| The King Of Rhye 29.03.2005 20:04 |
I've been listening to an awful lot of Queen lately (oddly enough), especially live performances...and I was thinking about the difference in Freddie and Brian's playing of the piano....now, I am no keyboard expert myself (I'm more of a guitar player) but it seems to me that Freddie's style is a more flowing, where as Brian's is more.....mechanical or deliberate, I'd say......not to say that he's bad or anythng , just different.....anybody have any thoughts on this? |
| Lester Burnham 29.03.2005 20:11 |
I would think that too until I heard the live stuff. 'Save Me' and 'Teo Torriate' (did Brian play piano on any other songs live?) sound really distinctive, and you can almost tell that it's Brian and not Freddie. I actually like hearing Brian on piano and wish he would do it more often, but I think he finally reached his peak on 'No One But You' which, oddly enough, was a tribute to Freddie's style. |
| doremi 29.03.2005 20:19 |
Brian plays piano on "Save Me"? The piano on that is just stunning. What kind of piano? When did he play on "Save Me" in concert, you don't mean the record... (also one of my favorite songs too) |
| Scott_Mercury 29.03.2005 20:22 |
Arlene, Freddie plays piano on the studio version of "Save Me". Live...Brian starts it...Freddie finishes. |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 20:32 |
I just LOVE Freddie's style of playing. I didn't even think about Brian's style of piano playing... ever... |
| doremi 29.03.2005 20:37 |
Freddie's piano virtuosity was extraordinary and luminous...in every thing from BoRhap...to my favorite..when he plays on "Somebody To Love", which were the first songs I heard and loved by Queen and also were both the 1st performance videos I saw of Queen when I was a teen in the 70's. I fell in love with Freddie as a vocalist amd as a piano player...simply stunning...fluid, emotive, equal parts powerful and understated/sublime... |
| Scott_Mercury 29.03.2005 21:18 |
Like I have said for years...and now Brian May is saying in interviews... Freddie plays piano as if the piano is a percussion instrument. Think about this.... Elton John said in a rare interview I have on film of him in 1982...this is an exact quote. "How I play is totally opposite of say, my friend, Freddie Mercury, as in the fact that Freddie has that voice, and that bastard doesn't even have to think about his singing, he just concentrates on his playing....I on the other hand have been playing piano since I was 3, so I can forget about that, which is a good thing, because I must concentrate on my vocal." |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 21:29 |
Scott_Mercury wrote: "How I play is totally opposite of say, my friend, Freddie Mercury, as in the fact that Freddie has that voice, and that bastard doesn't even have to think about his singing, he just concentrates on his playing....I on the other hand have been playing piano since I was 3, so I can forget about that, which is a good thing, because I must concentrate on my vocal.":)) This is brilliant! :)) I remember Brian said in one interview - something like - there are many piano players who are better than Freddie, in a "technic of playing" point of view; but Freddie had that unbeatable feeling HOW to press keys... And he held his fingers lowered, which is kinda unusual. Hm... every time I see him play "Seven seas of rhye" I'm astonished... for me, he's a true piano-master. |
| The King Of Rhye 29.03.2005 23:44 |
I remember reading in Peter Freestone's book, that Freddie thought that Mike Moran blew him away in terms of playing.........he must be good, because Freddie's no slouch! |
| ernie 30.03.2005 00:06 |
The King Of Rhye wrote: I've been listening to an awful lot of Queen lately (oddly enough), especially live performances...and I was thinking about the difference in Freddie and Brian's playing of the piano....now, I am no keyboard expert myself (I'm more of a guitar player) but it seems to me that Freddie's style is a more flowing, where as Brian's is more.....mechanical or deliberate, I'd say......not to say that he's bad or anythng , just different.....anybody have any thoughts on this?i agree with you because that's what i've always thought as well. freddie had a better "feel" of the piano. he had more grace and preciseness. him and another person could play the exact same song and you would almost always know which one was freddie |
| ~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ 30.03.2005 03:09 |
This is an extremely interesting topic and I've often thought about the difference between Freddie and Brian's piano playing. Freddie wasn't a technically brilliant pianist...if you had give any of the pieces he played to someone who is a learned pianist, they will be able to "technically" play it without any difficulty. Sure some of his pieces...Seven Seas of Rhye springs to mind...were tricky, but nothing extremely difficult from a technical point of view. BUT they may be able to play it, but they will not be able to play it with his feeling...he just had a distinct feel for the music. And that's a very rare thing...you can take a hundred pianists, they might all be equally learned and technically accomplished, but perhaps only one of them (and not neccesarily the best technically) would stand out as having a true "feel" for the music. (pianists would know what i mean lol...take Claire de Lune by Debussy, it's quite a playable piece, and yet it takes a hell of a pianist to play it so that it is truly convincing. Or take Rach pre3-2 C#m...I think u defn. need Freddie's attack to play *that* well lol!!) And then as Brian said...he played with "attack and precision"...like a drummer..."metronomone in his head..." And more importantly than that I think, was what he said about his "sense of drama"...you can definitely sense that in his playing. And so I think the fact that Freddie wasn't perfect technically (and not by a long shot) counted for nothing, he was a virtuoso plain and simple! (out of interest, I'm not sure - what was the extent of Freddie's music piano tuition/studies?) With Brian...well I love his piano playing. He definitely did not have Freddie's attack and precision (to use his own words lol), and perhaps he does not have the same innate "feel" for the piano (though he certainly posseses that with his Red Special!!), but what I like about his playing is that it tends to convey a lot of emotion, don't you think? It's often very soft and gentle...and well with a lot of feeling one has to say. Different to Freddie's, certainly. (For example, that "Butterfly" snippet from It's A Kind of Magic studio sessions on GVH2...it was painfully simple...you can play it just by listening to it...and yet I found it so beautiful and captivating...haunting even) And then even relative to Freddie, I don't think he quite had all his fancy bangs and whistles lol, but still he had a unique style and I think that Brian's stunning piano playing is just yet another feather in his cap. End of the day? Certainly I think Freddie was better, no doubt about that, but they each had their own unique styles, and, Brian being the genius that he is, is still one damn interesting pianist! I would love to have heard more of his playing. |
| Bohardy 30.03.2005 19:28 |
