Now I'm Here? Play the first verse and instrumental jam of Now I'm Here, and at the "I'd love to leave my memories with you" line, have a lengthy guitar chord transition into the full TYMD. It's a nice, compact rocker to open the show, and it's a song that would be an absolute beast with Paul's vocals (not to mention one hell of an intro song, as proved on the SHA tour).
Then, of course, play Hammer to Fall in full later in the show. It's too great a rocker to be dropped for songs like AKOM, IWTBF, and Radio Ga Ga.
I'd love to see SUSO introducing the concert again, and I think the Now I'm Here idea would work really well.
When the album was released, I thought they had quoted the riff from Now I'm Here on purporse, to make a good combo on stage. :\ Disappointing to see it hasn't happened.
I wholeheartedly agree that the intro with HTF doesnt work for me, I think its all a bit jarring with essentially 3 different intros one after another, and it confuses the audience after the build up for SUSO.
As for the notes not "jiving" or whatever expression was used - I think the shift to TYMD works ok personally because both that and HTF are in A I think, so theres no key change to worry about - Im just disappointed when I hear it cos I want the HTF solo! :(
It's a very bad opener- it just doesn't feel like the start of the show, AT ALL...
You know what I dream about? Innuendo... The light are down, you hear "one, two, three, four..." and this drum... the light goes up behind the curtain... And on that power chord, just before the first "oooh, oooh"- the courtain goes down...
Why didn't they stick with Surfs up as opener.? Much better ther Hammer to fall. My only two gripes with an otherwise fantastic show. This and the sound level.!!!
What the hell has happened? Is there some new H+S law or something. At Queen gigs of old you had to communicate with the person next to you by semaphor !!! Now you can chat away .
Great idea going into Now I'm Here. Twice now (once in 2005, and at my first 08 show) I've been fooled in the middle of Last Horizon thinking that Brian's gone into an impromptu Now I'm Here when he starts playing the D chord just before the climax. So would definitely be good to hear live, and I think SUSO is in D as well so again no key shift to worry about.
Another option to medley with SUSO is Headlong. I'd like to see the two songs done similarly to how Brian put together Headlong with Love Token in '93. Again, works from a key and rhythm point of view.