The Freddie Mercury
Tribute Concert For AIDS Awareness
(Later re-released as
a double
DVD)
Released 23 November 1992.
Running Times 84 mins and 106 mins
Recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, 20 April 1992
Produced by Queen and Jim Beach
Directed by David Mallet
Inserts directed by DoRo
Animations produced by Jerry Hibbert and Ralph (?)
Sound produced by David Richards
Featuring Spike Edney, Joshua J. Macrae, Chris Thompson, Mike
Moran, Miriam Stockley, Maggie Ryder, and the London Community
Gospel Choir.
Due to the number of songs on the release, the Live Queen set details can be found on the DVD reissue page.
Video One:
Video Two:
Insert
Details
These details were
prepared to entertain the audience as the crew prepared for the
next act. They all appear on the original video and the reissue
DVD, although they originally contained the audience singing
along to some of the tracks.
Insert
1
Bohemian Rhapsody (2:01)
Audio footage: album version from 0:00 to 0:48, 3:05 to 4:08, and
then two explosions
Video footage: time-lapse footage of setting up the stage from
the 1986 Magic Tour, intercut with footage of Queen.
The DVD 'preview' for the insert uses the first 7 seconds, so
contains the first two lines.
Lyrics:
Is this the real life
Is this just fantasy
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, (oooh, poor boy), I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, Scaramouche will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolts and lightning - very, very frightening me
Gallileo, gallileo
Gallileo, gallileo
Gallileo, figaro - magnifico-o-o-o-oh
I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come, easy go, will you let me go
Bismillah! No - we will not let you go, let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go, let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go, let me go
Will not let you go, let me go
Never, never, never, never, never (never let you go)
Never let me go-o-o-o-oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, mama mia, mama mia
Mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me
Insert 2
You Take My Breath Away (Live) (1:01)
Audio/Video footage: An excerpt of a live version of the track,
from Earl's Court, 1977.
The
Great Pretender (1:51)
Audio footage: An edit of the
album version, containing 0:33 to 1:16, 1:51 to 2:42 and 2:47 to
3:03, fading both in and out.
Video footage: The original video,
intercut with various Queen clips
My Melancholy Blues (1:14)
Audio footage: An edit of the album version, containing 0:08 to
1:15 and then 3:04 to 3:10, fading out from 3:07 onwards.
Video footage: Montage of various Queen clips
Somebody
To Love (Live)
(1:26)
Audio/Video footage: An excerpt of a live version of the track,
from Milton Keynes, 1982.
One
Vision (0:58)
Audio footage: An edit of the single version, from 1:49 to 2:18
(fading in at start), then 3:31 onwards.
Video footage: Original promo video.
Full live versions of 'You Take My Breath Away' and 'Somebody To
Love' can be found on Rare
Live
The version on the DVD adds the 'We Will Rock You' animation from
Insert 5
to the start.
The DVD 'preview' for the insert uses the first interview
extract, 'I mean, I looked
ridiculous then, but it worked', of
length 4 seconds
'You Take My
Breath Away' Lyrics:
Freddie: OK, before we ah, tease you with a
bit of, sort of, heavy rock and roll things towards the end, ah,
I'd just like to slip in a little a, well I'd like you to listen
carefully to a simple little song this, is me on the piano, it's
called 'You Take My Breath Away'
Look into my eyes and you'll see
I am the only one
You've captured my heart
Stolen my love
Changed my life
Everytime you make a move
You destroy my mind
And the way you touch
I lose control and shiver deep inside
You take my breath away
Interview: I mean, I looked ridiculous then,
but it worked
'The Great
Pretender' Lyrics:
Oh yes, I'm the great
pretender (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I play the game
But to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone
Too real is this feeling of make believe (oooooh, make believe)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal (oooh, ooh,
oooh, ooh, oooh)
Yeah (ooooh-oh-ooh-oh-oooh)
Woo-hoo
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal (real, feel,
what my heart)
Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're still around
Interview: I am a man of extremes, but I, I
don't have any, I don't feel I have that much in the middle,
which is, you either get me when I'm very strong, or I'm very
soft, so if the right person gets me they'll find me that I'm
very vulnerable and I can be a real baby
'My
Melancholy Blues' Lyrics:
Another party's over
And I'm left cold sober
Baby left me for somebody new, oooh, oooh
I don't wanna talk about it
Want to forget about it
Wanna be intoxicated with that special brew
So come and get me
Let me
Get in that sinking feeling
That says my heart is on an all time low, so
Melancholy blues
Interview: No, myself as an artist. I'm just
a musical prostitute, my dear.