Fred was NOT a virtuoso pianist. By any stretch of the imagination. Do you guys who say he was even know what virtuoso means in the context of piano playing? I think not. Mike Moran is obviously in a completely different league to Fred on the piano, and even he isn't a virtuoso. On a scale of 1 to 10, Fred would be about a 5, and Mike an 8. And all this talk about Fred's feeling, and touch, and fluidity, and emotion, and power, and fawn fawn fawn, suck suck suck, is just ridiculous toadying to the Lord Fred. Fred was a good piano player. Nothing more, nothing less. He did play with good time (as any good musician should be able to do - if you can't then you're lacking the most fundamental of musical skills) but that doesn't set him apart. Neither does his percussive style of playing, which is perhaps the most interesting aspect of his playing, although in reality it's not interesting. There are VERY few instances in Queen's recorded output where Fred plays anything other than chords in the right hand, and bass notes (usually in octaves) in the left. The scant occasions where he does deviate from this framework usually see him just playing arpeggiated chords. It's not difficult in the slightest to replicate of you consider yourself a piano player. Oh, and Brian DEFINITELY played the piano on Save Me. He confirmed it himself. |
| doremi 30.03.2005 20:22 |
Bohardy wrote: Fred was NOT a virtuoso pianist. By any stretch of the imagination. Do you guys who say he was even know what virtuoso means in the context of piano playing? I think not. And all this talk about Fred's feeling, and touch, and fluidity, and emotion, and power, and fawn fawn fawn, suck suck suck, is just ridiculous toadying to the Lord Fred.No not toadying..music and beauty (here the beauty of Freddie's piano playing) are in the eye of the beholder. And he's more than Lord Fred, he's Prince Fred Darling! |
| ernie 30.03.2005 20:49 |
Bohardy wrote: Fred was NOT a virtuoso pianist. By any stretch of the imagination. Do you guys who say he was even know what virtuoso means in the context of piano playing? I think not. Mike Moran is obviously in a completely different league to Fred on the piano, and even he isn't a virtuoso. On a scale of 1 to 10, Fred would be about a 5, and Mike an 8. And all this talk about Fred's feeling, and touch, and fluidity, and emotion, and power, and fawn fawn fawn, suck suck suck, is just ridiculous toadying to the Lord Fred. Fred was a good piano player. Nothing more, nothing less. He did play with good time (as any good musician should be able to do - if you can't then you're lacking the most fundamental of musical skills) but that doesn't set him apart. Neither does his percussive style of playing, which is perhaps the most interesting aspect of his playing, although in reality it's not interesting.why can't we compliment his piano playing even if he isn't a virtuoso? virtuosity is such a crap concept...it's someone showing off their technical ability on the piano so people can go "wow" but what does it mean? there's no feeling in it. just because freddie didn't do that it doesn't mean that he's just average on the piano. i hate this ridiculous notion of "professionalism" because it alienates anyone who even tries to take part in music because they can't imitate those self-satisfied virtuosos. |
| Scott_Mercury 30.03.2005 23:13 |
True, True.. Virtuoso is a overused and abused term. If we are talking 1 to 10 scale piano playing, with 10 being virtuoso, and 1 is beginner... you have: Freddie Mercury- 7 Elton John - 7 Billy Joel - 7 John Lennon- - 4 Paul McCartney - 6 Jerry Lee Lewis- 7 Liberace - 10 Thelonous Monk - 9 So.... name a handful of Liberace and Monk hits. It also should be noted that while Elton is thought of much more of "piano man" then Freddie, Freddie and Billy Joel both have much more complicated songs.....whether you like BoRhap & Innuendo or not... these songs are much more complicated then anything Elton has done. However, when Elton is just jamming, he is pretty limitless.... So I think Freddie, Elton, and Joel are all about right on par with each other. Moral of the story above.. "Virtuoso" doesn't mean popular. |
| My Melancholy Blues 31.03.2005 01:37 |
I love Freddie's piano playing a lot! ...sounds somewhat classical and graceful even in heavy tunes such as "Death On Two Legs" and he sometimes played ad-lib somewhat classically for an intro on live stage. His playing often reminds me Chopin's compositions. That reminds me "Frederic" Chopin was his fav. classical composer. I think he loved training classical piano lessons and was inspired from them a lot. He sometimes played beautiful arpeggios, so I also think both he loved and he knew he was good at playing them...his playing is no doubt one of the striking points of Queen music. |
| ~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ 31.03.2005 01:45 |
To respond to what Bohardy said above...well that's all true. I never said Freddie *was* an exceptional pianist (technically, though). And well I'm a Queen fan so obviously I am not going to say, ah average, mediocre, so-so. But while it's true that all his pieces were not incredibly complicated - from Death on Two Legs (intro anyway) to Seven Seas of Rhye or Bo Rhap, and if you want to compare him to an accomplished pianist - well hell then I suppose he was (technically) not good at all. But I think the sheer fact that Freddie was such a genius in the true sense of the word (can you deny that?) added so much to his piano playing to raise it way above the ordinary. Anyone can *learn* to play the piano, but some just have a gift...and I agree wholeheartedly with what ernie said. And then Scott_Mercury, well it's difficult to rank them like that...Freddie on par with Elton and Jerry Lee Lewis? That's a tough call. Technical-aspects is the only ground on which you can fairly compare them (in which case Freddie would lag behind badly) but there's far more to it than that of course. |
| XcessQueen 31.03.2005 08:57 |
I don't give a **** about what Bohardy say. Montserrat Caballe said to Freddie (on the day they've met for the first time): "... I shall give it a world premiere in three days time at Covent Garden. And YOU shall play." Would greatest opera diva risked to have someone who is not excellent piano player - to play on her concert??? |
| Scott_Mercury 31.03.2005 09:15 |
Moet, You are right... Freddie's playing itself is probably not there from a technical point of voice with Elton and Jerry Lee Lewis. What's amazing is, is that somewhere along the line, Freddie as picked up a great grasp of music theory. And the truth is....it may just be through trial and error, and by what he hears. For example, McCartney and Lennon have both said... they thought it was hilarious when some music buff would tell them... "I loved how you combined the Dsus2 chord, with the diminished A chord, while playing the melody in E Harmonic Minor".... McCartney used to say that they had no clue what they were doing, they would just piece chords together until it sounded good....then show Harrison what was going on, and he's arpeggiate a melody over it, or strum chords too. ______________The reason I ranked Freddie's ability so high, and I know Sebastian would agree... is that the complexity of Fred's songs made the other 3 in the band look like rank amatures. And this is a fact. "March of the Black Queen", "Bo Rhap", "Killer Queen"...etc could have NEVER BEEN WRITTEN by any of the other three. Its way out of their realm of complex theory knowledge. While Brian, knowing the chord changes, and what key the song is in can figure out his part....he would just be more likey to write a "Fat Bottom Girls" himself. ...I was just on a website the other day where someone said "Innuendo is my favorite song by Roger Taylor". As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work. Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person? |
| XcessQueen 31.03.2005 09:29 |
Scott_Mercury wrote: someone said "Innuendo is my favorite song by Roger Taylor". As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work. Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?No, it doesn't sound. But, from what I know - Innuendo is Roger's song. If someone has a proof that I'm wrong, please write it. |
