Battler 06.11.2009 17:36 |
The ABOTD thread made me think about other songs with loads of legends surrounding them. Here's a list of things we know for sure about Another One Bites the Dust: * Roger Taylor started it. It was originally about Martin Luther King, Jr. * While it was being recorded, a lot of funny lyrics were experimented for it. * Crazy effects were generated via slowing down vocals, tape saturations, reversed tape, etc. But synths were used as well. * The initial distorted vocals say "God works in mysterious ways... Mysterious ways...". * Produced by Mack, recorded in the EMI studios in Germany. * It was released as a single before the release of the "A Kind Of Magic" album, of which it was part. * Roger Taylor played synth drums, as also shown in the song's video clip. He also used regular drums. * However, live, it was always played with regular drums only. * The last line indeed says "Fried chicken", apparently, it was Freddie's boyfriend Jim Hutton, who suggested, that they keep it. Things that are utterly false: * The noises before the end repetition of the initial distorted vocals clearly say "Yes, my sweet Satan". * Brian's riff after "I'm gonna tell you there's no black, and no white." inspired Michael Jackson's riff on his "Black or White". * When played backwards, its initial distorted vocals say "Yes, my sweet Satan, yes, I've seen Sabbath". * A version without any distorted vocals, whatsoever, was released in Islamic countries because Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran noticed the distorted vocals said Satanic stuff, when played backwards, and demanded Queen to make a new version, or he'd ban it. Anything to add, correct, discuss, ask, etc... feel free to contribute. :) |
John S Stuart 07.11.2009 05:54 |
Battler Wrote: "Here's a list of things we know for sure about Another One Bites the Dust" Are you sure you don't want to change that to 'One Vision'? |
pittrek 07.11.2009 07:21 |
John S Stuart wrote: Battler Wrote: "Here's a list of things we know for sure about Another One Bites the Dust" Are you sure you don't want to change that to 'One Vision'? It would be very cruel to write a song about Martin Luther King called Another One Bites The Dust :) |
Sebastian 07.11.2009 09:32 |
> * Produced by Mack, recorded in the EMI studios in Germany. Actually, it's Musicland Studios in (then West) Germany. > * Roger Taylor played synth drums, as also shown in the song's video clip. He also used regular drums. Actually, it's e-drums. Not the same. > * However, live, it was always played with regular drums only. There are e-drums there too. > * The last line indeed says "Fried chicken", apparently, it was Freddie's boyfriend Jim Hutton, who suggested, that they keep it. Wrong: after 'fried chicken' there's a fading out 'vision vision vision...', then the slowed down 'God works in mysterious ways'. So, that is the last line. |
Holly2003 07.11.2009 09:55 |
The fried chicken line is totally crass and almost destroys the song. |
Micrówave 07.11.2009 13:56 |
A version without any distorted vocals, whatsoever, was released in Islamic countries because Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran noticed the distorted vocals said Satanic stuff, when played backwards, and demanded Queen to make a new version, or he'd ban it. So the Ayatollah was sitting back one day, spinning vinyl, and then promptly put a call into Freddie? Made them re-work a song? The Ayatollah? |
Holly2003 07.11.2009 14:32 |
It was the Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla. |
GratefulFan 07.11.2009 15:11 |
I actually remember reading/seeing/dreaming that the Shah(?) of Iran officially sanctioned Bo Rhap because of all the Bismillahs. |
mooghead 07.11.2009 17:23 |
Fact - Listening to One Vision always makes me feel like a KFC. |
tcc 07.11.2009 19:36 |
Holly2003 wrote: The fried chicken line is totally crass and almost destroys the song. I think the lyrics "fried chicken" represent food. The idealogy of one vision etc is academic if the people are hungry and poor. However it is also their style of injecting humour into their songs i.e. we are just a rock band and not politicians. |
john bodega 08.11.2009 05:06 |
The song is about MLK, the last line is about KFC. Couldn't be a simpler connection. |
Sebastian 08.11.2009 09:09 |
Zebonka12 wrote: The song is about MLK, the last line is about KFC. Couldn't be a simpler connection. Actually, it's not, since the last line's 'God works in mysterious ways' (said ca 10-15 seconds after 'fried chicken'). So, the song's about MLK, one of the lines is about KFC, and the first and last lines are about God. |
Holly2003 08.11.2009 09:32 |
I take it none of you are aware of the stereotypical association of fried chicken with African-Americans? Let's hope Queen weren't either, and this is just a stupid, throwaway line in the song. Still, it's no wonder Bowie criticised Queen for having no depth(?) -- even when they're being serious in a song about MLK they throw in a stupid line about fried chicken. |
john bodega 08.11.2009 09:37 |
