| MmP 17.08.2011 21:31 |
1 - Bohemian Raphsody 2 - Radio Gaga 3 - Hammer To Fall 4 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love 5 - We Will Rock You 6 - We are the Champions An exellent Set List IMHO, starting out with probably the best and most know song of the band to get it going. Follwing a recent hit to combine something classic with something new. What I don't understand is why including HTF and CLTCL. I'd have put more hist Another one Bites the Dust. Many other Nº1 (Under Pressure?) or even classics of previous years. Any ideas why including those two. Maybe with CLTCL they wanted to keep the crowd in a high energy. |
| last-horizon 42265 17.08.2011 22:38 |
MmP wrote: 1 - Bohemian Raphsody 2 - Radio Gaga 3 - Hammer To Fall 4 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love 5 - We Will Rock You 6 - We are the Champions An exellent Set List IMHO, starting out with probably the best and most know song of the band to get it going. Follwing a recent hit to combine something classic with something new. What I don't understand is why including HTF and CLTCL. I'd have put more hist Another one Bites the Dust. Many other Nº1 (Under Pressure?) or even classics of previous years. Any ideas why including those two. Maybe with CLTCL they wanted to keep the crowd in a high energy. BoRhap -> Impossible not to include GaGa -> Recent hit + Audience clapping HTF -> Recent single + powerful song. CLTCL -> I agree with you + a slow number would have not worked here. WWRY / WATC -> How else they could have concluded their set? :) |
| eYe 18.08.2011 01:37 |
I think they chose this setlist to perform the greatest live gig ever. |
| master marathon runner 18.08.2011 02:10 |
Yes i agree with him above, the proof of the pudding.................. . Master marathon runner |
| rhyeking 18.08.2011 02:16 |
Well, considering it's generally said by all who were there that Queen stole the show and it 'snow considered one of their (no pun intended) crowning moments of awesome, I'd say the set was pretty spot on. They took the time to create a set list that maximized the 22 or so minutes they were allotted. They rehearsed it thoroughly and had enough live experience to squeeze everything out of each song. They started with their biggest hit, led into their most recent crowd-participation number, followed it up with a recent heavy rocker (their second to latest single), lightened the mood with a classic fun piece and ended with the ultimate show-closers. They accomplished a great deal in a short period of time: they supported Gedolf's Ethiopa cause (the reason Live Aid happened) and reminded the world exactly how and why they were among the greatest rock bands still touring and recording. The latter was achieved by a their sound quality (it's said the limiters were removed by their audio crew, who also provided them with a superior house mix), their onstage charisma (Freddie had the stadium eating out of his hand), and as far as the set list goes, it showed their diversity. You neglected to note in the set list Freddie's vocal back-and-forth with the audience, which was perfect, especially since this was not exclusively a "Queen crowd." Think about that for a minute: The band had the world watching and had the balls to take the time to *stop playing music* and encourage the audience follow along with their own voices alone. And they did. And they loved it. Queen didn't stop to lecture the audience on world issues ("Hammer To Fall" covered that as much as they cared to) or to talk about why they were all there. The band knew they didn't need to do any of that, that audience was there to see these bands give everything they had and Queen did just that. Their job was to blow the audience away, to create a memorable experience worthy of the seriousness of cause they were supporting. In short, the set list was flawlessly arranged, in my opinion. |
| Mr Mercury 18.08.2011 04:08 |
MmP wrote: I'd have put more hist Another one Bites the Dust. Many other Nº1 (Under Pressure?) or even classics of previous years.Putting "Another One Bites The Dust" might have been a bit insensitive since the whole show was geared towards saving starving people from dying. Just a thought.... |
| Back2TheLight 18.08.2011 04:46 |
rhyeking wrote: Well, considering it's generally said by all who were there that Queen stole the show and it 'snow considered one of their (no pun intended) crowning moments of awesome, I'd say the set was pretty spot on. They took the time to create a set list that maximized the 22 or so minutes they were allotted. They rehearsed it thoroughly and had enough live experience to squeeze everything out of each song. They started with their biggest hit, led into their most recent crowd-participation number, followed it up with a recent heavy rocker (their second to latest single), lightened the mood with a classic fun piece and ended with the ultimate show-closers. They accomplished a great deal in a short period of time: they supported Gedolf's Ethiopa cause (the reason Live Aid happened) and reminded the world exactly how and why they were among the greatest rock bands still touring and recording. The latter was achieved by a their