| ~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ 31.03.2005 09:35 |
That's the spirit XcessQueen!!! Well two more examples I want to use. Lengthy perhaps but its to illustrate a point to Bohardy. I have been fortunate enough to witness on one or two occasions the, well - sheer virtuosity - of a German pianist who is a family friend of ours. In a single word, he is mind-blowing. He spends (up to) 10 hours a day practising, and he has been playing since a very early age. Perfect pitch and all that, well that almost goes without saying. His technical ability is mesmerising...I asked him to play a few pieces, and I was shocked...the tone he was able to elicit from the piano, and the expertise with which he was able to play, well - any piece I presented to him - was beyond belief. Then I asked him, how about a little improvisation? 'No,' he replied, 'I can't do that.' Hmm? What? Come on, I can improvise and I don't have one grain of your ability. And well he sure could improvise, but only improvise as far as a formulaic, mechanical improvisation goes. Sure, he knew a million and one chords and modes and scales and whatnot, but as precise and complicated his improvisation may have been, it was NOT inspiring. Not remotely...he did a far better job of interprating others' masterpieces. What about composing, I asked? Same story...And at the end of the day I was slightly disappointed to hear that. Second story -- (its short dont worry). A friend of mine was a useless musician. His teachers could *immediately* recognise this, he simply did NOT have a brain that was suited to it. He was terrible and had no talent, to put it gently. Tho he was a stubborn bastard and was determined to stick to getting music tuition. These days? Well, he's no virtuoso, but listen to him and you would never believe that he could once have been considered bad. He certainly came a long way and now most people would probably be rather impressed by his playing. So what's my point? You can be a 'virtuoso' and yet still not have a true heart for the music. Freddie might only have had a compartively measly musical education, but he was able to come up with really inspired music nonetheless. Bohemian Rhapsody - the piano is terribly simple, make no mistake - but you can't deny that the notes he struck were hauntingly beautiful at times. Other times you can just sense an elegance, or taste, or sheer energy, in his playing. Furthermore, to a certain degree, anybody can learn music. If that rather incompetent friend of mine could do it, then CERTAINLY a genius like Freddie could have been one *helluva* accomplished pianist. But he didn't need to be one...and if he had, I suspect that the musical world wud have been that much darker, Freddie instead spending his days doing Bach or perhaps Chopin! Nuff said? Freddie was a genius one way or the other, whether he was a studied virtuoso or not. Ah but back to the original topic rather... =P |
| ~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ 31.03.2005 09:37 |
Great point Scott_Mercury...as I said, hard to really compare them. But Freddie did things his own way, and I believe the way in which he did is just another testament to his genius. |
| XcessQueen 31.03.2005 09:59 |
~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ wrote: Bohemian Rhapsody - the piano is terribly simple, make no mistake - but you can't deny that the notes he struck were hauntingly beautiful at times.Some people say that Deacon isn't anything special as a bass player, because he played simple stuff. Now I don't know to play anything and I don't care - because I have my hi-fi components and my CDs to play music for me. :) BUT - I know what is a great music when I hear one. For me, Deacon (along with Harris from Maiden) is the greatest bass player ever. And the important thing is not the complexity/simplicity of his music, but BEAUTY of his music. Very often - simple is the best. Kraftwerk are good example. :) |
| AC 31.03.2005 10:33 |
XcessQueen wrote: No, it doesn't sound. But, from what I know - Innuendo is Roger's song. If someone has a proof that I'm wrong, please write it.link |
| XcessQueen 31.03.2005 11:43 |
Yeah, and? Blank page. |
| AC 31.03.2005 12:26 |
XcessQueen wrote: Yeah, and? Blank page.It works for me. Go to sebastian.queenconcerts.com, then click on "Song info" and then "Innuendo". You will read that Innuendo was written by Freddie and not by Roger. Let's hope this is enough and poor Sebastian doesn't have to explain it again :-) |
| My Melancholy Blues 31.03.2005 13:53 |
I think Freddie's piano playing relates to his music tendency and taste. As we all know, he was training classical piano for years in his young days in India and he was acquaintance with classical music and opera through his life. So I think his aspiration as a musician was a sort of classical interpretation of rock or new created "Mercury" rock with classical music method. That's why his most compositions have definite and sometmes exaggerated inflections with various techniques. I think Love Of My Life is one of his representative songs that would show his music tendency and taste. |
| doremi 31.03.2005 13:55 |
Scott_Mercury wrote: Arlene, Freddie plays piano on the studio version of "Save Me". Live...Brian starts it...Freddie finishes.Wrong again Scott, Brian plays ithe piano on the studio version on "Save Me"...see below from Sebastian's website... link Quote "Brian played piano on Save Me Source: A mail answer he sent myself in April 23rd 2003, which was also published in his own website, where he listed the songs he played piano. It isn't confirmed though wheter he played both piano tracks or just one (if so, which one), and if the synthesiser was also recorded by him." |
| Sebastian 31.03.2005 17:25 |
Several points, where to start... > Freddie plays piano on the studio version of "Save Me". No, it's Sail Away Sweet Sister the one Fred played on. Save Me is Brian > Live...Brian starts it...Freddie finishes. Not always > Freddie's piano virtuosity was extraordinary and luminous Fred's piano virtuosity, imho, is simply unexistent > Freddie and Billy Joel both have much more complicated songs Yes but that covers songwriting more than playing ability. A better songwriter isn't neccesarily a better player. Or is George Martin better cellist than Yo Yo Ma just because he wrote more interesting parts for cello? > "... I shall give it a world premiere in three days time at Covent Garden. And YOU shall play." She said "you shall play" to Mike, not to Freddie. For obvious reasons. > McCartney used to say that they had no clue what they were doing It was more than that. You can't judge George & John due to some Paul's quote. > .. is that the complexity of Fred's songs made the other 3 in the band look like rank amatures. And this is a fact. For some extent, yes, but it doesn't count for piano player. There are tons of great instrumentalists who can't even compose a three-chord short tune but it doesn't change the fact that they can play extremely well. > "March of the Black Queen", "Bo Rhap", "Killer Queen"...etc could have NEVER BEEN WRITTEN by any of the other three. Yes, but for the same effect, neither Fred nor Roger nor John could have written 39, neither Fred nor Brian nor Roger could have written Best Friend, etc. > As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work. Innuendo is Fred's musically, and Fred and Roger in the lyrics. > Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person? No, but it isn't a convincing argument imo. Many wouldn't believe that the same person who composed Crazy Little Thing wrote Fallen Priest. |
| XcessQueen 31.03.2005 17:52 |
