| Gunpowder Gelatine 21.04.2004 22:03 |
For some reason, I can imagine Roger singing 'Get Down, Make Love' instead of Freddie. Are there any other songs that would sound better being sung by another member? Or some Brian or Roger songs that Freddie should've sang? |
| Shane Jazz 21.04.2004 23:03 |
For solo songs, I would have liked to hear Freddie sing Man on Fire or Touch the Sky, and within the Queen catalog, Roger singing his own compositions, such as Breakthru or Ride the Wild Wind. Also, Brian singing Dreamer's Ball would be worth a listen! |
| Shane Jazz 21.04.2004 23:18 |
As a side note, I loved the version of She Blows Hot and Cold on the FM box set with Brian May on it, and would have loved to hear a version with the four Queen guys. They could just jam on forever and ever.... |
| iGSM 22.04.2004 02:32 |
I can't remember where I've heard it but I distinctly remember hearing Roger sing Ride the Wild Wind...live I guess. Sounds quite good. |
| FriedChicken 22.04.2004 05:43 |
Roger sang Ride The Wild Wind live on his solo tours, and there are demos with Roger on vocals I can imagine Roger singing: You Don't Fool Me I can imagine Brian singing: Dreamers Ball, Is This the World We Created, I Can't live with You I can imagine Freddie singing: Modern Times Rock 'n Roll, Fight from The Inside I can't imagine Freddie singing: Long Away, Sail Away Sweet Sister, Tenement Funster, In Love with my Car, Good Company I know there are 2 live versions in my list where my imaginary singer sings. And some demos aswell |
| Sebastian 22.04.2004 06:52 |
Songs that I'd have preferred to be sung by Roger: Son & Daughter - in duet perhaps Keep Yourself Alive - with Brian Doin' All Right Now I'm Here - with Bri Sheer Heart Attack - the whole thing Fun It - ditto Fat Bottomed Girls - With Rog If You Can't Beat Them Dead On Time Coming Soon - ditto Need Your Loving Tonight - duet perhaps Another One Bites The Dust Play The Game - don't ask The Kiss - to have both versions would be great Under Pressure - threesome with F & B Calling All Girls Action This Day - the whole thing Staying Power Put Out The Fire Dancer Machines I Go Crazy I Want To Break Free Don't Lose Your Head A Kind Of Magic - duet Gimme The Prize Invisible Man Ride The Wild Wind I Can't Live With You You Don't Fool Me Notably NOT - Radio Ga Ga ------------ Songs that I'd have preferred to be sung by Brian: The night Comes Down - in other key though. Keep Yourself Alive - with Rog White Queen Dear Friends Now I'm Here - with Rog In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited Sweet Lady - Roger in the bridge Prophet's Song - The first part White Man Spread Your Wings Mustapha - intro Fat Bottomed girls - with Rog Save Me Dragon Attack - duet Las Palabras De Amor Hammer To Fall Is this The World We Created Friends Will Be Friends One Year Of Love I Want It All - reverse (Brian in verses, Fred in bridge) Scandal Bijou - It's Fred's song but what the hell A Winter's Tale My Life Has Been Saved -------- Songs I'd have loved sung by the three of them each one taking one third: Tie Your Mother Down It's Late We will Rock You These Are The Days Of Our Lives --------- Songs I'd have liked by Fred: More of That Jazz & All Dead, but just to have them as alternative versions - as B Sides os whatever -, not as the "official" versions |
| Nickipee 22.04.2004 07:14 |
SEbastian THat is a realy interesting post. I am wondereing why you have so many songs that you would like to hear sung by others - is it purely out of interest, or because you think they would be better by another? What really intrigues me is the number of songs that are not written by the person you want to hear sing them. I'm not having a go mate, but really and truly interested... Nicki |
| Sebastian 22.04.2004 08:29 |
Even if I sound nuts, I hate the idea that bands should have a vocalist. I prefer that they have instrumentists who sing. Like Eagles, Kiss or Beatles. If I could have changed Queen I would have done that: Fred as pianist, Brian as guitarist, John as bassist/rhythm guitarist, Roger as drummer, and the three of them sharing vocals. In fact I do prefer Roger's voice over Fred's, but some songs were like done just for Mercury, like Lily Of The Valley. I love Brian singing some ballads, more than I love Fred doing that perhaps because Fred's voice is so trained for that. I mean, Brian's technique is way lower so he kind of gives the song some kind of rawness (is that a word?) that makes you feel part of it. Note his version of Is This The World. In the specific case of Hammer, I just think Brian does it better, he's a better interpreter of that one, which is understandable since it's his own song. |
