I remeber reading here (QZ) about recording of this track, about Roger and Brian writinga song each and than deciding to use "Thank God...". But I can't seem to find it anymore- could someone fill me in on that? Wasn't the title of other one "I Dream of Christmas"? Thanks!!
PS
Oh- and it was recorded when WORKS was already released, wasn't it?
Bri's offering was I Dream Of Christmas, which Anita ended up releasing (with Bri's help of course).
Rog's offering was TGIC. I think Bri just tweaked the arrangement a bit, specifically the key-change, resulting in the co-credit.
By Brian:
"This is years ago, of course. Roger and I agreed we would both submit ideas, and work together on working up the idea we chose. Roger wrote the beginnings of "Thank God It's Christmas", and I wrote the beginnings of "I Dream of Christmas". We met down at Roger's place and demo'd both tracks together, as I remember. How the choice between the two tracks was made I don't clearly remember, but I think it was a whole group thing. We decided to finish TGIC for the Queen Christmas single, and "IDOC" was put to one side, and I immediately worked it into the version which we released as my Lady Anita's Christmas record. This record charted briefly but is now a rarity (it features Anita singing, along with a school choir of young kids, and quite a lot of Guitar soloing by me!)
For the eventual Queen song, Roger had the verse form already: "Oh - my love - we live in troubled days ....". I contributed the chorus, with a key-change leading into it, using a lyric line which occurred casually in the verse, so this now became the title, "Thank God It's Christmas". Of course when Freddie took up the singing it jumped into another gear ... his lovely high register soaring above the background in these choruses, then returning to a very gentle breathy texture for the verses. The background was based on a synth pad which Roger had found (he would have to tell you what it was made with), to which I added a guitar texture very un-typical of me ... very clean and bright ... the amp turned way down and the strings hit hard like bells. This makes that Bright Frosty sound which I actually like a lot, contrasting with the warm and dark synth chords. Of course as usual John's subtle firm bass lines are a big part of the style of the eventual outcome. The drums are programmed, the way Roger originally demo'd them, an unusual choice for a Queen track but it works in this case. My favourite part is the end, where there's a small building (subdominant) link into the playout. Freddie is improvising, and it all becomes totally joyful ... trekking off into the distance across the snowy fields..... noses red, scarves wrapped around chins, snowballs being thrown .... Christmas packages of good food being delivered to hungry villagers' doors ... mulled wine being swigged to keep the blood flowing to those cold extremities...."
By Serry:
Yes, it was recorded after The Works release.
Bohardy wrote: Bri's offering was I Dream Of Christmas, which Anita ended up releasing (with Bri's help of course).
Rog's offering was TGIC. I think Bri just tweaked the arrangement a bit, specifically the key-change, resulting in the co-credit.
Yep, that's what happened.
I'm just very disapponted with Roger writing a song as lame as TGIC. I'd always thought his idea of a X-mas carrol would be something like 'Santa's New Ferrari' or maybe 'Up yours God, It's Rock n Roll X-mas'.
Bohardy wrote: Bri's offering was I Dream Of Christmas, which Anita ended up releasing (with Bri's help of course).
Rog's offering was TGIC. I think Bri just tweaked the arrangement a bit, specifically the key-change, resulting in the co-credit.
Yep, that's what happened.
I'm just very disapponted with Roger writing a song as lame as TGIC. I'd always thought his idea of a X-mas carrol would be something like 'Santa's New Ferrari' or maybe 'Up yours God, It's Rock n Roll X-mas'.