AC wrote:I've found out where was the problem - I couldn't open this site because I had that little program called Proximitron running. :)XcessQueen wrote: Yeah, and? Blank page.It works for me. Go to sebastian.queenconcerts.com, then click on "Song info" and then "Innuendo". You will read that Innuendo was written by Freddie and not by Roger. Let's hope this is enough and poor Sebastian doesn't have to explain it again :-) Whoa - I'm impressed with Sebastian's knowlege. He's really an expert. I didn't want to read it all, because I think I wouldn't understand half of it. BUT - I was hopeing to see some FACTS that are 100% true and OFFICIAL. But all this is just still guessing... Nevetheless, it sounds convincing, and I'll believe it until someday I find some different and stronger arguments. Why couldn't they have just give us those informations on the album sleeves...? I mean - I know why they did it this way... but... why everything must be so complicated about Queen!? :) But that makes it more fun for us now, right? :) You really have to engage seriouslly to find what you want to know/own... |
| doremi 31.03.2005 18:13 |
Sebastian...Once more you Save the day! I don't know why Scott always dismisses Freddies...and John's, Brian's, Roger's talents or abilities if it doesn't jive with what he WANTS to think they were ONLY capable of. And he constantly corrects zoners about facts that HE is wrong about. I don't think anyone is 100% an authority, and anyone can interpret certain theories, but at leastyou have an open mind to the talents and skills of each Queen member, and you do your research 1st...and still you leave things open...to possibility, plus when you quote what music artists say..you then add you're own..."But just because that music artist said or sisn't say it does or doesn't make it necessarily so". Thanks S! |
| Bohardy 31.03.2005 18:16 |
So many points to reply to, so little time... Scott: You need to educate yourself a little about piano playing before making such forthright statements about pianists and their level of virtuosity. And as Sebastian mentioned, you need to make the distinction between somebody's technique on the piano, and their ability to write good/popular music on the piano. Freddie is NOT on a par with JLL, EJ and BJ. No way. I can say that with absolute certainty, despite not being particularly well versed in the music of those 3 mentioned. Fred was really very limited in the range of his piano playing styles, and in the notes he used. EJ, BJ and JLL have a greater range of technique than Fred, and so are technically better pianists. And I have to confess to knowing fuck all about Liberace and his music, but again I can categorically state that he would never ever be considered anything like a 10 on the virtuoso scale. I've no idea how good he is, but I know he's not a virtuoso, because if he was I would know it. Monk, I do know. You obviously have limited knowledge of jazz, because otherwise you'd know that Monk is all about his WEIRD technique and weird harmony/melody/arrangement, rather than his sheer out-and-out ability to play the piano. Again, we're only talking about technique in the purest sense here, because many regard Monk as a genius, but none (apart from you) would call him a virtuoso on the piano. Try Art Tatum for 10 out of 10 on the virtuoso scale. Your 'name a handful of Liberace and Monk hits' comment is entirely irrelevant when we're discussing pianistic virtuosity, i.e. technique. There does not have to be, and very very very rarely is, a direct correlation between being technically proficient and being commerically successful, as you should know. Xcess Queen: Thanks for not giving a shit what I have to say. I'll bear your opinion in mind before I post next time. Concering your question: Sebastian already responded that she was referring to Mike Moran (I don't know if this is true or not, but he is an excellent pianist), but even if she was referring to Fred, there was no risk, nor demand for an excellent player. All she would need is a competent pianist that could play Barcelona on piano. Fred could certainly do that, as it's not a particularly challenging piece to play. And as Fred COULD play it, she would be simply being polite in demanding that Fred play at the premiere, seeing as he co-wrote the song, would be performing it, and was her 'partner' for the occasion. But anyway, it's a moot point. Moet et Chandon: I don't really understand the point(s) you were making with your illustrations to me. In the piano world (and again, when measuring virtuosity, you can only really talk about TECHNIQUE) you have virtuosos who play jazz and improvise, and you have virtuosos who play classical music and sight-read. You have those that can do one and not the other, and you have those that can do both (who are generally more jazz-orientated). So what? I don't see that your illustration proves anything. In your first example, the German guy could be called a virtuoso who can't improvise particularly well. Fair enough, but he's still a virtuoso. In your second example you have somebody with little or no natural ability, but who worked at playing music and is now an accomplished musician. Again, so what? I'm not belittling your comments; I love talking about this stuff. I just don't see the relation between your comments and what I perceive to be the topic at hand. Nobody is doubting that Fred was approaching (and I hate to use this word for fear of sounding Stepfordian) genius with some of his compositions on the piano, but that's entirely different to him being a brilliant piano player, which he wasn't. And so endeth possibly my longest post ever... |
| XcessQueen 31.03.2005 18:22 |
Bohardy wrote: Xcess Queen: Thanks for not giving a shit what I have to say. I'll bear your opinion in mind before I post next time.I didn't write: "I don't give a shit". I wrote: "I don't give a ****". And I've meant: "I don't give a FUCK". |
| Bohardy 01.04.2005 03:58 |
Ahh, I see. Well that changes things then, whilst at the same time adding something constructive to the debate. Thanks. |
| luko 01.04.2005 07:26 |
i am a pianist myself-grade 6-i play lots of queen on he piano and also lots of elton john. i have to say that eltons john pieces are a lot more difficult but are no way as interesting or as memorable as queen pieces. |
| luko 01.04.2005 07:31 |
fredde was one of the best at writing memorable piano riffs that you recognise straight away. o one can touch for that, not even elton. someone said that freddie mainly does chords in the right hand and octave bass notes in the left. i totally disagree. elton john does this a lot more that freddie which makes his playing less memorable |
| Rotwang 01.04.2005 08:09 |
As far as the rock songs on piano, Fred did right by playing just enough to make the song work. Songs like Love Of My Life, however, the song is a piano piece and all other instruments cater to the piano. Bickering over Freddie's level of piano playing is pointless because we all obvioulsy love it. Otherwise, the forum topics would consisit of "I wish Freddie would stop using piano in their songs" and things of that nature. There are no two people that play exactly the same on any instrument and that's the beauty of music. If Freddie and Brian played the same, there would be no reason for one or the other to switch in songwriting. Environment has a lot to do with a person's "feel" on an instrument. People have mentioned Billy Joel and Thelonious Monk and their style but much of their playing is a direct correllation with their blues and jazz environment. The simple fact is Freddie knew what chords sound good together and his real talent is in songwriting (Crazy Little Thing Called Love). He was by no means a great guitarist but he knew what chords sounded good together to write a simple yet fantastic song. Brian was the same on the piano. Except I think Brian may have had to work a little harder to write piano songs since he is a much more methodical songwriter. Just my opinion but a good topic. |
