QueenZone discussion #648090
What's so special about Queen II?
| Fairy 28.10.2005 07:39 |
Hi guys, I of course love Queen II, but I wouldn't really rank it as one of the best Queen albums. Reading the board for some time now, I've noticed that many of you, probably a big majority, seem to place it at the top of the list of their Queen favorites. So I'd like to know why you think it is so much better than the others, and what makes is so special. Maybe I can learn to appreciate it more?... Fairy |
| Fenderek 28.10.2005 08:00 |
I think it's the fact that it's so over the top... Usually if you used words like naive and pretentious to describe something that would mean it's bad. Queen II I think can be described like that but that somehow works on its advantage!!! And let's not forget the fact that it was the first Queen record with this almost orchestral Queen sound, based only on piano and Brian's guitar. And all those vocal harmonies!!! They really let themselves go in the studio- the more the better seemed the credo. I don't think they have ever done anything as bombastic as Queen II. Even including ANATO. The latter one seems much more mature, yet there is something exciting about the band discovering all the possibilities that studio gives. It's not my favourite album. Sheer Heart Attack is. I also prefer ANATO or even ADATR. But it's up there with those, it's extremely exciting and full, FULL of ideas. Some bands don't have that many of them in their entire careers- Queen managed to squeeze them all on one record... And however big BoRhap was/is- I still prefer "The March Of The Black Queen"- maybe more naive but on the other hand- a bit less accesible as well... And (but that applies to few Queen records)- how many bands would put a heavy riff of "Ogre Battle" and something like "Fairy Feller's..." on one record? If someone needs to know what eclectic means should look no further than ANATO or Queen II... |
| Fairy 28.10.2005 08:11 |
What a great review, Fenderek! Especially considering that you're not a real Queen fan....:-))) Thanks for that one. I really had not been able to appreciate Queen II that much before I joined the board and heard from other fans. I agree with many things you said, and I'll listen to Queen II in this perspective. I seem to prefer Freddie's more mature voice, without too much falsetto. Maybe that's a reason why I'm not particuarly intrigued by Queen and Queen II...but again, I agree on lots of what you said. Take care |
| deleted user 28.10.2005 08:11 |
i like Queen II its so grand and filled with lots of lyrics that one only has in their imagination. the songs are fun, and queen have explored their lyrical talent and dug down deep in their imaginations to find some thoughts that could only possibly be seen in fairy stories, such as the fairy fellers master stroke, which was inspired by a painting but the words are very fun to listen to. |
| deleted user 28.10.2005 08:12 |
yes fenderek good review, i liked it |
| Nummer2 28.10.2005 10:22 |
Sometimes I get excited about an album (no matter what band or music), just for a while, but soon get bored of it. Other music I have to listen to more often before I even like it, but the more I listen the more I appreciate them. Those mostly are the more complex compositions. They keep me interested for a long time just because there's so much to discover. Everytime I listen to them, it's more fun. One of those albums is Queen II. It took a while to get used to that music – I already knew Live Killers, ANATO, The Game, News Of The World and Jazz – but after maybe a year it was my favourite Queen album. Apart from the complexity there's another thing about Queen II: There's almost no song I want to skip, maybe because of the "concept-like" arrangement of the songs. On every other Queen album there are many, esp. on the 80's albums. Bye, Nummer2 |
| Lester Burnham 28.10.2005 10:26 |
I must agree with Fenderek. Except for that part about it not being his favorite record, because it is. And I know it - he told me one night while drunk. "Lester, ol' buddy ol' pal," he slurred to me, "I sure do love Queen II. It's my favorite record." He tried to take it back almost immediately, but I could see in his eyes that he really meant it. Those beautiful eyes of his. They wouldn't lie to me, even through all the tears and wine. And then, when he vomited all over my sweater, it reeked of the opening power chords of 'Father To Son'. I wept right then and there. Or maybe that was because I knew how much it would cost me to get that sweater cleaned. Speaking of which, you owe me $35, Fenderek. |
| Daniel vZ 28.10.2005 10:42 |
I actually like A Day At The Races more |
| Fenderek 28.10.2005 11:09 |
Lester Burnham wrote: I must agree with Fenderek. Except for that part about it not being his favorite record, because it is. And I know it - he told me one night while drunk. "Lester, ol' buddy ol' pal," he slurred to me, "I sure do love Queen II. It's my favorite record." He tried to take it back almost immediately, but I could see in his eyes that he really meant it. Those beautiful eyes of his. They wouldn't lie to me, even through all the tears and wine. And then, when he vomited all over my sweater, it reeked of the opening power chords of 'Father To Son'. I wept right then and there. Or maybe that was because I knew how much it would cost me to get that sweater cleaned. Speaking of which, you owe me $35, Fenderek.Lester- I'm speechless... I forgot all about it... But you said the morning after you're not going to tell anyone... Come to think of it- I recall you saying that FLASH is the biggest masterpiece ever commited to tape... I think you said that exactly as the Procession was finishing... Hmmm...... And do I really owe you 35 dollars? I thought I send you the copy of hidden 1982 BBC session and we were even... |
