NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Oct 15, 2021 21:50:04 GMT
I've always considered this Freddie vaudeville type song to be one of the more obscure singles despite being a Top 20 single. I deem the song to be the least known on Greatest Hits not least due to its last live performance by Queen taking place at the last gig of the News Of The World Tour way back in 1978.
However, this song seems to all the sudden become very popular and I can't seem to work out why. For example:
1) It featured on the Greatest Hits In Japan album in 2020 2) It is the 19th most streamed Queen song in the UK - it's ranked higher than Bicycle Race, that doesn't make any sense to me! 3) It's one of about 20 Queen songs on TikTok - amazingly it's ranked 6, higher than fellow A Day At The Races track Somebody To Love!
I've got nothing against GOFLB, it's not one of my favourites but certainly not one that comes low. It has just made me wonder why this song appears to be more popular than Flash, Bicycle Race and One Vision - songs that are often on the radio and heard in the live environment.
Any ideas?
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Steve
Wordles & Heardles
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Post by Steve on Oct 15, 2021 22:29:38 GMT
Because its a great song!
Seriously though, it's a well written ditty with loads of great moments.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 15, 2021 22:33:56 GMT
Got to admit, I wouldn't have noticed a 'resurgence' had it not been mentioned.
I agree, it's a great song, probably with a wider appeal than the likes of Bicycle Race, Flash and One Vision. And it's got a great guitar solo. 🙂
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Frank
Politician
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Post by Frank on Oct 16, 2021 0:53:21 GMT
I wouldn't have noticed either. Bottom line is it's a real gem of a song! Similar to Steve, I think it's wonderfully crafted and has very clever moments that you don't discover until multiple listens. For me, it's one of my top 10...maybe top 5 Queens songs (depending on my mood).
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Post by Twilightsitoo on Oct 16, 2021 1:41:59 GMT
I also notice that GOFLB was on some (a lot, actually) 'Pride playlists' (for LGBTQ+ in June, I think), maybe that helped too
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Oct 16, 2021 9:02:33 GMT
I also notice that GOFLB was on some (a lot, actually) 'Pride playlists' (for LGBTQ+ in June, I think), maybe that helped too That makes sense, the song even appeared in Spotify trending playlists.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Oct 16, 2021 9:05:13 GMT
I know GOFLB a really good song but I'm surprised that other songs which have always been played in public more aren't ranked higher especially others on the first Greatest Hits like Bicycle Race, Flash and Seven Seas Of Rhye.
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oreno
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Post by oreno on Oct 16, 2021 12:01:24 GMT
A funny one GOFLB, seemed to sneak onto GH really even though EPs were sort of defacto singles back in the day. I'd say that its place on GH and the TOTP footage mean it's a rare example of a 'deep cut' that's relatively well known, and quite right too.
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Oct 17, 2021 10:19:26 GMT
It's on Greatest Hits, but isn't over-played. It's fairly short. It has that typical Queen-sound. It's a love song (of sorts). It's got catchy hooks that are easy to sing along with / hum to yourself. I think it just ticks all boxes for something that's easy to come into contact with, easy to like and also easy to convince yourself that you've discovered something obscure.
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n39
Ploughman
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Post by n39 on Oct 17, 2021 18:12:02 GMT
It went around TikTok for a fair while, it was very popular. I just looked and it's been used in 41.8k videos. That's probably what helped introduce it to a mainstream audience.
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Oct 18, 2021 9:44:43 GMT
Well, yeah, but that's just moving the problem on by one step - why has this particular song been used in >40k TikTok videos? IMHO, see above.
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jlf
Satyr
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Post by jlf on Oct 19, 2021 20:26:08 GMT
They were playing this over the speakers in a pizza joint in the US this weekend and I was shocked, but there you go, it must be higher on the Queen playlists. It's a beautiful song.
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Strange_frontier
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Post by Strange_frontier on Oct 19, 2021 23:55:49 GMT
Me personally, I blame T*kt*k for its resurgence.
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