| deleted user 01.04.2005 09:01 |
It's a quite interesting topic going on here. The most interesting I've seen here in a while. I totally agree with all of you who have been admiring Freddie's pianoplaying. I think I hear a similarity between Freddie's voice and his pianoplaying. And between Brian's voice and pianoplaying. I don't excacly know how to explain that.. but it is true.. Freddie has a great and extraordinary voice, and also extraordinary piano playing. He might not be the best pianoplayer.. i bet he couldn't take some hard sheet music by Mozart or something and play it technicaly perfect.... But he has something that is more rarer and more important than any techinic in the world. He gives his sole to the piano and people can feel that. That's what I'm taught in my piano class... Feel the music. You don't have to do all the things that is writtin.. just feel it and think about it. And the audience will feel it too. Music can be a mirror of the player's soul. And I've never heard anyone who has that much of this talent as Freddie. Brian is a good pianoplayer.. but it seem like he can't show his emotions that much like Freddie as he shows it in his guitar. But he has also a little bit of that talent in himself. It's just like his voice... smooth and easy, but not extraordinary. |
| XcessQueen 01.04.2005 09:25 |
grapefruit wrote: It's a quite interesting topic going on here. The most interesting I've seen here in a while. I totally agree with all of you who have been admiring Freddie's pianoplaying.:) |
| Bizon 01.04.2005 09:43 |
i'm in no way an expert, i can't even play any instrument but my favourite part of late 70's gigs was the "2legs/killer/loverboy/my car" medley and freddie played piano during that part so there must be something in his playin' that i like ;) |
| gmhmagic 01.04.2005 09:53 |
I´m a pianist, and I can tell you that for a rock & roll pianist, Freddie is awesome!!! I mean, there are a lot of professional pianists such as martha argerich, vladimir ashkenazy, rubinstein, etc etc etc... but rock 6 roll is quite a different thing... Freddie was a wonderful pianist for what he did... Besides... he had style... he used to play a "Steinway & Sons" on some tours!!!! |
| gmhmagic 01.04.2005 09:54 |
XcessQueen wrote:I Believe Scott is understimating Roger hability to write songs...Scott_Mercury wrote: someone said "Innuendo is my favorite song by Roger Taylor". As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work. Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?No, it doesn't sound. But, from what I know - Innuendo is Roger's song. If someone has a proof that I'm wrong, please write it. |
| FairyKing 01.04.2005 10:03 |
According to Queen, who writes LYRICS should be considered as the author of each song. Roger wrote 'Innuendo', 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' and 'Ride The Wild Wind', despite they're credited to Queen. Everybody knows these facts and only Freddie-obsessed fans (the ones who usually say that Queen was MOSTLY Freddie and nothing more) could keep crediting to Freddie any Queen masterpiece...Just like when i heard that ppl thought that 'The Show Must Go On' was Freddie's work, while it's Brian's. |
| XcessQueen 01.04.2005 10:50 |
FairyKing wrote: According to Queen, who writes LYRICS should be considered as the author of each song.Yeah, you're right! Sebastian explained that Innuendo has to be Freddie's song - but he was talking only about MUSIC! Sebastian may be right about that, but what about the LYRICS??? |
| doremi 01.04.2005 11:08 |
Sebastian says that Roger was incorrectly credited with writing Innuendo. Roger had a hand in the lyrics (but with Freddie). Freddie started writing the lyrics, which Roger later finished. Freddie wrote the music for the entire song, including the flamenco guitar solo. If you go on Sebastian's website, he discusses that alot of incorrect information has been floating about for years now, as to incorrectly crediting certain members of Queen with the songwriting of certain post AKOM songs to the wrong members of Queen, which now though time consuming...has to be CORRECTED. And Freddie proabably thought most of Innuendo out on piano. |
| ~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ 01.04.2005 11:39 |
Bohardy-- perhaps I didn't explain very well but the point(s) I am trying to make: That pianist who's life is basically piano, and a virtuoso indeed...he was a LEARNED pianist, but not a natural, music-in-your-head, genius, whatever (im not saying all of those at once). In other words, he was technically brilliant, but he didn't have a true heart and soul to his music (whereas with Freddie I am saying that he DOES very much have a lot of heart in his piano, irrespective of his technical ability, or relative lack thereof). To this end technical ability is one thing (which can be learned and practised), sheer talent and genius is another. My second point, sort-of related: (almost) anybody can learn music, and, become accomplished at that. So to this end, the idea that Freddie Mercury perhaps "lacked" some innate thing which those other far more learned pianists and musicians have, is not worth much. Freddie *could* have been a technical master (but he didn't need to be one to compose inspired masterpieces). All I'm really trying to say is that technique and technical skill is learnt and practised - genius and sheer brilliance is a gift. Freddie certainly had the latter, and IMO that was more than enough. |
| Red_Special227 01.04.2005 16:07 |
To answer the question, Innuendo had a couple verses by Rodger but the music and the rest of the verses were Freddies. This is the same with These are the Days of our Lives (rodgers lyrics but John and Brians music) No offense Rodger is a good writer but just not able to write MUSIC (not lyrics) that complex. |
| Bohardy 01.04.2005 16:13 |
Moet: I agee with what you're saying, and I don't think we ever really disagreed; we were just talking at cross-purposes. I never denied Fred's abilities as a musician, merely his technical prowess on the piano. Of course he was fabulously talented at creating amazing music on the piano, but those skills were far and above his skills as an actual pianist. And undoubtedly you can be a virtuoso and lack soul, and likewise have oodles of soul but be technically a rank-amateur musician. --- Regarding the debate on the authorship of Innuendo, (and songs in general) lyrics are generally entirely secondary to music, and I think the idea that the person who writes the lyrics should have the song credited to them is disgusting. There's no way Rog can be seen as the creator of Innuendo, because he merely came up with a few rhymes. |
| mike hunt 01.04.2005 16:17 |
i'm sick and tired of people arguing who wrote what on the innuendo sessions. I'm a sebastion believer now because the old information said john wrote 'don't try so hard', but sebastion said freddie wrote that one. a new interview with brian confirmed sebastion was right, it's all freddie's. meaning sebastion is more accurate than the old sources. 'innuendo' was in fact moslty freddie. get over it already. |
| mike hunt 01.04.2005 16:23 |
freddie's piano playing is fantastic, ' a night at the opera' and ' a day at the races' is proof of that. but obviously there's alot better. Elton john, billy joel, jerry lee lewis were slightly better, i don't think they blew fred away. vocally fred was the best of the bunch, and fred was still one of the best rock n roll piano players, top ten in rock n roll. |
