Sunday, December 31, 2000

Queen for a Day - If You Can't Beat Them/Let Me Entertain You


At some point it became painfully obvious that, having run out of ideas (jealousy) the guys would just grab a random phrase and write a song about it.
"You better do it cuz it makes you feel good"? Awful? John Deacon, of course. But Freddie's guilty as well, but at least his tune can be used as some kind of anthem to get the crowd going and intro the band.
The songs a catchy, but that's because by this time they could write hits in their sleep.
--man, that is one long guitar solo in If You Can't....
The weakness of the tracks are elevated by the playing, as usual, but that's little excuse, they just don't sound like they're trying here.

If You Can't Beat Them
Grade: C+
Let Me Entertain You
Grade: B

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Queen for a Day - March of the Black Queen

It starts off simply. A piano and an interstitial guitar. Within seconds it explodes with multilayered harmonies and before you know it, it revs up into a high gear, like a juggernaut. Even when it turns into a near a Capella it still rolls at 100mph.
Then, a guitar solo amidst a march the Red Queen would have been jealous of.
In short, it's March of the black Queen, the centerpiece of Queen II. And I've always wondered why anyone would have been surprised at the operatic hit a few years later since that's what this song is: opera.
If there is one song that truly represents all Queen was about, it's this one. Everyone shines from the players to the producers. There are so many surprises (and a beloved harpsichord) and treats and movements, it's an impossible song to deny. It plays like a five act play. Truthfully, all of side black begs to be turned into a musical theater experience.
Sublime.
(note: Blogger's servers were down yesterday when this was supposed to publish. There will be another entry later tonight.)

Grade: A+


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad