HOW and WHY were Queen SO good at Live Aid in 1985?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- Tonight we're taking an extended look at Queen's full set at Live Aid in 1985!
Original video - • Video
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TIME STAMPS -
2:43 Checking Sound
7:36 Freddie's Vocal
12:25 Off-Stage Piano - Frees Freddie for Show
16:46 Electric Snare Trigger
17:15 Breaking Down the Invisible Wall
20:42 Timed Choreography
21:00 They were LOUDER!
26:36 Backing Vocals
29:13 Freddie's Air Guitar
32:59 Transitions and Potential Wireless System Failure
34:41 Using Visual Cues
36:05 Offstage Piano
39:48 Covering Mistakes
42:15 Seamless Instrumental Transitions
43:47 Working as a Team Vocally
47:07 Mind Blowing Timing
Finally someone that really drives home that Queen were one of the most disciplined and dedicated band of musicians who respected their audiences by making sure each and every show was top notch. They did not rest on their laurels nor just rock up and play a few songs like others on that day. The difference between Queen and most of the other artists was like the difference between Olympian athletes and primary school dads egg and spoon race!!
Great insights ❣️👑❣️👑❣️
Fantastic!
Also they were still an active band at the time, unlike a couple of big name bands I could mention, who had not played together for years and were pushed into one off reformations.
I've read they additionally used off-stage guitar on Hammer to Fall.
@@marvalstith2749 Yes, Spike Edney played keyboards and rhythm guitar on a lot of Queen concerts
Fascinating analysis. I was lucky enough to be there that day, in the middle of the pitch, about 50 yards from the stage and to the left of the mixing/lighting desk! As a non-musician I'm in awe of your comments. Could I humbly suggest you glossed over the "Ey-Yo" interaction with the crowd!? It was the highlight of the set for many of us. Remember, it was 92 degrees that day - some people had even passed out and been carried off the pitch. Many of us were dehydrated plus drunk and/or stoned. Typical Brits, we were not prepared fo the blistering hot sun. I'd had a stinking headache for hours and there was no hiding place, no escape if you wanted to keep your spot (you'd never have made it back to your mates if you'd left). We were also exhausted because the music had already been going for 7 hours at that stage and we'd arrived hours before that. What Freddie did was not just put on an unforgettable show. He rejuvenated everyone, got us involved. Plenty of musicians have done that since but I'd never witnessed that before. It was one aspect of his genius for showmanship. Anyway, just my tuppence worth, thanks for a great video.
I am so envious that you got to see that performance first hand!. In a way, it's still hard to believe that Freddie Mercury has died because his life force in the stage that day was a phenomenon in itself.
Magic!!!
So happy for you. What a memorable experience.
@alan simon .. I haven't read any accounts of the people who attended the concert that day. I found yours very interesting and I wanted to hear more about the experience, from beginning to end. Maybe someone should write about the day from the point of view of the fans. Or, if there is an existing account, I'd love to hear/read about. Thanks for your comments..
Great retrospective, being in the crowd. What a day that must have been, to be there, feeling the insanity of it all.
Freddie on a bad vocal day still put on one of the most iconic performances in the history of music.
Yes he had a sore throat!
Freddie on a bad day is better than 99.9% of today's musicians
@@jasonwhittle4500 the only way anyone can catch up to him , to catch him when he is ill
@@chocho8036 That makes no sense, he was ill when they did this concert. I take it you didn't listen when Fil said that.
Even dead, Freddie is better than most of today’s singers. Vocal range and technique is still unmatched .
I recently heard Roger Taylor interviewed and when asked if they were scared because of the crowd size, he said yes. He went on to the the acoustics, the sound, on the stage itself were SO bad THEY COULDN'T HEAR EACHOTHER AT ALL! Roger said that entire performance required a lot of eye contact, body language and each playing by memory. Considering that, as if each were deaf....really..flawless, timeless performance.
If you watch this knowing that, you can see them communicating that way...once they huddled even.
Cheerio.
I'm sure they were incredibly nervous because of the importance of the event, but Queen played to tremendous crowds as a rule rather than an exception. The crowds they drew were staggering!
Remarkable! Wow!!
I’m sorry to my generation but… I don’t think any band of my day could even come close to performing with those limitations and slaying the way they did. Just wow…
I thought you meant fear of the crowd, not fear of performing.
Very interesting. I've always loved this video because you can see so much of that communication that you normally don't see. I didn't know there was trouble on stage.
@@Justicia007true, but remember, they’d been apart for awhile at this point and were quite rusty. And Freddie already knew he had AIDS and had been very sick not long before. You could already see his hair falling out. I’m not sure if they had any idea how their comeback would be received.
"You're only as strong as your weakest link and with Queen there was no weak link" such an impressive group
That's the Best performance in his life and he did it for the world
Best performance of all time, no fancy light show, no back screens, pure connection.
amen!!!
All the nonsense that goes on today on stage. We are there to hear the music, not see a Broadway production.
...and no fu***** mobile phones in the audience. ;-)
But how can Queen be good without 12 half naked background dancers and autotune like all of today’s acts?
But it was stated the best 20 minute show. They nailed it.
THEY MANAGED to play this set with perfect timing perfect pitch and all in sync , WITH NO AUTO TUNE, NO IN-EAR MONITORS . JUST TALENT AND PRACTICE.
Freddie is just perfect & clean frontman, respectable & classy!
@@cristinagroen3516 So true, and his band mates would attest to that.
Just beer, vodka and cocaine. the post 90s auto tune of choice.
The good ol' days...
Not to take away from Mr Mercury, who is a giant of a vocalist but, the fact that we praise singers for actually being able to sing is a sad commentary on the state of music today.
The kiss Freddie blew during Bohemian Rhapsody while singing the phrase "Mama"... was for his mother. He told her he would blow her a kiss during his performance.
Yes. It was depicted so well in the movie. He told his mum he would blow her a kiss, and then, when he had made his sexuality abundantly clear and his dad hugged him.... Not a dry eye in the house! Really moving, and a high point in a great film for me!
I watched Bohemian Rhapsody again last week. One thing I can't get over is how horrible the British press was to him.
