| QueenFan76 26.08.2010 09:24 |
I have a few things that bother me throughout their history. 1- sometimes some of the lyrics just make me cringe. "Walking down the street, one cloudy sunny day" um, huh? What about "one partly sunny day" Just things like that make me cringe. Also, "I, want, you, to be a woman" Its bad enough non fans give me garbage about "that group were all gay", but lyrics like that make it worse. And Freddie (the only "gay" member) didn't even write that one! So of course I don't point out that another member wrote it.... 2- Allowing one another to play on songs on "not their instrument" For example, Roger playing almost everything on Fight From The Inside, Basically, I'm ok if people weren't on the song musically (Like no Freddie on Sleeping On The Sidewalk because it didn't call for Piano) but replacing a member with either synth or programmed drums is just idiotic. Like Roger on Sheer Heart Attack. Anything anyone has "bother" them like this? |
| Benn 26.08.2010 09:30 |
The most bizzare non-sensical thread I've seen on here in some time. What license have you been given for being allowed to access a computer? When do the gates to your secure unit open? |
| john bodega 26.08.2010 09:43 |
To be absolutely fair with them, they weren't the best lyricists; at least not all of the time. For my part I think Brian wrote the best lyrics in Queen (I'm thinking of things like Save Me or Good Company; he had a great way with words) but then I happen to think he probably wrote some of the worst as well. There wasn't much else that bothered me about Queen, honestly. A fine band; when I try to scrounge around for things that bother me, I'm really only thinking of stuff that has happened post-Freddie. Their tendency to get a bit too 'serious' sometimes. I think, with all 4 of them in the band, they could tackle the odd serious topic but with a degree of levity. |
| FriedChicken 26.08.2010 09:48 |
QueenFan76 wrote: I have a few things that bother me throughout their history. 1- sometimes some of the lyrics just make me cringe. "Walking down the street, one cloudy sunny day" um, huh? What about "one partly sunny day" Just things like that make me cringe. Also, "I, want, you, to be a woman" Its bad enough non fans give me garbage about "that group were all gay", but lyrics like that make it worse. And Freddie (the only "gay" member) didn't even write that one! So of course I don't point out that another member wrote it.... 2- Allowing one another to play on songs on "not their instrument" For example, Roger playing almost everything on Fight From The Inside, Basically, I'm ok if people weren't on the song musically (Like no Freddie on Sleeping On The Sidewalk because it didn't call for Piano) but replacing a member with either synth or programmed drums is just idiotic. Like Roger on Sheer Heart Attack. Anything anyone has "bother" them like this? The lyrics are 'One cloudless, sunny day' not cloudy, sunny. That wouldn't make sense. |
| Voice of Reason 2018 26.08.2010 09:58 |
Well said Fried Chicken! That's what I thought it said. As for Son and Daughter - I think there's more to the story in the song. Regarding embarressing things generally - I don't worry about it much, it's usually good natured as everyone seem to like Queen. I've probably had more comments about Queen costumes, videos, sexuality and Sun City than the words to Hijack My Heart! A local stand-up comic has a routine where he says his classmates used to slag him for liking Wham who were 'gay' - and that was from the Queen fans! Cheers. |
| rhyeking 26.08.2010 10:33 |
In my teens, there were a few songs that I wouldn't play around my parents, like in the car, such as: "Body Language," "Get Down, Make Love," or "Death On Two Legs," but otherwise, even with songs I didn't like too much it never bothered me that the band created that song. I took what they did as their offering, mine to take or leave. As for things like sharing instrument duties, I would think, "Oh that's neat, Freddie on acoustic for Crazy Little Thing. Cool." Whatever they felt was best for the song, who was I to argue? Early on, I was surprised that they played a recording for the operatic bit in BoRhap, just because I was interested in hearing it attempted live. It wasn't until I read about why they couldn't recreate it well that I understood the necessity. Back when I read a few biographies (when I was just discovering the band), it started to grate on my nerves how big a deal biographers made of Freddie's sexuality. I know it's tied to his lifestyle and death, but I was more interested in is music than his personal life. I would think, "Alright, he was gay. He got AIDS. I get it. Talk about his songwriting!" That's partly why I stopped reading bios, unless the emphasis was on the music, recording and/or touring. |
| mike hunt 26.08.2010 10:42 |
i alway's hear about the slagging people get for being queen fans.....what fucking planet do you live on?.....when i mention i'm a queen fan the respect for me goes through the roof. They know they could talk some serious music with me. the first thing they mention is the voice of freddie of course, and brilliance of the band as a whole. The only thing that bothered me about queen is that they were a bit too Democratic. An example is putting on a roger song just for the sake of it. "loser in the end" didn't fit queen2, so it should have been released as a B side Single. The white side should have ended with a brian song. Stuff like that. |
| Rick 26.08.2010 11:57 |
