| dysan 10.01.2019 09:55 |
Has this been looked at so far here? link Interesting so far.... Deacon second place! |
| Golden Salmon 10.01.2019 11:18 |
John is underrated! Roger may be the "worst", but they're all good and most importantly, it's the band as a whole that made all songs as great as they are. It's understandable that there's a main force behind some songs, but in the end it's all about the band doing them. I suppose you can say that Freddie was the "best" and Brian second, but I stand by what I just wrote above. |
| Holly2003 10.01.2019 14:34 |
Paul Rodgers. |
| Thistle 10.01.2019 14:56 |
Golden Salmon wrote: most importantly, it's the band that made all songs as great as they are.100% agree. |
| Star* 10.01.2019 15:07 |
Freddie was /is the best song writer in Queen, for in the beginning it was his strong song writing that got the band into the limelight especially "Seven seas of Rhye" & "Killer Queen" John is second. |
| Sweetandtenderhooligan 10.01.2019 17:28 |
Deaks |
| ANAGRAMER 10.01.2019 19:15 |
Is it not a matter of taste? Got to agree, Freddie wrote some of the best but also some of the worst! |
| fras444 10.01.2019 20:39 |
You could say due to the few songs Deaks wrote, he would have to be in the top half with songs that were hits/appeal/easy listening to most Queen/non-Queen fans. He was the most consistent writer when it comes to sticking to one general genre |
| spiralstatic 10.01.2019 21:12 |
I'd say quite easily: Freddie Brian John Roger However, Roger has a talent for writing songs that suit his own voice which Brian doesn't possess as strongly. And I do have a special place in my heart for Spread Your Wings and the sweetness of some of John's songs. |
| Saint Jiub 11.01.2019 01:45 |
Roger' s writing improved in the 80's, and he was primarily responsible for over half of 1984 and later top 10 hits. Radio Ga Ga, One Vision, A Kind of Magic, Breakthru, These Are the Days of Our Lives, and Heaven for Everyone were all top 10 hits. link |
| FlorianS 11.01.2019 08:14 |
What means "best" in this case? Talking about hits? Are I want to break free and a kind of magic better songs than the prophets song and the millionaire waltz because they were single hits? Is a catchy song better than a complex arrangement? In the end it's personal taste. |
| andres_clip 11.01.2019 12:19 |
Freddie/John |
| Virgoan2019 11.01.2019 13:19 |
It's got to be personal taste in the end but I would agree with Spiralstatic's listing - I would also add Roger's solo track Old Friends - his voice sounds great and the song really brings a tear to the eye (well mine anyway). |
| Invisible Woman 11.01.2019 17:10 |
Each member of the band made some really great songs and on my lists of favorite Queen songs there are songs from all four members. |
| dysan 11.01.2019 18:20 |
Yeah while it's tempting to say Freddie and Brian's songs defined Queen, I'd rather listen to a Roger song when getting ready for a night out / leaving work on a Friday / playing Onrush |
| Russian Headlong 2 12.01.2019 02:05 |
Brian, simply the best. |
| tcc 12.01.2019 02:11 |
It had been said that the person writing the lyrics get the credit as the songwriter although music wise the other band members did help to refine song. The better gauge would be who is the best lyrics writer. |
| reesefallon 12.01.2019 05:55 |
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| FunLovinCriminal 12.01.2019 13:58 |
It was never about coming up with great art in Queen's case, but writing hit singles. Thus, none of them deserves to be called the best songwriter, as they all wrote hits, which defined the band at certain stages. When it went more mainstream, it was John's and Roger's turn. And they delivered quite well... |
| Sebastian 12.01.2019 15:49 |
tcc wrote: It had been said that the person writing the lyrics get the credit as the songwriter although music wise the other band members did help to refine song. The better gauge would be who is the best lyrics writer.That was an oversimplification to say the least. According to Frederick, it was he who wrote the lyrics to 'Is this the World We Created', yet it still got credited to both of them (as Brian came up with the chords). |
| bas 13.01.2019 18:16 |
“It was never about coming up with great art in Queen's case, but writing hit singles.“ Not entirely true. Although Queen I & Queen II contained a few singles (Liar, Keep Yourself Alive and Seven Seas Of Rhye), they were definately not primairily aimed at scoring hit singles. That changed with the Sheer Heart Attack album. |
| runner_70 13.01.2019 19:45 |
1) Freddie 2) John 3) Roger 4) Brian |
