QueenZone discussion #1113928

pootle50 wrote: Well. Paul Rodgers wants F**king shooting. That was shit.

Richard Orchard wrote: But - was the artists present the best representation of who would want to honor Nelson Mandela? Given the universal appeal of Mandela, i am surprised more bit A list people weren't there.

Rick wrote: Wow, six posts. You must be God.

Tero wrote:

Richard Orchard wrote: But - was the artists present the best representation of who would want to honor Nelson Mandela? Given the universal appeal of Mandela, i am surprised more bit A list people weren't there.

I don't mean to sound overtly negative or cynical

pittrek wrote: It was a very good concert. Not great, "only" very good. Paul definitely needs to learn the lyrics of "One Vision" if they want to play in on the tour

Cwazy little thing wrote: You failed! That is the one of the most cynical posts Ive ever read on this board! You honestly think Brian organised this as an attempt to raise publicity for the new album - you must think he's one sick person! Why are you even here if you have such a low opinion of him!?

Tero wrote:

Cwazy little thing wrote: You failed! That is the one of the most cynical posts Ive ever read on this board! You honestly think Brian organised this as an attempt to raise publicity for the new album - you must think he's one sick person! Why are you even here if you have such a low opinion of him!?

So what's your explanation? Either Brian was really terrible at his job, or he deliberate made a poor job out of it. It's interesting to see that even the "46664 - Leave your birthday wishes to Nelson Mandela" web page has an advertisement of a free QPR download (the "generously donated" Say It's Not True video) with every greeting you leave... I can almost touch Brian's sincereness and genuine belief in the cause!

Tero wrote:

Richard Orchard wrote: But - was the artists present the best representation of who would want to honor Nelson Mandela? Given the universal appeal of Mandela, i am surprised more bit A list people weren't there.

I don't mean to sound overtly negative or cynical, but is that really a surprise? Brian May organises an internationally televised charity concert just a few months before his own band launches a European tour (with new material which is weak, to say the least based on the songs so far), and you expect him to gather around the biggest stars in the world? :D This was an advertisement campaign for QPR, designed to highlight their own mediocre performance when compared to the crap around them... All the reports are going to say they stole the show, and all the highlight programmes are going to show their performance, and that wouldn't have been possible if there had really been an "stellar lineup" to compete with.

Cwazy little thing wrote: Most of the artists there were those who have been involved in the 46664 cause all along

Cwazy little thing wrote: Also - if it was all about the new album then isnt it great that they played so much new material last night...... oh wait. :)

Cwazy little thing wrote: Say its not true was written FOR 46664 and Nelson Mandela, long before a new album was concieved.

Knute wrote:

Tero wrote:

Richard Orchard wrote: But - was the artists present the best representation of who would want to honor Nelson Mandela? Given the universal appeal of Mandela, i am surprised more bit A list people weren't there.

I don't mean to sound overtly negative or cynical, but is that really a surprise? Brian May organises an internationally televised charity concert just a few months before his own band launches a European tour (with new material which is weak, to say the least based on the songs so far), and you expect him to gather around the biggest stars in the world? :D This was an advertisement campaign for QPR, designed to highlight their own mediocre performance when compared to the crap around them... All the reports are going to say they stole the show, and all the highlight programmes are going to show their performance, and that wouldn't have been possible if there had really been an "stellar lineup" to compete with.

LMAO! As predictable as you are, I wasn't really expecting anything this transparent. Awww poor wittle jaded Tero

Tero wrote:

Knute wrote:

Tero wrote:

Richard Orchard wrote: But - was the artists present the best representation of who would want to honor Nelson Mandela? Given the universal appeal of Mandela, i am surprised more bit A list people weren't there.

