QueenZone discussion #1207694
How would you rate Who Wants To Live Forever?
| MmP 12.11.2009 12:27 |
A+? B? C? I'd give it an A as one of Queen latest gem works. The atmosphere that creates is wonderful. The story behind the song that provides of a great lyric content. Brian finally coming back with vocals on a track. Which to me a high point of the song. I don't understand why he stopped singing. His solo at the middle it complements very good with the song. The tension that it created after the solo and the final musical explotion with Freddie powering it up with a great set of vocals. I havent heard many opinions on this song. How would you rate it? |
| Sebastian 12.11.2009 13:13 |
I think it's one of the best songs Queen ever made. The solo is, in my opinion, Brian's second best in the band (the first being Days of Our Lives) and I love the vocals. Nice keyboard as well. |
| GratefulFan 12.11.2009 13:32 |
It has short moments of A+ brilliance, and the guitar work is lovely, but overall it's about a B- for me. |
| dragon-fly 12.11.2009 13:56 |
No doubts- A. Very good job. Love Brian's vocals. It's pity they didn't sing more together. Well, good marks for all four on this song. |
| Sebastian 12.11.2009 14:03 |
dragon-fly wrote: Well, good marks for all four on this song. Considering John didn't participate, do you mean it was better off without him? |
| dragon-fly 12.11.2009 14:12 |
Sebastian wrote:dragon-fly wrote: Well, good marks for all four on this song.Considering John didn't participate, do you mean it was better off without him? No, he looks good in the video (so I count him too) :P |
| mooghead 12.11.2009 14:42 |
Bores me senseless. Cant remember the last time I endured it all the way through. |
| Bo Rhap 12.11.2009 15:21 |
Definitely an A+ for me Class singing.Class guitar playing.Over all class production.And yes,for me,John did participate in this song.Certainly live anyway. |
| «¤~Mrš. BÃD GÛŸ~¤» 12.11.2009 17:43 |
It was an A+ all the way and then some! One of the greatest songs made for a movie!! |
| louvox 12.11.2009 18:49 |
Over it's an OK song. Probably the best cut on an otherwise terrible CD. Could have been a great song had they gone with an acoustic piano instead of the cold sounding synth. |
| lyricalassasin77 12.11.2009 18:58 |
Very good song. Love the whole Orchestra thing they got going on. The highlight though is Freddie's over the top vocals at the end of the song...He almost sounds like a tenor. |
| Dusta 12.11.2009 19:17 |
Another goosebump producer for me. I absolutely love the song. Great sense of atmosphere, lovely and haunting vocals by Freddie and just good solid song writing by Brian. One of my favorites. A+ from me, for certain. |
| The Real Wizard 12.11.2009 23:10 |
It's one of the best Queen songs of the 80s, and certainly one of the best songs Brian ever wrote. The vocals, arrangement, and guitar work are all exquisite. |
| woodi485485 13.11.2009 02:55 |
When I first heard Who Wants To Live Forever on a Kind of Magic, I was blown away. For me it should have been the first song released off the Album and it should never have been edited, something which destroys the full power of the song. Hearing it performed live during the Magic Tour was one of the top highlights of each gig, Freddie's voice was so powerful. If you are a fan of this song, and if you have ever lost a Loved One, you will know how emotionally charged you become when you hear it. It brings tears to my eyes when I listen to it alone and I reflect back on my life and think of those who are no longer with me. A+++++++++++++ for me! |
| k-m 13.11.2009 06:01 |
It's always been a bit tricky for me, but despite the song's recent elevation to an almost "iconic" status by its inclusion on "Absolute Greatest" my stance hasn't changed - I like it, but I think that the live version sounds much better. To be more specific, I think that the studio version suffers from being overarranged and overproduced (although it is an unlikely argument when speaking of a Queen song). IMO the strings and the 80s sounding keyboards just make it sound a bit too maudlin, a bit too pathetic... When Roger's drums and the choir kick in, it's as if they were slightly crossing the line of a good taste for me, while the brillinace of so many other Queen songs derived from just verging on that line. Maybe it's because WWTLF really is a serious song, while os many others weren't. The live version is treated with the same seriousness, but it is spared all these studio additions, letting the singing and the melody do their job, which works perfectly for me. The Wembley version has so much power, suiting Freddie's voice so well and capturing the whole essence of the studio version. I guess they let themselves rely a bit too much on Michael Kamen's authority in the studio and came up with something that worked in the cinema, but not necessarily on the record. But all in all, I would still give the studio version a B and I'm glad that it got the recognition. The live version is an A, no doubt about it. |
