Queen at Live Aid

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Live Aid concerts.

Live Aid was a benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, as well as a music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia, a movement that started with the release of the successful charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in December 1984. Billed as the “global jukebox”, Live Aid was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London, UK, attended by about 72,000 people and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, US, attended by 89,484 people.

The one act that stood out during the concert was Queen, their performance in Live Aid is akin to Elvis’s comeback special. As with Elvis in the Comeback special, Queen’s career was basically rebooted at the Live Aid concert.

Queen didn’t open or close the Live Aid show. They performed just before 7pm, uncharacteristically in daylight, bookended by gigantic acts like U2, Elton John and David Bowie.

Past their peak and still suffering from the catastrophe of a misadvised run of shows in apartheid South Africa the previous year, Queen was not expected to be in the limelight. Especially Freddie Mercury had been the focus of disparaging coverage and rumors in the press, about his sexuality.

Despite all the pessimism , Queen did shine and it is still seen as one of the best music performance ever, although the set only lasted only 21 minutes, it remained in musical history to this date and will remain there for a long time.

Queen were immediately preceded at Wembley by the comedians Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith – who were dressed as policemen and joked about receiving a complaint about the noise “from a woman in Belgium.” They introduced “the next combo” as “Her Majesty… Queen.”

A truly charismatic Mercury, who looked full of confidence, jogged out on to a vast stage whose top was adorned with a banner saying “Feed The World.” Mercury, sporting his trademark mustache and wearing white jeans, a white tank top, and with a studded band around his right bicep, began by sitting at the piano and playing a short, inspired version of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

During “Radio Ga Ga” he got up and strutted around the stage, using the microphone and stand as a prop, and getting the fired-up crowd to join in with the chorus. The next few moments were remarkable, as Mercury led the 72,000 spectators in some spine-tingling vocal improvisation, as they sang along to “ay-oh.” His final, wonderful vocal was dubbed “the note heard around the world.”

This is the full session of Queen at Live Aid, sit back and enjoy.

sources

https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2018/11/opinions/queen-live-aid-cnnphotos/

Epic Rock-Episode 7: Whitesnake-Still of the Night

“Still of the Night” is a song by the Rock band Whitesnake. It was released as the first single from their self titled 1987 album.

“Still Of The Night”

In the Still of the Night
I hear the wolf howl, honey
Sniffing around your door
In the Still of the Night
I feel my heart beating heavy
Telling me I gotta have more

In the shadow of night
I see the full moon rise
Telling me what’s in store,
My heart start aching
My body start a shaking
And I can’t take no more, no, no

Now I just wanna get close to you
An’ taste your love so sweet
And I just wanna make love to you
Feel your body heat…

In the Still of the Night…
In the Still of the Night…
Over here baby…

In the heat of the day
I hang my head down low
And hide my face from the sun
Through the light of the day
Until the evening time
I’m waiting for the night to come

In the Still of the Night,
In the cool moonlight,
I feel my heart is aching
In the Still of the Night…

Tell me here baby

In the Still of the Night
I hear the wolf howl, honey
Sniffing around your door…
In the Still of the Night
I feel my heart beating heavy
Telling me I gotta have more…

Now I just wanna get close to you
An’ taste your love so sweet
And I just wanna make love to you
Feel your body heat.

In the Still of the Night…

Still of the Night,
Still of the Night,
Still of the Night…

Writer(s): David Coverdale, John Sykes
AZLyrics W Whitesnake Lyrics

Epic Rock-Episode 6:Faith no More-Epic

Mike Patton joined Faith No More in 1989 and wrote the song’s enigmatic lyrics, which constantly allude to “it,” without ever explaining what “it” is.

The bridge simply consists of the band shouting, “It’s it,” while Patton responds with, “What is it?” (The word “epic” is never mentioned in the lyrics.

Patton gave some insight on the song’s meaning when he told Circus magazine in 1990: “It was about sexual frustration. Sex and lack of sex.”

Later in the interview, the topic of masturbation comes up, and Patton says: “Most people don’t like to talk about it. I’m here to tell ya, I love it. That’s kinda of what Epic’s really about.”

“Epic”

Can you feel it, see it, hear it today?
If you can’t, then it doesn’t matter anyway
You will never understand it, ’cause it happens too fast
And it feels so good, it’s like walking on glass
It’s so cool, it’s so hip, it’s alright
It’s so groovy, it’s outta sight
You can touch it, smell it, taste it, so sweet
But it makes no difference ’cause it knocks you off your feet

You want it all, but you can’t have it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

It’s crying, bleeding, lying on the floor
So you lay down on it and you do it some more
You’ve got to share it, so you dare it
Then you bare it and you tear it

You want it all, but you can’t have it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s in your face, but you can’t grab it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

It’s alive, afraid, a lie, a sin
It’s magic, it’s tragic, it’s a loss, it’s a win
It’s dark, it’s moist, it’s a bitter pain
It’s sad, it happened, and it’s a shame

You want it all, but you can’t have it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s in your face, but you can’t grab it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

What is it? It’s it
What is it? It’s it
What is it? It’s it
What is it? It’s it

You want it all, but you can’t have it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s in your face, but you can’t grab it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

What is it? It’s it
What is it? It’s it
What is it? It’s it
What is it?