| 7Innuendo7 28.10.2005 11:12 |
Queen II turns the normal song structure on its head with some really subversive arrangments, the piano, vocal and guitar harmonies and layering all add to something more than the whole. MOTBQ and FHLI are my favorites, and LITE has some pounding drum lines. The segues make it seem like the album is one big song, almost symphonic. Fenderek's right on! All the Queen signature sounds erupt on Queen II. |
| Lester Burnham 28.10.2005 11:24 |
Fenderek<br><h6>Not a REAL fan</h6> wrote: Lester- I'm speechless... I forgot all about it... But you said the morning after you're not going to tell anyone... Come to think of it- I recall you saying that FLASH is the biggest masterpiece ever commited to tape... I think you said that exactly as the Procession was finishing... Hmmm...... And do I really owe you 35 dollars? I thought I send you the copy of hidden 1982 BBC session and we were even...All of this is true. My apologies. And, if you really think about it from a philosophical standpoint, I didn't really tell anyone, now did I? And I think you misheard me when I said "masterpiece", as it was followed by "of shit". The "masterpiece" was used as sarcasm. |
| The Real Wizard 28.10.2005 11:53 |
lol! Hahaha, you guys rock. I can always come to QZ for a good laugh! |
| bohemianrhap84 28.10.2005 12:26 |
Queen II is very overrated. I mean it's good but it's not nearly as good as Innuendo, The Miracle, or The Works IMO. Don't get me wrong, it has great songs. The March Of The Black Queen, White Queen (As It Began), and The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke are great, but the rest is sub par I think. But I still like to listen to it now and then so I'm not bashing it, I just don't think it ranks higher than the Queen albums I mentioned. |
| Zander05 28.10.2005 13:10 |
I totally agree with Fenderek's review up to the part where he says the album isn't his favourite. It's because of the sheer brilliance of it that it's my favourite. I could honestly listen to Queen II for ages and the music would never get dull or boring to me. |
| PinkInk 28.10.2005 13:46 |
thats funny because i was going to ask that question about 2 weeks ago and forgot all about it. Its not my favourite album either, if i had to choose between Queen & Queen II, i would pick Queen. I know that doesnt have anything to do with your question :P |
| deleted user 28.10.2005 14:29 |
i don't know why but i never get bored of Queen2, i don't usually need a break from it like i sometimes do with the other albums. but i love all my albums!!!!!!!! :) |
| escuderodelareina 28.10.2005 16:20 |
personally i like live killers, but queen II is special because have a great songs like the fairy feller´s master-stroke, ogre batle, the loser in the end, and more.incredible chorus and orchestations, and voices, and brian, roger, freddie and john:QUEEN. |
| Freddie's #1 Fan Forever 28.10.2005 19:35 |
Queen II is my favorite album of all time! It is so awesome! It is so very original and creative and it is probably Queen's best album. Tiffany |
| goinback 28.10.2005 20:34 |
Queen II is my favorite too...I like that there is at least a vague theme running through it (especially the 2nd half, "Side Black"). And the Tolkeinesque themes seem so Queen, and even the packaging completes the mystery of it. I can never decide what my 2nd favorite is, but that's the 1st one. |
| flash00. 28.10.2005 21:39 |
i'm not a big fan of queen II but i absolutly love nevermore, i'm not into there first album either, i too am like fairy i prefer freddie's older operatic voice, queen at there best for me is the innuendo album. |
| Oszmercury 28.10.2005 21:58 |
Well, maybe it's not the best queen album, but in my opinion this is the only time that Queen sounds revolutionary, the create better songs later a lot i have to say. Queen ll is the band as a creation machine. imo the white side is the best side of all queen career, talkin about music advanced, they were beyond their time in this masterpiece, sorry but i really love this album |
| radio_what's_new 28.10.2005 22:26 |
bohemianrhap84 wrote: Queen II is very overrated. I mean it's good but it's not nearly as good as.... The WorksI know it's just an opinion and that's your good right...but the works better than queen 2 ??? |
| christeb 29.10.2005 03:43 |
I don' think I am wrong in thinking Queen II is also Bri's fav.Makes it all the better IMO. Its slightly better than QUEEN although they are sooooo different. |
| AmeriQueen 29.10.2005 04:46 |