@@SamtheMan0508 They haven't changed - still f***king awful!
@@philgallagher1 That was from the movie's script. Did not happen that way in real life. And we don't actually know WHY he did the kiss into the camera.
@@SamtheMan0508the way that they treated Freddie, both leading up, to and after his death, is the reason I haven't bought a newspaper for almost 33 years.
Crying, Freddie dance walked, ran and sang all over that stage for the TOTAL performance. I saw it, because I was there. (7th row stage right). I feel so blessed.
Absolutely AWESOME!!!!
Me too, i was a few rows behind you and to the centre, absolute gobsmacking, i was in tears. Just so remarkable. A very special day in my life.
This is undoubtedly the greatest 20 min in Rock and Roll history.
I didn't see your comment before I posted exactly the same thing.
Can only be said by someone who never saw Zeppelin live, no one ever came close to LZ and what they gave to us in the audience.
@@betseyr.9081I saw Led Zeppelin live in 1970 - great show / but I’d put the Who live before LZ and this Queen performance above everyone for all time! PS Led Zeppelin bombed at Live Aid
@@betseyr.9081Prince...enough said really...if you've never been to a Prince show you have no idea...
Freddie owned the stage like no other. Queen's Live Aid performance still gives me goosebumps after all these years.
The Live Aid video is a masterclass in owning the stage/crowd.
The performer who was scheduled to follow Queen was David Bowie.
He reputedly said "How the F**K am I supposed to follow that?!"
And Elton John went to their caravan out back, and said to them, with a big grin, "You Bastards! You've stolen the show!!"
The nearest thing to Elvis. Pure charisma. Sadly no longer found in entertainment.
I am 65 and still never get tired of watching Freddie with Queen in the Live Aid concert. Iconic performance.
Loved that Freddie warmed up the keys with Tchaikovskys Piano Concerto #1. His background in the classics was not lost on me.
And 100 years from now artists will be warming up with Bohemian Rhapsody!
Didn't even realise, love some Tchaikovsky and a bit more Freddie
The piano was played by Spike Edney who filled in on piano regularly while Freddy was downstage being Freddy. Spike is their piano man to this day for Queen+Adam Lambert. He’s one of the family.
Thank you for adding this note!
Spike Edney also played the guitar as well. Forget which songs, but was in Wembley 86 magic tour.
Thanks for that 😎🥂
Spike was in Roger’s solo band first, then became Queen’s auxiliary piano player in 1984.
The shot of the sea of people (70,000) is simply ridiculous looking. Amazing. The older I get the more I appreciate Queen not only as consummate performers but incredible, INCREDIBLE songwriters and technically proficient (amazingly so) musicians.
I love the way you smile as you watch. It's clear you love Queen as much as so many of us.
Fil’s teeth, omg, the teeth. Such a fabulous smile. Terrific breakdown, a great understanding of it all.
Yes I notice that too. And if you watch the video when he announced in great disbelieve and horror that Queen productions auto tuned Freddie’s voice. Normally he is very calm and alway’s giving singers the benefit of the doubt, but in this video he can’t hardly control his feelings. As Queen fans, we are all very upset, with the auto tuning of Freddie’s voice. It’s outrageous!
@@fightingforfreedom5017 I didnt watch the thing..i refuse to watch it...autotune Freddy flipping Mercury??????blasphemy i tell ya!
@@fightingforfreedom5017 could I have a link to where this was discussed? I'd like to watch that
@@Justicia007 th-cam.com/video/2NiM3AnhwCI/w-d-xo.html
Here you go.
Freddie was so ahead of his time, he's been dead for 30 years and there is STILL nobody who can touch him! That my friends is why we are still talking about this performance almost forty years later!
Has it really been 30yrs?? Freddy will always be alive to me. I watch this live show regularly just so I can shed a tear. 😢 Best wishes from Australia 🇦🇺 ❤
@@jenniferdaulby551933 years.....
I found the movie Bohemian Rhapsody to be an insult.
33 years now. It seems like yesterday.
@@dumfriesspearhead7398 I had to check 1991 unbelievable isn’t it
I love this man's smile. It expresses how good music is supposed to make you feel.
❤ yes, his face is that of an angel ☺️
Only Freddie could strut like that and not look cheesy. It's nice to know about their dedication to minute details and how they all add up to make a unforgettable performance that the entire world was watching.
Yeah I was thinking that. Its just you know its his natural persona as a performer and his own style. Anyone else would be in danger of looking cheesy or like a poser. Freddie owns it. What can you say?
His "peacock strut" was his trademark. And did it so......AMAZING!!!
Only half the world. Mostly those with money to donate, but another comment reports starving children listening in from Ethiopia.
No ONE will ever command an audience like Freddie!! The greatest front man ever, accompanied by the rest of this amazing band, are and will always be legendary!! RIP Freddie
I know it almost looks ridiculous when others are trying to copy and command crowds bc no one could measure up to Freddie 😊
As much as I love Iron Maiden and Bruce Dickinson, I agree =)
Metallica 1991 in Moscow and 1.6 million fans may disagree
@@TGSamantha091 I agree but Bruce is right behind Freddy
Mick jagger and james brown were every bit as good as Freddie at commanding a crowd, some people are born to be on the stage
Freddie did say in an interview that his favorite instrument was the crowd
The other thing that makes this performance so amazing is that the crowd was not there for Queen. It was Live Aid, so the audience had (we assume) different bands that they were fans of. And I think (unless this is apocryphal) that Queen was a relatively late add, so most attendees would not have even booked their tickets with Queen in mind. And yet, Queen had the entire crowd in the palm of their hands.
Clearly there were other fans. I could see the U2 banner blocking people’s view in this video.
Yes, this exactly. To have your own crowd in t.he palm of your hand is one thing. To have a charity concert stadium crowd, 6 hours in, so engaged and enthralled is amazing.
U2 were the hot band of the time, hence all the U2 banners and flags waving all day through every performance. They already had two number 1 albums in the UK before they played Live Aid.
