Which songs do you like better live than in the studio? Or vice-versa? For me, I think it would be either White Queen or Somebody To Love. White Queen is great in the studio, but I love it in concert, because Freddie's voice gets so powerful and emotional in that song. And the anticipation of Somebody To Love, waiting for that high note, is the best.
Hammer To Fall & Crazy Little Thing are way better on stage. Staying Power sounds good with real drums and B&R vocal harmonies, instead of triple-tracked Freddie.
Otoh, I prefer studio version of White Queen. Acoustic piano is great, but that sitarized guitar takes my breath away. Not to mention the angelical choir.
Somebody To Love I prefer studio too. It's easy: three/four voices vs over 30.
* White Queen
* See What A Fool I've Been
* Staying Power
* Hammer To Fall
* CLTCL
* Radio Ga-Ga...
Actually, most of them are far better live than in studio...
Kind of Magic and AOBTD were great live. I particularly like the funky/boogie version of Magic. Great fun.
My girlfriend always moans about the end of Champions from the studio - she says there should be the "of the world" on the end!!
And I agree with CLTCL - I love it when it get's rocking at the end, again especially on the Magic tour
queen live was amazing, i actually listen to more of my bootlegs than the studio performances because they always seem to add something extra that takes my breath away :D
AKOM at Wembley gives me goosebumps. Brians guitar and Johns bass sound amazing towards the end of the song just before 'Magic, Magic, Magic, Magiiiiiiicccc!' Way better live. But on the other hand, Id rather have the Highlander version of the song too. And Hammer to Fall at Wembley, great performance. But I think Stone Cold Crazy and White queen sound great live.
Oberon wrote:
My girlfriend always moans about the end of Champions from the studio - she says there should be the "of the world" on the end!!
lmao I've always thought that too.
Anyway, I think a lot of their 80's songs-especially the pop ones or the ones that employ usage of the synthesizer-sound a lot better live. They have a more hard-rock, powerful feel to them. It's like what those songs would have been had they been recorded by the band in their 70's hard-rock glory (aka no synths at all).
I think that AOBTD is a great song Live but Why on EARTH did they use that crappy electronic drumkit in the Works tour??! (I just saw Final Live in Japan 85 DVD). I think it sounds awful.
Earlier versions from 1980-81 sound great, but I think the best version has to be the one they played on the Magic Tour, with all the ad-libs.
AKOM is great live also, but the studio version has that refreshing Europop sound of the eighties that I just love, hehe :).
Wiley
"The Hot Space stuff was always better live.
More Guitar, more funked up and faster. "
Agreed. Save for Under Pressure, the entire album sounds better live (or at least what they actually performed live).
"It's Late (wasn't there a BBC or King Biscuit Flour Hour track?)"
Yep, it was part of the last BBC sessions Queen did. Not my favorite live, especially when compared to the vastly superior WWRY they did at the same time.
I prefer Live then Studio. Queen were so powerful on stage. On the studio they try to get the environment live. Queen are the best band live ever existed.
Like most great live acts Queen took the stuff from the studio to another level. For me to start I would say Ogre Battle , Somebody To Love and Staying Power are better live.
Hell I could make an arguement either way for every song. In the studio they were very polished and professional while live they were enrgetic and exciting.
My top 5 "live better than studio":
5 My melancholy bleus
4 somebody to love
3 we will rock you/ we are the champions
2 staying power
1 LOVE OF MY LIFE (the ultimate example!!!)