'Somebody To
Love' Lyrics:
Somebody
Somebody to love
Can you find me somebody to love
Interview: I don't know, I'm just me, you
know, I'm just me
Freddie: Are you ready?
Interview: If I had to do this everyday, forget it.
Freddie: Huh, are you ready brothers and
sisters?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what you doing to me
I have spent all my years in believing you
I just can't get no relief, Lord
Somebody (somebody), somebody (somebody)
Anybody find me somebody to love
Interview: I'm not afraid to speak out, and
say things that I want to do, or do the things that I want to do,
so um, I think in the end, being natural, and being, being
actually genuine is what wins.
'One
Vision' Lyrics:
I had a dream when I was young
A dream of sweet illusion
A glimpse of hope and unity
And visions of one sweet union
But a cold wind blows
And a dark rain falls
And in my heart it shows
Look what they've done to my dream
Yeah
One flesh, one bone, one true religion
One voice, one hope, one real decision
Gimme one night, yeah
Gimme one hope, hey
Just gimme
One man, one man
One bar, one day
One day, hey, hey
Just gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Fried chicken
Vision, vision, vision, vision, vision
Insert 3
I Want It All
(1:29)
Audio footage: An edit of the album version, containing 3:47 to 3:56, 4:06 to 4:09, 0:10 to 1:01, 3:57
to 4:06 and 4:16 to 4:35, fading out over a second. This is in
fact an edit of the version on 'Rare Live', beginning with audience noise.
Video footage: footage of Queen live in concert from over the
years. Very similar to the track at the start of 'Rare Live'
Play
The Game (Live) (0:53)
Audio/Video footage: excerpt of the track performed at Milton
Keynes, 1982. This includes some of the intro then jumps to the
second verse.
The
Show Must Go On (2:31)
Audio footage: an edit of the album version, containing the first
35 seconds, 0:55 to 0:59, and
2:07 onwards, fading out by about 4:01
Video footage: original promo video, with some additional Queen
clip inserts
These Are The Days Of Our Lives (2:03)
Audio footage: An edit of the album version, containing 0:09 to
0:47, 1:19 to 2:19 and 3:33 to 3:58, fading out.
Video footage: original promo video, with some additional Queen
clip inserts
The version on the DVD adds the 'We Will Rock You' animation from
Insert 5
to the start.
The DVD 'preview' for the insert uses an interview segment of
length 5 seconds, containing 'When they stop buying our records,
then I'll say goodbye and do something else, become a strip
artist or something'.
'I Want It All'
Lyrics:
Interview: You know, the bigger the better.
In everything
I want it all, I want it all, I
want it all and I want it now, oh, ooh, ooh
Adventure seeker, on an empty street
Just an alley creeper, light on his feet
A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt
With the pain and anger, can't see a way out
It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
Gotta find me a future, move out of my way
I want it all (yeah, yeah,
yeah), I want it all, I want it all
And I want it - now
I want it, I want it
Oooh, hot
Interview: I'm a human being, you know, and
I'd, I'd like people to realise the fact that I'm a human being
and that I can sort of react that way, and I have the same
feelings, and the same kind of destructive qualities, I'm bad and
good, like everybody else.
'Play The
Game' Lyrics:
Interview: If I didn't do
this, I, I don't have anything to do, you know. I can't cook, I'm
not very good at being a housewife.
When you're feeling down and your resistance is low
Light another cigarette and let yourself go
This is your bloody life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game
Everybody play the game of
Interview: As long as the music is still there, and as long as
the people are still buying the music, then, then it's OK. When
they stop stop buying our
records, then I'll say goodbye and do something else, become a
strip artist or something
Interviewer (Rudi Dolezal): Yeah, what, to what music you would
strip? What music would you..
Interview: All the songs I've written, come on.