You want it all, but you can’t have it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s in your face, but you can’t grab it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it! (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
It’s it! What is it?
It’s it!

Writer(s): Bill David Gould, James Blanco Martin, Michael Patton, Michael Andrew Bordin, Roddy Bottum
AZLyrics F Faith No More Lyrics

Epic Rock-Episode 5:Black Sabbath-Headless Cross

Headless Cross is the thirtieth single from Black Sabbath

“Headless Cross”

Look through the people, and on through the mist
To the hill of the headless cross
Where all witches meet, on a night such as this,
And the power of darkness is host
They come face to face, eye to eye, soul to soul,
With an Angel that fell from the sky
Borne on the air, are the screams and the wails
Of the masses appointed to die

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross

From the first evil night, when a black flash of light
Cut the crucifix half to the ground
There’s been no escape from the power of Satan,
On a nation so brave and so proud

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross

How do you feel, when the locks refuse the key
And the master is calling your name,
Does the luck of the charm, really keep you from harm
Does the talisman protect you from pain

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross

From the first evil night, when a black flash of light
Cut the crucifix half to the ground
There’s no escaping from the power of Satan
For a people so brave and so proud

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross
At the headless cross, at the headless cross

Where will you run to, at the headless cross
Look, to the headless cross

Writer(s): Cozy Powell, Anthony Hareford, Anthony Lommi

Epic Rock-Episode 4:Dio Holy Diver

Ronnie James Dio said the lyrics are about a Christ figure on another planet who sacrifices himself to redeem his people. When the people learn that he intends to leave them to save people on other planets, they selfishly ask him to stay.

[Intro]
Mhhh-hm-hmm
Yeah, yeah

[Verse 1]
Holy Diver
You’ve been down too long in the midnight sea
Oh, what’s becoming of me?
Ride the tiger
You can see his stripes but you know he’s clean
Oh, don’t you see what I mean?
[Chorus]
Gotta get away
Holy Diver, yeah

[Verse 2]
Got shiny diamonds
Like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue
Something is coming for you, look out!
Race for the morning
You can hide in the sun ’til you see the light
Oh, we will pray it’s all right

[Chorus]
Gotta get away, get away

[Bridge]
Between the velvet lies
There’s a truth that’s hard as steel, yeah
The vision never dies
Life’s a never-ending wheel, say

[Verse 3]
Holy Diver
You’re the star of the masquerade
No need to look so afraid
Jump, jump; jump on the tiger
You can feel his heart but you know he’s mean
Some light can never be seen, yeah!
[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 1]
Holy Diver
You’ve been down too long in the midnight sea
Oh, what’s becoming of me? No! No!
Ride the tiger
You can see his stripes but you know he’s clean
Oh, don’t you see what I mean?

[Chorus]
Gotta get away, get away
Gotta get away, get away, yeah

[Outro]
Holy Diver, sole survivor
You’re the one who’s clean
Holy Diver, Holy Diver
There’s a cat in the blue coming after you, Holy Diver
Oh, Holy Diver
Yeah, alright
Get away, get away, get away
Holy Diver, Holy Diver
Oh, Holy Diver
Mhhh-hmmm-hmmm

source

https://genius.com/Dio-holy-diver-lyrics

Epic Rock-Episode 3-Queensryche-Suite Sister Mary

Dr. X: “Kill her. That’s all you have to do”
Nikki: “Kill Mary?”
Dr. X: “She’s a risk, and get the priest as well”
10 P.M., I feel the rain coming down
My face feels the wet, my mind the storm
Flashing lights as people race to find shelter from the pour
Moving silent, through the streets, they’re mine, they’re mine
Midnite, she sings praises in the Hall
To saintly faces hallowed be their names she can’t recall
Sister Mary, virgin Mary, silent with her sin
“What are you doing out in the rain?”
She feels me, I can taste her breath when she speaks
“I’ve been waiting for you, Come in”
Mary, Mary just a whore for the underground
They made you pay in guilt for your salvation
Thought you had them fooled?
Now they’ve sent me for you
You know too much for your own good
Don’t offer me faith, I’ve got all I need here
My faith is growing, growing tight against the seam
What we need is trust, to keep us both alive
Help us make it through the night
I’ve no more want of any faith
Binds my arm and feed my mind
The only peace I’ve ever known
I’ll close my eyes and you shoot
No Mary, listen, you’ve got to pull your strength from my lips
I pray I feed you well
Your precious cross is gone, it made me wait so long
For what you gave to everyone
The priest is cold and dead on his knees he fed
From my barrel of death, he turned the Holy water red
As he died he said thank you
I just watched him bleed
I feel the flow, the blessed stain
Sweating hands like fire, and flames
Burn my thighs, spread in sacrificial rite
The hallowed altar burns my flesh once more tonight
Mary, sweet lady of pain
Always alone
Blind you search for the truth
I see myself in you, parallel lives
Winding at light-speed through time
No time to rest yet
We’ve got to stop his game
Before madness has the final laugh
Too much bloodshed
We’re being used and fed
Like rats in experiments
No final outcome here
Only pain and fear
It’s followed us both all our lives
There’s one thing left to see
Will it be him or me?
There’s one more candle left to light
Don’t turn your back on my disgrace
The blood of Christ can’t heal my wounds so deep
The sins of man are all I taste
Can’t spit the memory from my mind
I can’t cry anymore
Mary, my lady of pain, always alone
Blind you search for the truth
I see myself in you, parallel lives
Winding at light-speed through time, you’re mine
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: De Garmo Chris / Tate Geoff
Suite Sister Mary lyrics © Tri-ryche Corp.

