QueenZone discussion #1199878
Freddie, an average songwriter?!?
| Micrówave 09.09.2009 13:36 |
I stumbled onto britishhitsongwriters.com. What an interesting site. For instance, did you know that the guy who wrote Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" totally blew Freddie out of the water!!! His name was Mike Stock, and he is the #3 british hit-maker, while Freddie comes in at a mere #63. Tale of the tape: Mike "never gonna give you up" Stock Number of Hits: 126 Number Ones: 7 Number of Top Tens: 55 Weeks on chart: 902 Hits include: Slam Jam by the WWF Superstars (a #4), Fast Food Song by the Fast Food Rockers (a #2), and a slew of Kylie Minogue and Bananarama hits. Freddie "oh momma mia momma mia" Mercury Number of Hits: 47 Number Ones: 8 Number of Top Tens: 23 Weeks On Chart: 396 Hits include: 13 weeks and a #1 for Vanilla Ice, 7 weeks and a #1 for McFly, 12 weeks and a #1 for the Five Live EP, and being covered by Dwight Yoakam, Crazy Frog, Raven Maize, Bad News, Rolf Harris, Tigerstyle, Hank Marvin and Russell Watson. 1 of which I have heard of. |
| The Real Wizard 09.09.2009 14:01 |
Ah yeah... the biggest hit-makers are usually the ones that are behind the scenes. Just look at the Funk Brothers... they played on all the big Motown tunes in the 60s. Countless #1 hits... more than the Beatles, Elvis, Beach Boys, and Stones combined. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is essential viewing for anyone who has ever listened anything recorded between 1959 and 1972. But back to topic, Freddie being at #63 on such a list is actually pretty impressive for someone who was in the limelight. |
| Sebastian 09.09.2009 14:11 |
Sir GH wrote: Ah yeah... the biggest hit-makers are usually the ones that are behind the scenes. Just look at the Funk Brothers... they played on all the big Motown tunes in the 60s. Countless #1 hits... more than the Beatles, Elvis, Beach Boys, and Stones combined. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is essential viewing for anyone who has ever listened anything recorded between 1959 and 1972. But back to topic, Freddie being at #63 on such a list is actually pretty impressive for someone who was in the limelight. #63 is way more than average if we consider the thousands and thousands of existing songwriters. |
| peterkoz1 09.09.2009 14:21 |
Mike Stock was shit !! money making pop garbage writer just like his Fat mate Pete Waterman (but the bird who presented the hit man and her on TV with him on tele was alright gave me many good dreams when i got in totally pissed on a saturday night) |
| catqueen 09.09.2009 14:35 |
On the other hand, Mike Stock probably didn't write anything comparable to Barcelona. |
| Micrówave 09.09.2009 15:13 |
I think that just sums up what's wrong with this business. And we really have only one to blame... the one's buying all this stuff. I have made it to 2009 without the need to buy any Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue, or Bananarama CDs, Singles, or "box sets". But if I polled every person I had contact with today, I bet 90% would have some form or fashion in their collection. I'm sure if we lumped Queen all together, they would get into the 40s or so, but it's nice to see John and Paul atop the list. I think Sting got a little skewed as well, given all the stuff he did with The Police. Back then, the kids buying that stuff didn't have the numbers or the buying power they have today. It's much easier for me to purchase a Green Day CD for my teenager than it was to ask my Mom for the new Sex Pistols album. |
| bigV 09.09.2009 15:38 |
If the only song Freddie had written was "Bohemian Rhapsody" he'd still kick the arse of Rick what's-his-name and pretty much anyone else in the business. My 2 cents. V. |
| Angeline 09.09.2009 16:34 |
Sebastian wrote:Sir GH wrote: Ah yeah... the biggest hit-makers are usually the ones that are behind the scenes. Just look at the Funk Brothers... they played on all the big Motown tunes in the 60s. Countless #1 hits... more than the Beatles, Elvis, Beach Boys, and Stones combined. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is essential viewing for anyone who has ever listened anything recorded between 1959 and 1972. But back to topic, Freddie being at #63 on such a list is actually pretty impressive for someone who was in the limelight.#63 is way more than average if we consider the thousands and thousands of existing songwriters. Lets demarcate between hit-makers and talented songwriters: Freddie was the latter and the two often but do not always go together as Mike 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Stock or whatever, so aptly demonstrates |
| Sebastian 09.09.2009 17:18 |
