|
|
Post by thisisradioclash on Apr 2, 2022 11:16:06 GMT
Late 1979 to 1981, Queen played Jailhouse Rock as an opener. What's your opinion of this as an opener and why did they use it as an opener?
|
|
Lord Fickle
Global Moderator 
Posts: 20,769
Likes: 7,391
Member is Online
|
Post by Lord Fickle on Apr 2, 2022 12:54:18 GMT
It was certainly energetic. I guess they didn't really have that many really fast, raucous set openers. TYMD was usually saved until the end, and perhaps they just wanted a change from the fast WWRY, although they played that as well as a kind of double-opener.
To be honest, I think the fast WWRY was probably one of the best set openers for any band, ever, and Queen only came close again with One Vision.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon's Crazy Game on Apr 2, 2022 13:26:37 GMT
I don't like Jailhouse Rock as an opener for many reasons (including it not having the right feeling as an opener and using a cover as opener is weird in general imo) and I really wish they had used LMEY more often with either TYMD or WWRY fast coming afterwards
|
|
georg
Global Moderator
wrote several books
Posts: 1,053 
Likes: 1,350
|
Post by georg on Apr 2, 2022 13:44:15 GMT
I don't like Jailhouse Rock as an opener for many reasons (including it not having the right feeling as an opener and using a cover as opener is weird in general imo) and I really wish they had used LMEY more often with either TYMD or WWRY fast coming afterwards Agreed, I know they opened a few Crazy Tour shows with Let Me Entertain You, and it just makes sense! |
|
|
|
Post by thisisradioclash on Apr 2, 2022 14:21:04 GMT
It was certainly energetic. I guess they didn't really have that many really fast, raucous set openers. TYMD was usually saved until the end, and perhaps they just wanted a change from the fast WWRY, although they played that as well as a kind of double-opener. To be honest, I think the fast WWRY was probably one of the best set openers for any band, ever, and Queen only came close again with One Vision. The News of the World opening (WWRY w/ just Freddie and Brian, then overture from ADATR going into WWRY fast) is my favourite as that tour was really a spectacle. |
|
Sammy B. Willickers
Ploughman
"Blow it out your asshole!" - Freddie Mercury, 1985
Posts: 330
Likes: 286
|
Post by Sammy B. Willickers on Apr 2, 2022 18:08:41 GMT
It's kind-of a lame opener imo. It only really gets energetic and fun to listen to during the jam, but being the opener, it has to be cut down, so it just doesn't have time to take off.
I think the best opener is Procession into Father To Son, close second being WWRY Slow into WWRY Fast
|
|
NathanH
Ploughman
Posts: 495
Likes: 426
|
Post by NathanH on Apr 2, 2022 18:13:44 GMT
I agree with an earlier comment, using a cover seems a bit stupid when a band like Queen have many of their own songs. Maybe they wanted to be quirky, different or they wanted something they felt reflected their influence growing up to become four very talented musicians who could play live.
Concert openers I feel should be something familiar - especially if it's a band with lots of hits. So perhaps We Will Rock You is the best song for this. The song I think lyrically is the best.
Father To Son must've been something quite special, am I right in saying not many rock bands used a tape as an intro to a concert? I think if you went to seeing Queen from their humble beginnings to get maybe that was the best because of the transition? Hard to know having not seen Queen with Freddie and John.
When I saw One Vision happen in real-life in 2015 I'll be honest and say it wasn't as memorable. Maybe it's because it's not one of my favourite Queen songs anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by munichqueenfan on Mar 20, 2023 20:10:15 GMT
For me Jailhouse Rock only works as an encore, but not as an opener. It really feels a bit strange at the Hammersmith Odeon in '79. For my personal Hammersmith version I cut JR out (no video available also) and start directly with WWRY fast.
I even could not understand why they use JR in the 80s on stage when having so many other good own songs to perform (SCC or SHA or why not MTRR).
Anyhow, one cover per show is OK from my point of view (but not at the beginning). Tutti Frutti works quite well in '86 as a warm up for BR, but they could have played '39 at the front of the stage instead of the other covers.
|
|