Change the topic title to Queen Productions instead. God, that institute deserves a rant every single day. |
| jamster1111 26.08.2010 12:22 |
While there may be some songs that lack lyrically, most of their songs have amazing lyrics. Each member wrote great lyrics for different particular subjects. The worst lyrics in a queen song are probably party, body language, or son and daughter. But then look at songs like innuendo, in the lap of the gods revisited, good old fashioned lover boy etc.. - those songs have brilliant lyrics |
| QueenFan76 26.08.2010 12:40 |
The most bizzare non-sensical (blah blah blah, rest of idiotic post taken off to protext your ignorance) I am surprised they let a jerkoff like you in here. It is a serious discussion about Queen. Don't act like an internet bully and flame someone who's been here a long time. (Just don't post as much, new screen name, lost the old one as did the moderators) If you , don't like it, don't read it. |
| QueenFan76 26.08.2010 12:47 |
The lyrics are 'One cloudless, sunny day' not cloudy, sunny. That wouldn't make sense. Well by god you're right, I listened closer. Well thats nice to know that Roger wasn't a total idiot... Other Instruments, Freddie playing Acoustic guitar WHILE Brian is in the song playing electric isn't what I mean. I understand sometimes Freddie WROTE the guitar part (Like in Bo Rhap) but Brian still played it. Like with Fight From The Inside, Why not have Brian play guitars or something. I know originally Roger thought of it being a solo release but still. Also, things like Forever. Couldn't Freddie have played it? As for songs I don't play around people. I got my (now 12 year old) daughter into Queen and she STILL hasn't heard Get Down Make Love. Body Language is ok I suppose. She actually doesn't like Death On Two Legs all that much for whatever reason.... Her main current favorites are Invisible Man, If You Can't Beat Them and Jesus. All time fave of hers is The Show Must Go On. |
| mike hunt 26.08.2010 12:53 |
jamster1111 wrote: While there may be some songs that lack lyrically, most of their songs have amazing lyrics. Each member wrote great lyrics for different particular subjects. The worst lyrics in a queen song are probably party, body language, or son and daughter. But then look at songs like innuendo, in the lap of the gods revisited, good old fashioned lover boy etc.. - those songs have brilliant lyrics i agree......We could go on and on about the great and not so great lryics of Queen. Every rock band has some weak lryics. I remember as a kid we all thought Rush had tremendous lryics, but now i listen to them, And realize how hit and miss they also were. 'somebody to love" and the show must go on are two songs with great lryics. some of freds songs were intentionally silly. 'biycle Races" while still brilliant. I have very little complaints about Queen. My biggest complaint is that Hot Space should have kicked ass, but they somehow screwed it up. |
| Benn 26.08.2010 15:41 |
....yet you couldn't even get the lyric right that bothers you so much. Does it still bother you now you know the real version as opposed to the version the voices in your head are telling you to hear? |
| Sebastian 26.08.2010 15:51 |
TBF, Brian DOES play on 'Fight from the Inside'. A better complaint would be the lack of John. IMO, Roger could handle guitar parts relatively well, but on bass... he's a wonderful drummer. Same for Bri: good at keys, not so much at bass. Regarding 'Forever': I think 99.99% of piano things would sound better played by Freddie than Brian. 'Forever' is part of the remaining 0.01%. |
| mooghead 26.08.2010 16:07 |
I thought it was 'one cloudless sunny day'?! Brian annoys me these days.. simply because he truly believes 'Queen' has a future thus denies us its past. I couldnt give a shit about the future of Queen. |
| mooghead 26.08.2010 16:11 |
And you know what I hate about Queenzone? I cannot for the life of me put a gap between the 2 first lines in the previous thread. |
| rhyeking 26.08.2010 16:12 |
I believe it helps keeps things fresh when a band mixes things up a little. When an instrument isn't the primary tool used by an artist, you can get something very interesting and perhaps not what, say, the regular guitarist or pianist would do. Brian has said he likes composing on piano because when he picks up the guitar, his fingers and brain play what they're comfortable with. He's freer to experiment on the piano because he's not a master at it. Freddie supposedly composed some things on guitar (I've heard "Ogre Battle" cited), which probably achived the same result. We're only talking about a few songs in the Queen catalogue, but they are more or less successful, in my opinion. Brian on piano = Save Me, Forever, Too Much Love Will Kill You Freddie on guitar = Crazy Little Thing, Ogre Battle (composed) Roger on bass = Fight From The Inside John on multiple guitars = Misfire Brian on programmed drums = I Can't Live With You (at least we now have the Roger-on-drums version with the Retake, for those who don't like the original) |
| mike hunt 26.08.2010 17:15 |