'The Show
Must Go On' Lyrics:
Phil Collins: You
don't get too many, too many people like him
Mick Jagger: If you're
watching Freddie
Paul McCartney: King
Mercury
Empty spaces, what are we living for
Abandoned places, I guess we know the score
On and on, does anybody want to take it anymore
The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah, yeah
Oooh, inside my heart is breaking (ooooh)
My make up may be flaking (oooh)
But my smile still stays on
Yeah, yeah
Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh-woah
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly my friends
The show must go on (go on, go on, go on), yeah, yeah
The show must go on (go on, go on, go on)
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On with the show
Oooh, I'll top the bill
I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the show
On with the show
The show must go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on
Interview: If I had to do it again, yes, why not, why not. I'd do
it slightly differently.
'These Are The
Days Of Our Lives' Lyrics:
Sometimes I get to feeling
I was back in the old days, long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect, you know
The days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shining, we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the time
Ain't that a shame?
I'd like to go back one time on a rollercoaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and a thinking on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow
'Cos these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now but
One thing's still true
When I look and I find
I still love you
I still love you
Insert
4
I'm Going Slightly Mad (2:08)
Audio footage: album version,
containing the first 12 seconds twice, then 1:17 to 1:58 and then
3:19 onwards
Video footage: edit of the promo video, but contains some
additional Queen clips.
The version on the DVD adds the 'We Will Rock You' animation from
Insert 5
to the start.
The DVD 'preview' for the insert uses the insert from 1:32 to
1:41, containing 'I'm slightly
mad, just very slightly mad' (from about
3:45 to 3:54 of the album version)
Lyrics:
Oh dear
Ha, ha, ha, ha
I'm one card short of a full deck
I'm not quite the shilling
One wave short of a shipwreck
I'm not my usual top billing
I'm coming down with a fever (oooohh)
I'm really out to sea
This kettle is boiling over (ooooh, oooh, oooh)
I think I'm a banana tree (oooh, ooh)
I'm going slightly mad
I'm going slightly mad
It finally happened
It finally happened, oh, yes
It finally happened
I'm slightly mad
Just very slightly mad
And there you have it
Insert
5
We
Will Rock You (0:09)
Audio footage: an edit of the instrumental version from 0:45 to
0:53 approx.
Video footage: short animation of Freddie
Freddie Singalongs (1:21)
Audio/Video footage: a compilation of Freddie Singalongs from, in
order, Budapest (Rehearsal), Live Aid, Wembley, Live Aid. It ends
with an audio excerpt of Freddie from Wembley which is echoed
repeatedly.
Oddly, 'We Will Rock You' is added to Inserts 2, 3 and 4 on the
DVD, whilst Insert 5 loses it.
The DVD 'preview' for the insert uses part of Freddie's rehearsal
singalong from Budapest, of length 5 seconds.
Lyrics:
We will, we will, rock you
(Singalong from Budapest, 1986)
(Singalong from Live Aid, 1985)
(Singalong from Wembley, 1986)
(Singalong from Live Aid, 1985)
This is what you wanted, this is what you're gonna get, get, get,
get, get, get, get, get, get, get, get, get, get, get, get, get,
get, get, get
Insert
6
God Save The Queen (Live) (1:08)
Audio footage: standard album version of 'God Save The Queen'.
Video footage: footage of Freddie with his crown and robe from
the 1986 Magic Tour, and at the very end, the finale to the
'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' video.
The DVD 'preview' for the insert uses the last 6 seconds of the
album version of the track.
Queen
Introduction
Length 1:12
The speech on the reissued DVD is slightly edited, losing 'First
of all' onwards, reducing the length to 1:00.
Dialogue:
Brian: Good evening
Wembley and the world. We are here tonight to celebrate the life,
and work, and dreams, of one Freddie Mercury. We're gonna give
him the biggest send off in history.
Roger: OK, today is for Freddie, it's for you, it's to tell
everybody around the world that AIDS affects us all. That's what
all these red ribbons are about. You can cry as much as you like,
and John's got something to tell you.
John: Hello, first of all, Brian, Roger and myself would like to
thank all the artists who are performing here today, in London,
and they've given their time and energy to make this tribute to
Freddie a reality, and to happen today. First of all, the show
must go on, and we'll start with an American band, three times
Grammy award winners, will you please welcome Metallica.
Queen
Medley
Only available on the original
double VHS release. Length 12:31
Performed by Extreme.