Absolutely
Exactly this. It wasn't their crowd - most of them weren't there to see Queen - but within a short medley and a few 'Ayyy ohhs', they were totally into it. The energy coming off the band (and especially Freddie) was 100% infectious. That back shot of the whole of Wembley (like, all of it) swaying to "We Are The Champions" with Freddie conducting at the end is *the* iconic image that will live forever.
I remember watching this in 1985. Never thought people would be still talking about this over 30 years later. It just shows how timeless Queen and Freddie are.
It's good but I never understand the fascination with this set.
I've watched other old bands. The Beatles, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and other bands seemed better to me.
I don't even know if this was the best set from the Live Aid event.
@@conniethesconnie it was, and they were. 😁
@@myramegill7293 so 100 Million people are wrong ...and you are right?
@@richardjohncrouch7617 you misunderstand my remark. The OP said they weren't sure Queen was the best set, or even the best band.
I replied that it was (the best set) and they (Queen) were (one of the best bands) of the day.
So I was defending Queen against the poster's negative comment.
No need to insult me for the remark, but it's fine to disagree.
Same here. We had no awareness of how blessed we were. It was the age of amazing Rock music and we didn't know it wouldn't last forever :)
I always cry throughout this performance. The tightness and musicianship of the band, Freddie's beautiful voice, his charisma, seeing thousands of people clapping and reacting in euphoric enthusiasm, and the emotions and adrenaline of a great rock concert (especially a taped one). It just overwhelms me but they're good tears because how often do you get to witness such a moment and it's been recorded for generations to come to appreciate.
I always cry too. Best performance ever! I miss Freddie so much!
What gets me is how the performance looks like a movie was being shot, i.e., as if everything had been storyboarded.
The most amazing thing for me personally, is when Freddie, John & Brian turn to face Roger on the drums, call me a sentimental old git if you want, but that for me was beautiful...that's what you call a band!.
@@madspaniel4271 Yes, when you really look closely at any of their live performances, going right back to the beginning, they are always, always looking at one another, listening to one another, cueing and following and intertwining - the simpatico and professionalism were always there both in-studio and onstage - integral qualities to why they're so revered. Fil here has pointed out how crucial the rhythm section is - they're the unappreciated bedrock of good bands - and when you watch closely, bassist Deacon and drummer Taylor are connected to one another at all times. It's incredibly subtle, they never made a show of it. Camera action doesn't capture this very often, because May and Mercury usually draw the camera attention - understandably, but it's a shame in terms of getting literally the full picture - but bassist and drummer are always connected. So many bands, everybody's in their own bubble onstage, but never Queen. They're always with one another both in spirit and in musicianship. The tightest of bands, the tightest of craftsmanship, the tightest of simpatico. Remarkable for four very, very distinct and unalike personalities.
Freddie and Brian came back out later to perform "Is this the world we created". And it was absolutely beautiful. Why does no one ever cover it when doing a Live Aid video?
That is one of my favourite Queen songs, the lyrics are so powerful.
I cry EVERY TIME the audience claps along to Radio Gaga. I cried when I watched it when I was 10 and I still cry today. The world will never know another Freddie.
Same here! It takes my breath away and makes me feel so much that I get all choked-up. That enormous crowd acting as one organism, completely enthralled by Freddy. I get goosebumps every time!
I heard in an Interview that once Queen decided to join Live Aid they stepped into a studio and rehearsed every second to give a perfect Performance.
they gave a fantastic show to the audience and still, more than 30 years later we get shivers and are enthusiastic about this Band
There is no Band like Queen.
I'm so happy to grow up with them
And that was the perfect performance.
Yeah, I believe that about Queen.
One reason to why they really wanted to give a perfect performance can be that they did the works tour 1984-1985 and on that tour they also made concerts in South Africa .It was forbidden to play there because of apartheid and Queen was punished for it. For Live Aid Queen´s name wasn´t allowed to be in the printed program and their fans didn´t know Queen would participate.
They had got a lot of flack for doing Sun City and the wonderful gutter press were labelling them as has beens.Which back fired on them of course. ...
Yeah, I believe it was the old Shaw Theatre in Euston where they rehearsed for Live Aid.
I know as an American Live Aid viewer who thought Queen had had their day, with low expectations going in and the tepid way other acts had performed to that point (neither the stadium nor the sound system seemed right), it was a shock just how solid and in their element Queen looked from the get-go. They clearly kicked the show up a notch or two, to a place I didn't think it could go, and the response they got from the hometown fans was felt all the way across the Ocean. Live Aid without Queen would have been a minor dud.
I was at Live Aid USA in Philadelphia. Thanks to the slipshod satellite transmission, we caught the middle 12-15 minutes.
U2 were pretty damn good that day too, not sure why people forget this. They were the first band of the day to fire the crowd up when they started playing "Sunday Bloody Sunday", they demanded the crowds attention. Queen came on later, and stole it, and history, but U2 were the first band that day to seize the enormity of the occasion.
@@michaelg2478 but I think the reason Queen were seen as the better that day was because they played song after song for their whole allotted time. Not just 3 or 4 like the others. Their performance was fantastic obviously also due to Freddie's high energy and use of the whole stage and his showmanship.
Yep. They had literally been written off by the media.
@@michaelg2478
Debatable.
i love that you analyze the interactions of the whole band and don't just comment on Freddie as so many reactions to this Live Aid segment do. I always learn so much from your analysis.
Really good analysis
Freddie being such a perfectionist that none of this is surprising. Gone too soon. What a tragic loss.
It truly is the biggest tragedy!
Well said Jan
@@amandatolleson7740 it's the worst.
He was a Virgo, def, they are perfectionists. I agree the worst loss in my opinion.
It was a tragic loss. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about 2 weeks before he died. I was 18, due to be 19 the next month so not a good year. The song 'The show must go on' was released around that time and helped me to come to terms with the diagnosis. So this song is special to me.
Take care and best wishes
They were the ultimate stadium band. No one ever captivated every single person in a stadium like they did.
Well, Queen was in the top 3. I guess your vote clinches it. :)
They NEVER came close to what Zeppelin fans were a part of at live events!
@@betseyr.9081 Curious how you mentioned Zeppelin here...