i can't answer that question completely, I'd be here all day. 1. It's pure, uncut, grade A Queen, the purest form of their music! 2. March of the Black Queen/White Queen: Two of Queen's greatest tracks! 3. The album just flat out rules! It's not like theirs a 'Body Language', 'Friends will be friends' or any other less than incredible track on it. I am often torn as two which of my three favorites(Queen II, Night at the Opera, News of the World) is their best, but I always come back to QII as the one. There are simply no compromises on this album, it is 100% Queen. |
| spymyshadow 29.10.2005 08:08 |
the fact of the white side opposed to the black one, which best describes the ambiguous nature of queen - light opposed to darkness, white magic opposed black magic, the heavenly looks of brian opposed to the rageous freddie, spirit and pureness opposed to flesh and senses, armony opposed to chaos. This is the first album where there is a certain idea and a certain image that they're trying to convey. Queen I is comparatively much more loose about what thery are trying to communicate, maybe because it's about songs they wrote between sixties and early seventies before having a chance to record. Queen II on the contrary was born from this simple but evocative fight and attraction between opposites. |
| Iam the one 29.10.2005 08:23 |
For me it was this big kick off.Im mostley into the 70's when it comes to Queen's mucic.It sounded so fresh and they were all new to the British music scene and all that.I think Queen was a better band back then. |
| Iam the one 29.10.2005 08:23 |
For me it was this big kick off.Im mostley into the 70's when it comes to Queen's mucic.It sounded so fresh and they were all new to the British music scene and all that.I think Queen was a better band back then. |
| AmeriQueen 29.10.2005 11:45 |
When it comes down to it, it's like, "Reasons why Queen II is greatness, Chapter 3, Book 2, from Volume 8 of the 2nd chronicles..." |
| 7Innuendo7 29.10.2005 12:35 |
Obviously I love the Innuendo album, but to add to my earlier comments (with full song names!), the Innuendo album also shows the signature Queen sounds -- "Innuendo" with its rolling drumbeat and 'Bolero' guitar riff remind me of "Great King Rat" and "March of the Black Queen," not to mention the vocal layers in the opera part of Innuendo, Bijou is just one verse, Headlong straight on rocks-- the pounding piano in the intro really contrasts the piano intro to "Seven Seas of Rhye", "All God's People" is very different in style from the rest of the album -- Innuendo offers every bit of Queen's various musical styles as does Queen II. |
| Fairy 30.10.2005 13:04 |
Thanks everyone for your replies and reviews. I now realize lots of interesting things about this album that I couldn't really notice before. Though it still isn't one of my top favorites, I think I can now listen to it in a very different light. THANKS! Fairy |
| AmeriQueen 30.10.2005 13:38 |
Another track... 'Someday One Day'! This might be the best Brian vocal job ever recorded. And that Deacyamp part at the end after, "You'll come home". |
| FLICK 31.10.2005 10:13 |
It’s a bizarre record. After Queen appeared on TOTP with Seven Seas Of Rhye I bet people who bought the LP on the strength of the single did not know what to make of it. It’s a transition LP - Queen II has the bits they left behind and the bits they developed on the next 3 LPs. Apart from that it is easily the best record sleeve ever! |
| kagezan1313 02.11.2005 17:43 |
Queen II's lyrics contain coded answers to most of our modern mysteries: who shot JFK, how Marilyn Monroe really died, the location of Atlantis, not to mention how they get the caramel into the Caramilk bar, and why it is absolutely imperitive for the existence of the PLANET that the bunny NOT get his hands on Trix. It's all wrapped up in cryptic lines and references (most of it in Fairy Feller and Black Queen, to be honest) so if you need translation, feel free to ask. To close, Queen II is an invaluable tome of forbidden knowledge wrapped up in the ironic disguise of a glam rock album. And yes, I agree, very nice album cover. |
| brENsKi 02.11.2005 18:13 |
'II' was (imo) their best album for so many different reasons. Technically they threw everything at that album (even the kitchen sink: Roy Thomas-Baker). The immense release of being let loose to do their own thing, after the frustration of making the first album in studio downtime (ie when the real musicians weren't working) must have made the creative juices flow to the max. Side Black (freddie's opus) is (again imo) the finest side of any queen vinyl album EVER! - the segue from one song to another, the change of tempo and melody is incredible, (it's very similar in change of direction to McCartneys Band on The Run single) and all this while still making it all sound like one big song - Freddie's symphony anyone? There's the Fairy Feller/Nevermore/Black Queen medley - that was clearly the divine inspiration for Bo Rhap - without that cluster of songs - who knows if Freddie's Bo Rhap would ever have been conceived.....then there's the absolute lyrical excess - the imagination needs no work with this album, you can pitcutre every scene of every mystical line. Ogre is a fantastic rocker, Funny How Love Is, is an excellent pop song - that fits while sounding different and SSOR is classic Freddie Pomp and Circumstance barnstormer - befitting the final curtain of any great rock bands' album. Oh, and btw - side White ain't exactly average either ;-) |
| Janet 02.11.2005 18:19 |
Yeah, what he said. ;-) |