rhyeking wrote: I believe it helps keeps things fresh when a band mixes things up a little. When an instrument isn't the primary tool used by an artist, you can get something very interesting and perhaps not what, say, the regular guitarist or pianist would do. Brian has said he likes composing on piano because when he picks up the guitar, his fingers and brain play what they're comfortable with. He's freer to experiment on the piano because he's not a master at it. Freddie supposedly composed some things on guitar (I've heard "Ogre Battle" cited), which probably achived the same result. We're only talking about a few songs in the Queen catalogue, but they are more or less successful, in my opinion. Brian on piano = Save Me, Forever, Too Much Love Will Kill You Freddie on guitar = Crazy Little Thing, Ogre Battle (composed) Roger on bass = Fight From The Inside John on multiple guitars = Misfire Brian on programmed drums = I Can't Live With You (at least we now have the Roger-on-drums version with the Retake, for those who don't like the original) Freddie composed a lot more than orge battle on guitar, like the heavy bit in Bo Rhap. Many many more. |
| Tommy Hilfiger 26.08.2010 18:21 |
mike hunt wrote: i alway's hear about the slagging people get for being queen fans.....what fucking planet do you live on?.....when i mention i'm a queen fan the respect for me goes through the roof. They know they could talk some serious music with me. the first thing they mention is the voice of freddie of course, and brilliance of the band as a whole. The only thing that bothered me about queen is that they were a bit too Democratic. An example is putting on a roger song just for the sake of it. "loser in the end" didn't fit queen2, so it should have been released as a B side Single. The white side should have ended with a brian song. Stuff like that. Funny you mention that the respect for you goes through the roof. I actually found I made great working contact's through Queen coming up in conversation. Long story short, I was flying between melbourne and sydney for work. One night out, the manager of the department and I were talking over some beers, and we started talking Queen. As soon as he said Freddie, Brian, Roger and John, I knew he was serious and from there we just hit it of and I was later offered a job from him. So, as far as people putting you down for liking Queen, I had the total opposite and ended up making some great friendships. |
| QueenFan76 26.08.2010 18:40 |
Oh I have too had people respect me. They're called "real music fans". The casual fan who maybe likes one of the 4 or 5 still played on the radio hits, or those who plain just don't like Queen, are the ones I get crap from. I like all kinds of music but some people who are close minded say some idiotic things about Queen, despite them having done at least one song that fits ANY music mold save for Rap and even then, the remix of Dragon Attack could in a way count towards that in a pinch. Even though Queen had nothing to do with the rap part. And the reason I mis-heard Hijack My Heart was the music kinda blending and me not hearing the emphasis on the "ss" ending to the word. The song still bothers me... "Stupid bimbo" line for one. Its a good song but the lyrics could have used a bit of re writing. Then again ANYTHING Queen has done is lyrically MILES better than many group like Kiss, Pearl Jam, Van Halen and Nirvana did for the most part anyways. Thats just my opinion though. Kiss's songs were dumb IMHO and I dislike Pearl Jam & Nirvana. Plus I hate the people that act like Eddie Van Halen was the greatest. Hint: no where near it! I could name at least 15 guitarists who were MILES better without any effort! (Because I'm sure I'll be asked.....) Brian May, Pete Townsend, Jan Akkerman (Focus), Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Braunn (Iron Butterfly), George Harrison, Nancy Wilson (Heart), JY (Styx), Gary Richrath (REO), Randy Bachman, Davey Johnstone (Elton John), George Johnson (Brothers Johnson), I just realized that was 16..... |
| rhyeking 26.08.2010 19:33 |
mike hunt wrote: rhyeking wrote: I believe it helps keeps things fresh when a band mixes things up a little. When an instrument isn't the primary tool used by an artist, you can get something very interesting and perhaps not what, say, the regular guitarist or pianist would do. Brian has said he likes composing on piano because when he picks up the guitar, his fingers and brain play what they're comfortable with. He's freer to experiment on the piano because he's not a master at it. Freddie supposedly composed some things on guitar (I've heard "Ogre Battle" cited), which probably achived the same result. We're only talking about a few songs in the Queen catalogue, but they are more or less successful, in my opinion. Brian on piano = Save Me, Forever, Too Much Love Will Kill You Freddie on guitar = Crazy Little Thing, Ogre Battle (composed) Roger on bass = Fight From The Inside John on multiple guitars = Misfire Brian on programmed drums = I Can't Live With You (at least we now have the Roger-on-drums version with the Retake, for those who don't like the original) +++++++++++++++++++++ mike hunt wrote: Freddie composed a lot more than orge battle on guitar, like the heavy bit in Bo Rhap. Many many more. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That was just a sampling. Not being a musician, how an artist composes is only a minor curiousity for me. The more examples there are, the better. They prove my point. |
| mike hunt 26.08.2010 19:52 |
It's also a generation issue.....generally people over 30 know how great and influencial they were, but if we're talking teenager's to mid 20's maybe they don't get the whole queen thing. Maybe the younger fans get some slack from those people, though even the youngster's these day's seem to get it for the most part. |
| rhyeking 26.08.2010 20:11 |