Er,,, I saw them 1985. Never listened to Queen again. The stopping and starting, the change in style (although I was a fan of those songs) just broke up the momentum, Status Quo - whom I'd never heard of at the time - blew them away!
I thought Status Quo did a mighty fine job with the opening song ~ Rocking all over the World.
I can remember seeing a Documentary about this Live Aid concert where Bob Geldof mentioned that even though donations were coming in, they were slow and sporadic, then Queen went onstage and apparently the phone lines nearly melted, such was the performance and atmosphere that Queen added to this whole charity event.
fact
the audience is singing with him immediately ... they didn't need much warm up either to be completely with him
i always get chills the second he starts singing,
thank you for this
Freddie's voice in We Are the Champions was obviously feeling the strain of that incredible set--and you're right--his bandmates step up to keep the richness and strength of the vocals. Incredible performance--and love your analysis.
And even with that strain, it was still a contender for one of their best renditions of that song live.
You can’t have a performance without some cowbell❗️❗️
He already had AIDS
He knew his days were numbered
A microphone in one hand and the crowd in the other...absolute legend ❤️
He fking stole the show that day!
Julie- what a great way to put it! 🤴🏻
"The note that was heard around the world' ...
nicely put - did you make that up yourself?
@@alansimon1354 No other way to see it in my eyes 🙂
I’ve watched this performance at least a hundred times but I was thrilled to learn of the many nuances I had missed. Now I can appreciate it even more! Thanks so much, Fil!
Oh, I got everything 3rd time round, I still enjoy it but lyrically it’s pretty linear, no hidden meanings. Good music.
I need FREDDIE EVERY DAY TO LIVE!!!!!💋👑💋👑💋👑💋👑💋💋👑💋👑👏👑👑👑👑👑👑👑💋👑👑
mee too !!!
Same
Me too.... I’m so impressed with their masterful mini sound check - I never noticed that ...
I love that Freddie still took time to interact with the fans despite knowing they had limited time on stage. The man knew how to put out a show. A legend.
Queen were such a success not only because they chose their most outstanding hits, they also chose those songs because they knew that the audience would participate. Queen were famous for their big stadium concerts so Live Aid didn’t phase them at all. With Freddie’s interaction with the audience, he had them in the palm of his hand, which none of the other bands achieved. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 💖
Freddy: On Stage.
Audience: "USE US OH LORD!"
Freddy: Heh, yall my bitches. *smiles*
The first time I really understood a singer like Mercury was something Shania Twain said about herself. She had jumped from country to pop and was questioned about it. She said she IS NOT a singer, she is a performer… what ever the fans want or ask for is what she will give them. I think of Mercury as a theatrical performer with a phenomenal voice. He wants only to please the fans. Until the man fell over dead he gave them his best performance possible.
One thing often overlooked is how amazing the background vocals are. Roger and Brian were both once lead vocalists and their background vocals are truly amazing.
Freddy always gave credit to the background vocals Roger handles most of the super high notes he had a far higher range than Freddy just a different type of voice ..Freddy had range and Power ..and he was Freddy
I'd have to say that Queen was one of those very rare bands who actually sound better live than on an album. Freddie always seems to just put so much more into those live performances.
They, especially Freddie fed off of the energy of the crowd.
The best thing about your critiques, besides the incisive analysis, is your smile. You love music so much it beams from your smile and off your face. Given the tough world we live in, you are a godsend. Thanks.
I did notice that! He has a absolute beautiful smile, doesn't he? 😃
@@deborahallen3318 He does. Sweet man.
AGREED! He watches with true admiration and respect. His smile says it all ❤
@@mifnp8887 He may have been a toddler when this concert took place at Wembley stadium.
I love you Fil!!!!!! Thanks for all you do for us!!!!! Britain 🇬🇧 Rocks!
I love your expression- the smile- when you are watching Freddie. I saw them live when I was 16 and I threw Freddie a long stemmed red 🌹, oh yes I did! What a night. And yes. Every show they performed as if it was their last. Glad to have found your channel.
To this day I love to listen to him sing. A Persian Prince. RIP Freddie. ❤️🌹❤️.
A Persian Queen!
@@pepamicro what’s your point ffs yeah we know he was gay sheesh. So you took the time to respond to me with this. Oh brother really! Bigot much?
He wasn't Persian. Persia is now Iran. He was Indian-Parsi, born in Zanzabar
@@pennyrockysmomma4445 Freddie did have Persian ancestry.
And he said
“That’s something inbred, it’s a part of me.
I will always walk around like a Persian popinjay”.
Saw them when I was 15. 1982. I don't think I appreciated it as much then as I have as I've aged. I was incredibly lucky to see them. I believe that was their last American tour.
I was 13 years old and watching this concert in my parent's basement, in Minnesota, USA, and my mom was a Queen fan so when they came on I was familiar with the songs....BUT THE PERFORMANCE!!!!! To this day, if I hear Radio GaGa, I throw my hands up and clap at the right time(s)...sometimes at the angst of those around me....doesn't matter...SOOOOO GOOOODDD!!!
SO YOUR 49 0R 50 CAUSE I WAS TEN , IM FROM ABERDEEN SCOTLAND
I loved how you broke this performance down. As you mentioned, Queen was so good, many people don't realize all the hard work they put into all their performances. To be given 20 minutes to perform, and put on such a spectacular show is nothing but amazing. I've seen this clip many times. It still gives me goosebumps and makes me want to stand up and cheer, "All hail to Queen!"
They " Stole the show " . Pretty impressive, they were written off by most and the sheer quality of acts that day . Bravo , They were untouchable that day !
And any day !
Can we just take a minute to appreciate what the sound engineers were able to do? That has to be the best job of sound mixing I have ever heard at a live concert. The balance was perfect!
Small wonder that David Bowie, who was hardly a slouch as a performer, and who was the scheduled performer after Queen, reportedly asked "How the f**k am I going to follow that?"
Thought it was Elton that said that, but then again, I have heard both, or that it was one to the other as well. Whoever said it was on point though. I mean damn, how DO you follow up this performance?
@@dantreadwell7421 Short answer is you can't. Freddie and the crew stole the show - nothing could have trumped them.
