georg
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Post by georg on Apr 3, 2022 0:22:22 GMT
Queen always knew how to open a show, so what are your favorite concert openers? I gave fairly broad openers for each tour, but there were variants (in fact the Jailhouse Rock as opener thread inspired this!), so if something doesn’t strike your fancy, you have the option of Other. And you have up to 3 choices, so you can choose one each from Queen, Q+PR, and Q+AL, or any variation thereof. You can choose all Queen, all Q+PR, or all Q+AL.
I also didn’t include any one-offs (Hammersmith 75, Hyde Park, Live Aid) because I forgot until after I’d already passed Procession / Now I’m Here and I really didn’t want to go back and change everything. So use that Other option for that.
Also, explain why you chose what you chose! Let’s discuss!
*The set list for 2008 changed a few times, and I felt this was the most effective opener of the variants.
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georg
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Post by georg on Apr 3, 2022 0:26:29 GMT
My choices:
Thunderbolt / Rock You (fast): a classic and super effective. They kept it for a few tours for a reason.
Flash / The Hero: the pulsating bass and piano, the smoke and lights, “Flash!”, and then Brian launching into that great riff. Dynamic.
Cosmos Rockin’ / Surf’s Up School’s Out: there are better openers of course but for what the 2008 Q+PR tour was, I always thought this was the most effective opener. Also I’m sure I’ll be the only one to vote for this so I just want to give it some appreciation.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Apr 3, 2022 8:44:27 GMT
It's got to be the classic Thunderbolt and Lightning / We Will Rock You (fast) (1978-1979). The Live Killers album was the first time I'd heard the fast version, as I hadn't been to any of the shows, and it was just astonishing. The energy of that WWRY / LMEY opening was fantastic, and I just loved the whole album, particularly the faster version of Now I'm Here. It's a criminally overlooked album, which could really do with a special edition.
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Golden Salmon
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Post by Golden Salmon on Apr 3, 2022 9:41:58 GMT
Now that's a comprehensive poll.
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vh
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Post by vh on Apr 3, 2022 10:00:35 GMT
It's got to be the classic Thunderbolt and Lightning / We Will Rock You (fast) (1978-1979). The Live Killers album was the first time I'd heard the fast version, as I hadn't been to any of the shows, and it was just astonishing. The energy of that WWRY / LMEY opening was fantastic, and I just loved the whole album, particularly the faster version of Now I'm Here. It's a criminally overlooked album, which could really do with a special edition. Totally agree with this! |
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Apr 3, 2022 10:14:39 GMT
Does the synth drone opener composed by Roger come under the Thunderbolt and Lightning / We Will Rock You (fast)? You know the one used from the Crazy Tour to Montreal 1981. Honestly the first couple of times I heard that with my headphones and the volume turned up my heart was racing - the thunderbolt and lightning is so dramatic. That would be my absolute favourite I think but The Hero worked well too because of the riff. Father To Son I like because Procession was specially designed for the song - composed I'm guessing at the same.
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georg
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Post by georg on Apr 3, 2022 12:06:38 GMT
Yeah, I guess technically there’s two versions of Thunderbolt and Lightning: the shorter 1978-1979 version as on Live Killers, and the 1979-1981 version with the synth drone as at Montreal 1981. We can use that title as a catch-all for the intros between those years.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Apr 3, 2022 14:24:47 GMT
1) Thunder Bolt and Lightning/We Will Rock You (Fast) (1978-79) - There wasn't any question. The most triumphant start! It's also synonymous with Live Killers, an album that more or less introduced me to Queen as a live act.
2) We Will Rock You (intro) / Hammer to Fall (Q+AL 2017) - To be fair, it's the visual that captures this as my second favorite. To see Frank bust through that wall with drums pounding...absolutely brilliant opener.
3) Procession / Father to Son (1973-1974) - It's their most regal opener with lots of heart and soul...and crunchy guitar riffs!
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Sammy B. Willickers
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Post by Sammy B. Willickers on Apr 3, 2022 17:31:45 GMT
My favorite has got to be Procession-Father To Son, just the perfect opener imo. The next has got to be WWRY slow-WWRY fast, then Brighton Rock. It's just amazing. Finally, and this may be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but I like the Flash-Rock It-WWRY fast intro more than the one with The Hero in it.
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