We Will Rock You London
Published on 24 October 2011
The 1977 title song from the show was covered by UK pop group 5ive in 2000, hitting number one, and was heavily used during most series of brawn versus brawn TV show Gladiators. Who can forget the oversize hands with pointing fingers being waved by the arena's audience as that song and another Queen classic Another One Bites The Dust pounded in the background? A 2003 remix of the song by KCPK featuring children's vocals was used in an animated advertising campaign for Evian in France, Germany and Belgium, charting in some territories. Soft drinks giant Pepsi ran a successful gladiator themed campaign featuring Britney Spears, Beyonce and P!nk in 2004, using the song as they entered the arena dressed as gladiators readying for battle. Rapper Eminem has sampled the song's signature stomp clap beat on not one but three of his tracks. It also underpins recent Lady GaGa hit You and I, as well as Katy Perry's E.T.
The unforgettable drag-themed video for I Want To Break Free helped both Queen's popularity…and notoriety…in 1983 . The video's concept was suggested by drummer Roger Taylor and was a homage to long-running soap Coronation Street. Widespread critical acclaim of the video led to the song becoming a top three hit in the UK and helped win the band fans overseas - in South America it was regarded as an anthem in the fight against oppression. In North America however the video was seen as too controversial and was banned by many tv stations including MTV.
Bohemian Rhapsody is arguably Queen's signature song, selling over a million copies on first release in 1975 in the UK, and returning to the top of the charts following Freddie Mercury's death in 1991, eventually becoming the UK's third biggest selling single. After featuring in hit film Wayne's World in 1992 the song beat its previous peak of number nine in the US charts, hitting the number two spot. A new video for the track had been shot using Mike Myers and Dana Carvey's characters from the film. This video went on to win Queen their only MTV Video Music Award, for Best Video In A Film. Accepting the award onstage along with Roger Taylor, guitarist Brian May was overcome with emotion, saying "Freddie would be tickled".
Other hits included in the show include Under Pressure, We Are The Champions, Somebody To Love and Don't Stop Me Now. With a catalogue of songs as broad as Queen's, We Will Rock You London certainly offers something for everyone.
By London Theatre Direct
London Theatre Direct is one of the UK’s leading theatre ticket providers, bringing audiences closer to the magic of the stage.