All these people of the anecdotes were personally intertwined. Elton John was a tremendous personal friend of Queen, and lent them his manager for a time during their darkest financial hours. Bowie/Ian Hunter/Queen all interconnected personally. (Ian Hunter not at Live Aid but at Freddie's tribute concert in 1992.) Queen went on fairly late at Live Aid. Following them live were only Bowie, The Who, Elton John, May and Mercury following themselves, Paul McCartney. Not that many acts after Queen. So, anybody could have said the words backstage, but chances are very good that it was backstage joking around. The evening was winding down, Queen slayed it after a very long day, and odds are everybody was actually thinking Thank God they saved the day.
In some ways Bowie did top it. He realised it was a charity gig, dropped a song and played an advert that showed the actual suffering in Africa. Geldoff said it was the “ turn around moment in the entire event” and more money was pledged at then than at any other time during the concert. Of course Freddie’s performance was amazing
@@richardanderson2820 Yes indeed. He finished and introduced The Cars "Drive" playing over heartbreaking footage shot by Canadian CBC in Ethiopia. It had incredibly appropriate words. The images showed a parent watching their starving child struggle to stand, and being unable to help. Then it gets worse. Here it is on TH-cam. Nowadays we'd give a trigger warning for this, as I do now. It's worth knowing at least one of the children shown in these distressing scenes definitely survived. This was the point for those watching that the event moved from music to its real purpose. th-cam.com/video/9xIpHNd3hjU/w-d-xo.html
I'm an old rhythm/ lead guitarist, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee in the late 1950's and 1960s. Music was everywhere and there were many opportunities to learn from some fabulous musicians.
In '73 or '74 (I forget offhand) Queen came to town, frosting for Mott the Hoople. That afternoon I met Brian May and Roger Taylor in a music shop, and we stayed in contact over the years. I met John and Freddie with the others in a Munich restaurant. I developed a good friendship with Freddie and spent more than one night at Barbara Valentin's house (with some others strewn nude around the house.... Suffice it to say that Barbara Valentin was PERFECT for me as far as looks..... But the guys in Queen, MARVELOUS gentlemen as well as beyond-belief great musicians.
This was the single greatest performance ever. I get lost in this performance and I have seen it hundreds of times. The crowd was magical. Freddie was beyond angelical.
Talent is 10 a penny, but genuine charisma is very rare indeed. Freddie had both in spades.
One small thing I haven't heard mentioned yet - notice how they put Crazy Little Thing Called Love as the middle song. Freddie makes everything look effortless, but it isn't, and this middle song gives him a SLIGHTLY lower key moment to catch his breath. It's a breezy song for him vocally, fun and not super demanding while showing off the warmest part of his voice. He's got the guitar so he's not running around as much but isn't just standing there either. My bet is that he's a guy who knows you should pace yourself on stage BUT sometimes you get in the moment and don't. If you don't pace u run the risk of overtaxing yourself - particularly when you have to just go go go for 20 minutes because that's what you've got here.
He had AIDS. He knew it. His band mates did too
We could all hear his voice breaks and him compensating but even compensating he is still at a level higher than the top 90 percentile of singers
Outstanding voice
Also impressive is how Brian uses 3 different guitars during this song without missing a beat.
@@dob5327he was infected with HIV but he didn't know it then and didn't develope AIDS at that point (please, don't believe BohRap film, facts there are not correct because it's a film not a documentary). He was officially diagnosed in spring of 1987. He told their manager Jim Beach but not jet band members (they were told in 1989 but of course they knew something wasn't ok with his health). At Live Aid Freddie wasn't ill.
@@iris67si Glad someone else pointed this out. THAT film really took liberties with th etime line of events. More fantsy than fact.
@@IfUfindthisURlost unfortunately yes. It would be better if they didn't mess with the timeline. But the film also brought Queen to all new generations and that is something amazing. Freddie and Queen will live on through their music ... Till the end of time. 🥰
As many times as I have watched Queen at Live Aid, I have never appreciated it so much until now, after watching your video. Fil, you are a master at analyzing, seeing all the details and minutia of a performance as well as knowing and understanding each member of a band. Now, I love and appreciate Queen more than ever. Thank you!
Me too and I have been a fan of Queen since 1974 when I was 13
Roger and Brian said in an interview that they couldn't hear themselves because they were so loud and so was the audience. They didn't know how great they were sounding.
Roger filled in for Freddie a lot if Freddie's voice wasn't all there at a concert.
I generally like reactions where the reactor is a novice, being blown away by a great artistry and performance. I"m not fond of most reactors who try to analyze and show how smart they are. You know what you're talking about. I feel like I'm taking a master class in musical concepts and performance.
Thanks!
Yes Fil is a true Master!!!
Been a fan of fil for a while just for the stated reasons 👍
True that. I had to stop at 3:40.
Ditto. I enjoy the teeny boppers discovery of " my" music, but always return to Fil from my education. Fil..you are the best!
I would have never known he wasn't feeling 100% if you didn't tell me. This is such a fascinating analysis, thank you so much💜💜💜
Love the props to Roger on his timing. He’s definitely an underrated drummer. Big influence on my playing.
With regards to the vocals on Bohemian Rhapsody, every member of the crowd, and millions of us at home were singling to usual melody, so Freddie was singing a harmony with us. It was brilliant, and still brings tears to my eyes. There’s never really been anyone to touch them for my money.
Freddie's performance at Live Aid was both multi-levelled (powerful vocals, masterful instrumentation, theatricality, physical athleticism) and multi-dimensional on a spiritual level. Pure gifts, skills, flair and joy from his heart. That's what made it (and him) so special. 💙
They had rehearsed this set to death and Roger had the timing down to perfection. They wanted to let Freddie get in with the crowd, and he would have gone on for ages given the chance, but Roger gave him the drum clue at 25:38 that his time was up, utter professionals. They were not even top billing for the show but they were undisputed champions by the end, for sure. I wasn't there but I heard it on broadcast and I could not believe how good they were. Mind you I never picked up on a fraction of the points you raised in your analysis, thank you for a great video.
