QueenZone discussion #1274270
Another One Bites the Dust trivia
| br5946 11.06.2011 11:54 |
It's a well-known fact that John was hanging around with the band Chic when they were composing the disco classic 'Good Times' (224th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs link and therefore the basslines have a vague resemblance - but there's an urban legend that Queen sampled the 'Good Times' bassline. A quick listen will prove that this is false. If it was true, it would make Bites the Dust the first song to sample 'Good Times' - contrary to popular belief, the bass on the 1979 hit 'Rapper's Delight' is in fact played by Chip Shearin, it's not a direct sample. One thing 'Good Times' and 'Another One Bites the Dust' do have in common is that both records are scratched on 'The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel' - the first DJ megamix. Grandmaster Flash scratches over the opening guitar line of 'Bites the Dust'. (link Another misconception is that the chorus run backwards is 'it's fun to smoke marijauna' - but again, it's just plain gibberish. Anyone know any more trivia on the song...? |
| N0_Camping4U 11.06.2011 14:06 |
Michael Jackson is the one who ultimately convinced them to release it as a single. The song has no keyboards in it... Freddie apparently sang and sang to make it just right... And I read on hear once, that JD recorded the guide vocal for it - to which Roger heard and laughed him out of the studio.... It was quit some time ago I read it, and I always wondered if it was true, but I didn't see any one in the messages afterwards dispute it. <3 |
| Jazz 78 11.06.2011 17:01 |
It's a well known fact that John was hanging out with Chic when they were composing Good Times? Where did this information come from? |
| Michael 11.06.2011 19:14 |
A few years ago, I attended an interview with Nile Rodgers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the interview, Nile Rodgers indicated that John Deacon was hanging around the studio when Chic were recording and that he (Rodgers) believes that John got the idea for Another One Bites the Dust from Good Times. By the way, Nile Rodgers is a very personable and lively man (an excellent interviewee), and he is a fabulous musician, as well. Toward the beginning of his career, Rodgers worked as part of the house band at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. He was also part of the Seame Street Band, perhaps because he used to have green hair. Rodgers was also a Black Panther in the Sixties. He is currently suffering from, and receiving treatments, for cancer, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. |
| Sebastian 11.06.2011 20:27 |
> The song has no keyboards in it... Of course it does. It's got both piano and synths. > And I read on hear once, that JD recorded the guide vocal for it - to which Roger heard and laughed him out of the studio.... Wrong. Brian said he remembered John singing it to Freddie in order to teach him the melody and lyrics, but no mention was ever made on laughing or anything like that. You can find the actual quote on my website. > It was quit some time ago I read it, and I always wondered if it was true, but I didn't see any one in the messages afterwards dispute it. <3 Oh sure and that means it's right... > It's a well known fact that John was hanging out with Chic when they were composing Good Times? Where did this information come from? Rolling Stone and the internet, the world's two most reliable sources... |
| cool.cat 50802 12.06.2011 06:33 |
Sebastian wrote: > It's a well known fact that John was hanging out with Chic when they were composing Good Times? Where did this information come from? > Rolling Stone and the internet, the world's two most reliable sources... heres an interview with bernard edwards and nile rodgers Chic - Mystique + Interview + Good Times (J Ross) link at around 6.20 "...in the style of, not the actual riff..." |
| liam 12.06.2011 08:32 |
I have always thought there are no synths on it, it is all brians guitar using various effects. |
| Rick 12.06.2011 09:40 |
cool.cat wrote: Sebastian wrote: > It's a well known fact that John was hanging out with Chic when they were composing Good Times? Where did this information come from? > Rolling Stone and the internet, the world's two most reliable sources... heres an interview with bernard edwards and nile rodgers Chic - Mystique + Interview + Good Times (J Ross) link at around 6.20 "...in the style of, not the actual riff..." ==== Well, they're right, aren't they? :) |
| Sebastian 12.06.2011 10:00 |
