"Live in Milan" - article from Italian magazine "Ciao 2001", 1984
Aug 25, 2021 15:34:14 GMT
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Post by fabiogminero on Aug 25, 2021 15:34:14 GMT
Hi everybody,
This is an interesting article written by the Italian journalist Elia Perboni, published in the Italian magazine Ciao 2001 on 30 September 1984 (pages 25-26). Originally entitled LIVE A MILANO (translated as LIVE IN MILAN), it's an excellent review of the two concerts that Queen held in Milan on 14th and 15th September 1984, during the European tour of "The Works".
Although the journalist was present at one of the two Milanese concerts, there is some confusion about the songs played those nights; in fact, note that the article also includes the song "Sheer Heart Attack" as one of those present in the setlist (in fact, the song was played for the last time during the concert in Birmingham on 1st September 1984).
Here's the translation from Italian to English.
MILANO – from our correspondent
An excessive coordinated programming of concerts in the city (in the first two weeks of September there was no respite) eventually caused the so-called saturation effect. To pay the consequences were Queen, one of the most anticipated groups in our country and arrived at the end of the hot weeks, when by now the rock-fan had squandered their substances (it is calculated that the total cost to attend the numerous concerts is around 150,000 lire each). Despite this, in the two evenings in which the English band performed at the Palasport there were about 16,000 admissions with an audience that even came from nearby Switzerland. Apart from these news notes, the Queen show once again managed to entertain, to suggest with the incredible lighting effects and with a sci-fi scenography.
The original idea was certainly born under the influence of the film "Metropolis", from which they also took the video for "Radio Ga Ga". A light park consisting of hundreds of spotlights, two large spinning cogwheels and a backdrop of skylights gave the impression of a large traveling space ship. Inside the ship, Queen with their songs, their clean rock, which in the last thirteen years has managed to meet the tastes of new generations. And in concert their style finds a re-confirmation in performances that never lead to virtuosity, each with its own role. Of course Freddie Mercury plays that of the star, but he is also capable of ironic as when, at the end, he enters the stage dressed as a woman and then with a wig of very long hair in a sort of heavy metal parody.
Everything serves to underline, as often the members of the band have affirmed, the visual element, that search for the image that has always been decisive for their career. The other leading figure of the band is undoubtedly Brian May, with his guitar. He approaches the public with the instrument proposing his famous distorted ones without ever exceeding, reconfirming the importance of group play. The rhythm section with John Deacon and Roger Taylor is efficient, yet another demonstration of technicality. Queen have songs in their repertoire that have been the protagonists of the heavenly hits of half the world, and those are the moments in which the muscicites seek involvement with the public. this is the case of the old "Love Of My Life", recorded in the mid-seventies. In the setlist there were also "Somebody To Love", "Killer Queen" and "Under Pressure". Freddie Mercury continues to entertain the public, remains the leading lady of this show that has the characteristics of a film, with a precise and well-tested script. Apart from the intervention of a fifth musician, who appears in the performance of some songs in the central part of the concert, Queen, unlike many other famous bands, who have the support of collaborating musicians on tour, manage to be autonomous thanks to their ability as multi-instrumentalists. Freddie Mercury takes up the guitar and sideways at the piano with extreme ease, John Deacon alternates the bass with the guitar and synthesizers and so also May and Taylor joined in with various keyboards (synths and backing vocals).
In the final part, the concert develops in a natural crescendo, "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Sheer Heart Attack" and of course "Radio Ga Ga" arrive (for the latter, luminous effects recalling the video are proposed).
When Freddie Mercury bare-chested and metalhead wig sits down at the piano and plays "We Are The Champions", it's a real explosion of enthusiasm, it's the triumph of rock melody. is the finale: after the barrels and fireworks fired from the edge of the stage, Queen leave the scene, while a rock version of "God Save The Queen" is released.
This is an interesting article written by the Italian journalist Elia Perboni, published in the Italian magazine Ciao 2001 on 30 September 1984 (pages 25-26). Originally entitled LIVE A MILANO (translated as LIVE IN MILAN), it's an excellent review of the two concerts that Queen held in Milan on 14th and 15th September 1984, during the European tour of "The Works".
Although the journalist was present at one of the two Milanese concerts, there is some confusion about the songs played those nights; in fact, note that the article also includes the song "Sheer Heart Attack" as one of those present in the setlist (in fact, the song was played for the last time during the concert in Birmingham on 1st September 1984).
Here's the translation from Italian to English.
LIVE IN MILAN
They played for the first time in Italy. Two concerts in Milan that made the sixteen thousand present in the two evenings savor the taste of the great rock show
MILANO – from our correspondent
An excessive coordinated programming of concerts in the city (in the first two weeks of September there was no respite) eventually caused the so-called saturation effect. To pay the consequences were Queen, one of the most anticipated groups in our country and arrived at the end of the hot weeks, when by now the rock-fan had squandered their substances (it is calculated that the total cost to attend the numerous concerts is around 150,000 lire each). Despite this, in the two evenings in which the English band performed at the Palasport there were about 16,000 admissions with an audience that even came from nearby Switzerland. Apart from these news notes, the Queen show once again managed to entertain, to suggest with the incredible lighting effects and with a sci-fi scenography.
The original idea was certainly born under the influence of the film "Metropolis", from which they also took the video for "Radio Ga Ga". A light park consisting of hundreds of spotlights, two large spinning cogwheels and a backdrop of skylights gave the impression of a large traveling space ship. Inside the ship, Queen with their songs, their clean rock, which in the last thirteen years has managed to meet the tastes of new generations. And in concert their style finds a re-confirmation in performances that never lead to virtuosity, each with its own role. Of course Freddie Mercury plays that of the star, but he is also capable of ironic as when, at the end, he enters the stage dressed as a woman and then with a wig of very long hair in a sort of heavy metal parody.
Everything serves to underline, as often the members of the band have affirmed, the visual element, that search for the image that has always been decisive for their career. The other leading figure of the band is undoubtedly Brian May, with his guitar. He approaches the public with the instrument proposing his famous distorted ones without ever exceeding, reconfirming the importance of group play. The rhythm section with John Deacon and Roger Taylor is efficient, yet another demonstration of technicality. Queen have songs in their repertoire that have been the protagonists of the heavenly hits of half the world, and those are the moments in which the muscicites seek involvement with the public. this is the case of the old "Love Of My Life", recorded in the mid-seventies. In the setlist there were also "Somebody To Love", "Killer Queen" and "Under Pressure". Freddie Mercury continues to entertain the public, remains the leading lady of this show that has the characteristics of a film, with a precise and well-tested script. Apart from the intervention of a fifth musician, who appears in the performance of some songs in the central part of the concert, Queen, unlike many other famous bands, who have the support of collaborating musicians on tour, manage to be autonomous thanks to their ability as multi-instrumentalists. Freddie Mercury takes up the guitar and sideways at the piano with extreme ease, John Deacon alternates the bass with the guitar and synthesizers and so also May and Taylor joined in with various keyboards (synths and backing vocals).
In the final part, the concert develops in a natural crescendo, "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Sheer Heart Attack" and of course "Radio Ga Ga" arrive (for the latter, luminous effects recalling the video are proposed).
When Freddie Mercury bare-chested and metalhead wig sits down at the piano and plays "We Are The Champions", it's a real explosion of enthusiasm, it's the triumph of rock melody. is the finale: after the barrels and fireworks fired from the edge of the stage, Queen leave the scene, while a rock version of "God Save The Queen" is released.