Could anybody explain why was Queen wouldn't perform the whole Bohemian Rhapsody live but they'd perform all of Somebody to Love which also had a big multi layered sound, wasn't it just as difficult?
Somebody To Love lacked most of the multi-layered vocals live. Maybe one of the reasons they got away with doing this song live was because they could use their instruments to help fill the sound. That would have been a problem with the opera section of Bo Rhap.
Or maybe they just didnt want to do the whole of Bo Rhap...
Probably because Bohemian Rhapsody is pretty much known for it's huge operatic middle section. It's not uncommon for people to only know that part of the song. Somebody To Love, however, can still stand with much thinner backing vocals, as it isn't entirely built around them, they're just a nice accompaniment on the album version I guess. The operatic part of Bo Rhap live would be pretty boring, as most of the music there IS the 100+ vocals.
tomchristie22 wrote:
Probably because Bohemian Rhapsody is pretty much known for it's huge operatic middle section. It's not uncommon for people to only know that part of the song. Somebody To Love, however, can still stand with much thinner backing vocals, as it isn't entirely built around them, they're just a nice accompaniment on the album version I guess. The operatic part of Bo Rhap live would be pretty boring, as most of the music there IS the 100+ vocals.
Somebody to Love is very much built around it's BRILLIANT vocal harmonies. It's just not as extreme.
The instruments just cover it up very good live. In addition to that, Freddie adds vocals which isn't there on the studio version. The problem with Bohemian Rhapsody is just that it is an opera and not gospel.
Basically, what I mean is that gospel is very rhythmic and catchy, therefore it is very fitting to take it to the stage and make it rockier.
Another problem with Bohemian Rhapsody is that the very essence of the song lies in it's sections and shifts.
Taking the complete song to the stage, they would have to sacrifice the uniqueness of the dramatic opera section and make it rockier. The opera is supposed to separate the hard rock from the rest! It would just sound awkward.
No, that's not it...
They were playing to a track, sorry to disappoint Queen fans. On somebody to love, the track vocals are just the "Find me, somebody to-oo-oo-oo love...", not lead vocals. The intro was just lip-synched.
However on Bohemian Rhapsody, there are more lead vocals throughout. You would have needed about 12 people on stage to pull that off and Freddie would have run out of breath.
They probably could've knocked it down to a four part harmony (five with Spike), tried to fill it out with interesting guitar lines and keyboard backing.
Bottom line is that some nights definitely would've been clunkers. Most likely they didn't think it was worth the risk. Besides, in terms of presentation it's a good moment to A) have a drink, B) change the costume and C) come out with some pyro.
also, where bo rhap sits in the set.
the loud bit coming out of the opera section allows for the band bursting back onto stage....all explosions and fireworks....so the opera section is a natural break in proceedings
Micrówave wrote:
No, that's not it...
They were playing to a track, sorry to disappoint Queen fans. On somebody to love, the track vocals are just the "Find me, somebody to-oo-oo-oo love...", not lead vocals. The intro was just lip-synched.
However on Bohemian Rhapsody, there are more lead vocals throughout. You would have needed about 12 people on stage to pull that off and Freddie would have run out of breath.
Just to clarify. Are you saying that they used a backing tape live for Some Body To Love?
Queen should have hired a choir to help them with the opera section during the Magic Tour. Also, they certainly had enough musicians/singers on hand to give it a whirl at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Total cop out.
I've never heard any live take of Sonebody to Love using backing tapes. I have heard bootlegs where they have a 'repeater' on some of the vocals in the breakdown bit to almost bring a 'round' effect (like Freddie on Prophets Song or Brian's guitar solo) but they were definitely singing the parts live.