I don't mean to sound overtly negative or cynical, but is that really a surprise? Brian May organises an internationally televised charity concert just a few months before his own band launches a European tour (with new material which is weak, to say the least based on the songs so far), and you expect him to gather around the biggest stars in the world? :D This was an advertisement campaign for QPR, designed to highlight their own mediocre performance when compared to the crap around them... All the reports are going to say they stole the show, and all the highlight programmes are going to show their performance, and that wouldn't have been possible if there had really been an "stellar lineup" to compete with.

LMAO! As predictable as you are, I wasn't really expecting anything this transparent. Awww poor wittle jaded Tero

Don't worry, it's no more predictable than you writing glowing reviews of any mediocre QPR performance. ;)

Knute wrote: Like you would ever acknowledge a great QPR performance. How could you even claim this was mediocre when absolutely everything they do is mediocre to you?

Tero wrote:

Richard Orchard wrote: But - was the artists present the best representation of who would want to honor Nelson Mandela? Given the universal appeal of Mandela, i am surprised more bit A list people weren't there.

I don't mean to sound overtly negative or cynical, but is that really a surprise? Brian May organises an internationally televised charity concert just a few months before his own band launches a European tour (with new material which is weak, to say the least based on the songs so far), and you expect him to gather around the biggest stars in the world? :D This was an advertisement campaign for QPR, designed to highlight their own mediocre performance when compared to the crap around them... All the reports are going to say they stole the show, and all the highlight programmes are going to show their performance, and that wouldn't have been possible if there had really been an "stellar lineup" to compete with.

kingogre wrote: So you dont think that the 90th birthday of the worlds most admired political leader of our time is enough reason for celebration? If your "theory" is correct then hats off to Brian who managed to fool a surprising gathering of artists and other people to appear in his "commercial" including Bono, The Edge, Joan Baez, Annie Lennox and even Nelson Mandela. Theyre just the kind of people wholl do anything for money!

Tero wrote:

Knute wrote: Like you would ever acknowledge a great QPR performance. How could you even claim this was mediocre when absolutely everything they do is mediocre to you?

Have they ever had a great performance? :P Seriously though, I have NEVER critisised QPR's work on Paul's songs. I critisise QPR's work on the Queen songs because no-one in the "band" is willing to change their own style to make the combination sound more like a genuine new band. If you don't believe me, read my notes from this topic link

Tero wrote:

kingogre wrote: So you dont think that the 90th birthday of the worlds most admired political leader of our time is enough reason for celebration? If your "theory" is correct then hats off to Brian who managed to fool a surprising gathering of artists and other people to appear in his "commercial" including Bono, The Edge, Joan Baez, Annie Lennox and even Nelson Mandela. Theyre just the kind of people wholl do anything for money!

The party idea may have been a sincere one, but I doubt the obviously half-hearted attempt at reaching artists of any international stature was genuine. This was a three(?) hour event, and you list a whopping two musicians who took the time to come the event, and one video entry... I bet Brian spent months on that.

Knute wrote: But to suggest that this whole thing was a calculated plan from Brian and Roger of promoting the album and tour is is excessively cynical and jaded. Why didn't they announce a new album coming out?

Tero wrote: There's no point in advertising the new album because a) very few people are going to buy the new album anyway, and b) Brian gets his kicks (and money) from touring and selling the old albums, and the best way to do both of those is to play the biggest hits live, as close to the original versions as possible... Like happened yesterday.

Tero wrote:

Knute wrote: But to suggest that this whole thing was a calculated plan from Brian and Roger of promoting the album and tour is is excessively cynical and jaded. Why didn't they announce a new album coming out?

The WHOLE thing wasn't a calculated plan, but it certainly was a lucky coincidence for the band. I'm quite certain Brian would have been able to secure a more "commercially appealing" line-up if he'd genuinely tried, but that didn't happen. A big part of that must also be his ego, because it also doesn't allow him to play to smaller audiences as a solo artist. ;) There's no point in advertising the new album because a) very few people are going to buy the new album anyway, and b) Brian gets his kicks (and money) from touring and selling the old albums, and the best way to do both of those is to play the biggest hits live, as close to the original versions as possible... Like happened yesterday. If I may ask YOU something, would you give an honest opinion? Are the Queen songs (as heard yesterday) the best possible versions these people can come up with, or would they benefit from new (less like Queen '86) arrangements?