I love that you pointed out the drum cue! In scrolling the comments, I’ve seen several people wishing this portion of the show-this particular interaction with the audience-had been broken down a bit more in the analysis. The masterful timing of this call and response, and the purpose it served, is so interesting to me!
@@AmandaBabyyyyy 😘
I watched their performance on “live” tv & was blown away having seen them twice in concert. This performance still gives me goosebumps ❤️
Another thing Fil, I’m sure you know this but didn’t remark on when you talked at the end at Queen’s precise timing with the clock on their 20-min set, are the “semaphore-like” lights that someone pointed out to me years ago…this astonishes me! Notice at the end of We Are the Champions, and Freddie is waiting for Brian to finish up the guitar, and at YOUR 46:52ish and he steps up onto the stage, you can see the “traffic lights” below him flash yellow, then at almost 47:00 it becomes red JUST AS HE RAISES HIS HAND and it’s over. That is impeccable timing! No wonder it’s the greatest live performance ever!!!
Thanks, I was looking for this. The sound was cut when it turned red so bands couldn't go over....perfect timing!
Bob Geldof said that he told them not to turn of the sound at that precise point because Queen gave THE PERFORMANCE he wanted..he said Queen got it. So I think this allowed them to finish completely and not have the sound cut.
I read somewhere that they had rehearsed for weeks with a huge clock and similar yellow and red lights, so they were well practiced on the precise timing. They were serious about this performance; and rehearsed it like the professionals they were.
I simply canNOT get enough of Brian May. He is simply the master of his instrument. Red Special is capable of so many sounds and tones, but beyond the capability of the guitar itself, Brian displays so many techniques and is a consummate MASTER of all of them. But nothing he does is "showing off" or going beyond the limits of good taste. Everything fits into the framework of the song. I stand in awe of the man. In addition to that, he is just genuinely a good dude.
The Red Special. Homemade. A teenage project with his father, who, even so, never had faith in his son's career choice until Brian persuaded his parents to come see Queen at Madison Square Garden in NYC, at that time the pinnacle of performance venues. If you played the Garden, you had Arrived. By which time the band was solidly successful. The Special is now, in modern-instrument terms, entering early middle age, a 1960s perfect confection of garage parts, hardware store small bits, and household junk, father-son labor of love and companionship. No other guitar in the world is able to sound just like it. It's a complete personality in its own right, the fifth band member of original Queen. Bassist John Deacon crafted an amp, the Deaky Amp, for the Special, which amp is still in use, albeit refurbished, at times by May today. For anyone not familiar, and who might be interested, a bit on the guitar -
guitarriego.com/en-us/guitar/red-special-history-and-characteristics-of-brian-may-guitar/
Dr. Brian May is also an astrophysicist when he's not being a rock star. I wonder if he's ambidextrous?
cap steve did you notice at the end of champions that brian walks into his mic stand as he walks back from the front of the stage? it took me years to spot that as i always looked at freddie at this point! also look at ratty just before the radio gaga intro! its around 15 seconds from the start of it and he's taping up freddie's mic stand, but of course he makes it on time 👑✊🇬🇧
@@markingtime1024 makes you wonder what the red special would be worth nowadays?
@@johngraham5996 Brian has said the guitar is not insured, no one can determine a value for it. But if it's not with Brian, it's with his guitar tech Pete who has worked for Brian for the past twenty or twenty-five years. That guitar is always with somebody. I heard him say in a video "she's my baby and when I die she will be buried with me". If that's what he wants that should be the way it is, but I would think one of his kids would love to have that guitar, but they would certainly honor their father's wishes.
Another factor to consider. Before this gig, Queen had experience with playing full to capacity stadiums. When they took the stage, there was no doubt of hesitation. They killed it!!!
I was at Wembley and to be honest the afternoon excitement was beginning to fade. The evening needed to get going or it was all going to fizzle out UNTIL QEEEN !!
That's awesome. Can you see yourself in the footage?
I was there as well. I can't remember the 'beginning to fade', but I do remember the feeling of the whole stadium (75K) on our feet and screaming at the top of our lungs. It was one of the best gigs I ever attended.
David it's been pointed out elsewhere that Queen was not exactly at the nadir of their popularity at this moment in time. Do you recall any sort of feeling at the time that they were sort of yesterday's news?
@@herbiecactus6687 No but Freddie Mercury thought so.
@@waadfrelle It was the best ever. At about 6.30 the afternoon sun and alcohol was beginning to fade in my head. Then ding ding ding ding 🎶 “ Mama, just killed a man….
Watching these old recordings of them, it's always impressive to me how well all the members of Queen play off of and support each other in live performances. They really are like a well trained pro sports team--passing back and forth, setting up shots for each other, and just generally working all of their individual strengths and abilities to the max to form a cohesive whole. They were all individually excellent, but they knew how to make each other even better, and I think THAT'S how they became the legends that they are.
Damn brilliant analysis. Many of us never go to be musicians even though we would have loved to. We never learned music theory or even thought of all that goes into making a performance what it is. To hear this and understand it on an muscian's level is downright satisfying because it takes us deep, way deeper than just listening. Thank you so much.
This was by far and away the best analysis I've ever seen of their performance. Great job... thanks!!
Timeless......I"ll never tire of this performance.
Whenever I watch Queen’s Live Aid set it always sends me down a Queen rabbit hole, where I have to listen to/watch as many performances as I can. I love this band so much.
Yes! Here i go again!
My sister got Sheer Heart Attack as a birthday gift in 1975. I was 10. That was when I fell in love with Queen. I'm 58 now. I still love the band. My heart is aching for the loss of Freddie Mercury.
Fil, I almost didn't watch this because it sometimes hurts to watch/listen Queen, because of how f'ing amazing the band was, and because of the loss of Freddie. I'm so glad I let the video play. So bittersweet. Your analysis has given a greater depth to my understanding of the band. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
46:55 when the yellow light at the bottom right disappears and the red light signals the end of their time. Gets me every time! They nailed it. Thank you Fil. I've been waiting for this one. Fascinating reaction!
Perfectly timed!
It's the first time I've managed to take my eyes off the band long enough to watch the lights, and I couldn't believe it! Absolutely bob on!! 😲
I had to go back to look. Good catch.