| Fenderek 22.04.2004 08:35 |
John singing "we Are The Champions"...;) Seriously- I really look forward to hear "Innuendo" sang byRoger- that can be really good...! Liar sang by him could sound quite interesting... "Dreamer's Ball" with Brian on vocals could be awesome... |
| Whisperer 22.04.2004 12:15 |
I agree on most of your suggestions, but how can anyone wish Brian to sing the verses on I Want It All? That song is waaaaaaaaaaaay to powerful for Brian's weak voice. Brian's live versions of IWIA and TSMGO are really terrible in my opinion. |
| Fenderek 22.04.2004 12:18 |
Also- don't think that Brian could manage "A Winter's Tale"or "One Year Of Love"... |
| Whisperer 22.04.2004 12:19 |
Sebastian, I have a completely opposite point of view. I hate bands who don't have a vocalist. I think that bands should have a lead-person (vocalist), who has the best voice and who makes the live show what it is (like Freddie did). I also hate bands/performers who have the stage full of musicians (Sting, Collins and many, many more). I like it much more with just 4 or 5 guys playing (Queen and others). |
| chancelloramethyst 22.04.2004 12:20 |
Hey! Why did they even bother with Freddie? They coulda just had Roger and Brian do all the vocals! Seriously, though, I'd love to Roger on lots of tracks. It'd be great if he sang something other than RGG at their current occasional concerts. And get Brian off WWRY--get Roger to do that one. I loved Rog on Rock'n' Roll. I'd love to hear Roger sing Borhap, for some reason. He's getting a lot better at singing lead, so he should do it more often. (Not that he was ever bad, but there's been a major improvement somehow recently.) More Roger I say! And I'd love to hear Brian on Dreamer's Ball. We should get a petition going. Oh--and I'd like to hear John sing something, LOL. -Amethyst |
| Nickipee 22.04.2004 12:38 |
I agree with what a lot of you are saying about Roger's vocals - and I have to come out here as a Roger fan - I think his solo stuff just got better and better, with his singing seeming more confident (song writing too). As for live - I have always rated him as a live singer. In my little dream world anything new by Rog, or Rog + Brian, would go down a treat... Nicki |
| Matti 22.04.2004 16:00 |
I can see Brian singing "Put Out The Fire" |
| Sebastian 22.04.2004 18:29 |
Btw - Roger on Get Down Make Love I'd also preferr. I'd like Show Must Go On to be sung by all three also |
| AndresGuazzelli 22.04.2004 23:02 |
No-One But You and Resurrection by Fred. |
| Roger-Taylor.Net 23.04.2004 07:12 |
Nickipee wrote: I agree with what a lot of you are saying about Roger's vocals - and I have to come out here as a Roger fan - I think his solo stuff just got better and better, with his singing seeming more confident (song writing too). As for live - I have always rated him as a live singer. In my little dream world anything new by Rog, or Rog + Brian, would go down a treat... NickiI totally agree with you here! ;-) As for an old Queen song I'd like to hear Roger on "Sheer Heart Attack". That would be a blast (but remains a dream I'm afraid..) |
| Daburcor? 23.04.2004 07:17 |
I'd kind of like to have heard Freddie sing "Man On Fire" as well. |
| Fenderek 23.04.2004 07:46 |
Actually "Ressurrection" could be really well sang by Roger... So could "Breakthru"... |
| Kuku 23.04.2004 22:49 |
From Sebastian's list: If Roger sang the following I'd never have listened to Queen seriously. Keep Yourself Alive - with Brian Doin' All Right (NO WAY) Now I'm Here - with Bri (Brian's too weak) If You Can't Beat Them Play The Game - don't ask (Oh I'd like to ask, though.) Under Pressure - threesome with F & B (Brian would not have managed the high note in the way Freddie did. Roger would sound too rough - even Bowie sounded way too rough for me in that song.) I Go Crazy I Want To Break Free Gimme The Prize I Can't Live With You (one of my fav vocal piece) You Don't Fool Me (ditto) Perhaps you overestimate Roger's or Brian's voice? (Like, Brian's voice just falters behind Freddie's in Who Wants to Live Forever.) I mean, I'd love to hear them sing in all of the songs, but no way Queen would establish as much as they did if the vocals were done as you suggested. It's one thing to be experimental and eclectic, and another thing to produce. Maybe if Roger were the main vocal of Queen the list would have been completely different, no? (We would have something like "the songs you want Freddie to have sung") |