Knute wrote: I really don't see how they could change the arrangements without making it a completely new song.

Knute wrote: Let's take an example. Brian is going to play the same accompaniment lines over WATC that he has always done, and that's only natural. After all it always has been him. Every guitar line and every drum fill is integral to the composition of the song and are lovely just by themselves.

Knute wrote: There's no need to change it just because there is a different vocalist over it.

Knute wrote: And as far as the vocals, Paul is sticking with the melody as he should since it's what defines the song. Just like Brian sticks with Paul Kossoff's lines during the All Right Now solo because that's such an integral part of that tune.

Richard Orchard wrote: Paul has a sort of "R & B" voice, you know, with lots of oohh-ing, etc... Very few artists don't do this sort of thing nowadays. Tragically - i don't really like this "sound". Freddie didn't "R & B" things... So there is a big difference there.

Knute wrote: Paul does stick with the melody for the most part. The melody is the skeleton and then Paul adds his own muscle tissue ligaments and blood..lol But it's still faithful to the original melody. I would say it's close to 85-90% I mean give me an example on the Mandela performance where he radically changes the melody.

Knute wrote: What a load of tosh Tero, but thanks for your input anyways. You make it sound as if he struggles mightily to even keep up, when the truth of the matter is he barely breaks a sweat. Just like he has always done since 1968. If you were REALLY spot on, you would have all kinds people backing you up saying, yeah I think you are right, this sounds like a mess. But that is not what is happening. He sounded fantastic last night. It was a strong performance. You just refuse to appreciate his style applied to Queen material. That's fine. You are certainly not alone, but don't kid yourself that the majority of people who has seen last night's show share your viewpoint.

Adam Baboolal wrote: You know, I have to speak up about Paul's singing. Last night, for the first time, I really felt "wow" when I heard him singing the songs I'd heard him do many times before and felt like he was stronger than ever. And I have to agree with Knute's post above. Well put and to the point. Adam.

Knute wrote: You make it sound as if he struggles mightily to even keep up

Knute wrote: You are certainly not alone, but don't kid yourself that the majority of people who has seen last night's show share your viewpoint.

Zebonka12 wrote: It's just not to everyone's taste, that's all there is to it. .... A lot of the time I get irritated by his endless bluesy trills on the ends of notes ....

kingogre wrote: I actually think that Paul has trimmed down his improvisations since the last tour. It is like he has learned how to handle the Queen-material instead of just doing his thing. And thats no small feat considering the difference between his style of singing and his stage personality and Freddies. (Even though they share that amazing ability to make their voice effortlessly suit both extremely beautiful, soulful and rocking songs.) TSMGO is a good example of how far he has come, on the last tour I thought it was a song that would never fit him and on this performance it arguably was the highlight. He still gives the songs his own sound and so makes them sound different and in a new light, with a blues- and souledge which I actually likes a lot. To me it doesnt matter at all to hear to just hear the Queen-songs live again (and remember how awful performances like Amsterdam 2002 were) I just think that the way QPR sounds is f*cking amazing to my ears.

Cwazy little thing wrote:

kingogre wrote: I actually think that Paul has trimmed down his improvisations since the last tour. It is like he has learned how to handle the Queen-material instead of just doing his thing. And thats no small feat considering the difference between his style of singing and his stage personality and Freddies. (Even though they share that amazing ability to make their voice effortlessly suit both extremely beautiful, soulful and rocking songs.) TSMGO is a good example of how far he has come, on the last tour I thought it was a song that would never fit him and on this performance it arguably was the highlight. He still gives the songs his own sound and so makes them sound different and in a new light, with a blues- and souledge which I actually likes a lot. To me it doesnt matter at all to hear to just hear the Queen-songs live again (and remember how awful performances like Amsterdam 2002 were) I just think that the way QPR sounds is f*cking amazing to my ears.