Epic Rock-Episode 2: Manowar-Defender.

When you are old enough
To read this words
Their meaning will unfold
These words are all that’s left
And though we’ve never meet,
My only son,
I hope you know
That I would have been there
To watch you grow
But my call was heard and I did go
Now your mission
Lies ahead of you
As it did mine so long ago
To help the helpless ones
Who all look up to you
And to defend them
To the end
Defender
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Father, father
Father I look up to you
And heed thy call
This letter ends my search
I’ll live your dream
Now passed on to me
And I now wait
To shake the hand of fate
Like the dusk awaiting dawn
So wizards cast your spell
With no heart to do me well
So it is written, it shall be, yeah
Defender
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent
Ride like the wind.
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Joey Demaio
Defender lyrics © Inar Music

Undercover-Episode2:I love Rock N Roll

Who doesn’t know the Rock classic “I love Rock N Roll” by Joan Jett. Released in 1982. it sparked my lifelong love affair with Rock music. However, it may not be a widely known fact but the song had already been released in 1976, by the British Rock band Arrows.

I saw him dancin’ there by the record machine
I knew he must a been about seventeen
The beat was goin’ strong
Playin’ my favorite song
And I could tell it wouldn’t be long
‘Til he was with me, yeah, me
And I could tell it wouldn’t be long
‘Til he was with me, yeah, me, singin’
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
Ow
He smiled, so I got up and asked for his name
“That don’t matter”, he said, “’cause it’s all the same”
I said, “Can I take you home where we can be alone?”
And next we were movin’ on
He was with me, yeah, me
Next we were movin’ on
He was with me, yeah, me singin’
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
Ow
Said, “Can I take you home where we can be alone?”
Next we were movin’ on
He was with me, yeah, me
And we’ll be movin’ on
And singin’ that same old song
Yeah, with me, singin’
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Merrill / Jake Hooker

Whitesnake-Here I go again

It is not often that all versions of a song are great. However, Whitesnake’s -Here I go again certainly has 3 great versions of the song.

“Hang on” I here you say” Are there not only 2 versions of that song> The 1987 album version and the radio edit version?”

No, the original version was actually released 40 years ago in 1982, it was on the album Saints and Sinners. The lyrics are even slightly different, In the 1982 version they use the word hobo instead of drifter.

“Here I Go Again”

I don’t know where I’m going
But I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday

And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

Here I go again
Here I go again

Though I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I’m looking for
Oh, Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on

‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

Here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone

But I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

Just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love’s sweet charity
I am gonna hold on
For the rest of my days

‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

Here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go

And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

Here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone
‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

Here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone
I have made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go
Here I go again.

Les Morts Dansant

Les Morts Dansant is a 1984 song by Magnum. from their classic album “On a Storytellers night” The song was initially called “Cannon”, this Tony Clarkin composition is about one of the horrors of war. In World War I, a surprising – some would say disgraceful – number of British soldiers were executed by firing squad for cowardice. Many of these men were in fact suffering from shell shock.

Although it is about World War I, I believe it applies to all wars, past and present.

” Cannons roared, in the valley they thundered
While the guns lit up the night
Then it rained and both sides wondered
Who is wrong and who is right?

On the wire like a ragged old scarecrow
Bloody hands and broken back
When they fire, see him pirouette solo
Jump in time to the rat-a-tat

What a night though it’s one of seven
What a night for the dancing dead
What a night to be called to heaven
What a picture to fill your head
To fill your head

By the wall in silhouette standing
Through a flash of sudden light
Cigarette from his mouth just hanging
Paper square to his heart pinned tight

Gather ’round, reluctant marksmen
One of them to take his life
With a smile he gives them pardon
Leaves the dark and takes the light

What a night though it’s one of seven
What a night for the dancing dead
What a night to be called to heaven
What a picture to fill your head
To fill your head.

They dispatch their precious cargo
And knock him back right off his feet
And they pray may no one follow
Better still to face the beast

When the field has become a garden
And the wall has stood the test
Children play and the dogs run barking
Who would think or who would guess?

What a night though it’s one of seven
Le mort dansant
What a night for the dancing dead
What a night to be called to heaven
What a picture to fill your head
To fill your head

What a night though it’s one of seven
Les mort dansant
What a night for the dancing dead
What a night to be called to heaven
What a picture to fill your head
What a night

What a night though it’s one of seven
Les mort dansant
What a night for the dancing dead
What a night to be called to heaven, heaven
What a picture to fill your head

sources

https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/magnum/les-morts-dansant

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/magnum/les-morts-dansant