When I was a wee lad, I thought everyone had a "job" in a band and you didn't deviate. It true for some bands, but not all. When I got older and started paying attention, I realized how narrow that view was. I enjoy how bands can have more than one singer and can play different instruments. It's something I miss after The Game, when Brian and Roger stopped singing whole songs on albums. "Hijack My Heart" and "Lost Opportunity" were refreshing for that. |
| Dan C. 26.08.2010 20:32 |
QueenFan76 wrote: Oh I have too had people respect me. They're called "real music fans". The casual fan who maybe likes one of the 4 or 5 still played on the radio hits, or those who plain just don't like Queen, are the ones I get crap from. I like all kinds of music but some people who are close minded say some idiotic things about Queen, despite them having done at least one song that fits ANY music mold save for Rap and even then, the remix of Dragon Attack could in a way count towards that in a pinch. Even though Queen had nothing to do with the rap part. And the reason I mis-heard Hijack My Heart was the music kinda blending and me not hearing the emphasis on the "ss" ending to the word. The song still bothers me... "Stupid bimbo" line for one. Its a good song but the lyrics could have used a bit of re writing. Then again ANYTHING Queen has done is lyrically MILES better than many group like Kiss, Pearl Jam, Van Halen and Nirvana did for the most part anyways. Thats just my opinion though. Kiss's songs were dumb IMHO and I dislike Pearl Jam & Nirvana. Plus I hate the people that act like Eddie Van Halen was the greatest. Hint: no where near it! I could name at least 15 guitarists who were MILES better without any effort! (Because I'm sure I'll be asked.....) Brian May, Pete Townsend, Jan Akkerman (Focus), Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Braunn (Iron Butterfly), George Harrison, Nancy Wilson (Heart), JY (Styx), Gary Richrath (REO), Randy Bachman, Davey Johnstone (Elton John), George Johnson (Brothers Johnson), I just realized that was 16..... ============================ Why so combative? Also; I've always known Eddie Vedder to be a fine lyricist (as was Kurt Cobain). I've never understood people's hatred for them. As for Queen things that bother me, there really aren't any I can think of other than stuff that has happened since Freddie died. |
| Dusta 26.08.2010 22:01 |
Well, the elephant in my living room here is their lack of popularity in the States. That has always bothered me, because I've always felt that folks didn't understand what a wonderful band Queen were. I suspect were I to live elsewhere, it wouldn't bother me so much, but, even now, years after Freddie's death, I still find myself trying to, "sell," Queen to folks. |
| marvinp01 26.08.2010 22:51 |
I saw Maroon 5 today and the thing that bothers me is that he started to sing Another one bits the dust for the first encore... he didnt finish it!!! |
| Bo Rhap 27.08.2010 15:03 |
I saw the Barenaked Ladies singing Radio Gaga and loved it. Mind you i like them anyway. I didnt like everything that Freddie had written.I didnt like Body Language and cant really,after all these years,get into Crazy Little Thing Called Love.Its not bad.It's just not in the same league as a lot of his other stuff. |
| Soul Brother 27.08.2010 15:22 |
Sun City. Did the reputation of the band a lot of harm although it has been argued (very articulately by Brian it has to be said) that the sentiment was right. and As a Queen fan getting slagged off by people who only had really heard singles before and/or thought Queen were all show. Very gratifying to find out now in the passage of time how much of an influence they have had on today's music (Muse for example as Dom Howard's mum was a big Queen fan and still is). and Lyrics - yes there is a lot of cheesy lyrics about but some very good too. Difficult to find a band that doesn't have some clangers in the back catalogue though. |
| matt z 27.08.2010 15:25 |
Wow. Narcissism at it's best! "Tell you what, Bri... i don't like your part on Bohemian Rhapsody... I want it to go like this: "Weeeoooo weeooo weeoooo Weeedooodeeskippityblappittity dooo bop!!"? and THEN (this is the best part) I want you to recompose it so the ending resounds with a choir singing... BOOOOO-He-mian RHAPSODY.... BO(!) hemian rhapsody!! ...because it doesn't meet my sensibilities." ...It'd be very keen shit for the young kids who don't know what the song's called as well!!! I think it's frigging brilliant! BO!!!!!!!!- heeemian Rhaaaaaaapsody!!... You and rog could do it!! Could u do that, Bri? thank you. :-) FTR: "Cloudless sunny day... yes, it's "pedestrian" but spoken like a song written in a minute... (some of the best happen that way...as it's been said.. it just "drops down on you") ...It's totally there to convey the fact that 1) Some broad cut him off! (Everyone's either a broad or an asshole when they do that to you) 2) He was pleasantly struck/surprised/whatever by the radiance this woman pulled to him... so 3) In the end... He may almost be surprised and admiring of this bold woman who just a minute ago was an asshole... Although it's contrived and manipulated for movies everywhere... it just so happens that it happens, too.... in real life Oh...and it's also my favorite B-side... something infectious about it. Well... that and the Scandal B-side (My Melancholy Blues Live) |
| matt z 27.08.2010 15:28 |
Oh and Just to reply to the Topic: Things that bother me about Queen: 1) They were just TOO DAMNED GREAT! it's awful. ? |
| mooghead 27.08.2010 17:44 |
