I remember listening to SWAFIB the first time and hating it however I didn't want to dismiss it out of hand, it was a Queen record so I would try it again but with no luck, I just couldn't get 'into it'
When I got the 2011 remaster of Queen II I was listening to the (limited) bonus tracks and I heard the BBC session of SWAFIB for the first time and it blew me away. What a song, the lyrics are 100 times better, makes it sound so much more bluesy than the b-side version so I listened to original(?) again and it is so poor in comparison. Strange how the same song can be so different.
So the remasters have at least given me another song to stick on my next "Best of" compilation CD....
Likewise - after tracking it down as an unobtainable 'rarity' (pre internet!) I was quite disappointed. However, it's grown on my nicely. Especially the ultra camp bits.
Likewise - the first time I heard it - I thought "what is going on here with this vampy song." And I'm so glad that you brought it up because, it just so happens, cosmically, that I've also been listening to it over here - and even went back to the thread on heaviest Queen songs to see if anyone had listed it. When I hear songs like this one and Fairy Feller's in the catalog I'm just so proud of the band for their fearlessness in following their hearts and own creative direction which is still thrilling us all decades afterward. So grateful for Freddie's personality!
I've always liked this song.
The B-Side Version is one of the most unapologetically humorous tracks the band ever recorded. How can anyone take this vocal performance as anything but the man chewing on the scenery? Freddie is taking the piss out of everyone, including himself, by being so over-the-top and burlesque and I have no doubt that he knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe its the theatre in my blood, but this is a heck of a performance and joke is that despite what we know of Freddie's sexuality now, this was an act: a privately shy gay man with powerful macho stage persona being ridiculously campy. It's songs like this which underline his greatness as a performer.
The live and BBC versions are just as good for different reasons, mainly just that they're classic '70s blues rock tracks.
The 'remixed' BBC version? I'd have to listen again - although it's worth saying that most the Queen BBC sessions, like most bands of the time, just redid new vocals over the standard album backing tracks at the BBC studio. A fact that always seems to be lost when people discuss them.
I just didn't get the humour in the b-side version, maybe I just didn't give it a chance, but with the more slurry almost southern American drawl of the (not) BBC session on the remaster it makes it a much better song in my opinion. I just thought it was strange how one version of a song just didn't do anything for me then swap the lyrics and all on a sudden it becomes almost an instant classic, whether it stands the test of time with me only time will tell.
As for most unapologetically humorous track the band ever recorded my vote would be for Delilah.
dysan wrote: The 'remixed' BBC version? I'd have to listen again - although it's worth saying that most the Queen BBC sessions, like most bands of the time, just redid new vocals over the standard album backing tracks at the BBC studio. A fact that always seems to be lost when people discuss them.
The name "BBC session 2011 remix" is absolutely correct for this song, because this track features Freddie's vocals from an alternate / unknown take, the rest comes from the BBC recordings
remeber the first time i listened to it too, thought it was quite funny, a friend of mine recomended it to me so i liked it souly because it was recomended to me and wasnt just a random one that caught my eye on youtube, not one of my favourites, but still a very cool song
~The name "BBC session 2011 remix" is absolutely correct for this song, because this track features Freddie's vocals from an alternate / unknown take, the rest comes from the BBC recordings ~
Dang. I forgot to give it a good listen last night. Presumably the 'new' vocal was done at the Beeb?
It was not one of my favourites either and that was exactly the point I was making on the thread, when I heard the version on Queen II remaster I thought it was brilliant, almost a totally different song to me. So give the 'new' version a try and see if you agree that it outshines the original b-side version.