| Scott_Mercury 01.04.2005 17:09 |
Yeah Mike...totally agree. Someone up above said that "I have underestimated Roger as a songwriter"... I disagree. Innuendo can't be Roger's, as its too complex for him. Compare BoRhap and March of the Black Queen of Fred's to .....Calling all girls, and Fun It. Then play "Innuendo"....who does this compossition sound more like?? Roger writes some cool tunes, they just are simple...nothing wrong with that. Any of Roger's songs that have any complexity to them at all where songs that were started by Roger....but the taken over by Freddie, ie: A Kind Of Magic, Radio Ga Ga..etc..etc |
| ~-:Moet et Chandon:-~ 01.04.2005 17:12 |
Bohardy wrote: I agee with what you're saying, and I don't think we ever really disagreed; we were just talking at cross-purposes. I never denied Fred's abilities as a musician, merely his technical prowess on the piano. Of course he was fabulously talented at creating amazing music on the piano, but those skills were far and above his skills as an actual pianist.Well then, glad we can agree! :) |
| mike hunt 01.04.2005 20:43 |
one name i forgot to mention as a tremendous piano player is 'tori amos' for those who don't know who she is, try 'toys for pele' or 'little eathquakes' she's one of the best i'v heard in rock n roll, might be even better than elton john as a pianist. anyway, i also think mike moran was a great piano player, listen to 'overture' on the barcelona album or the end of 'prowler', no question he could wail out on the piano more than fred, but obviously MR. Moran could never compose a song like 'love of my life,' and also 'seven seas of rye' (especially live) is brilliant, i don't think an average person could compose and play that one. the point is the man was tremendous in every aspect of his game. |
| Ander Vørschört 01.04.2005 22:36 |
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| Ander Vørschört 01.04.2005 22:36 |
brian played? |
| James999 07.04.2005 11:34 |
Fred was a great pianist. I play a lot of his stuff and yes i can play it, but can i match the feeling? - no chance! It's impossible. In terms of style as well he was amazing. It's not only class to be able to play his music, but to see it being played is even more spectacular. I mean Bo rhap. play that and to someone who has never heard a song at the piano will think its like rocket science. A great free flowing composer, who might not have been extremely technical, but came up with great strong compositions |
| My Melancholy Blues 07.04.2005 15:48 |
<font color="#009933">grapefruit</font> wrote: I think I hear a similarity between Freddie's voice and his pianoplaying. And between Brian's voice and pianoplaying. I don't excacly know how to explain that.. but it is true.. Freddie has a great and extraordinary voice, and also extraordinary piano playing. He might not be the best pianoplayer.. i bet he couldn't take some hard sheet music by Mozart or something and play it technicaly perfect.... But he has something that is more rarer and more important than any techinic in the world. He gives his sole to the piano and people can feel that. That's what I'm taught in my piano class... Feel the music. You don't have to do all the things that is writtin.. just feel it and think about it. And the audience will feel it too. Music can be a mirror of the player's soul. And I've never heard anyone who has that much of this talent as Freddie. Brian is a good pianoplayer.. but it seem like he can't show his emotions that much like Freddie as he shows it in his guitar. But he has also a little bit of that talent in himself. It's just like his voice... smooth and easy, but not extraordinary.I totally agree with you. I've always thought that what make his music stunning and extraordinary are his vocal as well as pianoplaying. Indeed, in terms of technique there have been many excellent pianoplayers being superior to Freddie, but what makes his pianoplaying superb and outstanding is his playing style, in other words, expressing his emotions. About that point, I feel much difference between Freddie and other pop pianoplayers. imo, he might think his piano to be another vocal. And in my childhood, I was also taught from my pianoteacher many times to feel music, to think about it and to reflect it into my pianoplaying and if not, music would be monotonous. I remind myself about that. He was superb in showing his soul in his pianosounds which would touch our heart strings. That's why we have been always moved through his music and that's why his music is immortal. |
| XcessQueen 07.04.2005 16:19 |
My Melancholy Blues wrote: He was superb in showing his soul in his pianosounds which would touch our heart strings. That's why we have been always moved through his music and that's why his music is immortal.Beautifully said. |
| Sebastian 11.04.2005 23:03 |
Some short points: - If lyricist = songwriter then Is This The World would be Fred only, but for some reason it's credited to both. - John & Brian weren't deeply involved in DOOL. The music of that one is indeed Roger's. - Show Must Go On's music is 95% Roger's & John's > Compare BoRhap and March of the Black Queen of Fred's to .....Calling all girls, and Fun It. Then play "Innuendo"....who does this compossition sound more like?? To be fair, Innuendo isn't "that" similar with Bo Rhap or Black Queen imho. In fact I think it's got more common details with Action This Day than with either one of them. Besides, imo, the comparison is unfair, for that matter let's compare I'm In Love With My Car (step modulation, uneven meter) with Man On The Prowl and we would have Roger as being way more complex than Fred. |
| Scott_Mercury 11.04.2005 23:41 |
Sebastian, You are contradicting everything you post on your own site. I am not saying that "Innuendo" is similar in composition to BoRhap, or March of the Black Queen. What I am saying is that if you listened to "Innuendo" 10 times.... then someone said I am going to play you these 5 songs from one composer: 1) BoRhap 2) March of The Black Queen 3) We are the Champions 4) In the Lap of the Gods...revisted 5) Liar Then played 5 from the second composer: 1) Action this day 2) Calling All Girls 3) Rock It 4) Coming Soon 5) Don't lose your head ....Then played Innuendo that 11th time, and said "Who would you guess wrote this song??" Composer 1 or 2?? Sebastian, on your website Freddie is the complex genius, and Roger writes simple "all major diatonic" songs. Now Roger is Beethoven to you? Make up your mind on where you stand, then get back with us. |
| mike hunt 12.04.2005 08:22 |
i agree, sebastion's confused i think, makes you wonder if everything he say's is bullshit. |
| XcessQueen 12.04.2005 10:22 |
Sebastian wrote: Innuendo isn't "that" similar with Bo Rhap or Black Queen imho. In fact I think it's got more common details with Action This DayWHAT THA PHUCK?!? |
| Sebastian 13.04.2005 01:57 |
I didn´t say Roger is Beethoven whatsoever. What I said is that Innuendo isn´t that closely related with Bo Rhap or Black Queen. It is indeed Freddie-esque all over, but the cross-references are with other compositions of his (e.g. Great King Rat, Barcelona, Vagabond Outcast), definitely not with BR or TMOTBQ, except for the length of the tracks. |
| lasparri 13.04.2005 04:10 |
Does anybody know who plays the piano in "Friends will be friends"? I would say Freddie, but it doesn't seem his style very much... |
| XcessQueen 13.04.2005 09:47 |
Sebastian wrote: Vagabond OutcastWhat is this??? |
| Chezza 13.04.2005 10:15 |
I think originally Brian had a higher standard of piano playing than freddie... however freddie learned to play even better as queen went on. I also think freddie has a slightly more imaginative style. |
| XcessQueen 13.04.2005 10:40 |