"when i mention i'm a queen fan the respect for me goes through the roof. " Cant say the same.... sometimes have to whisper it... just being honest. Maybe if Queen had stopped when they should have it would have been ok. But now they (B&R) are such prostitutes its embarrasing. |
| rhyeking 27.08.2010 19:13 |
The reaction from people that I get when I tell them I'm Queen fan varies. Of course, I don't just walk around announcing it. If music comes up, I say (quite accurately) that I primarily like Classic Rock but I like a bit everything (except New Country). If asked for my favourite band, yes, my answer is Queen. Classic Rock fans are like, "Right on. That's cool." Those who appreciate music on a deeper level might say, "Yeah, Brian May kicks ass" or "Freddie Mercury was the shit!" People who aren't fans of Classic Rock are kind of indifferent. No one I've met these days ever slams the band. I was in high school in the early '90s and Alternative was king. The worst I got from my peers was scorn from Pearl Jam, Tea Party and Nirvana fans, who thought I listened to old fogie music. I sort of got the last laugh when Kurt Cobain mentioned Freddie in his suicide note, but I was tactful enough not to point that out. Personally, I think that whole period of Alternative dates itself far worse than '60s and '70s rock. I caught the Alternapalooza episode of the Simpson recently and was like, "Man, who'd have thought that this would date so badly?" But it was pretty true of the time, kids were that withdrawn and apathetic. Since I was fairly happy and didn't hate the world, I gravitated to more optimistic music, Classic Rock, which never really took itself entirely seriously all the time. Anyway, it's come full circle and Classic Rock is respected again. No one, outside of Queen fans, I've met know or care about splitting hairs between the Freddie and post-Freddie eras. It's only ever Queen fans who complain that Brian and Roger should stop what they're doing. |
| iron eagle 27.08.2010 19:43 |
jim beach |
| HernanQueen 27.08.2010 20:58 |
Hot Space |
| mike hunt 27.08.2010 21:18 |
rhyeking wrote: The reaction from people that I get when I tell them I'm Queen fan varies. Of course, I don't just walk around announcing it. If music comes up, I say (quite accurately) that I primarily like Classic Rock but I like a bit everything (except New Country). If asked for my favourite band, yes, my answer is Queen. Classic Rock fans are like, "Right on. That's cool." Those who appreciate music on a deeper level might say, "Yeah, Brian May kicks ass" or "Freddie Mercury was the shit!" People who aren't fans of Classic Rock are kind of indifferent. No one I've met these days ever slams the band. I was in high school in the early '90s and Alternative was king. The worst I got from my peers was scorn from Pearl Jam, Tea Party and Nirvana fans, who thought I listened to old fogie music. I sort of got the last laugh when Kurt Cobain mentioned Freddie in his suicide note, but I was tactful enough not to point that out. Personally, I think that whole period of Alternative dates itself far worse than '60s and '70s rock. I caught the Alternapalooza episode of the Simpson recently and was like, "Man, who'd have thought that this would date so badly?" But it was pretty true of the time, kids were that withdrawn and apathetic. Since I was fairly happy and didn't hate the world, I gravitated to more optimistic music, Classic Rock, which never really took itself entirely seriously all the time. Anyway, it's come full circle and Classic Rock is respected again. No one, outside of Queen fans, I've met know or care about splitting hairs between the Freddie and post-Freddie eras. It's only ever Queen fans who complain that Brian and Roger should stop what they're doing. Good point!....no one besides the die hard fans give a rats ass what Brian and roger do. Everyone knows that Queen ended in 1991. like everyone knows that the who ended when keith moon passed away. They could still sell tickets though. |
| rhyeking 27.08.2010 22:09 |
Hmm...not quite what I said, Mike. For the people I was referring too, casual fans, Queen is Queen, whether with Freddie or without. When informed some colleagues and friends that I an import of The Comsos Rocks, before its North American release, they wanted a copy immediately. I copied it for them and they liked it. It got a lot of play in the theatre during those shows when we weren't rehearsing. |
| AlbaNo1 28.08.2010 17:05 |
The band have made several questionable decisions which seem commercially led at times.For example Im not too sure about the ethics of the Made in Heaven LP. I consider the last proper Queen album to be Innuendo. |
| rhyeking 29.08.2010 11:15 |
Made In Heaven was started almost immediately after Innuendo was finished, because Freddie wanted to record as much as he could, with the obvious end result of it being issued. I don't see what the problem is, ethically, with the band fulfilling his wish. Releasing it wasn't done to capitalize on Freddie's death. Brian did as much as he could to distance himself from Queen after Freddie died, finishing Back To The Light and touring the world with it for a couple of years. Roger recorded Happiness?, a very personal album, far removed from the Queen-sound. After a period away, they all got back together and finished MIH, which affected Brian in such a way as he felt he needed to get some distance again and started doing all sorts of collaborations, guest-appearance and one-off projects, as well starting his Heroes cover album. Freddie's estate acted quickly with the release of "The Freddie Mercury Album" and "The Great Pretender" in 1992, but they had nothing to do with Queen or Brian or Roger. In 1991, Hollywood Records had already begun their promotional campaign of Queen in North America before Freddie died. The only thing which used his death for an event was Tribute Concert. He deserved nothing less than "the biggest send off in history". |
