QueenZone discussion #996277

goodco wrote: I'd give MIH 3 1/2 stars due to Let Me Live, A Winter's Tale, and that it was a better 'coda' than Zeppelin and other bands. Other than that, I agree with 99% of what you said. Your reviews were to the point, written as a long time fan, and fair. Well done.

louvox wrote: Hot space ½ I am all for artist trying new things, but there is nothing new here. All you have here is bad disco, funk & techno recorded with no heart, soul or inspiration. The production quality is just plain awful. It’s hard to believe that same group who gave us “Bo Rap” also gave us “Body language”. I will admit the live versions of “Staying power, “Calling all girls” & “Back chat” show potential. Had they recorded that album with the same drive & depth as the live recordings it probably would have faired better. Strongest song: “Under pressure” The works * Innuendo ****

louvox wrote:Contrary to popular belief in Europe the “break free” video had nothing to do with the decline in popularity in the USA.

August R. wrote: You made some good points. A couple of things that caught my attention. SHA: You might be on to something here. Especially the B-side of the album sounds unfocused with all those short songs going to different directions. The Works: For some reason I like this album. It's one of those few occasions when Queen tried to make a point with their songs. World We Created, Hammer To Fall, Machines. I also recall Radio Ga Ga was originally intended as a protest song against MTV (or something??). Apparently Freddie changed some lyrics as well. Musically, it's not so interested and the band recycle their old ideas, but the album has its moments. I think Keep Passing The Open Windows and Machines are way underrated. AKOM: I agree, as an album it's not coherent. They probably should have make a proper soundtrack album instead. But can you honestly say, that Who Wants To Live Forever isn't one of the strongest songs they wrote in the 80's?? MIH: I actually like this one as well, even if it's robbing Freddie's grave (if he had one) in some ways. But I like the album as a whole. There's a good atmosphere, and it's a good farewell album.

lyricalassasin_77 wrote: Hmmm....You must have taken a vacation on Queen in the 80's. Brutalizing HOT SPACE, THE WORKS, and A KIND OF MAGIC. I will say this I never am surprised when people dump on JAZZ. I myself think JAZZ was a strong album and the last one they put out that showcased just what diversity they had. Isn't that why A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is so loved? You tell me what they did on that album that makes it such a masterpiece besides BO RAP?? They was all over the place on that album. Hard Rock, Metal, Vaudeville, Ballads, Pop Rock, and I can name a few more......JAZZ was the same. I agreed for the most part about all your reviews of the albums from the 70's but with the 80's I think not only did Queen lose you but You LOST QUEEN....LoL.....Also THE GAME for what it was I thought was a classic and very bold first attempt into the world of rhythmic rock and the use of synthesizers.....Hope you don't think I came at your review too harsh. Peace......

<font color=green>Bren<font color=orange>ski wrote: the whole "opinion" thing is subjective...be a dull old world if we all agreed for what it's worth most of us agree with some of the reviews...it's natural to the guy who said "cool cat" had a 2½ octave range...so what? doesn't make it a good song...it may just be a shitty song with a big range my own personal opinion?... Queen & Queen II - top notch (queen II) being the peak of tha bands quality (creatively, song writing and production)...the breathtaking tenderness of "nevermore" sandwiched between the hectic chaos of "Fairy Feller" and the manicly-melodic "Black Queen" make for the most anticpated appetiser for Bo-Rhap you could hope for.... "Races" - in my opinion produced much better songs than "Opera" - and their own production techniques gave it more of the band's own feel "Jazz" - is a great pop album - in the past i've likened it's feel and layout to "Rubber Soul" (one of my most cherished beatles recordings... "NOTW" - it was meant to feel sparse....it was almost in keeping with the times (punk was breaking out all over, and the sex pistols were in the next studio to queen)....

louvox wrote:

August R. wrote: AKOM: ...But can you honestly say, that Who Wants To Live Forever isn't one of the strongest songs they wrote in the 80's??