Loads of effects on Queen songs were Brian's guitar, loads of effects on Queen songs were NOT Brian's guitar, including Another One Bites the Dust, which has: * Electronic Percussion * Reversed Piano * Reversed Synth None of which is Brian's guitar. |
| N0_Camping4U 12.06.2011 10:44 |
Sebastian wrote: > The song has no keyboards in it... Of course it does. It's got both piano and synths. > And I read on hear once, that JD recorded the guide vocal for it - to which Roger heard and laughed him out of the studio.... Wrong. Brian said he remembered John singing it to Freddie in order to teach him the melody and lyrics, but no mention was ever made on laughing or anything like that. You can find the actual quote on my website. > It was quit some time ago I read it, and I always wondered if it was true, but I didn't see any one in the messages afterwards dispute it. <3 Oh sure and that means it's right... > It's a well known fact that John was hanging out with Chic when they were composing Good Times? Where did this information come from? Rolling Stone and the internet, the world's two most reliable sources... Seem a little uptight there, Sebash. I don't count a piano as a keyboard, a keyboard, to me, is an electronic keyboard. not a piano. And No, I'm not wrong. the 'sytnhs' you hear are keyboards and hi hats played in reverse. Nice try though. And I never said I thought it was true (the whole guide vocal thing) I just said I never saw it get disputed. So take it easy Sebash. <3 |
| Fireplace 12.06.2011 11:17 |
So let me get this straight: a piano is not a keyboard (the black & white thingies are strictly decoration) and neither is a synth. That leaves harpsichord and organ, right? I'm pretty sure neither was used on ABTD. |
| Sebastian 12.06.2011 14:56 |
The 'effect' is a piano chord doubled on a synth, and then they're both backwards. Oh, and for the record, of course they're both keyboard instruments. That's not a matter of opinion. |
| Gregsynth 12.06.2011 15:53 |
Other pieces of trivia: -Freddie sang until his throat bled -The album version is sped up to around 50 cents sharp |
| N0_Camping4U 12.06.2011 19:44 |
Don't be mad, kids. I merely mean an electric keyboard. Perhaps you lads should get out more, and stop bickering about a 30 year old song? A prospect you might want to explore! <3 |
| Sebastian 12.06.2011 20:07 |
Don't be mad, kid, I merely mean you were wrong, and you were! Perhaps you should get out more, and stop bickering about people bickering about a 30 year-old song? A prospect you might want to explore! |
| ariel 695 12.06.2011 21:45 |
I've read that the song was originally about cowboys, but John tweaked the lyrics so that cowboy motif was eventually lost. i'm sure some of the Queen super gurus here could provide a more authoritative source. |
| Rick 13.06.2011 03:02 |
He mentioned the cowboy theme being 'rather silly' and changed it before the group got to hear/see the lyrics. |
| N0_Camping4U 13.06.2011 06:11 |
I guarantee I'm older then your self :-), kid! |
| Sebastian 13.06.2011 07:05 |
Being older (or younger) doesn't guarantee anything in this case. A piano is a keyboard, full stop. There are no reversed hi-hats on that song. There are reversed keyboards (piano + synth) though. |
| N0_Camping4U 13.06.2011 09:34 |
Regardless, Queenpedia only says there is piano, no synths, or keyboards. Once again, nice try Sebash! Might want to stop while you're, err.. behind! <3 |
| liam 13.06.2011 10:02 |
At what points of the song is the reverse piano? |
| Sebastian 13.06.2011 10:15 |
Piano IS a keyboard instrument, so if it's got piano that counts as having keyboards. Queenpedia says that there are no synths because I sent them that info. And I was wrong: there's synth doubling the piano. Same for Bechstein Debauchery. And I'm Sebastian, by the way, not Sebash: are you retarded or can't you simply write correctly? BTW, Liam: 0.14 - 0.23: Reversed synth. 0.35 - 0.39: Cymbal being hit, with loads of flanging added. then they reversed it, so you get the flange+echo first and cymbal hit last, all fading in. But it's not a hi-hat BTW. 1.02 - 1.07: Piano and synth doing the power chord together, again reversed. 1.16 - 1.25: Synth (similar to 0.14-0.23), maybe even copied and pasted, plus splash cymbals. All of that, of course, reversed. 1.53 - 1.57: Low noise produced from either guitar or piano low frequencies being amplified. It could also simply be feedback from an amp. 1.58 - 2.00: Motorcycle noise from guitar, with loads of echo at the end (similar to the ending of Princes of the Universe with vocals). This one is NOT reversed. 