| AlbaNo1 29.08.2010 12:50 |
I think Brian did benefit commercially from the slipstream of Freddies death moreso than Roger having previewed Too Much Love Will Kill You at the tribute concert. Plus Roger has always had solo stuff coming out. Brian only had the Star Fleet project before. The thing is Made In Heaven went double platinum or something. I stand to be corrected but I think it sold more than Innuendo and several other albums. I happened to own The Cross Shove It, Mr Bad Guy and also Back to the Light which had the original versions of plenty of the songs on Made In Heaven. How many of the people buying it knew the original existence of these songs. Freddie didnt have creative input from beginning to end on this album. I do actually like most of the songs but maybe an EP with Let Me Live, Mother Love, A Winters Tale and You Dont Fool Me might have been a better option integrity wise. |
| Sebastian 29.08.2010 14:34 |
Exactly: Making MIH was not unethical, as they did work very hard on it, and the result's marvellous. Releasing MIH was not unethical, as it's a product that deserves being distributed. Earning loads of dosh thanks to MIH was not unethical, as they never forced the public to buy the record. Promoting MIH as a post-Innuendo album was unethical, IMO, as only three songs actually came from 1991, and for all the others Freddie's vocals and piano preceded the 90's, sometimes by almost a decade. |
| rhyeking 29.08.2010 15:13 |
Brian had been working on his solo album since before 1988. "Driven By You" had already been in Ford ads and was released as a single in 1991, with "Just One Life" as the B-side. The coming of a solo album from Brian was known well before Freddie's death, where he talks about it during The Miracle-era interviews. The DBY single was issued the day after Freddie's death, but planned long before that (as time and money are spent on pressing the singles, printing the sleeves and promoting it). "Too Much Love Will Kill You" began as a Queen track from The Miracle. The earliest known demos, the Bell Boy Tape (1988), show the song more or less sounding as the Queen version would later. Brian changed the arrangement for Back To The Light. He didn't play it at the Tribute to advertise BTTL, he played it because it was a deeply personal song he was sharing at a very emotional event. "Heaven For Everyone," by some accounts, was started by Queen during the Magic sessions. So, if that's true, it shares that distinction with TMLWKY, being originally a Queen song, that became a solo track, then a Queen song again. Therefore, only the two Mr. Bad Guy tracks truly originate from a solo project. Bands and artists *do* do that sort of thing, re-record songs done for other projects, be they solo or vice versa, all the time. The only thing Queen could not benefit from here was, as you say, having Freddie there from start to finish. There's nothing shameful in re-using an older vocal track because the singer died before new material could be recorded. |
| Sebastian 29.08.2010 18:22 |
> There's nothing shameful in re-using an older vocal track because the singer died before new material could be recorded. Indeed there's nothing. There is something shameful, though, in promoting such re-used stuff as if they were post-Innuendo, when most of them were things they'd rejected for previous albums. MIH is a wonderful work, but the way it was marketed was based on propaganda. |
| rhyeking 29.08.2010 22:55 |
That would have been shameful, yes...if Brian and Roger had actually DONE that. Every period interview I read found Brian and Roger pretty upfront about the nature and source of the material, that some new, some was old and some came from solo projects. In one interview in particular I remember, Brian talked about adding the "Ha ha ha....it's magic" and "I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely yeah..." to the end of "Living On My Own" to give it a more spontaneous feel. Not exactly the words of a man trying to hide what the band had done. Here's David Richards in 1995 specifically saying several tracks were older and several were Freddie solo works. link Here's Entertainment Weekly's review, citing "I Was Born To Love You"... link Thanks to Queen Archives for those. |
| GratefulFan 30.08.2010 02:18 |
Though I'm not specifically aware of what Sebastian is referring to, it's certain that marketing can be quite distinct from published interviews, comments and reviews in third party publications. There's no way to know how many people would have accessed that information prior to purchase, but I would suspect it would be the minority. Marketing is about selling stuff, not frankness. Look at the rather embarrassing sleight of hand with the Muppets video for Absolute Greatest. |
| rhyeking 30.08.2010 09:24 |
