Boy Thomas Raker 21.03.2005 08:49 |
Obviously people here have wildly diverse opinions on how Fancourt turned out. It's either crap or give them a break. I feel that it's early, and they'll find their legs, if Queen were one thing, they were always professional. However, I really have to question the use of backing tapes. I'm old school, and think that their use is the equivalent of cheating. If they can't sing the harmonies in FBG, they should start with a bass drum kick and pick up with the guitar. Same with Radio Ga Ga. If Roger actually sings to a pre-programmed track, that's karaoke. Nothing more, nothing less. I'd ask Brian how and why these decisions were made (as I think they're the real shame of the concert) but fear being lumped in with the other a-holes in the gallery. What do you fine people think on the use of tapes? Shameful or a non-issue? |
Jjeroen 21.03.2005 09:17 |
Well, as a fellow old-school'er and a musician, I agree on what you say. Backingtracks should be forbidden at ROCKshows! (The only tape that I tend to forgive was the one Queen always used in BoRhap). I haven't yet heard the full show from Fancourt of course, but I'd rather they bring a couple of backingsingers then use backingtracks for harmonies. Harmonies are an essential element of Queen and using tapes for that is a sign of weakness. (And from what I did see/hear of the South Africa show =apart from all the critical remarks made in various other posts in here= I found the harmony vocals, especially in TYMD awefull. I was amazed to see nobody mentioned them in the hard rain of critical dissmissal of the show. I agree on lots of credit other fans give the band, I want to hear Brixton first before I comment 'the new Queen', but the live-harmonies being very bad technically sheds a different light on the use of backingtracks for harmonies at other songs... |
We Are The Champions 21.03.2005 10:34 |
I am in total agreement with you both. Backing tapes at rock concerts is a cop out and should not be allowed!!! I'm from the "old school" as you call it and don't like the use of too many tapes. It spoils the atmosphere of hearing live music in a way. It's cheating in a way. Live concerts are all about playing their songs live and giving alternative versions of their recordings. You might just as well pay your money and listen to a CD or something!! Shock horror..why can't they sing harmonies to Fat Bottomed Girls? That has been the main problem with Queen's live shows in the past...their live harmonies. Difficult to pull off on stage as they were highly complicated with many overdubs. Queen have broken one of their early rules in a way as I remember them saying that they totally hated the idea of playing with backing tapes with the exception of Bo Rhap of course. Maybe they are growing old gracefully and having to depend on backing tapes to perform numbers. I for one, still love Roger, Bri and Paul to bits and am looking forward to the tour. Some of the shine may have been taken off the excitement but I'm going to enjoy all the same. |
Fenderek 21.03.2005 10:46 |
No tapes please!!! It was supposed to be soulful, raw-edged rock, for cry out loud!!! (in which case- what the hell Spike is doing there?) |
miffomojen 21.03.2005 11:37 |
Couldn't agree more. They're suppposed to be a rock band, for God's sake. |
We Are The Champions 21.03.2005 11:48 |
To be fair to the boys, the 46664 and its transmission via web broadcast was a total fuck up!! It's a very worthy cause and all that but the feel wasn't right somehow. One post on Queenonline from a front row observer, has suggested that they over indulged with all the free booze available back stage. There's nothing wrong with a quick drink to settle the nerves but this suggestion may be unfounded. My biggest disappointment is that they only showed 4 songs out of 15. You can't really pass judgement I suppose on the tour based on this webcast. They were obviously rusty and breaking in a new singer who has had to learn the Queen reportoire within a month. I'm sure that Brian, Roger and Paul are reflecting on their perfomance and possibly looking at ways to tighten and polish their act! Musically, they sounded O.K. but adjusting to Paul's singing is the hardest part to swallow. Hope they dispense with the backing tapes though. Brixton will be the proper start to this tour and I hope that they will blow the roof off!! It is only after Brixton with the real show and lights that we'll have a true picture of how this tour will sound. |
The Stealer 21.03.2005 13:28 |
I agree no backing tapes! Brian just posted to his soapbox and said that for beginners they weren't bad. Hopefully they are enjoying the SA sunshine, relaxing, and sorting out issues. These first few gigs are going to be a bit rough..I am glad I am seeing the show at the end of the tour..when hopefully they will be a fine tuned machine. |
We Are The Champions 21.03.2005 15:12 |