Chezza wrote: freddie has a slightly more imaginative style.MUCH more, I would say... |
| mike hunt 13.04.2005 14:56 |
when was brian better than freddie at piano? listen to the first queen album (fairy king) towards the end, that was the earliest tracks, obviously even back then freddie was much better than brian. |
| My Melancholy Blues 13.04.2005 19:36 |
XcessQueen wrote:It's one of Freddie's compositions belonging to the era when he was the member of Ibex/Wreckage. It can be heard in the bootleg of Ibex live in Liverpool.Sebastian wrote: Vagabond OutcastWhat is this??? link |
| XcessQueen 13.04.2005 20:18 |
Thank you, My Melancholy Blues! :) I haven't talk to you for a long time... :( How are you? |
| My Melancholy Blues 13.04.2005 21:32 |
Hi there, XcessQueen If you're interested in it more, it's on the topic now on the board below: link Have you already seen it? |
| lasparri 14.04.2005 05:57 |
In my opinion the most difficult pieces that Freddie played on the piano were: The millionaire waltz and Don't stop me now. And with regards to Brian, I consider that "all dead, all dead" is very well played. |
| XcessQueen 14.04.2005 08:04 |
My Melancholy Blues wrote: If you're interested in it more, it's on the topic now on the board below: link Have you already seen it?I haven't seen that topic before. I already have sleeves (scanned) of Ibex bootlegs, but I just couldn't remember that there's a song called "Vagabond outcast". I know eveything about Ibex, but unfortunately, I'm not able to get that recording (Ibex Live at the Liverpool sink club - 9. IX. 1969.). However, I have "Rain" - from Freddie Mercury box set. And I'm not impressed. But nevertheless, I would love to own a complete concert. I'm in fact fan of Smile. :) They were great! |
| MercuryArts 15.04.2005 02:58 |
I have to disagree that Freddie is equal to Elton John or Billy Joel. I like Freddie's playing, don't get me wrong. He has his own unique style that works for him. But in no way does Freddie have the chops that Billy & Elton have. |
| mike hunt 15.04.2005 11:27 |
yea, but i don't think anyone said fred was as good as those two. i'm biased on this because i don't like billy joel's mucic at all, but i like elton. even so i admit joel was a better piano player than fred, and also elton was joels equal. also check out tori amos, she's on the same level as elton, mabe even better. i still think freddie was in the top ten or fifeteen of the best rock n roll piano players in history. |
| XcessQueen 19.04.2005 23:10 |
SHIT! DAMN IT! We talked so much on this topic about who's the author of which song, Innuendo can't be Roger's, it must be Freddie's song, etc... Now I discovered these sections of Brian's OFFICIAL site: link link And there is clearly written who is author for each song. Now, who can we trust?!? |
| Scott_Mercury 19.04.2005 23:56 |
I'll tell you who we trust... I have on a DVD interview of Brian from 1997 saying "Freddie completely wrote "Hitman",it is a common misconception that, that is my song, but everything is Fred's...I wasn't even in the room when that was wrote". In the same interview he speaks of "Freddie worked deligently in 1988 on a track that he said was his new Bohemain Rhapsody for the 1980's".... that track didn't make 1989's "The Miracle". However, this song, Innuendo, was the first single, and liked so much by the others, that song named the album it was on. ______________________________________________ This website you directed us to..."the official Brian May website" goes against things that Brian has said. The Hitman is Freddie's...this website says Brian...Brian says its Freddie's. Innuendo, according to Brian... is Freddie's... this website says Roger. Don't Try So Hard, according to MANY sources, is 100% Freddie's..... this website says John. Brian has said, and again, I have on film...."I knew where I wanted to go with "The show must go on"... I had most of the chords and lyrics, but one day John and Roger reworked the music into a manner much more pleasing to the ear. Brian claims on TSMGO John & Rog reworked his chords.... Brian says he completed most of the lyrics the day he asked Freddie is he liked the line "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies..etc"... Freddie contributed one line of lyrics to TSMGO that deviated off course of Brian's manuscript... and fittingly, that is the "I'll face it with a grin..etc" line. That website is total bullshit.... The worst offender is anyone that thinks Roger wrote Innuendo. Roger is awesome! His songs are awesome...but Innuendo is such a Freddie song... I'll bet my house that Innuendo is 90% Mercury. |
| Bohardy 20.04.2005 05:10 |
What is now Bri's official site was once-upon-a-time just a humble fan-site. Bri started endorsing the site in general, and then "moved in", and the Soapbox was set-up, along with many new things sanctioned by Brian. Of course there were many pages and sections of the original fan-site that were to be kept and amalgamated with the official side of the web-site. Many of these pages have remained just at they were before the site became official, and thus have slipped through the net or under Brian's radar of officiality. Quite simply, the pages you're referring to are just a fan's opinion on song authirship, and these were written and uploaded way before Brian was officially endorsing the site they ended up being on. They are not "official" points of view in any way. |
| XcessQueen 20.04.2005 07:25 |
OK Scott, thank you for your effort in explaining these things. :) I guess someone else did that sections of Brian's site, and Brian doesn't even know/care for that sort of wrong info. |
| XcessQueen 20.04.2005 07:27 |
Scott_Mercury wrote: I'll tell you who we trust...My reply to you ended on the top of the page 4, instead on the bottom!!! Some serious bugs are here... |
| Fireplace 20.04.2005 09:57 |
lasparri wrote: In my opinion the most difficult pieces that Freddie played on the piano were: The millionaire waltz and Don't stop me now. And with regards to Brian, I consider that "all dead, all dead" is very well played.I daresay that Love Of My Life is just a tad more complicated than those two songs..... |
| mike hunt 20.04.2005 10:40 |
don't listen to the brian may website, it been proven wrong over and over. how many times do we have to repeat this. |
| XcessQueen 20.04.2005 11:46 |
mike hunt wrote: don't listen to the brian may website, it been proven wrong over and over. how many times do we have to repeat this.Now is the first time that I hear about his site "proven wrong". |
| lasparri 20.04.2005 12:58 |
Scott_Mercury wrote: Roger is awesome. Roger is rather a bad composer, and the only good songs that he wrote were the ones that Freddie changed completely, as Radio GAGA or A kind of Magic, they are signed by Roger but they could be perfectly considered co'written by Freddie. |
| smileexpert 27.04.2005 19:27 |
I'd like to add to Moet's statements (the 2-story posting). Simply - just because you can play 'blobs on a piece of paper' doesn't mean you're musical. Anybody can use a typewriter but very few can write a good book!! In other words, I've found (speaking as a pianist) that MANY piano players I've met might have amazing technique and can play scales coming out of their a$$ and have incredible sight-reading skills - bla-bla-bla. BUT - very few can sit in a room with a guitar and a bass and a drum-kit and just jam - they're like a fish out of water. WHY? Because they need the 'blobs on the paper' to know what to play. They're so afraid of making a mistake that they don't even want to try - nor do they likely know how or what to do. I've listened to these same pianists play a Beethoven Concerto, or Gershwin's 'Blue-Rhap' (hehe) - but aside from the correct notes, and mind-numbing speed - it sounds dead-boring to me because they likely don't put any feeling into it. I myself don't have the best technhique, nor do I play scales coming out of my a$$ (the C-sharps tend to get caught in something....) but I know what I enjoy doing, and what I am good at. Sorry if this seems to be all about me - but I think my point is that a virtuoso doesn't always mean you're musical. Or in other words... Musicality can forgive imperfection, but not visa-versa. That is - a musician can put his or her heart on the line and make a piano (or any instrument SING) - and if it's not perfect note-wise then who cares. Conversely, someone playing a piece 'just for the notes' will tend to make a more obvious mistake if they're not concerned about their own musical feeling. For what it's worth... |