Sebastian wrote:Nah, I've always thought of that outro as effects more than actual lyrics. If someone's playing the song live, no one's going to bother to go "VISION Vision vision vi...." at the end. It ain't essential - it's just atmospherics. The real last line - the one they want you to remember - is obviously fried chicken, because the band were unrepentant racists to a man. Brian lobbied hard to get far worse than 'fried chicken' put into the song...Zebonka12 wrote: The song is about MLK, the last line is about KFC. Couldn't be a simpler connection.Actually, it's not, since the last line's 'God works in mysterious ways' (said ca 10-15 seconds after 'fried chicken'). So, the song's about MLK, one of the lines is about KFC, and the first and last lines are about God. |
mooghead 08.11.2009 10:05 |
I always thought 'One Vision' was about the mythical beast 'cyclops' |
Sebastian 08.11.2009 10:30 |
Zebonka12 wrote:Sebastian wrote:Nah, I've always thought of that outro as effects more than actual lyrics. If someone's playing the song live, no one's going to bother to go "VISION Vision vision vi...." at the end. It ain't essential - it's just atmospherics. The real last line - the one they want you to remember - is obviously fried chicken, because the band were unrepentant racists to a man. Brian lobbied hard to get far worse than 'fried chicken' put into the song...Zebonka12 wrote: The song is about MLK, the last line is about KFC. Couldn't be a simpler connection.Actually, it's not, since the last line's 'God works in mysterious ways' (said ca 10-15 seconds after 'fried chicken'). So, the song's about MLK, one of the lines is about KFC, and the first and last lines are about God. Line: 'a short written message' (Dictionary.com) Last: 'occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place' (Dictionary.com) 'God works in mysterious ways' is a short written message. Ergo, it is a line. 'God works in mysterious ways' (the second iteration) comes after all others (including 'fried chicken' and 'vision vision vision...'). Ergo, it is last. Last + Line = Last line Ergo, 'God works in mysterious ways' is the last line in One Vision. Ergo, 'fried chicken' is not the last line in One Vision. The fact live versions omitted that part, and the fact it's atmospheric, doesn't change that: 1. It's a line 2. It comes last |
Holly2003 08.11.2009 11:48 |
And bore + crushing = ? |
mooghead 08.11.2009 12:11 |
The last line of one vision is fried chicken. Stick your dictionary up your arse. |
Sebastian 08.11.2009 12:13 |
The last line of One Vision is 'God works in mysterious ways'. I'm not gonna stick my dictionary anywhere. If you're so frustrated that you need to insult people who don't agree with you then it's your problem, not mine. 'Fried chicken' is a line in One Vision, but not the last. |
mooghead 08.11.2009 12:13 |
By your rationelle there is not one Queen song that has a guitar solo, if you are to switch your brain off and take everything literally. |
mooghead 08.11.2009 12:15 |
You are the only person on the planet who thinks fried chicken is not the last line of one vision. Yes, I have asked them all. |
Sebastian 08.11.2009 12:17 |
There are loads of Queen songs with guitar solos. It's got nothing to do with this point. The thing is: the last line in a song is the one that appears after the others. So: * 'Anyway the wind blows', and not 'nothing really matters to me', is the last line in Bo Rhap. * 'We are the champions', and not 'of the world', is the last line in Champions (live versions of course change that). * 'God works in mysterious ways', and not 'fried chicken', is the last line in One Vision (live versions of course change that). And no, you haven't asked all the billions of people in the planet. And still, this is not a poll: the last line is the one after all the others. It's not up for voting. If 10 people, or 100, or 10000, say 1+1=6, it doesn't make it true. The fact you go to ridiculous extents such as insulting me just because I wrote that, or pretending you asked everybody in the world, speaks more about you than it does about me. |
dragon-fly 08.11.2009 12:58 |
I don't know why you argue so much about that noise. To me, it's not even a voice- just a noise. |
GratefulFan 08.11.2009 13:50 |
mooghead wrote: You are the only person on the planet who thinks fried chicken is not the last line of one vision. Yes, I have asked them all. And if I may say, it was a bit late to call. [img=/images/smiley/msn/whatchutalkingabout_smile.gif][/img] |
GratefulFan 08.11.2009 14:31 |
Holly2003 wrote: I take it none of you are aware of the stereotypical association of fried chicken with African-Americans? Let's hope Queen weren't either, and this is just a stupid, throwaway line in the song. Still, it's no wonder Bowie said Queen for having no depth(?) -- even when they're being serious in a song about MLK they throw in a stupid line about fried chicken. Who goes to old saucer eye for depth perception? :) God bless 'em for having no depth as he meant it. Plenty of people do that well already, including Bowie himself. I think it was one of Freddie's best early instincts to mostly avoid it. For me, the few times that Queen committed the sin of ordinariness were almost invariably when they were deliberately trying to say something about something. 'Fried Chicken' is in it's way as clever as it is jarring, because the song really wasn't about anything heavy at all once they all got at it. Just an up tempo happy string of snippets that together meant to speak of hope and unity and action. And humour and spontaneity is a wonderful and powerful force in human endeavours great and small. Which you already know, poster who makes me laugh. |
