Queen have been giving fans a glimpse into their creative process and live performances through their YouTube series, ‘The Greatest.’ The series, which is now in its second season, features rare footage, interviews, and insights from the band members and their collaborators.
In the latest episode, titled "The Encore", guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor share their thoughts on what makes a good encore and how they have perfected it over the years. They explain that the encore is not a spontaneous gesture, but a planned part of the show that the audience expects and enjoys.
Taylor says, “I think audiences these days are aware the encore isn't really the old-fashioned kind, which was, ‘Oh, that was so wonderful, we actually want more’. It's built into the show. You’re expecting to play it. They're expecting to hear it. And our encores have very well-known songs. It would feel quite weird if they'd come to a show and we hadn't played them. So it’s not a secret.”
May adds, “You have to go off and refresh at that point because you've given everything and you're like a wet rag at the end of what we've done after two-and-a-half hours. You know, you need to go off, change your clothes and take a deep breath for that final push.”
The band has been ending most of their shows with two of their most iconic songs, "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions", since 1977. May says that these songs are ideal for the encore because they involve the audience in a participatory way.
“It's that participation thing,” says May. “The fact the fans can stretch their bodies upwards to the sky and sing and chant and stamp and clap to 'Rock You' and 'Champions' is kind of an unbeatable thing. You can't really follow that...
“How do you want to send people out? It's a big question, which we do ask ourselves. You know, what do you want to have in people’s heads as they go out? And I think it's fulfillment. It's like good sex. You know, you want to come out of it thinking, ‘Yeah, that was everything it should have been’. And you want people to be talking to each other: ‘Ah, that was awesome. Do you remember the bit where…?’ Just like we used to as kids when we left The Who shows.”
The Greatest episode 42 will be posted at its usual time -- this Friday at 6am (Central). Fans can subscribe to the Queen YouTube channel to watch the series.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]