I've heard that some jazz vocalists used to do that but it's part of jazz/blues so Freddie was a one-off. What's more, the vocal improvisation was introduced (if I'm not mistaken) only during the last two tours: The Works Tour (84', 85') and The Magic Tour (86').
I'd say Freddie did vocal improv in earlier Queen tours... i'd say the 'alright, alriiight's' in the middle of Now I'm Here from Live Killers were vocal improv back and forth with the crowd, i think there's other examples too.
Yeah, I think it started in the late 70s. Jazz tour probably. I guess it was Freddie who 'invented' sing-along with the crowd? Is that true? Interesting topic. I hope it develops.
Freddie didn't invent crowd sing alongs, they date right back to old music hall entertainment but he certainly made it his own, he took what jazz scat singers (and later soul and gospel singers) generally did and applied it to rock, which is what we see with Now i'm here.
He grew it into an audience call and response, which again wasn't invented by Freddie (A certain Jamacian Folk song predates it).
I think his first vocal improvisation was during Lair live at Budokan 1975 Sheer heart attack tour, it was funny, since Freddie asked the audience to sing along louder, the audience replied Louder haha...
emrabt wrote:
Freddie didn't invent crowd sing alongs, they date right back to old music hall entertainment but he certainly made it his own, he took what jazz scat singers (and later soul and gospel singers) generally did and applied it to rock, which is what we see with Now i'm here.
He grew it into an audience call and response, which again wasn't invented by Freddie (A certain Jamacian Folk song predates it).
I think his first vocal improvisation was during Lair live at Budokan 1975 Sheer heart attack tour, it was funny, since Freddie asked the audience to sing along louder, the audience replied Louder haha...
It is at 1:26:02 he does some yeah and all right link.
Dim wrote:
I think his first vocal improvisation was during Lair live at Budokan 1975 Sheer heart attack tour, it was funny, since Freddie asked the audience to sing along louder, the audience replied Louder haha...
It is at 1:26:02 he does some yeah and all right
link.
MercuryArts wrote:
Robert Plant used to do a brief call & response with the crowd during Black Dog with Ah Ah, AH AH...
True, but it's not the same as improvised sing-alongs :)
When the crowd started to sing this? I've just checked the first performance in 1971 and Plant was doing all that part alone.
Not quite a Freddie vocal improv but Status Quo's 'Dirty Water' with a call and response. link
Call and response in the blues is said to have origins in Africa, and brought over with the slaves.