GratefulFan 08.11.2009 14:37 |
An addendum to my post a few back about Iran and Queen. I was on the right track, but had missed the train by about 25 years. Wasn't the Shah, who probably wouldn't have cared about such a thing anyway, it was the Iranian authorities of just few years ago who allowed a CD of Queen songs to be realeased in part because of the Bismillahs in Bo Rhap. |
cmsdrums 08.11.2009 17:15 |
If we're going the pedants route of 'line' being a 'short written message', then we don't know what the last line is. We don't know if "fried chicken" or "God works in mysterious ways" were actually written down, or simply just sung, in which case they may not qualify as a 'written message'!!! On the same argument I also back up the poster who then said that on the same logic there are hardly any guitar solos, because surely the definition of solo is singular, or alone/unaccompanied, when in the songs there is usually a full band's worth of backing, and therefore the guitar is not 'solo'?!?! My God, Greg Brooks was right wasn't he when he said that we were runnign out of things to debate here wasn't he!!! |
john bodega 09.11.2009 00:03 |
Nah, it's an effect. VISION VISION vision vi....... It's a spoken word being used for effect; it's totally not essential to the song. It's more akin to sampling than singing. On a technicality it's the last line of the song, but it's really not the one you'd bring up in conversation. If I were describing the song to someone who hadn't heard it, I'd tell 'em "It finishes with the line FRIED CHICKEN". Sure, there's a heavily flanged voice going VISION VISION VISION but who gives a toss about that? It'd be like telling someone that TCR starts with a retard in slow motion going "WHAT PLANUT IS THIS". |
*goodco* 09.11.2009 05:05 |
Since it's been a spell, I had to give OV a listen due to this conversation. It reaffirmed what I thought the last line was (is). There's no mistaking it. "Cranberry sauce". |
JeroenG 09.11.2009 05:47 |
Can somebody please tell some people here to grow up? Discussing about what the real last line of 'One vision' is...... By the way, no one knows what the real last line is, because the effect at the end are fading out, so no one knows what has been recorded and edited when the sound has become inaudible [img=/images/smiley/msn/tounge_smile.gif][/img] |
Sebastian 09.11.2009 07:42 |
The 'vision vision vision...' bit is fading out and becomes inaudible. But afterwards there's 'God works in mysterious ways', perfectly audible (though slowed down) and not fading out. Since that's a line and comes after all the others in the song (including 'fried chicken'), then it means it's the last line in the song. BTW, I don't see anything wrong with debating that... the problem's when a user insults another because of that and goes as far as telling he or she already asked the entire world. That's bizarre to say the least. PS: A guitar solo is not the same as an arrangement or score for solo guitar. |
john bodega 09.11.2009 08:00 |
Sebastian wrote: .. the problem's when a user insults another because of that and goes as far as telling he or she already asked the entire world. That's bizarre to say the least.No; that's mooghead. Save for a particularly awesome thread where he/she shared some separated Queen tracks, all he/she does is try to annoy people by posting facetious nonsense. As long as you enter discussions with this person with that in mind, you shouldn't have any problem. I hope I'm not the only one who sees this 'last line' topic as a joke, here ... |
Micrówave 10.11.2009 03:17 |
mooghead wrote: You are the only person on the planet who thinks fried chicken is not the last line of one vision. Yes, I have asked them all. Wrong. The last line in One Vision is "Shane... come back!!!" |
Holly2003 10.11.2009 04:39 |
Micrówave wrote:mooghead wrote: You are the only person on the planet who thinks fried chicken is not the last line of one vision. Yes, I have asked them all.Wrong. The last line in One Vision is "Shane... come back!!!" Wasn't it, "I love you Shane"? |
FriedChicken 10.11.2009 04:45 |
Zebonka12 wrote:Sebastian wrote: .. the problem's when a user insults another because of that and goes as far as telling he or she already asked the entire world. That's bizarre to say the least.No; that's mooghead. Save for a particularly awesome thread where he/she shared some separated Queen tracks, all he/she does is try to annoy people by posting facetious nonsense. As long as you enter discussions with this person with that in mind, you shouldn't have any problem. I hope I'm not the only one who sees this 'last line' topic as a joke, here ... Don't worry Scott You're not the only one... PS. the last line i've written is actually a nice link to a Queen demo... hmmm, but now my PS is the last line, and it doesn't make sense anymore... AHH! But now THIS is the last line!! AAAAH And now this is!!! I'm going crazy! |
