Live Aid


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'Live Aid'

Released 8 November 2004.

Produced by Jill Sinclair
Executive Producers: Bob Geldof and John Kennedy


This four DVD boxed set features the concerts recorded at Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, on 13 July 1985, although not all of the performances were included. It features the entire Queen set for the first time, including 'Is This The World We Created?', which suffered from technical problems on the original broadcast. Although this track still has some problems with feedback, the quality is much improved on the original. The horizontal banding which appears over some performances is called microphany, and is caused by the volume of the music affecting the cameras.

As Queen (and all acts) only had a limited amount of time to perform (around 20 minutes), most of their tracks are severely reduced in length.

Queen's main set appears on disc 2, and Brian and Freddie later return to perform 'Is This The World We Created?' which is on disc 4. Disc 4 also contains the Band Aid Finale, during which Freddie can be seen standing near to Bono and Paul McCartney. The bonus documentary on disc 4 also contains alternative footage of the finale, and also some footage of Freddie at the Fashion Aid event.

The set was later severely edited down to a single disc set of highlights, called 'Live Aid - 20 Years Ago Today'. Queen's full performance can also be found on the double DVD set 'Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid' (which also includes previously unreleased rehearsal footage and a TV interview).

 

Disc One:

Disc Two:

Disc Three:

Disc Four:


Bohemian Rhapsody


Details of the original version can be found on the 'A Night At The Opera' album page. Length 2:12.
This track is preceded by a short (12 second) piano warm up and segues into 'Radio Ga Ga'.

Lyrics:
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

Radio Ga Ga


Details of the original version can be found on the 'The Works' album page. Length 3:57.
This track segues from 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
The edit on the 'Live Aid - 20 Years Ago Today' DVD is identical to the full version but begins about 1.5 seconds after the first drums of the track, reducing the length to about 3:55.

Lyrics:
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
(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
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)
Everybody

All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you

We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
Our music changes through the years
(Radio)

Let's hope you'll never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around 'cos we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)

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
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you
Loves
You

Freddie Singalong


Details of other singalongs can be found on the 'Live Solos & Improvisations page. Length 0:38.
This singalong was originally released on 'Rare Live', but this edited out some of the middle section.

Hammer To Fall


Details of the original version can be found on the 'The Works' album page. Length 3:57.
Lyrics:
Freddie: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hammer to fall

Here we stand, here we fall
History don't care at all
Make the bed, light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight

You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
Comes to you as to us all, yeah
And it's time for the hammer to fall

Every night, every day
A little piece of you is falling away
Lift your face, the western way, baby

Toe your line and play their game
Till the anaesthetic covers it all
Till one day they call your name, yeah
Then it's time for the hammer to fall

Rich or poor or famous for
Your truth it's all the same, oh no, oh no
Lock your door 'cos rain is pouring
Through your window pane, oh no
Baby now your trouble's all in vain, yeah

For he who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the mushroom cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
Just want to scream it louder and louder and louder

What the hell we fighting for?
Just surrender and it won't hurt at all
Just got time to say your prayers
Then it's time for the hammer to, hammer to fall

Going to fall

Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Yeah, yeah, one more time

Waiting for the hammer to fall

Give it to me one more time


Freddie: This next song is only dedicated to beautiful people here tonight. It means all of you. Thank you for coming along and making this a great occasion.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love


Details of the original version can be found on the 'The Game' album page. Length 3:30.
Lyrics:
This thing called love I just can't handle it
This thing called love I must get round to it
I ain't ready
Crazy little thing called love

This thing (this thing) called love (called love)
It cries (like a baby)
In a cradle all night
It swings (woo, woo)
It jives (woo, woo)
It shakes all over like a jelly fish
I kinda like it
Crazy little thing called love

There goes my baby
She knows how to rock 'n' roll
She drives me crazy
She gives me hot and cold fever
And leaves me in a cool, cool sweat

I gotta be cool, relax, get hip
And get on my tracks
Take a back seat, hitch hike
Take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I'm ready
Crazy little thing called love


Audience: Gotta be cool, relax, get hip
Audience: And get on my tracks
Audience: Take a back seat

A hitch hike
Take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I'm ready (ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love

This thing called love I just can't handle it
This thing called love I just out of it, baby love me
Crazy little thing called love
Crazy little thing called love, hey
Crazy little thing called love, take it Brian

Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, hey
Crazy little thing called love, alright

We Will Rock You


Details of the original version can be found on the 'News Of The World' album page. Length 1:15.
This track originally appeared on 'Rare Live'.
The fourth DVD in the boxed set features an edited version of this track on the menu, with the first 20 seconds of guitar build up then the last 23 seconds of the guitar outro.

Lyrics:
Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playing in the street gonna be a big man some day
Mud on your face
Big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place
Singing


Audience: We will, we will, rock you
Yeah, do it
Audience: We will, we will, rock you
I like it, sing it again
We will, we will, rock you
One more time

Audience: We will
We will rock you

We Are The Champions


Details of the original version can be found on the 'News Of The World' album page. Length 3:27.
Lyrics:
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
Of the world

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You've brought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it, I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
Of the world

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Oh, we are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
Of the world


Freddie: So long, goodbye. We love you.

Is This The World We Created?


Details of the original version can be found on the 'The Works' album page. Length 2:26.
Performed by Brian May and Freddie Mercury.
There is approximately 24 seconds of guitar warm-up before the track begins.

Lyrics:
Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feed
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need

Is this the world we created, what did we do it for
Is this the world we invaded, against the law
So it seems in the end is this what we're all living for today
The world that we created

You know that everyday a helpless child is born
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Waiting for life to go by

Ooh, oh, is this the world we created, we made it on our own
Is this the world we devastated, right to the bone
If there's a God up in the sky looking down
What must he think of what we've done
To the world that he created


Freddie: Thank you very much

Rehearsal Footage and Interview


This footage only appears on the 'Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid' double DVD set, and not on the original 'Live Aid' boxed set. The feature lasts 10:48 and features rehearsal footage of 'Hammer To Fall' (0:42), 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (1:58) and 'Radio Ga Ga' (3:50), plus an interview with all members of Queen (although John doesn't speak) (4:15). 'Hammer To Fall' is only a short excerpt, but the other tracks are the full versions as performed at the show. The footage was originally broadcast on the UK TV programme 'TV-AM' in the week before Live Aid.

As this is a rehearsal, the sound quality is not the best, and the tracks are mixed differently to how they would normally sound; the drums and guitar dominate, Freddie's vocals are clearly audible, but less prominent than normal. This page only includes the lyrics to the songs, and not a transcript of the interview section.

'Hammer To Fall' Lyrics:
Here we stand, here we fall
History don't care at all
Make the bed, light the light, yeah
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight

You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
Comes to you as to us all
And it's time for the hammer to fall


(Interview section)

'Bohemian Rhapsody' Lyrics:
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all


'Radio Ga Ga' Lyrics:
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
(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
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)

All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you

We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
Our music changes through the years
(Radio)

So don't you never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around 'cos we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)

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
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio ga ga
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you
Loves
You