As we know, Freddie's voice and technique changed a lot.
What I have noticed is the different singing approach in some sustained phrases, like "keep on fighting" and "higher, higher, higher". In 79-82 era he hardly uses vibrato there but in mid 80s there is quite a lot of it.
Which approach do you prefer?
I made a small audio comparison, see the attachment below.
Nicely spotted - I never noticed his progression in that sense. I prefer his tone in the earlier clips, but the presence of vibrato in the later ones, so it's a draw for me.
Very interesting observation Chief.
Personally prefer the mid-80s heavier vibrato. It seems like a natural progression in technique, and it *could* also have been affected by natural changes to his voice as he approached early middle age
I don't rate his live singing 1984-1986 very highly. He sacrificed way too much of his finesse in tone, phrasing and dynamics, for that arena-filling power. And there are thousands of singers who does vibrato better than Freddie anyway, so I much prefer the late 70's/early 80's era.
Oscar J wrote:
I don't rate his live singing 1984-1986 very highly. He sacrificed way too much of his finesse in tone, phrasing and dynamics, for that arena-filling power. And there are thousands of singers who does vibrato better than Freddie anyway, so I much prefer the late 70's/early 80's era.
Yes, in general his "live" voice declined in 1984-1986, due to it becoming more harsh, and in certain instances, more like shouting than singing. But he was also adapting to the bigger venues and the new "macho" style.
As we know his smoothness in the recording studio remained for the most part, and it especially all came back in those silky sweet if thinner (vocally speaking) years post 1988.
As far as I'm concerned - Mercury's peak on stage was 82. The "Live At The Bowl" DVD seriously is him at his best. His power, expression, creativity and finesse are all there - especially on the Hot Space tracks.
Sure, he developed his vibrato later on, but he lost a whole lot else.
Queen as a whole were dialing it in by 1984. 1982, by comparison, has no two performances of Action This Day, Liar and Now I'm Here sounding alike.
Maybe the adversity behind the scenes contributed to the creativity on stage, but the simple fact of having played together for over a decade really showed on this tour. And after they took their "break" they were never the same. They still sounded great, but there's a spark that just wasn't there.
By the way, here's Freddie using the same approach in the first Works tour gig (Brussels). It sounds just like 1982! I believe it's the last time he ever sang this line like that.
The Real Wizard wrote:
As far as I'm concerned - Mercury's peak on stage was 82. The "Live At The Bowl" DVD seriously is him at his best. His power, expression, creativity and finesse are all there - especially on the Hot Space tracks.
I think he was at his best in the late 70's. More posh, more outrageous outfits - more Freddie. By 1982 he had definitely lost much of his feel for hard rock singing too. He just couldn't sound as menacing anymore.
Also, calling the audience beautiful and declaring his love to them... yawn. I guess 80's Freddie just isn't my cup of tea.
The Real Wizard wrote: As far as I'm concerned - Mercury's peak on stage was 82. The "Live At The Bowl" DVD seriously is him at his best. His power, expression, creativity and finesse are all there - especially on the Hot Space tracks.
I agree, Freddie's performance is epic on the Bowl gig. Even in Champions at the end of the gig he manages to hit clear Bb4's and A4's. Somebody To Love from the Bowl is for me a great contester for the best live version of that song. And as you said, the Hot Space songs really shine vocally.