Spot on. This is definately about whether or not you like Paul Rodgers, I genuinely dont think (One Vision aside) you could fault the band the other night- easily the best Ive seen them together, which is a shame since most of the songs were cut down! I think it bodes very well for the tour, and despite what snippets Ive heard of the new material, my expectations for the new album have been raised slightly - because they felt like a real band on Friday.

Brian_Mays_Wig wrote:

Cwazy little thing wrote:

kingogre wrote: I actually think that Paul has trimmed down his improvisations since the last tour. It is like he has learned how to handle the Queen-material instead of just doing his thing. And thats no small feat considering the difference between his style of singing and his stage personality and Freddies. (Even though they share that amazing ability to make their voice effortlessly suit both extremely beautiful, soulful and rocking songs.) TSMGO is a good example of how far he has come, on the last tour I thought it was a song that would never fit him and on this performance it arguably was the highlight. He still gives the songs his own sound and so makes them sound different and in a new light, with a blues- and souledge which I actually likes a lot. To me it doesnt matter at all to hear to just hear the Queen-songs live again (and remember how awful performances like Amsterdam 2002 were) I just think that the way QPR sounds is f*cking amazing to my ears.

Spot on. This is definately about whether or not you like Paul Rodgers, I genuinely dont think (One Vision aside) you could fault the band the other night- easily the best Ive seen them together, which is a shame since most of the songs were cut down! I think it bodes very well for the tour, and despite what snippets Ive heard of the new material, my expectations for the new album have been raised slightly - because they felt like a real band on Friday.

kingogre wrote: I actually think that Paul has trimmed down his improvisations since the last tour. It is like he has learned how to handle the Queen-material instead of just doing his thing. And thats no small feat considering the difference between his style of singing and his stage personality and Freddies.

Thomas Tønnesen wrote: Dobo wrote: "...with Brian been the worst, he fluffed a few riffs e.g One Vision...". - Ok Dobo, you need your ears checked. Yes he struggled on One Vision. But after that song he played it better than ever. Just listen to the solos in The Show Must Go On, the harmonizing in We are The Champions, and the solo in All Right Now... Brian played brilliantly. And for the set being under-rehearsed? Well... One Vision could certainly been better, but the other songs where brilliant - Best performance of The Show Must Go On i have heard live in any form. In Champions Paul hit all the high notes - even Fred struggled on those. And Allright Now was pure bliss.

Zebonka12 wrote: For example, I think his voice suits One Vision, but I don't like what he does to The Show Must Go On. A lot of the time I get irritated by his endless bluesy trills on the ends of notes, the way it seems like he can't pronounce words properly.. I can appreciate the power behind his voice, obviously. You'd have to be a retard (ie. Treasure Moment) not to.

Zebonka12 wrote: Only as many flubs as an 80's Queen gig - people who heap excess praise (or vitriol) on it are just being melodramatic.

Zebonka12 wrote: I truly think that people hear what they want to hear. There hasn't been an objective post in this thread yet, and I'll probably have to include myself in on that. I thought the show was okay. Only as many flubs as an 80's Queen gig - people who heap excess praise (or vitriol) on it are just being melodramatic.

FriedChicken wrote: I just saw the performance again and I was stunned. I can't believe how good it all sounded. As if Paul has been their singer since 1970! All the songs, even the under-rehearsed One Vision, sounded like All Right Now. With this I mean that Paul has really taken the Queen songs and sings them like it were songs of his own. This was a really great performance.

Ken8 wrote:

Zebonka12 wrote: Only as many flubs as an 80's Queen gig - people who heap excess praise (or vitriol) on it are just being melodramatic.

Except Queen in the eighties didn't rely on a teleprompter.