2.02 - 2.08: Electronic drums (check out link. 2.09 - 2.17: Synth + piano power chord, then reversed. 2.17 - 2.19: This one I don't know how to generate, but it's definitely not a synth (OB-x's do not sound like that). Most likely, it's an e-drum preset which Mack put into strange echoes and/or resampled. 2.33 - 2.42: Reversed synth. Check out link for the isolated effect track. 99% of what Queenpedia says is spot on. But there's still a 1% of mistakes (some of which are my fault as I've sent them myself, including the one about Dust not having synths). If you listen to link you can realise the warbling reversed sound on 0.14-0.23, 1.02-1.07, 1.16-1.25, 1.53-1.57, 2.09-2.17 and 2.33-2.42 IS an OB-x, not a guitar. The low frequencies are identical. Guitar with pedals and EQ still sound differently. |
| YannickJoker 13.06.2011 14:15 |
How old are you two anyway? |
| N0_Camping4U 13.06.2011 17:26 |
Calling someone retarded when you're obviously wrong sure shows maturity! Lighten up Sebash, ever heard of a nickname? Where most of us live - it's a free country. I can call you Sebash, I could call you anything I desire. I'm sorry you got your own information wrong, but if that leads you to calling some one a retard, perhaps you should get out more. It's an internet message board. relax. |
| Fireplace 13.06.2011 17:33 |
You want to believe he's wrong? Fine, just keep doing that. You're the only one. Just don't come claiming freedom of internet speech by giving him an insulting nickname, then turn into a crybaby when he asks if you're a retard. That's quite a double standard for someone as old and wise as yourself. |
| N0_Camping4U 13.06.2011 18:49 |
I understand you want to stick up for your friend, but if you want your post to be valid, please don't put words in someones mouth... Or please direct me to where I claimed to be wise. Thank you. If you think that Sebash is an insult, then I feel immensely sorry for your self when you go into the real world. I promise it's much harsher than 'Sebash'. And if you must know, an old friend of mine was named Sebastian, and a nickname, I presume given to him by other friends - before I met him, was, Sebash. Andif you're going to call me a cry baby, then I can say you're being a cry baby about me being a cry baby - see how this works? |
| Djdownsy 13.06.2011 21:51 |
This is worse than Youtube.... |
| Sebastian 13.06.2011 23:59 |
I didn't say you're retarded, I asked if you were. As you obviously didn't tell the difference between a question and a statement, I shall ask again: are you retarded? And yes: I was wrong back when I thought AOBTD had no synths. Just like you are wrong when you claim it's got no keyboards (it's got, two: piano and synth, both of which are keyboard instruments). That's not at all related with age or going out, it's as simple as: can you open your mind? Or is your response to being proven wrong crying like a baby, defending on age, social life or any other unrelated/irrelevant argumentum ad hominem? |
| ITSM 14.06.2011 02:59 |
The bassline is pretty similar to: Sugerhill Gang - "Rappers Delight" I think this is "the first" rap song, if you don't count the old Bob Dylan song. |
| Rick 14.06.2011 03:50 |
N0_Camping4U wrote: Calling someone retarded when you're obviously wrong sure shows maturity! Lighten up Sebash, ever heard of a nickname? Where most of us live - it's a free country. I can call you Sebash, I could call you anything I desire. I'm sorry you got your own information wrong, but if that leads you to calling some one a retard, perhaps you should get out more. It's an internet message board. relax. ========= Share your theory then. Do a thorough analysis of the song and we'll rate it afterwards. |
| N0_Camping4U 14.06.2011 06:27 |
Calling some one a retard, and asking if someone is a retard is still stating they're retarded. I should ask if you yourself are a retard for that 'rephrasing' you did - but I'm not a kid, and won't stoop to your level when I'm wrong, like yourself and your synth info. You seem quite upset to me, for you to be calling, or 'asking' ( Because there's a huge difference, and one is perfectly acceptable. ) if some one is a retard. When some one with any common knowledge would put forth the effort and say: Gee this guy is forming sentences, functions on a computer, is able to talk to people coherently, yes, yes I see! He must be a retard! Believe me sir, there's far more ignorant people out there. But if it makes you feel powerful asking if people are retards, over a little Queen message board: Then by all means do it. This is getting quite pathetic for your self. |