Voice of Reason 2018 10.11.2009 09:29 |
From the Magic Years section on the recording of One Vision you could see them messing around with lots of joke words to fit the meter and the rhyme. I presumed that's where 'fried chicken' came from. It must happen with most bands and most songs and somehow ended up in the final version. Maybe we should be grateful that 'One dump, one turd, two tits, John Deacon' didn't make the cut! Chicken feed babe! |
The Real Wizard 10.11.2009 09:56 |
*goodco* wrote: Since it's been a spell, I had to give OV a listen due to this conversation. It reaffirmed what I thought the last line was (is). There's no mistaking it. "Cranberry sauce". Ha... well played. |
Battler 12.11.2009 18:40 |
1. E-drums live... yes, on the Hot Space, and The Works tours, yes, but they didn't use any on the Magic Tour. You can see that clearly when it shows Roger, and his drums, in any Magic Tour concert video. No E-drums anywhere to be seen. This is also evident in Another One Bites The Dust - played on the E-drums on the Hot Space, and The Works tours, but on normal drums on the Magic Tour. No wonder it sounds much heavier on the Magic Tour, than on the other tours. 2. The last line of One Vision, according to the lyrics on the album, is "Vision, vision, vision, vision, ...", which also the last line all versions of the song (bar for the live ones) have in common. The "God works in mysterious ways... mysterious ways..." in the end only appears on the album, and extended, versions. And the live version ends with "Fried chicken". 3. When the song sings "Fried chicken", the album's lyrics book-let says "One Vision". There's a similar incident in Machines, where, IIRC, the song sings "there ain't no place for you and me", whereas the lyrics say "there ain't no place for rock'n'roll", or maybe vice-versa. 4. The only time the song's chorus says "One race, one hope", instead of "One voice, one hope" in the studio version, it doesn't occur in the live version - there "One voice, one hope" is sung. 5. The instrumental intro to the song is slightly different in the live versions. In the studio versions, it starts just the background synthesizers, then a distorted voice, then the percussion-style effects, then the synthesizer-rhythmic music. In the live versions, it starts with the album version's distorted vocals, then like the single version (bar for the vocals, of course), but at the end of the single version-style intro, the percussion-style effects of the album version intro kicks in, and the parts after the "Ii", are repeated (they are not repeated on the album, or on the single, versions). 6. The end-song synthesizer progression in a way appears on every live version, as part of the final flourish (at least it sounds clearly related to me). 7. The live version closely resembles the album version, but when the drums first kicks in, an additional section is played, like the album version's part, but without Brian's guitar solo, just including the normal background guitar melody. Then, the parts from the album version kick in. 8. The only known proper convo of the song is by Laibach, titled "Geburt einer Nation", which is German for "Birth of a nation", and it's in German. It has the feeling of a Nazi propaganda song, which is part of Laibach's irony in attempting to show, that Josip Broz Tito's dictatorship wasn't that much different from the Nazi German regime in their opinion. Also, a lot of the lyrics in the Laibach cover aren't exact translations, but just ad-hoc lyrics matched to the song's style. Also, it revealed the starkling ambiguity of the "One race, one hope" line, by translating the "One race" as the German "Ein Rasse", in the meaning of race, as the thing racism discriminates against. 9. One Vision was played live by Queen + Paul Rodgers on their 2008 tour, but that version sucks. It ends after the "I had a dream" part, and doesn't even feature the song's own intro. So, if you want a good live version of the song, the 1986 Magic Tour is what you need to look for. 10. Brian's guitar "ring" at the end of Roger's drum solo in One Vision is played once in the studio version, but three to four times on the live versions. Also, the drum solo in the live versions sounds much heavier in general. 11. The rumors about a live version of One Vision in which its B-side, Blurred Vision, starts, when the normal drum solo would generally starts, are completely false. No such version was ever played live, not when Freddie was still alive, and not after he died, either. However, there exist studio variants of such a combination, mainly available among Russian Queen fans. Or at least so I heard, so I don't know. ;) |
Sebastian 12.11.2009 22:22 |
Very good and interesting points. However, Rog did have a Roland Octapad (midi percussion, and midi controllers are e-) during the Magic tour. Still, it's different to synth (i.e. keyboard-generated) drums. |
ITSM 14.11.2009 00:33 |
I think it sounds a bit like what could have been the theme song for the New World Order. [listu] [li]One goal [li]One God [li]One religion [li]One real decision [li]One Vision [/listu] Everyone on Earth under one government... One vision! |