You're right, the best song on "Magic" is "Who want's to live forever", but reminds me of a typical power ballad of the time.

redspecial85 wrote: I am an American fan...For the record I don't hate the Hot Space album. I just was dissapointed with it. Great compositions...the sound and production was just cheesy and dated to me. The only Queen album I dislike is The Works...I thought the "I Want to Break Free" video was hilarious. That record just had too many synthesizers for my taste. I'm not a fan of 80's music...period. Select stuff I will listen to; but that's limited to the good guitar oriented music. ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Queen (of course), Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Halen, Satch, Vai, etc. and so on.

reeddr wrote: I too am an American fan and I think one of thr reasons Hot Space did not fare well over here was that it was a couple of years late on the scene. The fall of 1979 was pretty much the demise of disco music here in the U.S. and it really did not rebound until around 1984 or so when the U.K. began putting out a lot of quality electronic dance music from the likes of Tears for Fears, Naked Eyes, Falco, ABC, etc. Also here in the U.S., as a rule, very few rock and rollers also listened to dance music, so when Queen released Hot Space and folks heard "Body Language" and "Staying Power" as the first few songs off the album, they cast them aside and went on to other up and coming rockers of the time like Def Leppard and Judas Priest. Also a lot of the rocker guys here in the U.S. in the 1980's were homophobes and freaked out at anything that smacked of being gay, so when Freddie cut his hair, grew a mustache and pranced around the stage calling everyone "darling", these close minded individuals just couldn't cope. You can imagine the shock when they later on found out one of the "toughest" rock acts (Judas Priest) was also fronted by a gay man!!!! Gotta Love it..

reeddr wrote: I too am an American fan and I think one of thr reasons Hot Space did not fare well over here was that it was a couple of years late on the scene. The fall of 1979 was pretty much the demise of disco music here in the U.S. and it really did not rebound until around 1984 or so when the U.K. began putting out a lot of quality electronic dance music from the likes of Tears for Fears, Naked Eyes, Falco, ABC, etc. Also here in the U.S., as a rule, very few rock and rollers also listened to dance music, so when Queen released Hot Space and folks heard "Body Language" and "Staying Power" as the first few songs off the album, they cast them aside and went on to other up and coming rockers of the time like Def Leppard and Judas Priest. Also a lot of the rocker guys here in the U.S. in the 1980's were homophobes and freaked out at anything that smacked of being gay, so when Freddie cut his hair, grew a mustache and pranced around the stage calling everyone "darling", these close minded individuals just couldn't cope. You can imagine the shock when they later on found out one of the "toughest" rock acts (Judas Priest) was also fronted by a gay man!!!! Gotta Love it..

Bobby_brown wrote: Hot Space has a great production. The sound is excellent. Considering that the band were rarelly in the studio toghether when they´ve recorded this, i think it´s a miracle the way it sounds. Freddie´s voice and Brians guitar are perfect. And i like the songs too! I never thought that this was a bad album. I agree that "News of the world" has a weak sound, and some of the songs sounds like demos, but when you have "We are the champions" or "We will rock you" you can´t choose "It´s late" as the strongest song! Just my opinion. It seems to me that for some reason people tend to not like the 80´s stuff and i don´t understand why. Music it´s not supose to sound intellectually. It´s not a question of understanding, but a question of feelings, in this case good feelings. I found fashinating that musicians with 40 years old could write stuff that even little kids liked. I remember that when the "live at Wembley" was bradcasted in Portugal i was less than 10 years old and kids with my age simply adored "A King Of Magic" and "Radio GAGA" I really think it´s fascinating! Music is for entertainment only, and it was "The works" and "A Kind of Magic" that sent them again to the biggest audiences ever in their career. Hoe wrong can people be? When asked about his own favourite song Eddward Van Halen (guitar player/ songwriter for Van Halen) said it was "Jump" simply because it has reached and touched more people than the others. His goal as a musician was achived. I know this just a matter of opinion, but i found that people are becoming too "logical" about music these days. And this is not a Jazz forum ; )) Take care P.S- I´m gonna say something shoking for the most of you: I think that the first album by the spice girls is simply one of the greatest pop albums ever released. I know what people are thinking - they can´t sing live, they have no voice, etc. The fact is, their first album is an excellent pop album.

louvox wrote: [/QUOTENAME You make some interesting points, but I must disagree with you about “Hot Space”. Brian’s guitar always sounds great. I can’t think of a song where it didn’t. Freddie as well is usually phenomenal.

louvox wrote: A kind of magic This album is just plain BORING. More of the same tripe from four uninspired individuals. There is nothing interesting or innovative on the entire thing. Did someone crazy glue synthesizers to their fingers? Strongest song: None

M.H wrote: Oh yey, you said that the video for I want to break free wasn't the reason they declined in popularity in the US, what do you think it is then? Thanks M.H

Adam Baboolal wrote: Yeah right. I might've thought about your point, had you not included The Miracle. Adam.

louvox wrote:

Queen went from grand over the top virtuoso rock n'roll to week sub-standard synth/pop. Take Freddie's voice off most their tunes from "Hot Space to "The Miracle" and couldn't tell them apart from any other crappy Euro synth/pop band of that era. Most fans here (USA) thought thier music in the 80's was a joke.

