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Post by MeggyMeg on Aug 16, 2019 6:30:12 GMT -5
I think this Live Aid cult is basically a case of revisionist history. I spoke with my mom, who's a rabid Queen fan back around that time, and she felt the hype about it now is much more intense that it was in that moment of time.
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Post by relaxingoceanfront on Aug 16, 2019 7:24:20 GMT -5
Anyone trying to boil down Queen’s Live Aid performance to the literal quality of Freddie’s vocal that day has completely lost the plot . It was never about that.
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Post by noreaster on Aug 16, 2019 10:41:07 GMT -5
It’s my belief that there’s another element at play...Freddie was officially still closeted. Yes, some of his outfits signaled his sexuality to those who knew, but jeans and a tank top? Robert Plant wardrobe.
His voice was lower than Adam’s...another more traditionally hyper-hetero-masculine frontman trait.
Rock frontmen of that era were mostly men that women wanted to be with and men wanted to be. There’s a reason Freddie stayed closeted and I suspect that it wasn’t because he was confused about it.
It seems like much of the FDL comes from older rock fans, usually hetero men. At this point, it’s probably almost subconscious, but Freddie’s memory doesn’t challenge anyone’s latent homophobia or even homo-discomfort. Adam is out, loud and very very proud. As he should be.
Dunno, it’s just a theory from someone who was around back then. They played Queen in my dorm but it was only two songs...WATC and WWRY. The group itself wasn’t really on the radar. Being gay wasn’t even recognized, let alone accepted. Thank god that crap is somewhat behind us.
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Post by christina91 on Aug 17, 2019 16:33:42 GMT -5
nica575 I've reviewed some old documentaries but the story goes as such. Freddie was suffering from throat problems at the time (some go as far as to say this was early symptoms of his AIDS if I'm being honest I don't know much about it so I can't comment on that and it's not even the point) his doctor had advised him not to perform. The people who put live aid together and much media said that Queen's performance that day stole the show. I think it boils down to this. Live Aid was HUGE at that time and Queen as a whole during that time hadn't had many top hits in a long time they were beginning to be considered as a band who had passed their peak and their time was over. That performance (even the band admits this) brought them back. Brian continues to say it was a shot in the arm and suddenly Freddie called them up and said let's go back into the studio and try to put something together(paraphrased) From what I get after the Works Tour Freddie didn't have the drive to do anything anymore but after Live Aid they were motivated again. I think the performance as a whole the drive Freddie had that day the crowds response( and people need to remember Queen was added in later on after the tickets had been sold so this crowd wasn't a Queen crowd.)And compared to some of Freddie's most recent performances during the Works tour and even during the Magic tour his vocals were in really good shape. Now again we're comparing Adam who doesn't meddle with drugs doesn't have a history of vocal issues and isn't suffering from an illness. In 1985 Freddie had all that. Despite the fact he wouldn't be diagnosed for another 2 years Freddie was already HIV positive at this point. None of the band thought anything of Live Aid and it wasn't till afterwards they realized how much of an impact it had made. Most artists nowadays (I'm not including Adam in this) cancel shows if they have a sore throat but Queen rarely if ever canceled (even to this day). To me Live Aid was never about the vocals to me it was everything combined which made it such a stand out performance which still resonates with people to this day. lurleene Your lucky you didn't get that but your story about what went down at the pizza place before the show is too cute and funny. I'll admit I went in very skeptical as i've said so in the past. I KNEW I liked Adam and I liked Queen but I wasn't sure how it would work together. I knew he sounded good on the songs he had done on Idol but would it work with all the songs? (and yes I had seen clips of past shows here and there but still) and as I said in the end I left there floored hence why I'm here now.
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Post by cassie on Aug 18, 2019 0:02:15 GMT -5
Perhaps another reason Queen had such an impact at Live Aid was because most of the performers just stood up and performed. They didn't reach out , interact, and demand response from the audience. I think the audience response set up a chain reaction, firing up the band and Freddie even more. The massed audience all participating in the stage show with Queen embodied the world wide effort to help Ethiopia during the famine. Queen, more than any other act that day, brought the world together.
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Post by rihannsu on Aug 18, 2019 14:42:23 GMT -5
I remember watching that day and the only two bands that made an impact on me were Queen and U2. They were the ones that really connected with the audience.
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