QueenZone discussion #1366423

Fireplace wrote: I always thought that Soul Brother was just a few verses of nonsense, about no one in particular. Is there any documentation on it being about Brian?

ANAGRAMER wrote: How do you know all this Sebastian?

Sebastian wrote:

Fireplace wrote: I always thought that Soul Brother was just a few verses of nonsense, about no one in particular. Is there any documentation on it being about Brian?

Brian mentioned it nearly a decade ago on his website: 'Freddie told me one day he had a surprise for me - he said, 'I've written a song about you - but it needs your touch on it!' I think, curiously, we were both working on songs separately which referred to each other. Can't remember which one of mine it was, since a lot of my songs were obliquely aimed at him (as well as to be sung by him!). Anyway. we got in the studio and he played this song. Now whether it was really about me I don't know. But I thought it was fab. I know he wrote it in about 15 minutes!. As to why not on album (The Game) - well, Freddie deliberately wrote it as a B-side to fill a gap, so I imagine the album was already sewn up.'

Sebastian wrote: MY LIFE HAS BEEN SAVED: John wrote it and then David Richards helped him recording a demo. Freddie heard it, loved it and sang on it.

Sebastian wrote: The problem is, the whole research is still in embryonic form, and the possibilities of ever getting a 'spot on' one get reduced by the minute: some of the people who were there have retired, others have died, others have a less than perfect memory, and in the case of 'who wrote what?', the whole point of crediting everything to the band was that they didn't want people to assign direct 1:1 ownerships (well, the main reason was financial, but there was also this). Quoting radio and press interviews would require sorting out the relevant copyright situation for each of them, etc. What I would really like to do one day, or to see someone more capable doing it, would be a song analysis thing, like what my friend PD used to do (e.g., link, but right now my knowledge is still rather basic. I'm not saying 'no', I'm saying 'not yet.' Such a project, should it happen, will take time, and if (when?) I'm finally ready, I'll let you know... or not - it'd be nice to surprise everyone. Either way, there are many factors to consider.

Sebastian wrote: when John wrote a song in those days he'd record a demo first and then show it to Freddie. The demo wouldn't have any vocals, but instead a melody played on piano or synth.

Sebastian wrote: THE MIRACLE: Freddie and John sat together and came up with a basic outline, then Freddie worked on it further and the four of them discussed and edited the lyrics until they agreed on the final version of them, which were a collaboration between Freddie and Roger.

agrasso wrote: This leads me to another question: before "those days", or better when synths/keyboards were not used, how John did record his demos? Similarly playing the vocal melody on guitar or piano?

Mr.QueenFan wrote: I just have one question about "Let me live": Who plays the piano?

Sebastian wrote: A WINTER'S TALE: Freddie wrote it in Montreux inspired by the scenery. He'd planned to spend Christmas '91 there with his boyfriend, but sadly couldn't make it.

Sebastian wrote: There are many guitar solos Brian created (though not all of them), but that doesn't make him a co-author. Same for the others and their respective roles.

clavinova wrote: Perhaps the same person who plays the piano on It's a hard life? (Freddie) The piano at .... to fall from the sky.....waiting for lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-v-e ... (2nd verse) sounds similar to me

Mr.QueenFan wrote:

clavinova wrote: Perhaps the same person who plays the piano on It's a hard life? (Freddie) The piano at .... to fall from the sky.....waiting for lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-v-e ... (2nd verse) sounds similar to me

Very good point! It's the same kind of thinking, and in the same era - 1984. If it is indeed Freddie, then the song was pretty much completed back in 1984. Oh man, so many questions, i just hope that one day maybe they'll release a book about the studio sessions.

clavinova wrote:

Mr.QueenFan wrote:

clavinova wrote: Perhaps the same person who plays the piano on It's a hard life? (Freddie) The piano at .... to fall from the sky.....waiting for lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-v-e ... (2nd verse) sounds similar to me

Very good point! It's the same kind of thinking, and in the same era - 1984. If it is indeed Freddie, then the song was pretty much completed back in 1984. Oh man, so many questions, i just hope that one day maybe they'll release a book about the studio sessions.

I'm not that good musician neither is my hearing but I'm able to play It's a Hard Life on the piano and that particular bit (in both songs) is always playing the same chord ascending through inversions. Each beat consists of an augmented eigth note followed by a sixteenth note. Well, I'm not 100% sure but I hope it helps a little bit and you'll understand what I mean.

Mr.QueenFan wrote: Maybe one day they'll release the Rod Stewart version or release a book about the studio sessions.

Sebastian wrote: They've got bigger priorities, though, such as re-re-re-re-re-re-re-releasing Greatest Hits and Wembley and touring with an AI loser.