Heard We Will Rock You on our local classic rock radio station today for the thousandth time and it got me thinking. No doubt Queen has gotten a huge boost from the film. Heck, my daughter just told me today that her and her classmates are voting on their big final performance, which will either be Bo Rhap or two (lousy) current pop songs.
Question is, should the band have used more deep cuts in the film? I’d argue most of the world knows WWRY, Champions, AOBTD and Bo Rhap. Wouldn’t the shrewd move have been to have the movie feature a lot of B- and C-level notoriety songs? I would have found a way to get the lesser known gems in there: You and I, Dragon Attack, Nevermore, Spread Your Wings, Misfire, etc. All these songs would have gone down gangbusters because the whole world was waiting to see this film.
I just feel like Queen could have helped to change the perception that their just a Greatest Hits band. Real fans know Freddie sung the heck out of songs that were kind of ridiculous like Cool Cat and Pain is So Close to Pleasure (happen you love them both).
I was happy to see Love of My Life, Doin’ Alright and WWTLF to be featured but think Queen could have opened more doors by using less of the big guns and showcasing more of the unplucked gems: My Melancholy Blues, Need Your Loving Tonight, etc.
Well... if you recall from the family supper scene, Freddie did play a bit of ‘Lazing on a Sunday afternoon’ . It was a nice surprise hear a snippet of that deep cut.
I actually don’t think Queen themselves had much to say in which songs where used. They might have been able to suggest one or two, but Brian and Roger were only „Musical Producers“. And they had produced that music many years ago. ;)
The mighty peeps in Hollywood knew that the songs would carry the movie as much as the story. Therefore they needed the hits.
I agree, the marketing people know what the public wants. Also if you want to reach new audience you give the hits first, after those who are interested always find their way to deep cuts.
Hollywood wanted to do the movie because Queen sales, streams, YouTube etc were steady and going high over the last years.
Queen album sales were increased during the movie but the compilations were bigger.
Yes, I think they could have found a way to feature two or three more deep cuts (apart from Lazing...), especially that some of the best ones, like My Melancholy Blues or You Take My Breath Away had very personal lyrics which could go well with the storyline. At the same time, the hits needed to be there and they did a pretty good job with the soundtrack, I think. All these live versions, retakes, that was quite refreshing.
I think one of the success factors of the movie was, that all these greatest hits were in the film. Some friends and colleagues of mine were not aware of the fact that all these hits are Queen Songs and they were totally amazed. I guess this would not have happenee if they gave them Father to Son, All Dead and Man on the Prowl.
My boss, years ago asked me years ago why I liked Queen so much. I told him that Queen was more than their singles. I gave him a CDR with varios deep cuts and his reaction was "meh".
I suspect the typical audience reaction to the movie would also have been "meh" if the concert had too many deep cuts.
Invisible Woman wrote:
I still wonder how the movie has so much success and especially wonder why Rami won Oscar at all.
because he's an excellent actor to begin with, and - more importantly, he managed to capture Freddie's "image" - in particular, his mannerisms, actions and gestures extremely well.
Invisible Woman wrote:
I still wonder how the movie has so much success and especially wonder why Rami won Oscar at all.
because he's an excellent actor to begin with, and - more importantly, he managed to capture Freddie's "image" - in particular, his mannerisms, actions and gestures extremely well.