... would Queen have been famous?
Would they have been a hit making machine? And I mean, if their 70's material never existed, yet they started right out during 'The Game' period, same songs, same look, same age... Freddie in his mid-30's with that mustache.
I wonder what that would have been like if only their 1980's and 1990's material existed.
Next up would still have been the Break Free video in drag, so their US success would have lasted exactly four years. Erasing the first ten years of their career would not have cured US homophobia.
I don't think Hot Space was the problem in the USA. I think it was Elektra... they really pushed to sell Queen's dance music after the success of Another One Bites The Dust and then Body Language. Anything dancey, it'll sell they must have thought. Elektra started sending out promo singles of Back Chat (backed with Staying Power)... and then they started sending out Staying Power (backed with Back Chat). Both of those songs are the most boring on the album and some DJ's had enough of that and started playing Put Out The Fire!
Staying Power is the best song on Hot Space, in my opinion. Back Chat is a top track from the album, as well. I'm actually surprised neither of them became hits.
I like Back Chat more than Put Out The Fire, but that's all Subjective...not sure of you're age, But I was 11 and clearly remember fans buying HS..and being pissed at the disco sound of it...Their fans moved on after that album...They were able to crack the top 40 with Ga Ga, but even that was fleeting.
I wonder what their concert setlists would've been like in that case. Also, does that mean Frederick would've been living with his parents until he was 34-ish?
I don't hate disco.. I'm more a rocker obviously. But Put Out The Fire was never a favorite Of mine..so I like cool Cat more as well even though It's not my favorite style of music. I'm Just saying back then a style change from Rock to Disco was a big deal, unless it was done perfectly like Another One Bites The Dust. There really was no obvious singles on Hot Space.
I find the question irrelevant as a lot of what you hear on the game does not sound like a band writing their first album. Along with NOTW, it is one of Queen's most confident sounding albums (with the exception of Play The Game which sounds over-done compared to the rest of the album).
But if the unimaginable becomes imaginable - The Real Wizard's comment was spot on in my opinion.
PrimeJiveUSA wrote:
Staying Power is the best song on Hot Space, in my opinion. Back Chat is a top track from the album, as well. I'm actually surprised neither of them became hits.
Staying Power had potential...The chorus and horns...Those lyrics needed work though...
PrimeJiveUSA wrote:
Staying Power is the best song on Hot Space, in my opinion. Back Chat is a top track from the album, as well. I'm actually surprised neither of them became hits.
Staying Power had potential...The chorus and horns...Those lyrics needed work though...
Much preferred the live version of Staying Power than the album version. Still that wouldn't change the lyrics though! :)
I don't have a horse in the disco / rock race, but certainly prefer the preposterousness of the 'disco' stuff on HS.
As for the first question - probably not. An elvis pastiche by an unknown band, followed by a disco tune 4 years too late. Hmmmm..
I'm thinking if that was their first record, something contemporary like Coming Soon would be a single. Then you can basically look at The Knack for career trajectory.
Although I don’t like the studio version of Staying Power on Hot Space, I’m really digging the more rock orientated live rendition of it during the ‘82 gigs.