Saw a Swedish documentary about Queen, and i particular Bo Rhap. They asked Peter Freestone aboute Freddies relation to Bo Rhap. And the only thing he could remember was that Freddie was afraid of playing it live beacuse of all the tunes in the piano thing just before the nothing really mathers part. (I’m not i piano dude so i can’t explain better then this) But anyway, Did he miss this often or at any time at all? Is there recordings?
i haven't seen that doc yet, but that's utter crap. it is not that complicated to play the notes of Bo Rhap before the end (i just got up from the piano after playing the song about 10 time in a row), certainly not for a gifted pianist such as Fred. and no, i don't think he ever got it wrong.
Freddie did dislike the run up notes after the heavy part. You can always see him spending a second or 2 concentrating on where he is playing. live at wembley for example
From all the times they played that song live, it is hard to believe he didn't screw it up at least a few times. It's surely the hardest thing he had to play live.
Its a tough run, its in Bb, fairly fast and on the left hand too.
I play it myself, and I can see why Freddie didn't like it - but when it comes off its great !
I never heard him miss it on live recordings.
vinny2256_ wrote: Freddie did dislike the run up notes after the heavy part. You can always see him spending a second or 2 concentrating on where he is playing. live at wembley for example
exactly what i meant. Pet said that freddie thougt that "what are people gonna think if I who wrote this song can't play it"
U gotta love it when he at live at wembley concentrates, and then get it out perfectly, what a man!
diffner wrote: Saw a Swedish documentary about Queen, and i particular Bo Rhap. They asked Peter Freestone aboute Freddies relation to Bo Rhap. And the only thing he could remember was that Freddie was afraid of playing it live beacuse of all the tunes in the piano thing just before the nothing really mathers part. (I’m not i piano dude so i can’t explain better then this) But anyway, Did he miss this often or at any time at all? Is there recordings?
Yes, i've already read that in a Peter's interview that was printed in Brian's site. That Piano run that he's talking about can be tricky not because it's too dificult but because it's played by a rock star. I mean, Freddie didn't have that much time to concentrate on that and the worst thing about it it's the fact that everybody is listening to Freddie because the band is quiet! Add this the fact that there are 80.000 people or more listening to you... you get the picture!- It's a little more easy doing it in the confort of your home.
Now, am i the only one here that noticed were Freddie indeed missed that run up!?
OK, here it goes, and i'm too lazy to check it out again, but take a look at the Live in Budapest VHS. He makes a mistake while doing it, at least on my version (don't ask me why they didn't fix it in the studio- I have the Box set version- Rock In Rio, We Will Rock You, Live in Budapest. The image and sound quality is outstanding for VHS format).
TAke care
shanemcd wrote: Its a tough run, its in Bb, fairly fast and on the left hand too.
I play it myself, and I can see why Freddie didn't like it - but when it comes off its great !
I never heard him miss it on live recordings.
Bb is not a difficult key to play in. In fact, F and Bb are the most popular concert-pitches in most musical genres.
I agree, its not a bad key at all. But playing it with both octaved Bb's at that speed ... you just need to concentrate a bit to make sure you don't miss it.