M.H wrote:

louvox wrote:

Queen went from grand over the top virtuoso rock n'roll to week sub-standard synth/pop. Take Freddie's voice off most their tunes from "Hot Space to "The Miracle" and couldn't tell them apart from any other crappy Euro synth/pop band of that era. Most fans here (USA) thought thier music in the 80's was a joke.

I know what you mean about the synths, they did use a lot during the eighties. But, whilst they probably used the synths on most albulm songs, tracks like Tear It Up, Hammer To Fall, Is This The World We Created (to my knowledge)didn't use so many synths, so it they did reduce it to an extent, and then on the next two albulms there was more of a balance between synth heavy songs and not so synth heavy songs. On my music program I've got, it has a review of all the albulms from hundreds of thousands of bands, and it talks about how Hot Space was a drastic change in Queens style and so on...So I understand that a change in music could alienate audiances, and the fact that there was no Works tour in America didn't help either, so I understand your point. Another question though, the music program has a review for Innunedo and how Queens popularity returned with this albulm, but then when Made In Heaven came out Queen had once again been forgotten. With all the albulms being re-released and the Q+PR tour going arouned, has Queen become more popular in the US, or just among the faithful fans? Thanks again, M.H

The Head Shredder wrote: i think that Queen's getting more popular with a little bit of both the US and us strong fans. Most people in the US have only heard songs such as We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions and not many others. They are finally starting to realize what amazing artists these guys were, and they want to hear more of their music. Also i think its becoming more popular with us Queen fans because for a while, you didnt hear too much about Queen and when you start to hear more, you get excited and you get more into the music again... thanks

louvox wrote:

M.H wrote:

louvox wrote:

Queen went from grand over the top virtuoso rock n'roll to week sub-standard synth/pop. Take Freddie's voice off most their tunes from "Hot Space to "The Miracle" and couldn't tell them apart from any other crappy Euro synth/pop band of that era. Most fans here (USA) thought thier music in the 80's was a joke.

I know what you mean about the synths, they did use a lot during the eighties. But, whilst they probably used the synths on most albulm songs, tracks like Tear It Up, Hammer To Fall, Is This The World We Created (to my knowledge)didn't use so many synths, so it they did reduce it to an extent, and then on the next two albulms there was more of a balance between synth heavy songs and not so synth heavy songs. On my music program I've got, it has a review of all the albulms from hundreds of thousands of bands, and it talks about how Hot Space was a drastic change in Queens style and so on...So I understand that a change in music could alienate audiances, and the fact that there was no Works tour in America didn't help either, so I understand your point. Another question though, the music program has a review for Innunedo and how Queens popularity returned with this albulm, but then when Made In Heaven came out Queen had once again been forgotten. With all the albulms being re-released and the Q+PR tour going arouned, has Queen become more popular in the US, or just among the faithful fans? Thanks again, M.H

I think the synths had something to do with it, but more so it was the songs they were producing. Although I do like some songs from that era (Hammer to fall, Was it all worth it) to name a few, the majority of their material was considered weak by most fans here (USA) It seems that they were trying to write "hit songs" all the time to accommodate what ever tastes happen to be in vogue instead of foring new ground. Also the producing was just plain terrible. They had created such a distinct sound early in their career that set them apart from everyone else. Then suddenly they just abandoned it. They used to take things and make it their own and the all of a sudden they just start mimicking what others were doing at the time. All that didn't change until "Innuendo" but by then it was too little, too late. Not touring in the USA and basically ingnoring this part of the world didn't help. Radio in the US sucks! especially now. Back in the 80's most radio DJ's laughed and rarely ever played their latter stuff. The only song you ever hear played from thier 80's era is "Under pressure". I will admit that the live versions of thier 80's songs sound much better than the studio versions and show potential. Had they had a stronger producer or recorded their material with a more edge, things may had been different.

Boy Thomas Raker wrote: That's the beauty and frustration of Queen. It's one of the rare bands that lasted long enough to have different styles. QUOTE]
Well said, well said indeed. It's funny though, the albulms and songs I enjoy listening to the most are from the seventies, but I have all the albulms from The Game onwards (just the way it's worked out with certain CD's not being in stock when I had cash), and those are the songs that I listened to before I bought ANATO and Queen and Jazz, which I love dearly. Seems like I've left the best till last! =)
M.H