Compliance Queen wrote: I agree no backing tapes! Brian just posted to his soapbox and said that for beginners they weren't bad. Hopefully they are enjoying the SA sunshine, relaxing, and sorting out issues. These first few gigs are going to be a bit rough..I am glad I am seeing the show at the end of the tour..when hopefully they will be a fine tuned machine.By the time they hit the UK in May all "teething problems" would have been cured I'm sure. Brixton will be a different kettle of fish with hopefully any rough edges ironed out. I'll wait for the reviews from fans. There's bound to be overjoyed and disappointed people. The set list may be the most contentious issue IMHO. A greatest hits package is very much on the cards dare I say it! There will be some surprises there somewhere....the acoustic duet for one thing should be interesting and a very blusey influenced vocal performance from Paul on some songs. They're on a hiding to nothing anyway. Critics/doubters are willing to pounce as Queen has been one of the bands they love to hate over the years. I'll reserve judgement as they say although I must admit that on hearing TYMD a second time it's not that bad!! |
Khizzy 21.03.2005 16:54 |
We-Are-The-Champions wrote: I'll wait for the reviews from fans. There's bound to be overjoyed and disappointed people. The set list may be the most contentious issue IMHO. A greatest hits package is very much on the cards dare I say it! There will be some surprises there somewhere....I don't really see why they need to perform a Greatest Hits package.... most of the fans that will attend the gigs are massive fans of the band and want to hear a fair share of rare stuff... I really hope they pull out some rarities... |
Maz 21.03.2005 17:02 |
Having not heard how backing tapes were used in Queen's performance on Saturday, I can't address that issue. However, one of my other favorite bands, who I would kill to see live this fall, has used backing tracks to augment their shows for years. It's probably more prevalent than we know. |
NOTWMEDDLE 22.03.2005 01:33 |
We-Are-The-Champions wrote: I am in total agreement with you both. Backing tapes at rock concerts is a cop out and should not be allowed!!! I'm from the "old school" as you call it and don't like the use of too many tapes. It spoils the atmosphere of hearing live music in a way. It's cheating in a way. Live concerts are all about playing their songs live and giving alternative versions of their recordings. You might just as well pay your money and listen to a CD or something!! Shock horror..why can't they sing harmonies to Fat Bottomed Girls? That has been the main problem with Queen's live shows in the past...their live harmonies. Difficult to pull off on stage as they were highly complicated with many overdubs. Queen have broken one of their early rules in a way as I remember them saying that they totally hated the idea of playing with backing tapes with the exception of Bo Rhap of course. Maybe they are growing old gracefully and having to depend on backing tapes to perform numbers. I for one, still love Roger, Bri and Paul to bits and am looking forward to the tour. Some of the shine may have been taken off the excitement but I'm going to enjoy all the same.Pink Floyd on their last tour only used pre-recorded tape effects. However, Pink Floyd use backing vocalists, backing musicians and what not in addition to David Gilmour's guitar and vocals, Nick Mason's drums and Rick Wright's keyboards. |
Jjeroen 22.03.2005 04:23 |
...too bad that nowadays-Pink Floyd is utter shite! ;-) |
icmrocha (The Man From Planet Marzipan) 22.03.2005 06:32 |
i know this is a little off-topic... but were they using those robotic voices on "we are the champions" (like on The Works tour)?? Ps.: I don't know if that were robotic voices, or some keyboard thing ... |
onevsion 22.03.2005 10:46 |
I agree! NO BACKING TAPES! Only for Bo Rhap, God Save The Queen and an intro at the beginning of the show... Sing the harmonies yourself or simply don't do them! Backing tapes are wack! It's fake |
We Are The Champions 22.03.2005 11:16 |
:=[Tom Cat]=: (a.k.a ICMROCHA) wrote: i know this is a little off-topic... but were they using those robotic voices on "we are the champions" (like on The Works tour)?? Ps.: I don't know if that were robotic voices, or some keyboard thing ...I saw 3 gigs on the Works tour and the "robotic" vocals as you call them came from Spike's Roland Jupiter 8/ Fairlight synth during the keyboard solo before Brian goes ballistic with the Brighton Rock solo!! I can't recall any other "voices". Mind you it was 21 years ago!! Point is Queen shouldn't have to rely on backing tapes IMHO. |
We Are The Champions 22.03.2005 11:31 |
jeroen wrote: ...too bad that nowadays-Pink Floyd is utter shite! ;-)I'm not a big Pink Floyd.......but they just stand like mannequins on stage with an over reliance on spectacular laser effects!!! |
kohuept 22.03.2005 14:58 |