@@DoctorQuackenbush Thanks! I only noticed because the timing lights are mentioned in one of the Live Aid Documentaries. The sound supposedly shut off if any band went too long. That was the threat anyway. I wonder if they (the organizers) would have actually done that?
They stopped playing exactly when the yellow light turns red. Wow!
Seriously, Fil, this is one of my favorite live performances in rock history...and you just brought it to a whole new level and experience. Been a Classic Rock fan all my life (at age 53 now, former radio personality as well), and you outclass every other channel which covers music. Seriously, huge fan. Thank you for doing what you do, the way you do it.
Agreed. Also check out Rick Beato on TH-cam and his dynamic coverage of music. He has amazing insight, as well. These two channels are tops...
Thanks for the excellent video, Pegasus!
I'm 68, and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate this. I remember hearing Queen for the first time. It was a wonderful experience. You just added to that experience. Thank you.
I am 72. Ditto
Queen worked their butts off for a week to rehearse for this and seemed to be the only band on the day who got the 'global jukebox' idea - get as many hits in as you can and give the crowd a good time. For a band that always did long soundchecks this was a leap of faith, but man it paid off. Having said that, Roger Taylor messes up the end of Hammer to Fall if you listen closely, but that was the excitement of Queen live, I saw Queen seven times with Freddie, starting in 76. They always pushed their songs to the limit live, that's what made them so exciting and every show unique. Live Aid showed the rest of the world what Queen fans already knew - live; Queen were untouchable.
U2 weren't far off Queen that day, if it wasn't for Queen, it would be remembered as U2's day. Would have been interesting to see how U2 would play if they came on after Queen, instead of the other way around.
There were more bands that understood that during an event like this, with an audience that would not be there for you specifically, you shouldn't get up there to promote your latest album.
Even during the day itself I already felt that Queen, David Bowie and U2 gave the absolute best performances of all artists there. That hasn't changed over the decades.
But also Dire Straits (bringing on Sting as well), Sting & Phil Collins, The Who, Hall & Oates (with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks), Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and Mick Jagger (joined by Tina Turner) got the idea and played a setlist of crowd pleasers.
And Freddie said, he never wanted their songs to sound like the recorded ones….they purposely put a different spin on everything (lol they had to!!)
Remember when he said and this isn’t exact words “if ppl come to hear us sing like the records, then stay home and listen to them!” ah that was darn close….if they did sound close to the recorded versions NOT intentionally…what more proof would they need that they WERE the best band ever, records and L I V E!!!! (and still are the best ever with Deacy & Freddie. Not speaking of today….)
@@michaelg2478 Seriously dude!? U2 became an internationally loved band that day, but they didn't even come close to touching Queen's performance. U2 was lightyears away from even equaling Queen that day. Your wrong, bro...dead wrong. Sorry!
The crowd were shitfaced by the time Queen came on, U2 played to a sober audience earlier on that day...I know this as I was there ....Queen were still awesome though.
The set list is also awesomely thought out. Within a minute of taking stage they are launching into their most iconic song and then straight into a song whose chorus is all about "us" loving radio joining the audience participation with the lyrics.
Not sure who followed them, but backstage they were said to have lamented “how the hell are we going to follow that?”. Apparently the other bands in a staging room could hear and feel the energy from the crowd and they all wanted to know who it was. They were astounded that it was Queen ... who everyone wrote off as past their prime. Ha ha other bands, nothing beats preparation and practice on top of quality musicians. 💕🐝🇺🇸
David Bowie followed
@@cityvibegirl Thank you! 💕🐝🇺🇸
@@cityvibegirl Obviously, under pressure! :,)
@@Sammyli99 That’s the price of Fame..
@@thescarletandgrey2505 you don't get out much, do you?
What I would like an answer to is why do we love Freddie so much? I feel differently about Freddie than I do about other music giants. Well, I also feel this way about Johnny Cash and Jerry Garcia. But it's rare, and so many people really, really LOVE Freddie. He was also beautiful.
Freddie was a very special guy - much more so than people will ever know.
I think the entire band, but especially Freddie, were very open in telegraphing that they loved us, fans, audience, those who bought their records but maybe never got to a concert . . . a connection was communicated, a full exchange of mutual appreciation, not a one-way street. Beyond that, Freddie was just one of those celestial beings, a magical entity, one of those occasional humans who exist beyond all the ordinary. Yet every song he ever wrote himself connected to every one of us. We love him because he was extraordinary, because he loved us, because he was like us, all at the same time.
He was so beautiful, but also powerful and vulnerable at the same time and brought out the maternal and paternal instincts in most of us, has been my opinion on the why. The prize-winning baby picture of him shows the same joy as the photos of him on stage. His bandmates emphasize his intelligence, humor, kindness, wit and musical genius. When a fan first reads about his childhood in boarding school, they're lost and can never unlove that little boy, after learning all he triumphed over.
I'm back here a year later to re-watch your analysis of this performance because my mood needs lifted. Thank you for putting a smile on my face. Your appreciation of Queen is so evident and I enjoy seeing your reaction as much as watching Queen's performance. Freddie! ❤
This whole performance is a masterpiece and the added information about the timing makes it somehow more so. Thanks for this. ❤️
I love the uncontrolled smile from you straight away - haven’t even played a note yet - I have the same reaction every time I watch this performance!!!
You can literally see how close they were to their time limit. At time stamp 47:00, you can see lights at the front of the stage that’s warning them of their time. The light is yellow and immediately turns red right after they finish the final notes. Best live performance ever.
absolutely correct my friend
Freddie is absolutely up there, undisputed with the G.O.A.T's front men of all time.. his ability to engage his audience and connect with them and own and fully immerse himself in his position is next level.. have watched this performance countless times and still gives me chills.. this was a great analysis of this iconic performance by Queen, Thank you 😁👍
The real reason Queen totally stole the show that day is one that many who were not around in those days will not really understand. To Queen fans, they knew what to expect but to the world at large Queen were not exactly mainstream pop. Bohemian Rhapsody had happened 6 years earlier and prancing about with a vacuum cleaner was about all anyone who was not a keen fan knew about them. They'd more or less had their day in the pop world.