Queen Productions would have sent out different promotion packages to different outlets, like an electronic press kit to television media (MTV, MuchMusic, etc), print promotion to newspapers and magazines, promo samplers and album descriptions to radio and music magazines, all for advance review in anticipation of the album release and for as long as they wanted to carry the story for the days or weeks afterwards. Some media would report solely from those, while others would get additional radio and television interviews, such as David Richards' for Rolling Stone. All the media I was privy to in Toronto at the time (television, radio, newspaper and magazines) made it no secret that some of the songs were originally from other projects. It's possible and probable that other markets around the world didn't report on this, despite it being in their promo material. |
| Mr Prime Jive 30.08.2010 11:08 |
Things that "bother" me about Queen: Jazz HORRIBLE production. Just listening to convention's demos will make you understand what I mean. |
| Dan C. 30.08.2010 11:30 |
iron eagle wrote: jim beach =========== Oh, Paulie. ;) |
| rhyeking 30.08.2010 13:24 |
Funny, One Vision's appearance in Iron Eagle was one of the key moments in my discovering Queen. I didn't really know the band before seeing this movie. I liked the music, especially that song, and got the soundtrack. Then BoRhap was used in Wayne's World the same year Freddie died, so I was like, "Queen? The guys that did One Vision. Right on." I walked into a store and looked up some Queen collections. Classic Queen had just come out and I saw amazingingly both those songs were on it. So was this song I remembered from the '80s: Radio Ga Ga. I took the chance and bought the tape. That first listen to the collection changed my musical appreciation forever. It's funny how there are too positions on Queen songs in movies: New fans: "That's a cool song...Queen? I should investigate further!" Old fans: "Dear Lord, why was THAT song in THAT movie? Disgraceful!" That's why Queen do these things...to get new fans. |
| thomasquinn 32989 01.09.2010 06:55 |
There is one thing (except for the way "Hot Space" was produced and orchestrated) that truly bothers, no, annoys me about Queen, and that is the fact that they played Sun City. There is no excuse. Saying "yeah, but we're not political" is a pathetic excuse - they wouldn't have played Nazi Germany, I presume. And yes, the comparison is legitimate, because all presidents of South Africa from the start of apartheid until the De Klerk had been convicted during World War II for collaborating with the nazi-regime. Pieter Botha, president when Queen played Sun City, was an ex-member of Ossewabrandwag, the (illegal) South African national-socialist and pro-German organization during WWII. |
| freddiefan91 01.09.2010 09:10 |
nothing bothers me about Queen apart from 1 line in Say Its Not True now the following may make no sense whatsoever but bear with me and will probably make me sound stupid (not hard) the line goes The letter arrives like a bolt from the blue now presumably that means "somebody" has been for an aids test and is awaiting the results so therefore receiving a letter is hardly going to be a surprise is it maybe im reading too much into the lyrics sometimes!!! Oh and I wish they would hurry up and do a gh3 dvd but thats the only thing really |
| rhyeking 01.09.2010 10:55 |
Re: Say It's Not True The song is about denial. Even if you get tested, you're not going to be mentally or emotionally prepared for the news (unless you have deathwish, which most people I assume don't have). The moment the person faces the reality of their situation, their old life is over. "The letter arrives, like a bolt from the blue" is an odd simile, but it gets the idea across: Seemingly struck down in your prime. |
| rousian 01.09.2010 19:06 |
While it is a dumb subject, seriously..the only thing that bugged me about Queen, was 'that Brian & Roger didn't sing lead enough! And that John should've sang a few leads whether he could or not. I think he would've sounded amazing had he sang 'You're my Best Friend at Freddie's tribute! What is bugging me NOW about Queen is that Brian & Roger don't seem to realize that they can go out on their own as Queen & not have a lead singer when they are perfectly capable of singing between them . The fact that they haven't played the songs that they sang lead on live lately is really lame. Everyone out there wants to hear them & knows their songs. They believe we don't, or they are being told that & they believe it!. That bugs me!! Hopefully they can come back as Queen & be Queen without anyone but Queen members! thanx! can't see post, re-did it, plus JAZZ is the BEST QUEEN ALBUM!! |
| rousian 01.09.2010 19:10 |
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| Amazon 02.09.2010 15:15 |
ThomasQuinn wrote: "There is one thing (except for the way "Hot Space" was produced and orchestrated) that truly bothers, no, annoys me about Queen, and that is the fact that they played Sun City. There is no excuse. Saying "yeah, but we're not political" is a pathetic excuse - they wouldn't have played Nazi Germany, I presume. And yes, the comparison is legitimate, because all presidents of South Africa from the start of apartheid until the De Klerk had been convicted during World War II for collaborating with the nazi-regime. Pieter Botha, president when Queen played Sun City, was an ex-member of Ossewabrandwag, the (illegal) South African national-socialist and pro-German organization during WWII." I completely agree. There are things about Queen which annoy me (Roger's having too many songs as lead singer during the 70's and also as writer, The Cosmos Rocks, the musical), but the one thing which upsets me is indeed that they played Sun City. For a group which has (unjustly) been accused of being fascist, it was a shocking decision to make; and quite frankly, the rationalisations for it are IMO garbage. Apparently they wanted to see what it was like. Give me a break! They shouldn't have done it, and while I don't think it's a hanging offence, it certainly does not make me proud that my favourite artist would do something like this. BTW, in regards to comments made earlier, I consider Queen (particularly Freddie) to have been among the greatest lyricists of all time. I also don't regard MIH to be unethical at all since IMO it was a proper Queen album and was arguably Queen's last proper album. |
