QueenZone discussion #480662
.....what about a song where Freddie doesn't sing??
| Scott_Mercury 23.02.2005 23:21 |
Ok, Ok.... I few days ago I asked everyone to list there favorite Queen albums in the order of favorite to least favorite. The more I thought about this, I realized that some albums.....even ones that are a masterpiece, such as "News Of The World" still annoy me when there are too many non Freddie sung songs. News of World, for example, has some major highlights, for, they are: We will rock you, We are the champions, Spread Your Wings, Melancholy Blues. It's late..... but what is the deal with All Dead, Fight From the Inside, Sleeping on the Sidewalk?????? These 3 songs all would have had potential had Freddie sang them. When you are in a band with Freddie, an album of 11 songs....should never have 3 of those songs sang by people who aren't close to Freddie's league in vocal ability. It makes no sense. Alot of people ....INCLUDING MANY OF YOU ON THIS SITE ....talk about how much they like John's songs. What do all of John songs have in common?? Freddie on lead vocal. Brian May says he will always regret that Freddie didn't sing "Sail away Sweet sister" |
| Farlander 24.02.2005 00:06 |
As great a singer as he was, his voice wasn't suited to everything. For example, having Fred sing '39 just wouldn't have sounded good. And when he did sing it live, it didn't sound good. It didn't have the charm it did when Brian sang it. And some songs just needed the raspiness of Roger's voice. Fight from the Inside wouldn't be as good with Freddie on Vocals. One of the great things about Queen is that it had three singers with very different voices. It was nice to have some variety. My favorite thing about News of the World is the songs Brian and Roger sang on it. |
| deleted user 24.02.2005 01:07 |
SOTS won't have the same bluesy mood if Freddie had sung it. Same goes for say, STL if Brian or Roger had the lead vocals. It won't have the same intensity that Freddie put so much into. |
| Gunpowder Gelatine 24.02.2005 01:08 |
I love Freddie's voice, but I think that some songs are just more suited for Brian and Roger's voice. Just compare Brian's version of Too Much Love Will Kill You with Freddie's. They're both great, but Brian has a way of adding his emotions to his songs which sometimes just fits. It's the same with Roger's raspy voice, which works perfectly with the types of songs he writes. I kind of wish they hadn't stopped having Brian and Roger sing their own songs on later albums, but then again, it was the only way to have them released as singles. |
| deleted user 24.02.2005 03:59 |
I don't think that Sleeping On A Sidewalk would have been better if Freddie had sung it. It's totally just Brian's song, and he's the one who can sing it. But the other onces that you mentioned. Yes, I think they would have gone better with Freddie singing. |
| iGSM 24.02.2005 05:50 |
I'd've cried if Fred had sung Tenement Funster. |
| Mustapha Ibrahim 24.02.2005 07:10 |
No i partially disagree looking back it would of been nice to hear freddie sing all their songs but Brian and Roger both have pretty good voices especially Roger. He has a real hard rocking voice and would of made a good lead man only Freddie was so damn good. Does anyone think Roger sounds like Rod Stewart. |
| Farlander 24.02.2005 09:18 |
Everyone thinks that. I think Roger is actually a better singer than Rod Stewart, however. |
| Leppar 24.02.2005 09:21 |
Just what is wrong with Brian and Roger singing? They gave Queen a lot of variety - and there were many songs where Freddies voice just wouldn't fit. |
| Fireplace 24.02.2005 10:38 |
There is not a single Queen song that was sung by the "wrong" person. In hindsight, I agree with every choice they made in that area. IMHO Freddie ruined '39 on stage (actually the whole band did, it was just a bit too cheerful for my taste compared to the original), Fight From The Inside had Roger written all over it, and Freddie sounded good on John's songs because they were written with him in mind. Just my 2 cents' worth. |
| gr8kingrat 24.02.2005 10:49 |
I've always wondered if there were Freddie versions of songs like '39, Fight from the Inside, All Dead, All Dead, etc. I would have thought they'd record 2 different versions of these songs to compare which came across better... |
| deleted user 24.02.2005 13:59 |
Well, the live '39 versions were great in the sense that it's really 'skifflish'... |
| Zander05 24.02.2005 20:22 |
Brian and Roger! Selfish bastards! Who the hell are they to sing some of the songs they wrote! *rolls eyes* As many people have said, Freddie's voice does not fit every song and style. And maybe they (Bri and Rog) wanted to sing some songs because they were personal (i.e. All Dead All Dead. It would be silly for Freddie to sing about Brian's deceased cat) to them. I say shut up or find something worth bitching about. |
| Scott_Mercury 24.02.2005 21:20 |
Again... I didn't say that Brian and/or Roger couldn't sing. They just aren't in Freddie's league. Freddie is heralded by many....even non Queen fanatics....to be one of the greatest singers ever in any genre. I find it ridiculous on a album of only 11 songs, to have one of the worlds greatest talents sidelined because two people (Roger and Brian) insisted on singing. If News of the World had 15 tracks, and Rog and Bri wanted to bealt out a tune or two...whatever. But don't sideline one of the worlds best, and most infamous voices for 3 songs, on an 11 track album.....especially when the singing is 2nd rate to Fred's. Roger has a nice, Rod Stewart/Brian Johnson crossed raspy voice that does work great on certain songs....Brian is a back-up singer at best. Brian could have never made it as a singer alone. |
| Zander05 24.02.2005 22:59 |
