I've been listening to a lot of early Queen and Roger solo. There's now no doubt in my mind that as a rock singer (and I mean for the hard rock sound), he's definitely one of the greatest. I'm not going to say he's Freddie's equal or whatever because they're so different there's little point in comparing them - like asking if a Fender is better than a Gibson. When I was younger I preferred Freddie's smoother vocals but I've grown to appreciate what Roger can do. The vocal on Tenement Funster for example is one of my favourites. There are others of course.
Up until "The Game" both Brian and Roger handled lead vocals on one of their own songs each. Why did that stop after The Game? Action This Day doesn't really count as a Roger lead in my view.
Perhaps as the band moved away from that eclectic sound and into a more pop-aware group it made sense for Freddie to sing everything, and by the 1980s although Queen said they were an equal quartet, the focus had certainly shifted, at least in the media, on to Freddie as being the superstar in the group.
I get that by "The Miracle" they knew that Freddie was on borrowed time and wanted to get out of him as much as they could, and just maybe Roger's career with The Cross had exhausted much of what he would have wanted to sing on a Queen album anyway. What does everyone else think?
And yes I'm moving to the other forum soon but I thought I'd write this here because the tab was open and I'm running my mind between laundry loads.
I love Roger’s voice and I agree he is one of the greatest..his voice is instantly recognizable. I think they just looked at the numbers and realized they made the most money off songs that Freddie sang, so when they decided to go the pop route that made the most sense. Pop songs with the same beloved voice bring the most reliable bank.
A rewiew in 80s wrote that Roger can write songs but it's with Freddie has hits.
I really like the blend that he had with Freddie voice especially live, under pressure from Knewborth is a good example. Also the end of the Miracle "that time will come" their voices blend perfect.
Last I like the blending with Brian voice during the harmonies of Hammer to fall.
Did the review mean that Freddie wrote the hits, or that Freddie sang the hits? Not one single release ever had a non-Freddie vocal on the A-side except No-one but you, and the Q+PR stuff of course. I like Roger singing Radio Gaga, Days of Our Lives, A Kind of Magic, but Freddie's voice was more "radio friendly" in the pop sense - although he could definitely growl as well!
It meant that Roger solo or his Queen songs are good songs, but it is Freddie voice which can make them hits. The rewiew was around 84-85
I hope one day we will hear the studio version with of Rock it witb Freddie vocals completed.
Right, yes, Roger's voice has never been pop-friendly in the way that Freddie's was. Even Brian May's voice is more pop-friendly. Interestingly Brian's solo projects sound more like the popular Queen sound than Roger's which are generally very different to Queen