This made me wonder, after watching the Live Aid interview and Queen's performance, Roger said that (condensed) in the short time that they had, they should play songs that are easy to recognize, even (in RT's words) in Turkey. Now regarding the selection of Hammer to Fall, I slightly disagreed about that because, we know that HTF reached 13 in the UK and didn't even chart in the USA. Now, if I were to change that song into something else, I'd rather select IWTBF, it's rather fitting if you ask me. It even fared better than HTF,reaching 3 in the UK and 45 in the US (at least it hit the charts) and topped the charts in like South America. That should be an easily recognisable song and a chance for the crowd to join in as well. And I don't see the issue of the time constraints, HTF being longer than IWTBF (HTF is 4:24 long, IWTBF is 3:17)
Discuss, and flame me all you fucking want until you're well spent.
Why not Another One Bites The Dust? It was even a bigger hit. I'm glad they played Hammer To Fall, I think it was a fantastic performance (the end is a little funny though).
I've thought about this too. They should have played AOBTD or/and IWTBF.
I don't understand what is so great about Tie Your Mother Down. It isn't even on GH1, for God's sake! Still Queen seem to play it all the time (both with Freddie and after his death).
I think Hammer to Fall perfectly fits the Live Aid set and the same would have been for Tie your mother down.
I love Queen and Freddie going hard rock!
Always had the same thought. Considering Bo Rhap and WWRY / WATC had definitely to be there, there was little place for something else.
Nevertheless an odd choice that ended to be an excellent one. Fitted perfectly.
HTF in my opinion was the best song they played on the night.
Some of their best songs never hit the charts.
If we're talking about the top twenty, then maybe Queen should have played all their No.1 hits for the twenty minute session.
What an insult it would be to think they have to play the songs that reach higher in the charts.
Which charts FFS?
I'm spent......
Being at a concert that should feed Africa, one should definitly think twice about singing a song about someone biting the dust.
(Since Hammer to Fall is one of my favourite rockers, I'll have to defend it.)
Also, considering the lyrics in HTF, it fits perfectly for a world, where sometime somehow the hammer is going to fall.
Hammer To Fall was one of their more recent singles, and also, the lyrics fit well as to what Live Aid was about. And an up-tempo rocker was great to keep the mood of their performance going.
It was LAST SINGLE before Live Aid they released (OK, forget the "Thanks God It's Christams")- I think thtat's why they played it... And c'mon- it's a great version! The entire set is just great- why change anything...?
They were the only band who got it dead right... some fans think their performance is a touch overrated (in comparison to other queen gigs) but compared to other bands on the day - no one including U2 got anywhere near them.
A low chart positions doesnt always mean low sales. KISS have never had a number one album in America yet they are still one of the most famous bands ever there.
Hammer To Fall made more sense then IWTBF because it was faster as you guys said. And it was only released as a songle less than a year before so maybe the younger ones would remember it more than something like Tie Your Mother Down.
But who cares really, they still did a great job.