| Sebastian 14.06.2011 07:41 |
Yet you remain evasive about the main topics, namely: * A piano IS a keyboard. * Another One Bites the Dust DOES have a synth. If you're as mature as you claim to be, you can easily accept you were wrong about both matters. Unless, of course, it is YOU whose attitude is pathetic. |
| N0_Camping4U 14.06.2011 09:15 |
Ah the subject change to avoid your own wrongings. I love it. |
| Bohardy 14.06.2011 13:06 |
Jeez. Fact: Sebastian was wrong to submit to Queenpedia that there are no synths on AOBTD. Sebastian has admitted this was an error on his part. Fact: N0_Camping4U is wrong to insist that there are no keyboards (however you choose to define that) on AOBTD (I think that's what he's doing...) as this has pretty much conclusively been proved to be wrong. N0_Camping4U has not admitted this error on his part. Fact: The subsequent bickering concering the above is pointless, juvenile, and annoying. More importantly than any of the above: Where the hell did you get that isolated effects track Seb? |
| Bohardy 14.06.2011 13:10 |
Oh yeah, and the fact that John was actually in the studio when Chic were recording Good Times? Very interesting. Can't believe I've never heard that before or seen it mentioned on here, given that the info's been out there for so long. |
| Sebastian 14.06.2011 15:59 |
Stems. They're all over the i-net :D BTW, my mistake was bigger than just sending that info to the Queenpedia administrators, who in good faith believed I was giving them accurate info, when I wasn't. My mistake was also putting that wrong info on my website (in fact, it's still there!) and directly or indirectly influencing other sources, leading loads of people to incorrectly believe it was synth-less because loads of sources said so... typical. |
| Bohardy 15.06.2011 13:19 |
Thanks Seb. I'm well aware of the stems doing the rounds, and have most of them. For some reason I'd not come across any AOBTD stems, and had not really considered that that's where your isolated track came from. Probably because I've not come across any stems that are that isolated, and are not vocals, guitars, bass or drums. I've got it now anyway. |
| Sebastian 15.06.2011 14:44 |
Drop me a line, should you need anything else (as far as it's within my reach). |
| Voice of Reason 2018 16.06.2011 08:00 |
What are reversed synths and hi-hats please? Thanks, The Voice. |
| Sebastian 20.06.2011 06:52 |
What d'you mean? |
| Sebastian 30.10.2012 15:31 |
Bumped it as I was recalling good times (no pun intended). |
| waunakonor 01.11.2012 17:43 |
That was a lovely read. |
| cmsdrums 06.11.2012 16:04 |
I can see the point of differentiating a piano and a keyboard in this sort of discussion; yes, a piano is LITERALLY a keyboard, but when talking generally in musical terms most people tend to use the term'keyboard' to refer to an electronic one (ie the sort associated with Jon Lord, Rick Wakeman etc) whereas if you mean piano you would simply say piano - I don't think anyone has ever referred to Greig or Mozart composing 'keyboard' concertos. I think there's a bit of pedantry on all parts going on here! :-) Anyway, it's very interesting to see the song analysis in such detail. Perhaps someone can confirm whether the drums are Roger playing acoustic drums and then looped, or if they are electronic drums played and looped, or if they are programmed drum machines? My guess is that it's acoustic drums, but EQ'd to be very sparce, tight and dry (very unlike Roger's usual sounds). |
| matt z 07.11.2012 21:13 |
Wow. People posting on a very old thread. Nile Rogers is dead. He bequeathed one of his favorite basses to a friend and "understudy" in Duran Duran.... NAME THAT BASSIST!!! (TRIVIA) In adding to other well-known trivia. According to MACK it was nearly scrapped from the album. (Almost didn't make the album) This again, could be hyperbole |
| cmsdrums 08.11.2012 02:39 |
matt z wrote: Nile Rogers is dead.I didn't realise he had now passed away - can you confirm the dater he died? Cheers |
| matt z 10.11.2012 02:56 |