| Sebastian 24.04.2004 01:26 |
Some comments > Keep Yoursel Alive - with Brian Fred changed completely the feeling Brian wanted for the vocals. But that's not a bad thing. Anyway this particular one in a B & R version I'd have liked, as some others, as B-Side or something, not as single. Or perhaps Brian & Roger in the album and Fred in the single. > Doin' All Right (NO WAY) I love the way Roger sings it in the BBC Version. I'd have preferred if Fred just sang harmonies in this one. Brian singing it would have been nice as well > Now I'm Here - with Bri (Brian's too weak) In his solo tours he sang it very good. But you may have a point - there's no way he could have sung with that power in the 70s > If You Can't Beat Them I'd love Roger to sing Don't Stop Me as well. I love his voice a lot, his accent and his quick phrasing... he definitely is less powerful, has (a little) shorter range and has less technique than Fred, but I still like him more, as a singer. > Under Pressure - threesome with F & B (Brian would not have managed the high note in the way Freddie did. Roger would sound too rough - even Bowie sounded way too rough for me in that song.) Brian wouldn't have managed the high note, not even in a bad way, he just couldn't reach there. But with B I ment "Bowie", not Brian. > I Want To Break Free I've listened it by Roger and by Fred and I very much prefer Roger. Radio Ga Ga I think the opposite. |
| Kuku 24.04.2004 01:59 |
Hey Sebastian, Been reading your list again... actually I agree with ~1/2 of them, although I love most of the vocal works they did. I just have a question, though: I thought in your site (yes, I somehow managed to visit that site as often as queenzone.com) you complimented on Freddie's vocal work on Save Me.. so how come you'd prefer Brian's voice over Freddie's in Save Me? |
| FriedChicken 24.04.2004 02:11 |
"Now I'm Here - with Bri (Brian's too weak)" Whoa no way, Brian proved that he can sing this song live very well. I think it's great to have 3 singers with totally different kind of voices Fred: All round Roger: Raw Brian: Warm and gentle Thats probably why they sounded so great together |
| FriedChicken 24.04.2004 02:14 |
And I also think that Brian could deliver a song much better, Just listen to "Is this the world we created", "Too much love will kill you" or even "Love of my life" Freddie 'just' sings them, Brian delivers them. No doubt Freddie is a much better singer then Roger or Brian, but Brian really gets you with the song. He can put all his emotion in it, Just listen to the 3 songs I mentioned above sang by Freddie and Brian. I prefer Brian on vocals for all 3, And I think it's like this on most ballads for me. If Freddie would've sang songs like Sweet Sister, or All Dead. I don't think I would like them as much as I do now |
| Sebastian 24.04.2004 03:28 |
Exactly. Fred sings in waaaay better pitch with much better technique and doing the right notes and the correct ornaments (like the ones I compliment in 'Save Me'), but that's not all. Brian may not have (I use "may" as a verb here, that's why I write it in lower case) the strenght, the technique or the "special effect" use but somehow he sounds incredibly good at most of his own songs, and some from the others too - like Lap Revisited. There are some exceptions, like Headlong. It's an ok version but I agree with Brian that Fred took it another level As for Love Of My Life: the "classical" version (ie piano harp and stuff) sounds of course better with a more technical singer, that's why I like it more with Fred. But the guitar version is more like "human" in the matter that it's more for "normal" singers. I love it more with Brian That's a clear example of the "roughness=quality" ironic cases. Love Of My Life live is to connect with the audience, to make them feel part of it. You can't do that with an exceptional singer. You need something still in their level. Fred sinned for being "too good" to take that job. Same for songs like Dreamer's Ball or Good Company Axl mentioned that in the case of 'November Rain', he sang it very roughly and that was important for the song success because people felt part of it. And I agree that Freddie would have ruined it if he had sung it because he was "too much" for it. Unless he did another arrangement but that's another story That roughness issue is not only for vocals: how many people prefer Lennon/Harrison simple and easy to play riffs (Day Tripper, Birthday, I Feel Fine...) over Yngwie Malmsteen over complex and over fast guitar show-offs? Would Stairway to Heaven be the same with that simple arpeggio with chromatic descending bass than with a fast agressive sweep picking intro with semiquavers all over the place? Sometimes "more is less" really. |
