Right, I'm going to get slated for this, but...are there any songs that Q+PR perform that you feel in some way have actually improved on their original Queen versions?
To me, Paul brings new life into each Queen song he sings but most of the time I would go for Freddie's versions first.
However, I find I'm In Love With My Car to be more adrenalin-pumping now, than on, say, Live Killers. (Yes, I know it's Roger singing.)
In all honesty, meaning nothing against Paul at all.. none of the Queen songs sound any better to me.
However Paul's songs sound fantastic and Brian even seems to do much better with covers than he does on the Queen stuff, from what I've seen/heard.
So my answer would be that it's only Paul's songs in which 'Queen' sound better than ever. LOL.
Many heavier songs (like TYMD & FBG) sounded better because of two guitars.
I never really liked Freddie's interpretation of '39, so that one was a great solo spot for Brian.
Also, the slow+fast Hammer To Fall is superb. It worked much better on Q+PR tour than on Brian's solo dates. I just love Bri+Rog+Paul choir on the first chorus on ROTC (makes you wonder how it would have sounded with Freddie, though).
Many of Paul's songs also gained something for having Bri+Rog+others playing them. I have Bad Company's In Concert-Merchants of Cool album from 2002, adn I think ROTC is MUCH better (especially Feel Like Making Love is amazing on ROTC).
FBG, AOBTD & Dragon Attack were all better, IMO. The style just seemed to suit Paul's voice better than Freddie's.
I also thought that Paul's material was the best on many nights. ARN was, by far, my favorite song at every show I attended - the crowd energy just always seemed highest at this point and Brian always tore it up!
I've found that Fat Bottomed Girls, Tie Your Mother Down, and I want To Break Free (and MAYBE We Will Rock You) have improved on their original versions.
If I had to single out one tune I would have to go with WATC.
I just love the way Paul approached that tune and brought out a natural soulful sensibility in it.
The same with AKOM.
To me it's like a what if question brought to life.
What if a soul guy like Otis Redding sang Queen tunes.
How would it sound?
Paul has that kind of effect for me with a lot of the material.
Well, I never was a great fan of Radio Ga Ga, the way Freddie sung it. But I love it now, were Roger does it HIS way.
About Freddie's and Paul's singing Queen songs: It's just DIFFERENT, I won't call it better or worse. Just different.
Yes.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody - the dramatic video + Paul's dueling "Nothing Really Matters" part, combined with the hysteria of a 19 years later comeback to the stage made a more stronger impression for the greatest hit of the 20th century.
2. Hammer To Fall - I like the slow version better, and Paul's voice suits it so well.
3. I Want To Break Free - I'll give Paul serious credit for his vocal version of this. I don't put it above Freddie's vocal performance, but I can't put it below it either. Two equal, but different, vocal performances by two great masters.
4. I know Freddie didn't do it live, but I equally love Brian and Roger's rendition of 'I Was Born To Love You' with the Freddie versions.
5. Instrumental solos. Roger was at an all-time high with his drum solo. Brian's Brighton Rock was like the old, but the Chinese Water Torture and Last Horizon additions made it better overall.
--------------------------------------------------
Paul closely trailed Freddie's performance in terms of quality with: 'A Kind of Magic' and Brian's 'Love of My Life' was close simply because of the dramatic elements behind it, like Bo Rhap. Also, the U.S. Under Pressure versions weren't better, but were damned good.
each songs production sounds better, the over all sound is amazing, its strange but im listenin to more Q+PR than anythin else, its probably because i luv the new direction queen are going in, an i think most of the songs wear improved on the origonals, not because pauls a better singer, but just the sound, an direction there going in, ino you will slate me for that, but i dont care, its my opinion. put it this way, i didnt cringe at any songs, the only things i thort wear, they should have played hammer to fall fast with paul on all of it, an roger should have only sang one verse of radio ga ga,,, any thorts ?
I think these all sounded better with Paul on vocals:
Tie Your Mother Down
Fat Bottomed Girls
Hammer To Fall
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
The Show Must Go On
We Will Rock You
We Are The Champions
And I think that all of Paul's songs sound better with Brian & Roger on them