I haven't heard these songs, so... Was it just the chorus bits to FBG, and if so, didn't it sound extraordinarily odd when there are suddenly more people singing? Did they even sing along with the BVs? Also, could it have been a live vocal effect? As for RGG, what exactly was done? If Roger was singing, was it just programmed drums? Any description of what actually happened would be appreciated. Thanks! |
Libor2 23.03.2005 05:49 |
Using backing tapes on live gig should be defined as crime IMO. This'd be my biggest dissapointment on Queen concert. I'm musician too and I know, how hard could be sometimes to do music live. So I can excuse mistakes, lost lyrics etc. After all, these are the things, which makes live music being live (and forgot to mention great moments, when things go OK and the band is better, than on CDs). - But I can't (and never will) excuse using backing tapes on live gig. So I hope, Queen won't do it. It'll be sad thing, if they do. I don't have problem with Paul Rodgers with Queen (as some others do), but using playback on live gigs is unacceptable for me. |
NOTWMEDDLE 23.03.2005 15:54 |
We-Are-The-Champions wrote:The Eagles were worse on-stage. They just stood and played with no effects. Floyd used props like inflatables, films and what not cos Pink Floyd were not a band known for gyrating.jeroen wrote: ...too bad that nowadays-Pink Floyd is utter shite! ;-)I'm not a big Pink Floyd.......but they just stand like mannequins on stage with an over reliance on spectacular laser effects!!! |
kohuept 23.03.2005 17:37 |
Very true about The Eagles live. I do like their music more than PF's, though. --never saw PF live. |
Joma 23.03.2005 18:52 |
Queen used backing tapes heavily on both tours, Works and Magic. Listen to the records people!!! Magic tour in almost every song! |
gmhmagic 24.03.2005 08:43 |
What about "Killer Queen" in the original version of "We Will Rock You"? When Freddie stops singing, the vocals can be still heard... I heard it was an audio problem with the images... about the sound mixing... Can anybody tell me what happened there? I believe Queen didn´t use a tape, but that´s a strange fact, isn´t it? It would be of great disappointment if it was playback... |
Fenderek 24.03.2005 08:53 |
It's just very bad editing plus the fact that they recordedtwo shows, and what you get are mixed images from both nights- sometimes the sync won't be perfect, that's all... |
FairyKing 25.03.2005 06:47 |
Personally, I find Eagles' guitar player just BRILLIANT. So i got their Greatest Hits, just to begin to kno the band...well....i got truly disappointed as i never had the chance to listen to such BORING anthologies!!!! I didn't like almost anything except their most famous number, Hotel California... How could you ever say they're better than PF it's weird to me.....no way!!! Anyway, respect! |
Boy Thomas Raker 27.03.2005 21:10 |
Mea culpa. I read a review and a post on the Internet re: backing tapes at Fancourt,(what, everything on the Internet isn't true?) and started this thread. Brian has stated otherwise. I apologize for being a tool, and ma thrilled that no tape was used. |
Levente 28.03.2005 04:55 |
I heard the Fat Bottomed intro backing tape played on the Friday morning rehearsal at Fancourt. No other part of the song was rehearsed or played that morning. So, the Fat Bottomed Girls backing tracks DID exist and was ready to be used. In my concert review at Thomas Zeidler's brilliant link I said they sang live over this backing tape intro. The vocal sounded huge and I had no doubt they used the studio material to help them. This was of course speculation, as I did not have access to the mixing desk to see what's really going on. Now Brian writes that they rehearsed the song heavily hours before the actual show, and says no backing track was used on that one. I believe him and I am sorry if I nearly made them look like less professional than they are. |
kohuept 28.03.2005 18:10 |
FairyKing wrote: Personally, I find Eagles' guitar player just BRILLIANT. So i got their Greatest Hits, just to begin to kno the band...well....i got truly disappointed as i never had the chance to listen to such BORING anthologies!!!! I didn't like almost anything except their most famous number, Hotel California... How could you ever say they're better than PF it's weird to me.....no way!!! Anyway, respect!Fair enough. The Eagles' stuff is, by no means, brilliant or even that exceptional, but they have just enough more of SOMETHING (can't really tell you what!) to put them higher on my list. You're making me want to delve further into PF now! Sometimes this is just the kind of kick in the butt I need. Thanks |
FairyKing 29.03.2005 03:43 |
PF got psychedelic sounds...great ones...i love when i close my eyes and i imagine anything i could..i mean anything...and their lyrics are great. well, you love it or hate it. maybe the only thing you can dislike is the voice, it's soo "normal"..we're used to listen to freddie so i think we're a little bit 'spoiled', you know what i mean, lol? |