| GratefulFan 13.11.2009 08:16 |
That's it precisely for me...perfectly stated k-m. Thanks! |
| tcc 13.11.2009 09:24 |
Just a point of interest - I just finished watching the movie Flash Gordon and there was a scene where Vultan (leader of the Hawk Men) said "Who wants to live forever ?" |
| Sebastian 13.11.2009 10:13 |
Dr May did comment on that some months ago... Mr Blessed's comment sort of stuck in his head and when the theme was brought up again in 'Highlander', voila! |
| liam 13.11.2009 10:50 |
Studio version is a bit over the top, much prefer the live versions. |
| bigV 13.11.2009 11:02 |
I'd rate it A-minus. It's a wonderful song, very powerful music and arrangement, but the lyrics are a bit of a let-down. Instead of haunting and profound they are repetitive. V. |
| mike hunt 13.11.2009 11:31 |
woodi485485 wrote: When I first heard Who Wants To Live Forever on a Kind of Magic, I was blown away. For me it should have been the first song released off the Album and it should never have been edited, something which destroys the full power of the song. Hearing it performed live during the Magic Tour was one of the top highlights of each gig, Freddie's voice was so powerful. If you are a fan of this song, and if you have ever lost a Loved One, you will know how emotionally charged you become when you hear it. It brings tears to my eyes when I listen to it alone and I reflect back on my life and think of those who are no longer with me. A+++++++++++++ for me! the song is a easy A, brilliant, but I agree the live at wembley version is even better. A+ for wembley. |
| 4 x Vision 13.11.2009 11:52 |
Agree with the live version being much better to listen too than studio. One of Freddie's best in the Magic tour for performances. The studio version is beautiful, but it drag's on for me after many listens and can be annoying. Funnily enough, of all the mid 80s albums +, it's the one song I'd love to have heard - most of all - live, with a Freddie 1980-82 voice if you know what I mean? (Am I making sense... I'll tell you in two....) Not to say he doesn't do it justice Magic Tour, but most would agree his best live work came before Works/Magic on tour. I reckon it would have been amazing with a more live Save Me vocal. |
| Gregsynth 13.11.2009 13:01 |
Van Basten 9 wrote: Agree with the live version being much better to listen too than studio. One of Freddie's best in the Magic tour for performances. The studio version is beautiful, but it drag's on for me after many listens and can be annoying. Funnily enough, of all the mid 80s albums +, it's the one song I'd love to have heard - most of all - live, with a Freddie 1980-82 voice if you know what I mean? (Am I making sense... I'll tell you in two....) Not to say he doesn't do it justice Magic Tour, but most would agree his best live work came before Works/Magic on tour. I reckon it would have been amazing with a more live Save Me vocal. I completly agree: Just imagine Freddie singing WWTLF in the early 80s. He would NAIL it live. |
| Dusta 13.11.2009 21:33 |
Some time ago, someone sent me the link to the Wembley performance. My first thought was how is he going to do this live? I had heard other clips from Wembley, and knew that Freddie's voice was not in top form during that time. I was thrilled! I also love Wembley version. |
| Voice of Reason 2018 17.11.2009 08:50 |
I thought it was only ok on the original album. The I was a bit surprised that it made the Magic tour and shocked when it was a single instead of Princes of the Universe. The public made their point when it reached no. 24. I've disliked the song since. There's no way it should be on Absolute Greatest. It didn't 'qualify' for GH2 either. I only saw the X Factor on Sunday so I saw clips of the acts from Saturday. I was gobsmacked that 'Forever' was on. I presume Brian insisted on it. I've told my friends that this is one song I DO NOT want played at my funeral! Grade: C - |