This is a medley of Queen songs, featuring: 'Mustapha', 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Keep Yourself Alive', 'I
Want To Break Free', 'Fat Bottomed Girls', 'Bicycle Race', 'Another One Bites
The Dust', 'We
Will Rock You' (instrumental), 'Stone Cold Crazy', Singalong, 'Radio Ga Ga', and 'Bohemian Rhapsody (Reprise)'
Lyrics:
Brian: Thank you. OK, thank you. It gives me great pleasure, it
gives me real great pleasure to introduce our next guests, there
seems to be a certain amount of noise going on here. These guys
are real friends, and they're possibly, more than any other group
on this planet, the people that understand exactly what Queen
have been about all these years, and what Freddie was about all
the years. Ladies and gentlemen, please give your best welcome
for Paul, Pat, Nuno and Gary - Extreme.
Ibrahim
Ibrahim
Ibrahim
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you
Hey!
So you think you can stone me and spit in
my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby, can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out - I just gotta get right outta here
Gary Cherone: Wembley - are you ready?
Gary Cherone: Ha, let's take a trip down memory lane, people. Do
it
I was told a million times
of all the troubles in my way
Tried to grow a little wiser, better every day
I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
I'd still be where I started, bread and butter for a smile
I sold a million mirrors in a shop in alley way
I never saw my face in any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you be a superstar
I tell you just be satisfied, stay right where you are
Sing it
Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
I'll take you all your time and a money
Honey I will survive
Do you think you're better every day?
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave
Alright
Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
I'll take you all your time and a money
Honey I will survive, sing it
Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
I want to break free, everybody
God knows, God knows I want to break free
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
This time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah, yeah, Wembley
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
Ow, it's strange but it's true, hey
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh, how I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free, sing it
Oh, how I want to break free
Oh, you gonna take me home tonight
Oh, down beside that red fire light
Oh, you gonna let it all hang out
Fat bottomed girls
You make the rocking world go round
You say coke, I say cane
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it man
I don't want to be the president of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't want to be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
All I wanna do is
Bicycle (yeah), bicycle (hey), bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle (yeah), bicycle (yeah), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike, sing it
I want to ride my bicycle
Want to ride it where I like
Ha
Do it
Steve walks wearily down the street
Brim pulled way down low
Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet
Machine guns ready to go
Are you ready, hey, are you ready for this
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
Repeating to the sound of the beat, sing it, hey
Another one bites the dust, alright, do it
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust, sing it
Hey, gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust, hey
How do you think I'm gonna get along
Without you when you're gone
You took me for everything that I had
And leave me out on my own
Are you happy, are you satisfied
How long can you stand the heat
Out of the door way the bullets rip
Repeating to the sound of the beat
Hey
Another one bites the dust, come on baby
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust, yeah
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
Sleeping very soundly on a
Saturday morning I was dreaming I was Al Capone
There's a rumour going round, gotta clear outta town
And I'm smelling like a dry fish bone
Here come the law, gonna break down the door, gonna carry me away
once more
I never, I never, I never want it any more
Gotta get away from this stone cold floor
Stone cold crazy, you know
(Ad-libbed singalong follows)
Alright people, Patrick
(Radio)
I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio
Sing it now (radio)
You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars
You made 'em laugh, you made 'em cry
You made us feel like we could fly
(Radio)
So don't become some background noise, sing it
Backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't care or just don't care
Or just complain when you're not there
You had the time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio), sing it
Audience: All we hear is
Radio ga ga
Audience: Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
You got it
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga, sing it
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio ga ga
Radio what's knew?
Radio, someone still loves you
Loves you
Anyway the wind blows
Gary Cherone: Thank you, you got it.
Nuno Bettencourt: Thank you
Gary Cherone: Thank you. There's really not a lot to say, we know
why we're here today, we know why you people are here today, we
love you Freddie.
Now I'm Here
Only available on the original
double VHS release. Length 4:56
Performed by Def Leppard, with special guest Brian May.
Also released on Def Leppard's single 'Tonight'.
Click here for the original song details.
Lyrics:
Roger: OK, they're
British, they're number one all over the world right now, please
welcome on stage Def Leppard.