I'm trying, really I am, to not lose patience. Clearly, you're not getting the point. Nobody forced Freddie to not sing those tracks. Brian and Roger wanted to sing and Freddie LET THEM. Brian is a damn good singer I think (refer to the harmonies on '39). And I believe you're a moron if you're going to get your panties in a twist over *gasp* THREE songs! Fucking get over it. |
| Daburcor? 24.02.2005 23:03 |
Farlander wrote: I think Roger is actually a better singer than Rod Stewart, however.Amen. |
| Scott_Mercury 24.02.2005 23:15 |
Zander, really, "gasp", "fart"... No panties in a bunch. Just making coversation....by the way...the 3 songs were on NOTW alone. We have other albums with other songs. Roger makes sense on some songs....his AC/DC rasp works terrific on "I'm in love with my car". Brian just sounds like a weak Freddie. For example, the beginning of "Who wants to live forever" ...there is no advantage to having Brian sing the beginning of that song. I have no reason to argue with you....Brian and Roger have said themselves that any song sang by them was certainly not to be taken seriously, as Brian put it "Any song we felt worthy of airplay certainly would of had Freddie on lead vocal, I think thats quite obvious, isn't it?" In this same interview, from 1992 , Brian go's on to say he regrets Freddie not signing "Sail Away Sweet Sister". He also goes onto say that on Innuendo, while Freddie was physically failing, his voice and spirit were stronger than ever.....Brian said his vocal power was astounding during the Innuendo recordings, and it would have been "mad" for he or Roger to attempt lead vocals on a any of the tracks. Again...please calm down the high blood pressure. I like Brian and Freddie's voice....ie: "Action This Day Live" with Roger and Freddie going back and forth is great! Just stating: Freddie Mercury in your band, and not singing is like your wife telling you Michael Jackson will be taking care of your "bedroom duties" from now on. |
| dragonzflame 25.02.2005 03:17 |
Nah. I reckon they all made great choices with who sang what. I know Freddie was an awesome singer but I like that the albums had that variation to them with other people singing. Freddie sang all the songs that became singles - why not let Brian and Roger have a go from time to time? As much as I love Freddie as a singer, I think it might get a bit samey if he did absolutely everything. |
| Mustapha Ibrahim 25.02.2005 05:14 |
Its variety its what Queen are all about they dont sound the same in every song like Status Quo. They have sold over 100 million records of practically the same tune over and over again. Not many Queen songs are alike thats why there the best. |
| john bodega 25.02.2005 11:48 |
Listen to WWTLF from Highlander. Fred's intro is very pretty, but I still like Brian's version. It's like the vocal sparring in I Want It All - it's great to have more than one singer on a track, it just adds interest. |
| kerfuffle87 25.02.2005 12:22 |
Farlander wrote: I think Roger is actually a better singer than Rod Stewart, however.me too!but on on some of his solo albums he sounds idfferent again - less raspy, more like Phil Collins!maybe this is just me... |
| Scott_Mercury 25.02.2005 12:39 |
Good points guys. I don't hate Brian and Rogers signing. I just wish the level of ability would have been closer. Example: On Beatles tunes...John and Paul both had very recordable voices, while different in tone, similar in ability...and George wasn't too far from behind. I guess "Who wants to live forever" does work because Brian's voice is great for the soft intro, and Freddie comes in like thunder on the middle cresendo. Brian and Roger are 2 singers that are passable, but neither would have been able to make a living as singers alone...ie: Like Freddie, or Elvis, or Aretha Franklin for example. Brian is a guitar player who can sing. Roger is a very talented drummer, a acceptable guitarist , who also can sing. Freddie is a singer, who happened to be a profecient piano player. |
| bassist08 25.02.2005 18:22 |
It all depends. I like the songs that Bri and Rog sing. It gives a bit of diversity. But I just can't picture Fred singing "I'm in love with my car" or "Long away" for example. |
| LowSammy 25.02.2005 20:27 |
I think Brian did and excellent job on Sail Away Sweet Sister. To me he sounds a little like Freddie. Do my ears deceive me or is it Freddie singing the "Hot child don't you know you're young......." part? Thanks. |
| Scott_Mercury 25.02.2005 20:48 |
Low Sammy- Yes, Freddie sings the middle eight "Hot child don't you know you're young....." Freddie said he was doing his best "Brian May" impersonation on that part. I agree 100% with what Brian said himself.."I am quite please with how the song came out, and Freddie did a wonderful job with the middle...I sometimes wonder if I should have just let Freddie sing that one, some have said it probably would have been released as a single". |
| written_in_the_stars 25.02.2005 21:07 |
No, your ears don't deceive you because that part of the song: 'Hot child, don't you know you're young you got your whole life ahead of you, but you can throuw it away too soon...' - this is Freddie singing. Like some people said I can't really imagine Freddie sing '39 or Long Away, because they would lose a part of their essence. I couldn't either imagine, like, Roger singing a song like Killer Queen or You're my best friend... That's what gives some diversity and freshness to the songs: they're all different musically and vocally. But I have to say that the songs who were sung by Freddie and Brian or Roger (Like Sail Away Sweet Sister, Who wants to live forever or I want it all) are good as well, and it's cool to hear more than one voice in one song. (Let me live, on Made in Heaven - It's great to hear Freddie, Brian and Roger singing their own verse, I wish they could have do that more often in their career) |
| Roy Queen 26.02.2005 12:22 |
I think Brian May fits with All Dead, All Dead. His very sad voice in a very sad song, it's just brilliant! |