| rhyeking 02.09.2010 17:19 |
I believe Queen disagreed with the effectiveness of the cultural boycott of South Africa. They gave it a lot of thought and did it for the fans. Not everyone in South Africa supported apartheid. Saying they'd play for Nazi Germany implies that everyone in Germany at the time was a Nazi and supported the government. What Queen did was demonstatre that an ethnically diverse band could stand united before fans living in a country ruled by racists and lead by example. It was subversive to the government and an attempt at positively demostrating the power of art and music as a force for change. It's not my place to say whether it was right or wrong. I simply understand why they did it. |
| Benn 03.09.2010 11:34 |
Rhyeking, Yes - that's exactly it. Although naive in the extreme, they played out of a desire to assist change and as has been widely reported, they played to mixed audiences which, I believe, was a contract clause with the promoter at the time. |
| Amazon 03.09.2010 11:50 |
rhyeking wrote: "I believe Queen disagreed with the effectiveness of the cultural boycott of South Africa. They gave it a lot of thought and did it for the fans. Not everyone in South Africa supported apartheid. Saying they'd play for Nazi Germany implies that everyone in Germany at the time was a Nazi and supported the government." No, not every German was a Nazi or supported the regime, although many benefitted from it. The thing is however that both regimes (Nazism and apartheid) was based on racial superiority of one group over another. "What Queen did was demonstatre that an ethnically diverse band could stand united before fans living in a country ruled by racists and lead by example. It was subversive to the government and an attempt at positively demostrating the power of art and music as a force for change." Except how many blacks did they perform in front of? I don't mean precise numbers, but wasn't it almost all white? "It's not my place to say whether it was right or wrong. I simply understand why they did it." You can say whether you agree with it or not. |
| rhyeking 03.09.2010 17:39 |
Even if they performed in front of an entirely white audience, they'd be showing that a band made up of 3 white Englishmen and a Parsee were unified, and risking a lot to be there. Therein laid the subversion toward the government. As for my feelings? Aparteid was evil. Otherwise, I don't know if what Queen did was right or wrong, effective or not, or if the Cultural Boycott was effective either. I do think think that every individual, then and now, has a choice and should not fear reprisals for standing up against such evils in their own way. If you choose to shut out a nation because of moral opposition, that is your choice. If you choose to go there to passively (or aggressively) sew the seeds of dissent against injustice and intolerance, that is also your choice. |
| demonwolf 05.09.2010 12:56 |
I love that they played different instruments. Brian's piano playing is very gentle compared to Freddie's, who always had a more rhythmical, staccato approach. All Dead All Dead is a prime example... lovely, delicate piano playing by Brian. But for Sail Away Sweet Sister, he wanted Freddie's more percussion like piano playing because it fit the song better. It gives variety! That's the best thing about Queen! |
| plumrach 09.09.2010 09:02 |
@rousain maybe brian and roger are a little nervous about being front men for Queen for so long they had Freddie at the front and tor them to be lead maybe slightly daunting for them maybe im wrong maybe im right |
| john bodega 09.09.2010 09:25 |
" "Except how many blacks did they perform in front of? I don't mean precise numbers, but wasn't it almost all white?" One gets into muddy water when starting to add up the ethnicity of the audience. If it had been an entirely black audience, say, would that not be unfair on anyone in the country who happened to be white, a fan of Queen, and not racist? I wasn't there, so I don't know if there were any white non-racists around (people seem to assume this is not the case), but all I'm saying is that there was demand for a show there. People have a right to go and see live music; it shouldn't be denied to anyone. Even the people who have the misfortune of living in a country with a bullshit regime. I'm very much guilty of some of the naivety that Queen showed, obviously, but I don't think that the ordinary people 'on the ground' should be punished across the board for the situation in their country. Playing Sun City was a gross miscalculation on their part but it's not (heh ..) as black and white as people make it out to be. Again; how many of you canvassed the audiences during the various performances? How many blacks, whites, racists, non-racists, government officials, farmers .... I mean does anyone have the figures? I am willing to be there were some ordinary non-racist folk who just wanted to see a band that they loved. |