sound quality (it's said the limiters were removed by their audio crew, who also provided them with a superior house mix), their onstage charisma (Freddie had the stadium eating out of his hand), and as far as the set list goes, it showed their diversity. You neglected to note in the set list Freddie's vocal back-and-forth with the audience, which was perfect, especially since this was not exclusively a "Queen crowd." Think about that for a minute: The band had the world watching and had the balls to take the time to *stop playing music* and encourage the audience follow along with their own voices alone. And they did. And they loved it. Queen didn't stop to lecture the audience on world issues ("Hammer To Fall" covered that as much as they cared to) or to talk about why they were all there. The band knew they didn't need to do any of that, that audience was there to see these bands give everything they had and Queen did just that. Their job was to blow the audience away, to create a memorable experience worthy of the seriousness of cause they were supporting. In short, the set list was flawlessly arranged, in my opinion. Perfectly put and stated! Case closed. |
| brENsKi 18.08.2011 12:25 |
i think it's a lot simpler than most people realise....there was no real "magic formula". for most rock gigs...the last half hour...ie the last two/three songs + the encores...are the climax of the show all queen did was took four of the final six songs of their setlist from the last european tour they did prior (84) to liveaid and added their two staple encores...no mystery...just simple when you look at the closing numbers of the setlist...getting the last halfhr down to the liveaid "18 minutes" was easy...all you do is leave out the songs that don't fit the event...AOBTD and IWTBF and jailhouse rock - which wasn't a queen song anyway. 30 mins becomes 18 |
| jamster1111 18.08.2011 12:44 |
I think they should have done this: 1. Bohemian Rhapsody Verses 2. Radio Ga Ga 3. Another One Bites the Dust 4. Crazy Little Thing Called Love 5. We Will Rock You 6. We Are the Champions I really don't know why they stuck Hammer To Fall in there. In fact if it came to it, it probably would have been better to just leave it out so they wouldn't have to rush all the other songs so much and would be able to play the full WWRY. |
| The Real Wizard 18.08.2011 12:48 |
Playing 'Dust' (i.e. referencing death) at a famine relief concert would not have been a classy move. That likely crossed their minds. The setlist was perfect. The show has been hailed as one of the great performances ever given by a band. What's the point in discussing how it could've been even better when it clearly couldn't have been? |
| dysan 18.08.2011 13:04 |
My english not so good why they no play headlong and invisible man for live aids? |
| Isle0fRed 18.08.2011 13:36 |
The Live Aid setlist was great. However I do believe they should of played Love Of My Life instead of Is this the World We Created? |
| Russian Headlong 18.08.2011 14:07 |
Hammer to Fall is a much better track and along with WWRY/WATC were the best tracks in the set. It reminded fans of the groups Metal heritage and despite the fact that they had dallied in pop and dance in many of their 80's albums they could rock as hard as anyone. |
| The Real Wizard 18.08.2011 14:08 |
Isle0fRed wrote: However I do believe they should of played Love Of My Life instead of Is this the World We Created? ================ Read the lyrics of the latter again, and consider what the purpose of the day was in the first place .. :-) |
| on my way up 18.08.2011 14:48 |
Sir GH wrote: Playing 'Dust' (i.e. referencing death) at a famine relief concert would not have been a classy move. That likely crossed their minds. The setlist was perfect. The show has been hailed as one of the great performances ever given by a band. What's the point in discussing how it could've been even better when it clearly couldn't have been? I totally agree. The band's performance was great but above all Live Aid made very clear that they're a very clever band. they put more thought into their setlist than most other bands and just performed a mini-show with maximum impact. |
| 12yrslouetta 18.08.2011 15:03 |
The reason why they played Crazy i think was cos it was huge in America i guess, and Bites The Dust would have been ridiculous. I think i read somewhere that they wanted to be the 1st band on when the americans switched onto the event. They were savy as they played the biggest hits and stuff from their last album. The Works sales certainly benefited from Live Aid. |
| mickeybrad173 18.08.2011 16:54 |
I think the Live Aid setlist was spot on. I don't think ABTOD should have been added as it would have been little insensitive as for what Live Aid was all about. I also this Is This The World We Created was also an inspired move. I don't think Love Of My Life would have worked. |
| ANAGRAMER 19.08.2011 04:51 |