Ken8 wrote: Except Queen in the eighties didn't rely on a teleprompter.

TheAmazingEvent wrote: isn't the whole point with these comments that Pauls voice doesn't go with Queen music mean no matter how good a singer he is Mr Roger's should never have been asked to join the band in the first place. He sings his own stuff great but the R&B bollox he does to Queen really kills the performance for me. As for Mandela concert One Vision was a total balls ups really, otherwise typical QPR.

Zebonka12 wrote:

Ken8 wrote: Except Queen in the eighties didn't rely on a teleprompter.

Really quite irrelevant.

Mr Mercury wrote:

Ken8 wrote:

Zebonka12 wrote: Only as many flubs as an 80's Queen gig - people who heap excess praise (or vitriol) on it are just being melodramatic.

Except Queen in the eighties didn't rely on a teleprompter.

I would bet there was times when they wished they did rely on one, like when Freddie forgot the words to Bo Rhap in Japan in the 70's or during Radio Ga Ga. There is more but I cant be bothered to look them all out. Also, you will notice that, apart from the mistake with One Vision, Paul never looked at the thing again.

Ken8 wrote: Not so junior. How old do you think the teleprompter system is?

TheAmazingEvent wrote: if you're going to sing Queen sing it in Freddie's style OR rearrange the songs to fit the new voice OR choose another singer (i'm not a paul hater BTW). Jeff Scott Soto did a fine job on his convention recording.

Knute wrote: I do NOT want a person who approximates Freddie up there with Brian and Roger. That would be completely tacky and in bad taste.

Tero wrote: To me that's tacky and in bad taste, not to mention disrespectful to everyone currently and previously involved with the songs.

kingogre wrote:

Tero wrote: To me that's tacky and in bad taste, not to mention disrespectful to everyone currently and previously involved with the songs.

No one of them agrees with you though.

Adam Baboolal wrote: Calling what Brian and Roger play, "backing tracks"?? That's just wrong. There's no argument, it's just plain insulting without good reasoning behind it. If that's what they (Queen+PR) like and (lest we forget) that's the way the songs go anyway, what's the problem?

Adam Baboolal wrote: It simply comes down to who likes listening to Queen after 1991.

Adam Baboolal wrote: They've been onto this stuff for the last 4 years now so, if you don't like it, why keep coming back to trash whatever they do, here? I just don't get that.

Adam Baboolal wrote: It's as annoying as a stepford jumping up and down happily at everything they do. You are the Smith to the Stepfords' Neo! I guess, you're here to create "balance". Well, I dunno, I'm starting to get bored of these people who have nothing good to say...ever. Adam.

kingogre wrote: There are actually lots of people here who thinks QPR are great and want to talk about what they do. It is tiresome to never be able to do that cause the same few people keep repeating the same few arguments no matter what is said in return to them. Of course it is your right to express your opinion but try to do it in a respectful way. It isnt the rest of us who constantly keeps crossing the line with harsh language, nasty remarks, provocations or quite frankly insults to the bandmembers for that matter. Doing that and on the same time trying to make yourself appear like some kind of martyr is weird. Especially when all you seem to want to do is pick a fight.

Tero wrote: What's stopped it is that 90% of the people don't seem to be able to write more than 10 word replies, or to elaborate on their views at all.

Daniel Nester wrote: Also: Anyone pick up the Miranda flub in All Right Now? Just before the second verse, he went into the bass break. Maybe they were thinking of abbreviating that song as well?

Tero wrote: I don't have any hard feelings about you either, I'm just saying what the situation is. Why don't we take this topic as an example of discussion here at QZ. There are a few "QPR sucks" and a few dozen "QPR is great" messages. The dissenting opinions haven't stopped the discussion at all. What's stopped it is that 90% of the people don't seem to be able to write more than 10 word replies, or to elaborate on their views at all.

