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Flash (Queen song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Flash
| cover = Flashusa.jpg
| alt =
| caption = UK single picture sleeve
| type = single
| artist = Queen
| album = Flash Gordon
| B-side = Football Fight
| released =
* 24 November 1980 (UK)
* 27 January 1981 (US)
| recorded = October 1980
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock
| length =
* 3:29 (album version)
* 2:48 (single version)
| label =
* EMI (UK)
* Elektra (US)
| writer = Brian May
| producer =
| prev_title = Need Your Loving Tonight
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = Under Pressure
| next_year = 1981
| misc =
}}
"'Flash'" is a song by British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, "Flash" is the theme song of the 1980 film 'Flash Gordon'.
There are two versions of the song. The album version ("'Flash's Theme'") is in fact the start to the film, with all the dialogue from the first scene. The single version contains dialogue cut from various parts of the film, most memorably, Brian Blessed's character exclaiming "Gordon's alive?!" This version was also included on the 'Greatest Hits' compilation from 1981.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/r413002 "Queen: Greatest Hits"]. Allmusic. Retrieved 12 May 2012
Flash is sung as a duet between Freddie Mercury and Brian May, with Roger Taylor adding the high harmonies. May plays all of the instruments except for the rhythm section. He used an Imperial Bsendorfer Grand Piano (with 97 keys instead of 88, having an extra octave on the low range), Oberheim OB-X synth (which he plays in the video) and his homemade Red Special electric guitar.
The song reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and number three in Germany. On the U.S. charts, "Flash's Theme aka Flash" reached number 42 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100. It peaked at number 39 on the 'Cash Box' Top 100.
Music video
The video for the song was filmed at Advision Studios, London, in November 1980 and directed by Don Norman and shows the band performing the song to a screen showing clips from the film. An alternative version broadcast during the Concert for Kampuchea in 1981 with different clips included on the 'Flash Gordon' 2011 iTunes edition.
Personnel
*Freddie Mercury lead and backing vocals
*Brian May lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, piano, synthesizer
*Roger Taylor drums, backing vocals, timpani
*John Deacon bass guitar
Charts
Sales and certifications
Vanguard remix
{{Infobox song
| name = Flash
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Queen + Vanguard
| album =
| B-side = "Jam" (Vanguard)
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:04 (radio mix)
| label =
* Frisbee Tracks
* Virgin
* Nebula
| writer = Brian May
| producer = Vanguard
| chronology = Queen
| prev_title = We Will Rock You
| prev_year = 2000
| next_title = Reaching Out
| next_year = 2005
| misc =
}}
German producers Vanguard released a cover of "Flash", credited to "Queen + Vanguard", on 10 February 2003. The single peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number two on the UK Dance Chart, and number 17 in Germany.
Charts
Live recording
*'Queen on Fire Live at the Bowl'
*'Queen Rock Montreal'
In other media
The song is played during an ice dancing routine in the 2007 film 'Blades of Glory'.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/1PYcuxxTF10 Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20180331063414/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PYcuxxTF10&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]:
The song is played in 'The Flash' episode "Into the Void" where Cisco Ramon plays it when Barry Allen / The Flash enters a black hole to save Chester P. Runk, mentioning that he has been saving the song "for the right moment".
References
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