SilverShoes 31.08.2006 20:12 |
...how much of a low profile Brian takes on the piano songs? On songs like Somebody To Love, Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy, Play The Game, You're My Best Friend, and Don't Stop Me Now, there's long stretches where there's no guitar playign at all. I first noticed this when I read the notes for a transcription of Bohemian Rhapsody that appeared in a guitar magazine back in the early 90's (where they not only transcribed the guitar parts, but also the piano parts-you had to use a weird two handed tapping technique to play the verses, and they even notated at least some of the vocal harmonies). It's pointed out that there's literally not guitar until the second verse (starting just before "Too late/My time has come..."). I didn't think much of it until nearly 15 years later, I'm watching the Earl's Court video, and during Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy, when Brian is shown singing during the first chorus, he's not playing guitar. And I thought "huh, I never noticed there's no guitar there". And the more I thought about it, I noticed, as I said, how Brian really makes you wait for him on a lot of the songs that have piano in 'em. |
Carol! the Musical 31.08.2006 20:24 |
I think the amount of guitar in those songs just suit their style. |
rocks. 31.08.2006 22:10 |
I dont think theres anything wrong with that. There's a good balance. If you want guitar, listen to Brighton Rock! :D Or one of those long winded but super awesome solos! |
kohuept 01.09.2006 13:14 |
There are no drums in The Millionaire Waltz for 2.5 minutes. To me, that seems more unlikely than leaving out guitars. Both are surprising, though. |
rocks. 01.09.2006 13:15 |
kohuept wrote: There are no drums in The Millionaire Waltz for 2.5 minutes. To me, that seems more unlikely than leaving out guitars. Both are surprising, though.But you have to admit, it works! |
deleted user 01.09.2006 14:27 |
but i always thought that when they were on tour and there was a song that Brian or Roger had to wait a while to play in they'd get kinda bored..and it would be awkward in them just like standing there..if it twas meeeeeeeeeee, i quickly run to the bar.. ;) |
SilverShoes 01.09.2006 23:33 |
WhatMustHeThink wrote: I dont think theres anything wrong with that. There's a good balance.I never said there was anything wrong with it. I think it's funny it seems people are assuming this is a negative comment. I suppose it's more a matter that I just never NOTICED that they'd do that a lot of times. Interestingly, on al ot of these songs, when they were played live, Brian would come in much earlier. Somebody To Love and You're My Best Friend, on the live versions I've heard, have guitar going through most of the song, including bits where there were no guitar on the studio versions. Personally, I prefer the studio versions in those instances. Not having guitar in certain bits changes the sound up and makes things more interesting. |
val 29467 03.09.2006 14:16 |
AOBTD's live version has alot of guitar as well. Suppose it does look a bit stupid, the rest of the band leave the stage when brian or roger have their solo, but they didn't when freddie was talking to the audience at wembley '86 and brian was walking around a bit, that looked a bit stupid. but he was smiling alot, so what the hell ;D |
deleted user 03.09.2006 14:26 |
I suppose. But I think it always works. I notice though when Bo Rhap is being played live Brian joins in during the second verse, playing a little of the piano part on his guitar. It sounds nice, |
SilverShoes 03.09.2006 21:52 |
val<font color=violet>lie wrote: AOBTD's live version has alot of guitar as well.AOBTD has a lot of guitar on the studio version, too. At the start it's just Roger and John, but if you listen carefully, after they play through the riff the first couple times, Brian joins in, playing the riff an octave above the bass (creating a sort of pseudo 8 string bass effect). From that point on, there's guitar through pretty much the entire rest of the song (including the middle section with all the weird noises, which is Brian on guitar again). |
SilverShoes 03.09.2006 21:54 |
the GIRLZ are back in town wrote: I suppose. But I think it always works. I notice though when Bo Rhap is being played live Brian joins in during the second verse, playing a little of the piano part on his guitar. It sounds nice,That's exactly the same thing he does on the studio version, actually. Watch the bit on the Greatest Video Hits Vol. 1 where he disects the master tape, he points out that that guitar doesn't enter until that point, and that he starts off playing harmonics. He also mentions the "shivers up my spine" effect, which is him plucking the guitar strings behind the bridge. |
redspecial85 04.09.2006 00:03 |
There's obviously a couple of reasons for it...one which was previously stated, the reason backs off on a lot of the piano stuff is because that's the way that the song is written, sure any member in the band could've added more of their instrument to the song, but it's not the way the writer wanted...every part of the song is written to suit the song. As far as live versions went...in their earlier days when they played mostly halls and arenas, I think they were very precise about doing everything they could in the studio live...as they grew to become more of an arena and stadium live act, they got more into changing things up in songs somewhat, and getting into improvisation. But that's my opinion...I could be completely wrong... |
LadyofInnuendo 04.09.2006 00:10 |
SilverShoes wrote: ...how much of a low profile Brian takes on the piano songs? On songs like Somebody To Love, Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy, Play The Game, You're My Best Friend, and Don't Stop Me Now, there's long stretches where there's no guitar playign at all.Actually, my sister and I found a program that actually played out (in MIDI form) the guitar chords for Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy [because I can play the beginning Piano portion and we wanted to match it with some guitar]. It was very odd sounding and I couldn't even pick it out in the song when I tried to really listen for it. One song that lacks guitar [for the most part] but is incredibly beautiful and would not be as wonderful as it is without Brian's vocals is "Who Wants to Live Forever". If you see the video for the song [it's on YouTube], he is the first face you see, not Freddie. Albeit Freddie has a MUCh grander entrance, Brian takes center stage in the beginning. So that's just one example of a song where guitar is lacking but Brian is still sharing the spotlight. Good point to bring up, though. =) |
deleted user 04.09.2006 03:06 |
I think Brian is hot :P |
kagezan1313 06.09.2006 12:57 |
Most of Freddie's piano songs are written in E Flat, which is a bitch to play on guitar, as Brian has commented quite often, especially regarding BoRhap, so I don't imagine he was really chomping at the bit to play when it wasn't required. Plus, Freddie's piano rules, so why cramp his genius with extra Red Special? |
deleted user 07.09.2006 01:31 |
Maybe that's why they stopped making a lot of the piano songs because Brian wanted to play guitar and have more of a part. |
FriedChicken 07.09.2006 04:34 |
That's what makes a good guitarist. You're a good guitarist when you know when you shouldn't be there. A good guitarist knows the art of silence. |
Crezchi 07.09.2006 04:47 |
FriedChicken<br><font size=1>The Almighty</font> wrote: That's what makes a good guitarist. You're a good guitarist when you know when you shouldn't be there. A good guitarist knows the art of silence.And Brian once said, "The simplest things can sound the best" |
FriedChicken 07.09.2006 05:23 |
And he's right. People like Yngwie Malmsteen or Joe Satriani may be good technical players. But I never heard them come up with something sentitive, effective and good. |
Togg 07.09.2006 05:31 |
That is very true, I love those guys technique (well for the first ten mins anyway) but ask them to do less is more and they would look at you blankly. They never seem to get to the point where the song is king, it's all about showmanship with them and I personally hate that. |