| runner_70 13.01.2019 19:46 |
Russian Headlong 2 wrote: Brian, simply the best.Really? Fat Bottomed Girls is his signiture song apart from WWRY lol |
| whirringnoises 14.01.2019 02:36 |
Freddie's talent in songwriting was apparent in many songs, and I don't think it should be ignored. But I always find that I'm very into Brian's stuff, especially before the 80s. I can't pinpoint why, but his stuff tends to really get to me! However, this question is a little difficult to answer when Brian and Freddie wrote more songs than Roger and John. They didn't get to shine as much. :'^) |
| rockchic65 14.01.2019 06:40 |
runner_70 wrote:You're joking, Brian wrote some gorgeous songs - Save Me, The Prophet's Song, 39, WWTLF, White Queen et al.Russian Headlong 2 wrote: Brian, simply the best.Really? Fat Bottomed Girls is his signiture song apart from WWRY lol |
| runner_70 14.01.2019 11:45 |
Still he thinks FBG is his masterpiece. Thats why it was in the movie. He cant hold a candle to Freddie's writing skills and his songs were the least successful. Thats why he envied Freddie |
| bucsateflon 14.01.2019 14:06 |
Hammer to fall, Now I'm here, Tie your mother down rock masterpieces and live show staple, that Freddie must have been envious of |
| Vocal harmony 14.01.2019 14:24 |
runner_70 wrote: Still he thinks FBG is his masterpiece. Thats why it was in the movie. He cant hold a candle to Freddie's writing skills and his songs were the least successful. Thats why he envied FreddieAs a representation of Queen's heavier side, and late 70's success it provides a great sound track to the touring the US montage in the film. FBG is his masterpiece, what else did he tell you? I always thought it was a good stomping live song hence its inclusion in the set. If you knew anything about Queen's music, even, you could spot Brian's musical brilliance in many more of his compositions and his playing on many other songs |
| runner_70 14.01.2019 17:43 |
Vocal harmony wrote:STill his songs were the least successful apart from WWRYrunner_70 wrote: Still he thinks FBG is his masterpiece. Thats why it was in the movie. He cant hold a candle to Freddie's writing skills and his songs were the least successful. Thats why he envied FreddieAs a representation of Queen's heavier side, and late 70's success it provides a great sound track to the touring the US montage in the film. FBG is his masterpiece, what else did he tell you? I always thought it was a good stomping live song hence its inclusion in the set. If you knew anything about Queen's music, even, you could spot Brian's musical brilliance in many more of his compositions and his playing on many other songs |
| Star* 15.01.2019 13:27 |
Freddie is the greatest Queen song writer as he wrote the greatest Queen song ever "Bohemian Rhapsody! Brian, John and Roger could never top that - ever ! |
| runner_70 15.01.2019 15:41 |
Thats why Maylor are jealous til today |
| spiralstatic 15.01.2019 15:42 |
FunLovinCriminal wrote: It was never about coming up with great art in Queen's case, but writing hit singles. Thus, none of them deserves to be called the best songwriter, as they all wrote hits, which defined the band at certain stages. When it went more mainstream, it was John's and Roger's turn. And they delivered quite well...For me, best songwriter has nothing to do with hits. Best hit-writer would be that. Great & terrible songs can become hits & many wonderful songs aren’t. I can’t speak for Queen & how much/often they were interested in writing hits versus great art (of course a song *can* be both - Bohemian Rhapsody being an ideal example) but I’d be surprised if Queen only or even mainly cared about writing hits. They definitely didn’t the first 5 albums & going on years more: there are obvious hits on there, but there are always plenty of other tracks, written with other intent, sometimes the best of their work in my opinion. |
| Ivo-1976 15.01.2019 15:45 |
It was the mix of them all that made it special. 4 unique talents in one band. Today we learn on TV that music is a contest. That there always has to be a winner. Vote & Choose. Just enjoy the diversity in stead. |
| Star* 15.01.2019 16:44 |
Spiralistic @ Of course Queen cared about writing hits other wise they would not have broken into the music industry. A great single gets a band noticed and cause a huge insurgence of interest to check out an album. Queen always made sure they had a strong single to put out to capture the interest of the record buyer. |
| AlbaNo1 15.01.2019 19:18 |
