Flash (Queen song)
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"Flash" is a song by Queen. It was written by Brian May. This song is the theme tune of the 1980 movie Flash Gordon. The soundtrack released to coincide with the film contained only that music composed and performed by the rock band Queen (a soundtrack containing the original orchestral score by Howard Blake was released in 2000).
There are two versions of the song. The album version ("Flash's Theme") is in fact the start to the movie, with all the dialog from the first scene. The single version however features parts of the dialog cut from various parts of the movie. This version was also included on the Greatest Hits compilation from 1981.
Flash is sung as a duet between Freddie Mercury and Brian May, with Roger Taylor adding the high harmonies. Brian May plays all of the instruments except for the rhythm section. He used Bösendorfer Imperial Grand Piano (with 97 keys instead of 88, having an extra octave on the low range), Oberheim OBX synth (which he plays in the video) and his homemade Red Special guitar.
Covers
UK DJ Vanguard remixed the theme and released as single during the early DVD release of the film. The single managed to peak at #15 on the UK singles charts at that time
In 1988, Public Enemy used a sample of "Flash" for their song "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic", released on the album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
The song is played at Philadelphia Phillies home games when Phillies reliever Tom Gordon, whose nickname is "Flash Gordon", enters the game.
The theme song to the anime The Big O also bears a strong similarity to "Flash."
The song is played in the movie Blades of Glory when Will Ferrell and Jon Heder do their final competition together, with the song as the background and basis for their routine at the end of the movie.
Flash is the opening song that Tenacious D plays in their Complete Masterworks DVD.
Some Sci Fi Channel teaser-advertisements for the 2007 Flash Gordon series play the signature beats from the song over a simple logo. The song is not used in the actual show.
Chicago-based band Tub Ring has been known to cover the song at concerts.
The song is played by My Chemical Romance on the Projekt Revolution tour.
Mark Dudbridge an English darts player from Bristol uses it as his entrance music on stage. A take on his nickname Flash.