brENsKi wrote: i think it's a lot simpler than most people realise....there was no real "magic formula". for most rock gigs...the last half hour...ie the last two/three songs + the encores...are the climax of the show all queen did was took four of the final six songs of their setlist from the last european tour they did prior (84) to liveaid and added their two staple encores...no mystery...just simple when you look at the closing numbers of the setlist...getting the last halfhr down to the liveaid "18 minutes" was easy...all you do is leave out the songs that don't fit the event...AOBTD and IWTBF and jailhouse rock - which wasn't a queen song anyway. 30 mins becomes 18 brENsKi is quite right I think I used to play live with my band and the last half hour (known as the run-in) was almost always the same at every gog As a band, you know it works and you can, to a certain extent, predict the audience reaction What won for Queen wasn't only the sound levels and the performance, they were also the most professional band of the day; hardly anything was left to chance and they knew from experience that these songs in sequence work with a large audience Quite how well it worked for them, I dont think even they could have prediceted Another point which is seldom mentioned is that Freddie's voice was on top form for; compare his range at Live aid to Rock in Rio a few months earlier...it all could have turned out quite differently |
| Holly2003 19.08.2011 06:51 |
In another thread about Live Aid Philadelphia I posted a link to a book chapter specifically about Queen at Live Aid which suggests that Queen's impact wasn't initially as large as people now make out. Regarding the setlist, I would've preferred Under pressure to Hammer to Fall. UP was a big UK hit whereas Hammer to Fall was a moderate hit in the UK (and almost unknown in the USA), is a bit dull in a live situation and not sung particularly well live by Fred. I guess though Brian needed to have two of his songs in there somewhere. Lastly, as to why Queen went down so well, The Works was a huge hit in the UK before Live Aid and many people at the concert were Queen fans. It's not brain surgery. |
| Fastidious and Precise 19.08.2011 11:16 |
if they were going to include AOBTD, they may as well have stuck All Dead, All Dead and Don't Try Suicide in there as well. |
| Over the Field 19.08.2011 12:24 |
A great set list! Freddie's vibrato is gorgeous and he hits high notes very well. So enjoyable to listen! |
| drmurph 20.08.2011 10:20 |
I think Holly2003 hit the nail on the head by mentioning Brian getting his two songs in. Although I agree witht the song selection generally (pretty good balance of rock\anthem and good places to pause to sort out sound\instrument issues) maybe the only change would maybe have been IWTBF for Hammer to fall (I'm sure Brian argued the case well for HTF based on higher energy\rockier and IWTBF harder to pull off onstage than poor John wanting a song). Based on the reception it's hard to argue with what they did. (mind you Queen could have taken any songs and rocked the place). |
| The Real Wizard 20.08.2011 13:07 |
I highly doubt this was because Brian wanted two of his songs in the setlist. Live Aid was not a day about egos. Well, except maybe Bono's.. |
| on my way up 20.08.2011 14:42 |
Sir GH wrote: I highly doubt this was because Brian wanted two of his songs in the setlist. Live Aid was not a day about egos. Well, except maybe Bono's.. You're so right about Bono!:-) Every artist, journalist or music fanatic I've ever seen or heard commenting about Live Aid ALWAYS mentioned Queen as the best act of the day. These are the only exceptions: 1) The band U2 and its individual members 2) Journalists who are so big U2 fans that they mention U2 in every article/review they write (even if it's about Eminem, a Belgian Folk artist or Bob Marley (you guys understand what I mean)) 3) U2 fans |
| GratefulFan 20.08.2011 15:43 |
Sir GH wrote: I highly doubt this was because Brian wanted two of his songs in the setlist. Live Aid was not a day about egos. Well, except maybe Bono's.. ====================== I don't. I was going to make that very point myself. It's not a knock on Brian really, it's a reflection of the way they worked generally that was a large part of their longevity and artistic success. Recall their interview before Live Aid where the four of them fully acknowledged just how much the day would hinge in part on egos and a competitive drive. This was an unprecedented global event. Of course they each wanted songs represented. |
| GratefulFan 20.08.2011 15:58 |
on my way up wrote: Every artist, journalist or music fanatic I've ever seen or heard commenting about Live Aid ALWAYS mentioned Queen as the best act of the day. ======================= Which are the perfect ingredients for it all to go a bit mythic. They were a great, great band with a catalogue of riches and years of performing live under their belts. Competetive perfectionists who knew the value of exhaustive rehearsal, and who like other aging bands there maybe felt they had something to prove. A little help from smart and experienced sound guys went a long way, and in the end they were very, very good that day. So it takes nothing away from them to acknowledge that the way information gets presented and shared and repeated down the line creates memes that take on a life and truth of their own that can outsize the original elements. |