Roger provides that diversity as his songs are the most different from the Queen sound , especially when he takes lead vocals it's like a different band. On the other hand John is the only member hasn't written or recorded a bad song, they fit in to Queens sound However I get the feeling that as Freddie sang on them he would also be influencing the recording process. We also can't be clear of John's contribution when writing credits were joint ,whereas we do know ones that Roger was a driver on. I'd have to place Roger higher as an independent writer. Top two would be Freddie then Brian. Some of Brians album tracks are the backbone of Queen live . |
| Sebastian 15.01.2019 19:22 |
AlbaNo1 wrote: I get the feeling that as Freddie sang on them he would also be influencing the recording process.Frederick also sang most of Brian's songs and at least half of Roger's. Does it mean he also influenced those? AlbaNo1 wrote: We also can't be clear of John's contribution when writing credits were joint ,whereas we do know ones that Roger was a driver on.It depends on what you define as 'clear'. But if you define it as 'equally clear as we are of Roger's, Brian's and Frederick's contributions', then yes: John wrote 'My Life Has Been Saved' and contributed heavily to the music of 'Rain Must Fall', 'My Baby Does Me' and 'You Don't Fool Me'. He also co-created the 'Show Must Go On' sequence with Roger and changed the order of some 'Hitman' sections. |
| Star* 15.01.2019 21:05 |
I wonder if Freddie had been well would he have changed many of the songs on the Innuendo album? We know he was too ill to argue about sections of songs and that was probably why certain songs were not up to scratch like the awful Delilah. |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 07:32 |
@EMI2565 Yes, of course Queen made sure they had a/some tracks they wanted/hoped to be hit singles. Which is a VERY different thing to "It was never about coming up with great art in Queen's case." That suggests ALL or even MOST of Queen's songwriting, or certainly their best songwriting was motivated by seeking a hit rather than artistic motivations. Maybe you think it was. I am saying I don't know if Queen thought ALL they really wanted to do was create the hit singles, but I'd suggest not given some (often a lot) of tracks they wrote. In any case, whatever Queen's intention, hits and the success of a song is not related to the quality of the songwriting. |
| Star* 16.01.2019 09:58 |
Queen always said in the early days they wanted to consider themselves as an album band but when they got very famous mid 75 /76 they did get pressure from the record company to be more commercial. This was more evident by 1984 when The Works got released. |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 10:52 |
True: hence why I said especially the first 5 albums... but yeah The Works & A Kind Of Magic, fair enough. I admit I know Queen’s 80’s stuff less well, but for me their best work isn’t there so it doesn’t affect the thread question. I only listened up to Jazz & then Innuendo onwards for most of my Queen-loving years (Obviously I listened to it all as a kid when I first discovered Queen but only continued listening to the albums I liked best) & only very recently have begun to revisit the intervening albums: so far only The Game, Hot Space & The Miracle none of which I’d heard since I was probably 13. Not done the others yet. |
| Star* 16.01.2019 16:09 |
I would honestly say The Game is the bands stand out album of the 80s for miles, it was just outstanding and beats other 80s Queen albums for the excellent quality songs. Best 70s Queen album in my opinion is a very difficult question, as there was a few so i would leave that to you and look forward to your review on that on lol |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 18:34 |
If you're asking, for me Queen's best album (of the '70's... or just in general!) is A Day at the Races - no weak track at all. I think as a full album it has such great flow (and works better in its entirety than A Night at the Opera) and it is just such an enjoyable listen. Also it includes my favourite Queen track of all - You Take my Breath Away and since I guess that's partly more of a Freddie track, it also includes the Bohemian Rhapsody most people have never heard of, The Millionaire Waltz (with some ace bass), the popular track that never gets old and is as fresh every time you hear it - Somebody to Love, Brian Rocking (Tie your Mother Down) and beautiful (Teo Torriatte) and probably my favourite Roger track in Drowse. Also Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy and John's sweet You and I. I do love Queen II personally too, but for me by A Day at the Races Queen had reached full Queen status and it is the epitome of their music to me and just such a happy listen. |