Joe Elliott: Good evening. Are you all enjoying yourselves? We
er, we feel very privileged to be here, we also feel equally
privileged to welcome on stage with us a great friend of ours,
from probably the biggest band in the world that there's ever
been, the man with the curly hair and the curly guitar lead, Mr
Brian May. You may know this next one. Let's see some hands in
the air, come on
(Unknown voice) Everybody
Here I stand
Look around, around, around, around, around
But you won't see me
Now I'm there
Now I'm there
I'm just a
Just a new man
'Cos you made me live again, ow
A baby I was when you took my hand
The light of the night burned bright
The people all stared didn't understand
But you knew my name on sight
Whatever came of you and me
America's new bride to be
Don't worry baby I'm safe and sound
Down in the dungeon just Peaches 'n' me
Don't I love her so
'Cos you made me live again, ow
Yeah
Ooh, a thin moon me in a smoke screen sky
Where the beams of your lovelight chase
Don't move, don't speak, don't feel no pain
The rain running down my face
Your matches still light up the sky
Many a tear lives on in my eye
Down in the city just Hoople 'n' me
Vivian Campbell
Whatever came of you and me
I love to leave my memory with you
Now I'm here
Think I'll stay around, around, around, around, around
Down in the city justa you 'n' me
Brian May
Down into the city
Whatever comes of you and me
I love to leave my memory with you
Joe Elliott: Thank you, see you soon,
alright, goodnight. Brian May. Enjoy the rest of the evening,
alright, see you.
Too Late God
Only available on the original
double VHS release. Length 2:26
Performed by Bob Geldof & The Happy Club.
According to Bob's speech, he wrote this track with Freddie. Part
of the lyrics are in French.
Lyrics:
Roger: How you doing?
Sounds great from back there. Got to welcome the suit of the day,
the man who started this kind of concert, the very ticklish Mr
Bob Geldof and the Happy Club.
Bob: Good evening. Um, it seems very unlikely, but Freddie and I
were very good friends, and um, many an evening, I'd go up there
and he'd be practising his fluent Gaelic on me, and as the
evening wore on, we'd start talking about indigenous music and
things and eventually we got to writing some songs, and I want to
do this afternoon, a song that we wrote together, and it's
particularly apt for this occasion. It's called 'Too Late God'.
Too late, too late God
Didn't you get my message
Too late, too late God
Didn't you get my call
How long, how long con
Combien ans avant mon respond?
How long, un a cent
Un a cent a mort
Time flies like a prayer
Sliding down my face-like general
Trying to hide my Buddhist line
And half way to belong
Things you do and things you don't do
Things you do and don't will haunt you
How do start on you
And I wouldn't if you could
But it's
Too late, too late God
Didn't you get my message
Too late, too late God
Didn't you get my call
How long, how long con
Combien ans avant mon respond?
How long, un a cent
Un a cent a mort
There I was, here I am
Irresponsive citizen
Peer of all that's good
I bore myself to sleep
Things you do and things you don't do
Things you do and don't will haunt you
How do start on you
And I wouldn't if you could do
Too late, too late God
Didn't you get my message
Too late, too late God
Didn't you get my call
How long, how long con
Combien ans avant mon respond?
How long, un a cent
Un a cent a mort
Elizabeth
Taylor Speech
Length 4:10
Dialogue:
Don't worry, I'm not going
to sing. We are here to celebrate the life of Freddie Mercury. An
extraordinary rock star, who rushed across our cultural landscape
like a comet shooting across the sky. We are here also to tell
the whole world that he, like others we have lost to AIDS, died
before his time. The bright light of his talent still exhilarates
us even now that his life has been so cruelly extinguished. It
needn't have happened, it shouldn't have happened, please, let's
not it happen again. Each day, around the world, five thousand
people are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Just
last week, it was reported in the United States alone, that there
are nine thousand actual cases of AIDS among teenage and young
adults, with thousands more that probably don't even know they're
infected. (Member of audience shouts 'Get off') I'll get off in a
minute. I'll get off, I have something to say. There's seventy,
there's seventy thousand people in this stadium tonight. Look at
yourselves, look at how many you are. In just two short weeks,
there will be as many new infections as there are people here
tonight. Please don't let it happen to you, you are the future of
our world, you are the best and the brightest, you are the
shining lights that will illuminate a better world tomorrow.
Protect yourselves. If you have sex, everytime you have sex, use
a condom, every single time. Straight sex, gay sex, bisexual sex,
use a condom, whoever you are, and if you share drugs, don't
share a needle. Tonight, we are here to raise money to help those
living with AIDS. Tonight, we're here to send them a message that
we care. But I'm also here with a message for each and every one
of you. Protect yourselves, love yourselves, respect yourselves,
because I will keep on telling you until you do, and I won't give
in, and I won't give up, because the world needs you to live. You
see, we really love you. We really care. God bless. Bye