| jeff payne 1680 24.04.2004 04:15 |
I've got Roger on 7 inch single on the b side of happiness singing ride the wild wind if anyone wants it contact me Jeff |
| FriedChicken 24.04.2004 13:31 |
"There are some exceptions, like Headlong. It's an ok version but I agree with Brian that Fred took it another level" yeah, but i think Headlong and other hard rock songs are a different story, You can't deliver hard rock/heavy metal songs very well if you have a not so strong voice. Listen to Brian's live shows from '92-'93, He proves he has a pretty strong voice there (not as strong as freddie, but strong enough to deliver harder songs such as Now i'm Here or Resurrection). We all know he had lots of voice troubles on his 98 tour (especially the last few weeks) And had to cancel some shows and see some doctors, And thats why a lot of the harder (Queen)songs don't sound very good, I bet songs as I Want it All and The Show Must Go On would've been great if he played them live in '92-'93, But unfortunatly he never did. And I think after 2000 Brian's voice got a lot better again. Just listen to some recent shows: Modena, Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, 46664, The Gorilla Fund concert. His voice got a lot better! I hope Brian and Roger decide to sing more on their shows, instead of getting boring guest vocalists like singers of the musical cast or unknown african singers who don't know most of the lyrics of the well-known singles |
| Kuku 24.04.2004 16:40 |
It is very true that Brian and Roger have good vocals, better than many other "vocals". My reaction was simply due to the fact that my understanding of the original question was "what if, in the first place, someone else in the band sang in the studio version instead of what Queen has done." I basically think that Brian and Roger are entitled to try all the songs. We assume, based on the past experience, that Brian may be good in this song and Roger may be good in that song, but we might be in for a delightful surprise if they tried songs that are not in their "vocal style". However, album production is a completely different thing. I agree with some of the songs from Sebastian's list and think that the alternative could work (I would have liked Brian to sing Teo Toriatte, for example). But for me, Queen would never have had such an attraction if Freddie sang significantly less. |
| FriedChicken 25.04.2004 02:32 |
"(I would have liked Brian to sing Teo Toriatte, for example)." Find some bootlegs then, He played it live a couple of times |
| April Lady 25.04.2004 13:10 |
I think there are many songs, Bohemian Rhapsody for example, that would have sounded a lot better sung by John. ;) |
| Saint Jiub 25.04.2004 13:11 |
John did that with Bad News I believe. |
| Kuku 26.04.2004 01:54 |
April Lady wrote: I think there are many songs, Bohemian Rhapsody for example, that would have sounded a lot better sung by John. ;)LoL!! I couldn't agree more. |
| Sebastian 26.04.2004 18:00 |
Teo Torriate would have worked so nice in a Sail Away Sweet Sister kind of way. I mean Fred singing the middle eight ("when I'm gone...") I don't think Brian's voice is any good this century. Just note his incredibly huge weakness in 'No One But You' at Amsterdam (e.g. "face at the wiiiiiiindow"), or his multi-out-of-pitch notes in Too Much Love at Modena. I prefer Brian in the AW tour even if he didn't sing so well there. In fact I don't know how good did he sound in BTTL tour since Brixton Academy CD has studio overdubs so he could have pitched the vocal or replace some parts. And continuing with the IWIA thing, it's obvious that Fred had a much stronger voice, but that's why I mean it would have worked wonderful. Some wonderful music is made out of contrasts, for example Bo Rhap (note the sudden change of arrangement between "I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me" and "he's just a poor boy from a poor family"), so in that song it would be nice to put a "normal" singer in the verses and chorus and then in the bridge throw a superb one. Just like Sail Away Sweet Sister. I'd have loved Fred to sing the bridge of Resurrection for the same reason |