cmsdrums wrote:Holy shit!!!... You are right in your suspicion.matt z wrote: Nile Rogers is dead.I didn't realise he had now passed away - can you confirm the dater he died? Cheers Damn, I spent over twenty minutes looking for a single obituary and I can't seem to fnd one. Yet, I recollect distinctively hearing AND reading about his death over 18 months ago. .. It WAS NOT merely his diagnosis... Have I become a victim of some low key internet hoax?? I apologize. I've even seen "tour photos" from this year. How appallingly shamefully bad of me. Damn. Dayyum. I retract that idiotic statement. Shall I go out with apology and dignity? Or just blame it on Treasure Moment? -my apologies. He appears to be alive and well,.... I hope he's beaten it or its at least in remission God, that's wrong..... And embarassing. Maybe I'm due for an MRI |
| dysan 11.11.2012 03:28 |
Yes, he is alive and well but still fighting. He did some TV interviews and gigs a couple of months ago. A truely great man. |
| Sebastian 11.08.2013 18:07 |
Bmpd. |
| ITSM 12.08.2013 03:17 |
John wanted Roger to make his drums as "dry as possible" on this song, which Roger hated. I heard/read some time ago... |
| Sebastian 29.12.2013 00:08 |
This is probably the first song on which John ever played synths. |
| musicland munich 29.12.2013 01:11 |
John was a bit unsure about the song.So Mack createt a drum track for him and they figure out the parts of the song. Source MACK |
| darcy-wright 29.12.2013 01:51 |
the end of the first verse cuts the word "repeat" where it goes "outta the doorway the bullets rip ..... to the sound of the beat. you can hear it on the wyclef jean version which must use another take |
| Lord Gaga 29.12.2013 13:13 |
Apart from the ridiculous poster N0_Camping4U and his stupid nickname for Seb, at least this thread reminded me to update Queenpedia's entry on AOBTD. And darcy, I'm pretty sure the "rip" part was accurate, and not meant to be "repeat". Freddie sings "rip-uh", not "repeat" later, and sang "rip" in concert. |
| Supersonic_Man89 30.12.2013 06:08 |
He definitely says rip, but listen to the acapella version of ANOBTD, he does kind of say repeat afterwards but almost trys to stop himself. Then listen to the Wyclef version where he definitely says 'Repeat'. Interesting. |
| Sebastian 02.01.2014 15:35 |
musicland munich wrote: John was a bit unsure about the song.So Mack createt a drum track for him and they figure out the parts of the song. Source MACKI was thinking about it the other day. As with UP, witnesses contradict each other. Brian and Roger clearly state John had the idea of the drum loop and to stuff them with blankets to make them sound dry, etc., and through the last 20 years (at least) they've claimed that. Mack, on the other hand, credits it to himself. There's no way around it: one party is lying... or both. |
| The Real Wizard 02.01.2014 19:41 |
Maybe it was Freddie. After all, blankets were his favourite drum sound. ;) |
| Sebastian 02.01.2014 23:46 |
That's why Michael's kid was called Blanket (well, sort of...). Without Queen, there would've been no Thriller, and no MJ kids either. Everything he did was because of the band. |
| 7Innuendo7 04.01.2014 15:33 |
fwiw, the story I heard/read (As It Began? Phoebe's book? music press? been so long, sorry) was that in Dec 1978, Queen played 3 nights at Madison Square Garden NYC, and one of those nights John ended up hanging out at the Power Station recording studio with Nile Rogers and others. A jam happened, a riff was born, but because Chic and Queen were in different places in their respective tour/album/tour cycle, "Good Times" was released first, and Queen made the riff into a song all their own. the blanket story is hilarious! paging Dr. Fatty... Another piece of AOBTD trivia: it was the theme song for the Detroit Lions US football team at one point. Apparently it never improved their winning percentage tho LOL Many thx Sebastian for your insight. A keyboard is one part of a piano; pianos also have pedals and strings, and technically is considered a string instrument (someone please correct me if needed). On the other hand, a synthesizer is actually a percussion instrument, because it is played by striking the keys of the keyboard, which trigger programmed electronic tones. A synth has no sound of its own, unless you heave it down a multi-story stairwell with microphones and blankets strategically placed at the ground floor ;) Cheers, dears! Long live Queen :) |
| N0_Camping4U 15.11.2015 11:55 |
Lord Gaga wrote: Apart from the ridiculous poster N0_Camping4U and his stupid nickname for Seb, at least this thread reminded me to update Queenpedia's entry on AOBTD. And darcy, I'm pretty sure the "rip" part was accurate, and not meant to be "repeat". Freddie sings "rip-uh", not "repeat" later, and sang "rip" in concert.Seb = okay nickname Sebash = (Whom is a friend of mine and goes by Sebash over Sebastian) - not okay Never change foreigners. Never change. |