But a live performance on the world stage was an incredible WTF moment for many.
From Vaccuum cleaners to the real thing. The world really didn't know what hit them.
Cat Man Well said! Very true.
Yes, to non-Queen fans in their teens and early 20s, Queen was bit of a relic from a bygone age by 1985. Bohemian Rhapsody was already an anthem but it was ten years old. Queen were not yet the God-like legends that they became after Live Aid.The audience may have caught the end of Punk, but the previous five years had seen Reggae, New Romantics, synth-pop and a lot of novelty short lived one hit wonders. Seeing Queen in all their strutting glory was a revelation.
@@acampbell8614 Well said.
Freddie & John's roadie, Ratty (Peter Hince), wrote in his book about a lot of what you pointed out. Ratty is the one in blue jeans shorts handing or taking Freddie's microphone. The book, "Queen Unseen" is really a great read about the back stage/tours of Queen from the late 70's thru to their last performance in 1986. I highly recommend it.
Loved his book. So funny.
Thanks for the heads up on this book. Just ordered it 👍
Just ordered this book, can’t wait to start reading. Thanks for the recommendation! 😊
must get that book
Freddie could work any crowd. I miss that world.
This performance by Queen and Prince at the Superbowl in the rain... 2 best ever.
This is so "FANTASTIC!". I lost track of how many times I have watched it! I enjoy Freddie's voice and all of the music that everyone is performing! It's just awesome! Freddie is not just singing perfectly, you can see that he enjoys himself singing for this crowd! To the man that is explaining this to us, I love that you enjoy it so much and every time you smiled, I smiled too!
I was in the crowd that day, and Queen really were in a league of their own compared to everyone else.
As a huge Queen fan, I'd seen them before, but after they finished, all those around me who'd never seen Queen live before were... F***!!! How does anybody follow that???
On a hi-res recording you can make me out, just after 'Ready Freddie' during Crazy little thing - behind the girl on her b/f's shoulders, I'm the one wearing sunglasses right behind the guy waving a white t-shirt.
I'd travelled down from the North-East for the weekend, while waiting to hear my degree reults (I was 21 at the time) - It was a red-hot day, and got badly sunburned, but WELL worth it.
You missed one big detail: Crazy Little Thing Called Love > Brian starts the song with a 12-string electroacoustic guitar, plays the song's original solo with a Fender Telcaster and finishes it with his Red Special.
I was 12 watching this at home with my dad and we were singing along and I'll never forget the goosebumps I got just watching Queen own the entire stage...I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be there... amazing stuff. There will never be another Freddie Mercury.
Edit to add I have no idea how I missed this the first time around lol.
The fact they had such awesome pitch, on an enormous stadium stage, with no in-ear monitors is just amazing.
The best musical thing I have ever seen:
Decades after Freddie Mercury died a crowd in Hyde Park - gathered for Green day concert - gave a word-perfect impromptu performance of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Footage of 65,000 people singing Freddie Mercury's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is one of the most moving videos we've seen in a long time.
The incredible moment occurred in Hyde Park on July 1, 2017 when Green Day were in London on their Revolution Radio tour.
Also the fact that they even sung with the guitar solo and the higher voices did the higher Galileo’s and the lower voices the lower galileo’s so it wouldn’t sound like one person trying to sing both. The harmony between all these 65k people fitted perfectly, like if they had practiced it before. This and live aid is, in my opinion, the best representation of what an impact Queen made/still makes to millions of people all around the globe.
@@dayna9264
WOW, can I find this on YT.??? I know it'll make me cry, but I still wanna see!!!!!
@@theducklinghomesteadandgar6639 yea just type something like „Green Day Fans sing bohemian Rhapsody“ and it should come right up. If you still don‘t find it tell me and I‘ll send you a link
@@dayna9264
Thanks so much, I found it!!That is really cool!!! I hope the rest of the band has seen that. That is a true testament to the impact music, especially specific music and specific groups/people can have on not just one generation but many generations!!! Amazing!!
I bet Freddie and his band appreciate your acknowledgment of their skill and musical talent. May Freddie rest in peace. They all worked hard to reach this level of perfection and to have someone appreciate it, like you do, are making them all smile right now.
Damn I miss these days. Going to concerts and everyone just having an awesome time. I remember when Queen came out and I bought the album, which I STILL HAVE!!!!
Why were they so good that day? Just look at Freddie, he's having a blast and that spread to not only the band but to the 10's of thousands having a blast along with him.
Prior to accidentally coming across this YT channel I had never given any musical performance a second thought in terms of its structure. What this video has done in particular is to give me an entirely different perspective and the best way to describe is to compare 2d to 3d! Thank you "Wings of Pegasus" for opening my eyes, from here on in shall be following you keenly .😊
There's a reason why every critic and artist/band has cited Queen's Live Aid performance as the greatest live set of all-time. The list of reasons why is endless. It's not just because Queen took this gig more seriously than other acts on the bill or that they rehearsed for this gig, or the fact that they had been written off. It was a magical moment, and I don't think Freddie even knew how this would turn out. But once he got going I think he had some notion.
It takes a set of brass balls to improvise and take chances in a situation like this. I honestly believe that only Freddie Mercury could gamble in such a situation and have it pay dividends exponentially. Brian May talks about it in one of the Queen documentaries. I can't remember the name of it, but Brian talks about how the risk of fucking-up in a situation like this could be so devastating it ends your career as a performer.
And the red light goes on (on the floor of the front of the stage) just as Freddie finalizes the number!!! Amazing!!
best performance I've ever seen, still gives me goosebumps all these years later. Freddie was amazing
Another little cool thing you missed in the “Checking Sound” moments:
Freddie plays chords up the piano, 1, 2, 3 and stops, then a 4th chord, in time with Freddie’s playing, is hit by the off-stage keys player. Very nice. A pre-planned, instant, invisible sound check. Brilliant. . . Gawds, they were so F’ing good!
I didn’t notice that. Another excuse to watch it again 😍
Where exactly?
I missed that. Definitely need to watch it again!
What a terrific, intricate analysis of Queen's vibrant performance. I can appreciate what they did so much more. Thank you!