TheAmazingEvent wrote: What i'll say to the QPR are great people who seem to think the 'haters' are a minority is have you seen the poll result on the home page? Speaks volumes.

Zebonka12 wrote:

Ken8 wrote: Not so junior. How old do you think the teleprompter system is?

Don't junior me, grand-dad!

Harry_queenbootlegs wrote: To hear 2 or 3 old songs over and over again on such big events can maybe get boring indeed for us as Queenfans, but as long the audience is getting wild and thrilled then they will do it. It probably seems to work everytime.

Harry_queenbootlegs wrote: To hear 2 or 3 old songs over and over again on such big events can maybe get boring indeed for us as Queenfans, but as long the audience is getting wild and thrilled then they will do it. It probably seems to work everytime.

Cwazy little thing wrote: The fact is they will always always always play WWRY, WATC and probably Allright now and TSMGO at these sorts of things for a number of sensible reasons. The first three of those are, Bo Rap aside, Queen's best known tracks and Paul's best known track, and at such an event with a short set and an audience who arent necessarily the sort of Queen fans we all are bands know that to go down well they have to cater to that audience and play the best known stuff that they are expected to. The show would bomb if they had played White Queen, Football Fight and Machines, as delighted/curious/shocked as the rest of us may have been as to how those sounded!

YourValentine wrote:

Cwazy little thing wrote: The fact is they will always always always play WWRY, WATC and probably Allright now and TSMGO at these sorts of things for a number of sensible reasons. The first three of those are, Bo Rap aside, Queen's best known tracks and Paul's best known track, and at such an event with a short set and an audience who arent necessarily the sort of Queen fans we all are bands know that to go down well they have to cater to that audience and play the best known stuff that they are expected to. The show would bomb if they had played White Queen, Football Fight and Machines, as delighted/curious/shocked as the rest of us may have been as to how those sounded!

Sorry but now I have to disagree respectfully :) Playing these same 3 songs again and again and again makes them look like these poor one-hit wonders who play the same song their whole life because otherwise nobody would know who is on the stage. This is not the case for Brian, Roger or Paul Rodgers, they are big stars and really do not need to cater to an uneducated audience. Just look at Brian's appearance in the Wembley Arena with McFly in 2006: it was a teenaged audience and the reception was exceptional. I think Brian had not heard so much screaming since Japan in the 70s. Or look at Tromsoe 2005, another 46664 concert. Brian played with Jivan Gasparyan and with Zucchero, the audience was thrilled although he did not perform any Queen stuff at all. He is Brian May, for heaven's sake. They are big stars and excellent musicians, they should do something more artistically challenging. The crowds are not that stupid, they would certainly appreciate it.

YourValentine wrote: [...] Tromsoe [...] was a magical night and one of my all time favourite Brian moments. [...]

Sheer Brass Neck wrote: "Marvelling at the Brian's clever use of delays and sweet tone during the wonderful solo in White Queen (you know, like when they played it in the 70's) is for a proper, full length Queen show." Except on the last tour the set list was pretty similar to the previous two tours. Queen plays first and foremost to their singles fans. People always say, "if they played White Queen, Long Away, She Makes Me, etc.", no one would react. Great! If they're artists, do something artistic! Brian played a snippet of Long Away last tour. I think he, of all people, has no idea how much some of those old gems mean to people. He'll play Last horizon, which has no emotional connnection to most Queen fans because he likes it, but can't pull anything that we've heard a million times to put in a nugget each show. No one is asking for a set of totally obscure, never before played songs, just a bone thrown their way once in a while.

YourValentine wrote:

Cwazy little thing wrote: The fact is they will always always always play WWRY, WATC and probably Allright now and TSMGO at these sorts of things for a number of sensible reasons.

Look at the 46664 audience response to the Queen numbers, going through the motions mostly. Then look at their reaction to "All Right Now"...strangely they go nuts in a way they didn't for the Queen numbers.
Sorry but even though I love those songs, they are becoming a little tired.