| Star* 16.01.2019 18:48 |
Yes i was thinking "A day at the races" or "A night at the opera" which a typical fan would choose, but "Races" is a finely crafted Queen album in so many ways, good choice. |
| AlbaNo1 16.01.2019 19:32 |
To get back to Sebastian , yes I think Freddie would have influenced most songs he sang on and would have stood off Roger and Brian compositions that they took lead vocal on. We already know for sure he reworked A kind of magic, and I think he also influenced Radio GaGa Did he touch Some Day, One day or Action This Day. Not so much. Do you really think John was calling the shots on his songs all the way through. I think more likely he got enough of the framework of the song to get the credits to keep the peace financially.. |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 19:57 |
In one of the Queen documentaries I think it is Brian who says that in the early days he and Roger were very protective of their songs and since they felt what they'd written was very personal to them, they also wanted to sing the song and I guess "make it theirs" entirely nd express their own song vocally. Brian said that later (in the '80's, I guess) they had come to realise what a vehicle they had in Freddie's voice, so they sang less and were more willing to give their songs to Freddie to sing and Brian said something to the effect of when you give your song to another singer, you have to allow that of course they'll bring their emotion and interpretation of the song and lyrics and trust in them and that they have something to give to it rather than having to have full control yourself. (There are a few Brian songs on the earlier albums that I wish he'd let Freddie sing, or at least sing more of. I like Brians voice for a small amount of time, but I feel he can seldom quite reach a climax vocally and if he'd even allowed Freddie one full verse and chorus or the end in those early albums in a few of his songs, I feel it could have made an ok or good song great, or greater than they are. Anyway. Less so Roger as I like a full Roger track on an album and Roger has a great voice and.I think suited to many songs he wrote.) Musically speaking, I think a song sung by Freddie can be 100% composed by whoever had credit for it. I guess that's probably where arguments stemmed from more than there being individual writers though? I imagine some songs were pretty much composed entirely by the named writer while others were more of a two-person or whole-band collaboration, but the one with the initial idea still gets full credit whether they wrote it entirely alone or just came up with the lyrics/main idea. I'd love to know how much of John's songs came completely from him. By the 80's John has a certain style, and lyrically I think his style was always quite distinct, but musically there's something of Freddie in John's early compositions I find... though NOT harmonically so much, hmmm! I'd never really thought about it until just now. I'm sure most songs had some amount of creative input by everyone who played on them though! |
| Star* 16.01.2019 20:11 |
I think it would have been very interesting if Brian or Roger allowed a guide vocal on there tracks, "Leaving home aint easy" or "Drowse" "Long away" or even "Tenement Funster" what do you think? |
| AlbaNo1 16.01.2019 20:20 |
Interesting for sure. I can imagine Leaving Home Ain’t Easy by Freddie . Drowse I just feel is a really Roger vibe and lyric that Freddie might not connect to. |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 21:54 |
I’d especially like to hear All Dead, All Dead sung by Freddie (or some of it.) Love the song musically, but feel it’d be so much better with a stronger vocal. I’d also like to hear Some Day, One Day & more of Sail Away Sweet Sister (love Brian singing this at the start & the Freddie interlude, but I’d love to hear Freddie just take a little more if it - the last chorus too maybe.) |
| AlbaNo1 16.01.2019 22:04 |
There is a version of All Dead, All Dead with Freddie link |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 22:08 |
Well now I’m glad I said that as I’d never heard the Freddie version that apparently surfaced a few years ago! link |
| spiralstatic 16.01.2019 22:09 |
AlbaNo1 wrote: There is a version of All Dead, All Dead with Freddie linkThank you! I just found it myself too! This has pleased me greatly. And yes, I do like it a lot more. Thanks for sharing! |