Angeline wrote:Sebastian wrote:Lets demarcate between hit-makers and talented songwriters: Freddie was the latter and the two often but do not always go together as Mike 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Stock or whatever, so aptly demonstratesSir GH wrote: Ah yeah... the biggest hit-makers are usually the ones that are behind the scenes. Just look at the Funk Brothers... they played on all the big Motown tunes in the 60s. Countless #1 hits... more than the Beatles, Elvis, Beach Boys, and Stones combined. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is essential viewing for anyone who has ever listened anything recorded between 1959 and 1972. But back to topic, Freddie being at #63 on such a list is actually pretty impressive for someone who was in the limelight.#63 is way more than average if we consider the thousands and thousands of existing songwriters. There are people who were both, and Freddie was one of them. The word the original poster's using is average. Well, let's see what it means: Average is a medial estimate. If there are/were a million songwriters since 1950 (there could easily be a lot more), off which the vast majority wrote NO hits at all, the average would probably be 0.0x hits per capita. Freddie wrote 47 hits, which is over 4700 times the average (and I'm only counting hit-wise, not quality-wise). Keep in mind, also, that being #63 is way above average: the 63rd oldest person in the world must be around 100 years old. There are older people, but does it mean he or she is young? Not at all. Same for the 63rd tallest person: he or she must be over 7 ft tall; there are 62 taller people, but does it mean s/he is short? or a dwarf? Not at all. |
| mike hunt 09.09.2009 18:03 |
your right 63 is way above average considering how many songwriters there are in history. Freddie is still much underated as a songwriter. some writers are great at writing hits, but not much else, while others write great songs but can't write a hit too save their life. Freddie did both. Dare I say queen were better writers than zeppelin IMO. |
| Yara 09.09.2009 23:05 |
Interesting. I never thought Freddie would fare that well in such a rank. Besides, taking into account that he was both the performer and the composer, and many times the producer, of the songs, he does stand out as above the average! It’s interest that most of the songs from "Absolute Greatest" have been written by him. Though revamped and boosted to the top of the charts for other reasons than strictly musical, even one of his solo songs ended up peaking at #1 - it was a posthumous hit, all right, but a hit anyway, and a solo one! |
| mike hunt 10.09.2009 01:10 |
barcelona was a hit, and one of the few songs that stood the test of time as far as solo Queen. |
| Angeline 10.09.2009 04:51 |
Sebastian wrote:Angeline wrote:There are people who were both, and Freddie was one of them. The word the original poster's using is average. Well, let's see what it means: Average is a medial estimate. If there are/were a million songwriters since 1950 (there could easily be a lot more), off which the vast majority wrote NO hits at all, the average would probably be 0.0x hits per capita. Freddie wrote 47 hits, which is over 4700 times the average (and I'm only counting hit-wise, not quality-wise). Keep in mind, also, that being #63 is way above average: the 63rd oldest person in the world must be around 100 years old. There are older people, but does it mean he or she is young? Not at all. Same for the 63rd tallest person: he or she must be over 7 ft tall; there are 62 taller people, but does it mean s/he is short? or a dwarf? Not at all.Sebastian wrote:Lets demarcate between hit-makers and talented songwriters: Freddie was the latter and the two often but do not always go together as Mike 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Stock or whatever, so aptly demonstratesSir GH wrote: Ah yeah... the biggest hit-makers are usually the ones that are behind the scenes. Just look at the Funk Brothers... they played on all the big Motown tunes in the 60s. Countless #1 hits... more than the Beatles, Elvis, Beach Boys, and Stones combined. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is essential viewing for anyone who has ever listened anything recorded between 1959 and 1972. But back to topic, Freddie being at #63 on such a list is actually pretty impressive for someone who was in the limelight.#63 is way more than average if we consider the thousands and thousands of existing songwriters. Yes, I was not disagreeing with you. Numerically 63 doesn't mean 'average' and coming top doesn't make you a good song-writer. Perhaps my disagreement was with the title of the thread. |
| cacatua 10.09.2009 10:17 |
After reading through all posts - proof that it all depends on how you spin it! |
| coops 10.09.2009 11:43 |
I would trade in song writing credits for a voice like Freddies anytime. |
| Yara 10.09.2009 16:14 |
cacatua wrote: After reading through all posts - proof that it all depends on how you spin it! No. It’s proof of the thread starter’s flawed reasoning and premises. What now, Mr. Microwave? :op Yeaaaaaah, starting up the fire! (watching the flames with grim exultation) |
| Dusta 10.09.2009 21:16 |
Well, truthfully, the, "Never Gonna Give You Up," dude has written a great deal of songs which I've never heard of...is that anything? And, only remember the, "Never Gonna Give You Up," song because my teenaged sister had a crush on the singer... |
| john bodega 11.09.2009 03:45 |
coops wrote: I would trade in song writing credits for a voice like Freddies anytime.I wouldn't, but I can see why one might think that. You'd have songwriters everywhere falling over themselves to get at you! |
| Micrówave 11.09.2009 11:26 |
Yara wrote:cacatua wrote: After reading through all posts - proof that it all depends on how you spin it!No. It’s proof of the thread starter’s flawed reasoning and premises. What now, Mr. Microwave? :op Yeaaaaaah, starting up the fire! (watching the flames with grim exultation) Exactly. |
| vadenuez 11.09.2009 16:39 |
Some of you are mixing apples and oranges. Freddie was a musician (i.e. an artist). That Mike Stock guy is a paid worker whose job is to write hits. Totally different stuff. |