QueenZone discussion #1273268
Queen in the States
| dowens 03.06.2011 21:18 |
I am a 31 year old fan of Queen in the US and have always been intrigued by how Queen feels that they are non-existent in America. I was incredibly surprised the remasters were not going to be released in the US, until Queen finally came to their senses to release the albums this past May. It seems to me that Queen is everywhere on TV, their music is on tons of commercials here in the States, and everyone I come into contact with loves Queen. Heck, a couple of seasons ago Queen made an appearance on American Idol (yes, I know...), but it was pretty cool. The audience gave the band a standing ovation when they were revealed on stage. I really haven't heard anything about the re-releases in the States, but I think it's interesting Queen thinks they "lost America," as Brian stated in the recent documentary. Since I don't live in the UK, I've always wondered how Queen is received in the other parts of the world today? I think there is a growing respect for the music of Queen here in America, and while they may not have had a number 1 album here since "The Game," there is a generation here that would love to discover Queen. |
| queenUSA 04.06.2011 09:18 |
This is a very interesting problem and one that I have been considering myself. I do believe as you do that there are many fans yet to be had in the USA - but promotion and exposure are KEY. What can be done about that? I think it would be great if they could bring the 40th Anniversary Exhibit to at least one city in the USA - maybe timed to coincide with one of the large music festivals in the US this summer in either Chicago or San Francisco - a great way to catch music fans in mass and looking for something to do. Speaking of the exhibit - another city has not yet been announced - when will that happen?? I also think it would be really neat to have a Queen music festival in the USA and challenge bands in a Queen face off. Issue songs from the 70's & 80's to be reproduced in a challenge. Imagine hearing their best Son & Daughter, Now I'm here, Father to Son, even the Fairy Feller's Master Stroke. It could be sponsored and judged by a local classic rock radio station. Just get some prize money together or signed B. May Guitars or something as incentive and you have a really fun event in which the public gets to hear free Queen by local artists and maybe they will end up buying the remasters as a result of listening to the music. Also bands would continue to play the songs in their own gigs. There are thousands of bands out there - I'm confident they would enter - not just for the prize money - but because they love playing QUEEN!! It just takes some imagination and critical thinking to work out the right mix of promotion - you need a good and energized record label/music promotion team to execute. However, aside from the USA ... I noticed when I was in London that I has trouble finding a Queen T-shirt or poster!!! What's up with that? Most shops had Beatle ones or the Stones. I thought it would be easy - but it was quite challenging. I finally got one at We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) gift shop. Even at the Queen exhibit - there was a missed opportunity to have Queen items for sale. I could not get a t-shirt at the exhibit, nor poster. Whaa? If it's that bad in London - how is it to be any better in the USA? |
| Thistle 04.06.2011 09:35 |
Queen just have to bite the bullet and remarket themselves in the USA. As you say, there's a generation there who are just waiting to "discover" Queen, so I think they should just go for it and show the Americans what they were and are still missing. If the WWRY musical and even Gary Mullen can be a hit there, then the real thing can definitely take them by storm all over again...but just don't mention Hot Space lol. I reckon an all out tour, public showings, a "storytellers" kind of thing to get "their" side of the story across, a proper merchandise-push, a US version of the BBC doc and the SiS exhibition would get the ball rolling again. And hell, I'd even make subliminal messages through TV/Radio (wee snippets of MOTBQ, My Fairy King etc between the frequent ad-breaks). Make it look like an "arrival" rather than a comeback. Queen deserve to be a recognised force in every corner of the globe. |
| alaynasusan 04.06.2011 23:47 |
Any time I talk to someone on Xbox Live from anywhere but America, I ask them how big Queen is in their country. Haha. As far as hearing Queen in commercials, it pisses me off to no end. Nobody sees a furniture commercial playing I Want It All and says, "Oh, I love Queen. Let's go buy a couch!" My mom was proper age when Queen was around in America. She said she doesn't remember knowing any real Queen fans or hearing of anyone rushing to get their latest album. She said everyone just thought they'd go away after a few string of hits. Obviously that's not true for ALL of America, but at least around here. I had pretty much given up hope on running into any Queen fans in the Pittsburgh area (at least 5 days a week I wear a Queen shirt) until a customer at the store I work at brought in a butt load of bootlegs and rarities for me to borrow. About 15 VHS and around 100 CDs. I want to start a Queen revolution in America. Anyone care to join me? |
| Jazz 78 05.06.2011 06:29 |
I'll join your revolution!!! I'll start here in Rhode Island, you cover Pennsylvania and we'll work our way out West! I've been a fan since '77 and although I went through all the Queen experiences of a hardcore fan, including 1982 and the disappointment of Hot Space, they've always been massive in my mind here in the States even when they stopped touring. I doubt they'll be as huge to this country as they were during The Game album but at least they're not forgotten. I agree with the poster above. If they want to open that market the band needs to PROMOTE! |
| queenUSA 05.06.2011 10:09 |
I'm so ready for the revolution!! I'm in Virginia - and have Texas & California roots. I already have 2 secret weapons to offer (and no, it's not NAVY SEAL Team 6). Coming up in August in Chicago, 2 of the biggest bands in the Lollapolooza line-up are FOO Fighters and MUSE. I would love it if FOO would play Tie Your Mother Down and MUSE have they ever covered a Queen song (they have enough big hits of their own, but hey all hands on deck for the revolution and a bit of 40th anniversary Love - Jim Beach pick up the phone and call them)? Both bands will probably have fresh interviews and I hope they cite Queen as an inspiration (it would be a bit of exposure at least and they have made similar comments before). In another thread called "Queen's Critical Mistake", phillyfan pointed out that the market could be won back with a magazine cover and we've all commented above on how some well placed promotion could do wonders. Last night I attended a free concert of Beatles music by a group called A Hard Day's Night. It was an open air venue and packed with people dancing and enjoying the music. They were very good at what they do. I had my Queen t-shirt on (of course) but kept thinking I want to be right here one of these weekends hearing Queen instead and see the crowd really wake up! Now that would be a great summer concert for me. |
| Doga 05.06.2011 10:48 |
Matt Bellamy said this year in a interview in Argentina that Queen is the bast band in the world. ''United States Of Eurasia'' is very influenced by Queen. |