| jamnik11 19.06.2005 06:26 |
Well, here we should discuss about Freddie's piano playing? I think that Freddie's style of playing piano is/was something special. I have noticed that in the 70's and rarely 80's on their concerts Freddie played piano more often. Then, after (for example) album The Game was released, he played only 3 or 4 songs on a piano. Maybe he isn't a brilliant piano player but surely he has voice like nobody has ever had before. And his piano-playing and voice combination was guarantied successes. Brian has no such voice. Mike Morano was a surprise for me when I heard When This Old Tired Body Wants To Sing from Freddie's Solo Colection. I recomend this song. |
| Little Queenie6 19.06.2005 08:17 |
I adore Freddie's piano playing. Like everyone has said, while he was not very "technically" gifted, he played with such emotion and preciseness, that the technicality of his playing almost didn't matter. *Sorry if this has been addressed before, but did Brian ever have any professional piano training? |
| shanemcd 21.07.2005 19:18 |
I play piano myself, and I think Freddies skill shows in songs like "The Millionaires Waltz" and in a different way "Fairyfellers Master Stroke" (harpsichord). Other songs which show his skill include * Love of My Life * Seven Seas of Rhye * Death on Two Legs (esp. intro) Both Freddie and Brian are gifted musicians and If anyone wants to know how good they were - just try playing some of their songs with the same feeling and precision timing as they did. I've learned a lot in technique by playing Queen's music, and I continue to do so - Best piano lessons ever !-) |
| its_a_hard_life 21.07.2005 21:01 |
there both as good as each other but brian mostly plays the guitar so he proberly better at that and freddie mostly plays the piano not really the guitar so there u go!! there both good at piano but better at there own thing more....if i make any sense here....... |
| luthorn 21.07.2005 23:26 |
... AND GATORADE IS BETTER THAN WATER. Now work with that. |
| freesia 22.07.2005 08:10 |
For me, (Im only a mere bginner on piano) Freddie and Brian, both show their own personalities in their playing. Brians is softer, and easy going, with a lot of depth, and Freddies was bright, dramatic when necessary, and very, very precise as to timing. My favourite part on a rarities cd, is Freddie with nothing else behind him, messing about on piano, in which he tries an intro (I cant remember for the life of me which song it is) and he gets it wrong 7 times, he then almost accomplishes it, then stops, and says its a wreck! I love that piece, because it just sounds as though he is in your front room, and at that point I feel honoured! I think Freddie, as he did with everything else put everything into his piano playing, and right wrong or indifferent, (and he would have been the first to say he was not a fantastic pianist) he had a unique style, and an equally distinctive sound. Brian, always looks to me slightly at odds with the piano, although I love No one but you, and I love to hear him play, I dont think hes as confident with it as with his guitar, and although Freddie wasnt confident with a guitar, I think both instruments brought out both mens personalities, because Freddies attitude to the guitar seemed to be to hell with it, whereas Brian always seems to respect the piano. |
| Mr Drowse 22.07.2005 08:47 |
My favourite part on a rarities cd, is Freddie with nothing else behind him, messing about on piano, in which he tries an intro (I cant remember for the life of me which song it is) and he gets it wrong 7 times, he then almost accomplishes it, then stops, and says its a wreck! I just love that bit. :) |
| freesia 22.07.2005 09:09 |
I know, I know, Mr, Drowse! If its my fave bit then why the hell cant I remember what its from! Its just today I have a mental bung! It could be love me like theres no tomorrow, infact I think it is, oh sod it ile play it tonight and let you know Monday! |
| Bohardy 22.07.2005 11:29 |
It's 'There Must Be More To Life Than Is'. Shows what a genius Fred was on piano. He needs 7 attempts to play a slow run of F#, A, C, D, E, F#, A, E... |
| FriedChicken 22.07.2005 11:50 |
I prefer Brian's playing over Freddie's, same goes with singing. Freddie plays it, Brian brings it |
| george656 14.10.2005 07:54 |
When Freddie played piano did he use chords and arpeggios? |
| spymyshadow 14.10.2005 08:55 |
The King Of Rhye wrote: but it seems to me that Freddie's style is a more flowing, where as Brian's is more.....mechanical or deliberate, I'd say......not to say that he's bad or anythng , just different.....anybody have any thoughts on this?though always great, piano is not bri's cup of tea, as he seems to imply by telling about his frustrating piano lessons, opposed to the pleasure he got from playing his father's ukulele |
| Sebastian 14.10.2005 15:32 |
Brian's piano style is anything but mechanical |
| Seven_Seas_Of_Rhye II 14.10.2005 16:14 |
It's very difficult to say and to compare... Freddie's playing is Freddie - a passion. Brian's is Brian - a feeling. Brian's is not just mechanical playing - he's delighting in playing harmonies (as Freddie) but in his playing there is less refinement and piquancy. |
| john bodega 15.10.2005 05:46 |
Elton John is only good when he plays his own stuff. Much as I hate Billy Joel's music, he's a far better piano player. I saw them do a duet once on TV, and Billy Joel was able to adapt to Elton John's style, but Elton John could only play one way - his way. Take from that what you will, it doesn't mean he's bad - but I certainly think he's a less interesting player if he can't change a little. Brian May is able to adopt a slight Freddie style on the piano I think. It worked in No One But You. |
| kweenqueen 15.10.2005 12:18 |
One interesting question is: "What defines a great musician?" How many notes per minute he plays? In my opinion a great musician can express an emotion that grab hold of you. Look at the "London Symphony orchestra" for example. They're all the very best musicians, playing ANYTHING from sheet music. But, compare the feeling of every single note performed on "Bohemian Rhapsody" and you will find that Queen out-perform LSO all through... So in a way, to compare just isn't fair. Some of the songs played by Brian maby just didn't work (feeling-wise) with Freddie (or the other way around). |
| kdj2hot 15.10.2005 16:43 |
Damn, just reading about half the posts on the first page of thios thread makes me notice how this borad has been run down by the newer folks (like myself) who just showed up within the past couple of months. Now I'm starting to feel bad, that was such an informative, interesting thread. We should try to maintain that level for this board. |
| spymyshadow 17.10.2005 11:01 |
who played the piano intro in "all dead all dead"? Does anyone know? |
| Bohardy 17.10.2005 14:12 |
Brian did. As well as the rest of the song. |