| spiralstatic 17.01.2019 00:11 |
AlbaNo1 - do you have any details on this version at all? I wonder if the piano is Freddie on this version too? I know it is Brian on the original, but on first listen (without comparing directly to the original), it sounds a little different (not just a different take, but stylistically) to me here. But could just be a different Bri version of course! Anyway, for me this is such a happy find. So much more emotional and moving than Brian's version - as the song ought to be as it was obviously written from an emotional place by Brian. I can't stop listening. Gorgeous intro too. The only thing now is I might have to buy that ridiculously priced News of the World box set at some point... sigh. I do rather like that this is the song in particular I'd always wanted to hear with Freddie vocals and here it is - in existence and I didn't even know it. I wonder at what stage they recorded this version and if it was ever seriously considered to have Freddie sing it? I'm thinking not - that it was probably a very early initial little test and Brian probably always wanted to do it himself? But that is a pure guess. Incidentally, I don't wish Freddie sang every song at all! I think Roger suits all the songs he sings on myself. I like some more than others, but I don't immediately think of any that I'd imagine improved sung by Freddie and for me Brian suits the more folky or Beatles-y songs well, however counter to a lot of people, I find Brian's voice to lack emotion and to be a little thin and reedy (I see some people find this to be melancholy, but I don't find it so myself - I just want to feel more), so it is only when I wish a Brian song had a little more emotion to it (because I think it is a great song!) I wish there were more of Freddie's voice on there. Which I hope is a compliment to Brian's songwriting. Very sweet video to this might I add too. |
| ITSM 22.01.2019 22:55 |
1. Mercury 2. Deacon 3. Taylor 4. May |
| The Circle of Eidolon 23.01.2019 00:41 |
EMI2565 wrote: Yes i was thinking "A day at the races" or "A night at the opera" which a typical fan would choose, but "Races" is a finely crafted Queen album in so many ways, good choice.The Circle of Eidolon agrees with this. The Circle of Eidolon has spoken |
| Donna13 24.01.2019 18:37 |
I’d have to hear all the demos first. I think once the four of them got the original, they then contributed until it was “Queen” enough. I think Brian and Roger crafted the Queen sound initially and Brian’s writing and playing is emotionally powerful. I think composing came much easier to Freddie (almost effortless for him) and he could have easily written hits for any group, in any style. 1. Freddie/Brian 2. Roger/John |
| FunLovinCriminal 24.01.2019 23:13 |
Donna13 has spoken. Please be upstanding, ladies and gentlemen! |
| Donna13 24.01.2019 23:25 |
Why, thank you! But I insist everyone stay seated, and on topic. |
| FunLovinCriminal 24.01.2019 23:32 |
Donna13, please lead me through my trespasses with your guiding on-topic-light. |
| Day dop 27.01.2019 23:12 |
I can't stand that forum. It's full of elderly Americans who think the U.S is the centre of the universe. |
| mariah carey 06.06.2019 13:12 |
Mercury's compositions were by far the most interesting and creative. Also, even though he himself didn't write a lot of hits in 80s, he had a lot to do with Radio Ga Ga, One Vision, AKOM and other hits. |
| dysan 06.06.2019 18:13 |
OK here's a question. John wrote, what - 12 songs? How about compiling your 12 favourite songs by each member, one from each album before the combined credits era and released as 'Queen' - no solo stuff. So you have 4 12 track albums, each one entirely written by one member. I'd have to say John's would be 4th on my 'listen to' list. Whose would be best? I go so far as to say mine would go: Freddie, Roger, Brian, John. |
| Metropolis 06.06.2019 21:15 |
All of the Queen members wrote great songs. My personal favorites from each of them: Freddie: Bohemian Rhapsody, Innuendo, March of the Black Queen, Don't Stop Me Now, We Are The Champions Brian: The Prophet's Song, The Show Must Go On, We Will Rock You Roger: Radio Ga Ga, I'm In Love With My Car John: Another One Bites The Dust, Spread Your Wings, I Want To Break Free |
| Galileo1564 07.06.2019 03:03 |
Freddie, Brian, John, Roger. |
| Saint Jiub 07.06.2019 04:14 |
Galileo1564 wrote: Freddie, Brian, John, Roger.Ditto |
| ThiagoLN 03.07.2019 16:47 |
John Freddie Roger Brian |
| Mark_Glasgow 08.07.2019 13:46 |
Shouldn’t this thread be titled “who was Queens 2nd best songwriter? |