I've been thinking some time now about making acoustic versions of some Queen songs. It started after I had a dream about me going to see MTV's Unplugged with Queen (must have been after I saw the Nirvana session). I mean.. how unbelievably cool it would be to have had Queen on that show.
Bottom line is.. I'm looking for musicians who are willing to help me in arranging one (for now) Queen song into an acoustic one. I wanted to use Freddie's vocals, so I'm also looking for anyone who can share acapella versions. (Play The Game would do, but oh my if there is anything else out there)
Please let me know your thoughts on the whole project!
Cheers, Dane
This has been asked before. I know Brian did an unplugged session (containing Tie your mother down). Perhaps when they were asked to do so they would have done.
I think MTV started that show when Freddie didn't (couldn't) perform anymore (perhaps he died already) so that would never had been an option.
Supposedly there's an a capella take of Killer Queen 'out there'. Haven't heard it myself yet. Besides that there's some stuff on the Freddie Solo collection and DVD-A rips. Stuff like Love Of My Life and Prophet's Song is pretty much a capella I believe.
The Asassinator wrote: This has been asked before. I know Brian did an unplugged session (containing Tie your mother down).
Several random thoughts:
- Brian's set for VH1 was not entirely acoustic - it was, in Brian's own words "semi-acoustic". During the VH1 show he says: "No one's gonna unplug me completely, 'cos I don't want to be unplugged. Part of what I do is the electric... thing". However some months or a couple of years later he did a short acoustic set. The occasion escapes me.
- At some point there were persistent rumours about Queen doing a VH1 Storytellers. I wish Brian and Roger would do it without any Queen+ singers. Not even Paul.
- A few years ago someone had posted an acoustic/ethnic version of "Radio Ga Ga". It's interesting, because in an earlier interview Brian had said "I defy anyone to do an acoustic version [of "Radio Ga Ga"]".
- It's hard to imagine some of Queen's most legendary anthems performed as an acoustic piece - can you imagine an acoustic BoRhap? I can't.
- There's something to be said about the (semi-)acoustic version of TYMD - it's utterly brilliant!
- Two perfect examples of hard rock songs turned acoustic are Eric Clapton's "Layla" and Bon Jovi's "Living On a Prayer" and "Dead Or Alive". It is generally accepted that Bon Jovi's performance of these two songs at an MTV awards show in the late 80's gave birth to the idea for MTV Unplugged.
- In the TV documentary "Classic Albums - A Night at the Opera" Roger does a pretty decent, though painfully short, acoustic version of "I'm In Love With My Car". It just left me aching for more...
V.
I seem to recall that Brian and Roger were originally planning to do the VH1 storytellers (or similar show) in September 2001...I don't know what the reason was for not doing it, but I do remember thinking 'God - what would have happened if they had been in New York on 9/11 ??'
...for what it's worth.
smileexpert wrote: I seem to recall that Brian and Roger were originally planning to do the VH1 storytellers (or similar show) in September 2001...I don't know what the reason was for not doing it, but I do remember thinking 'God - what would have happened if they had been in New York on 9/11 ??'
...for what it's worth.
They were planning on doing a VH-1 Storytellers episode, and its referenced in a then-current issue of the fan club magazine if anyone cares to dig it up. Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins were to be involved. The whole thing got scrapped/postponed following Taylor Hawkins' hospitalization after a bad reaction to some drugs he took while the band was on tour in the UK, and the project just went away. I recall it was also supposed to be released as a CD and DVD later that year (and I believe the time frame was 2000/2001, after the band was inducted into the US Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame). I think everyone assumed there would be several guest vocalists in addition to Brian, Roger and one presumes Dave and Taylor (who's got a fine voice, btw), but nothing really concrete ever got out beyond that. Brian's probably forgotten it ever happened.
I started work on an 'unplugged' cover of 'I Want It All' about a year ago, but that won't really help you as there is no isolated lead vocal available.
Dane wrote: I wanted to use Freddie's vocals, so I'm also looking for anyone who can share acapella versions. (Play The Game would do, but oh my if there is anything else out there)
I can help you for this one.
Have you got an e-mail adress so we we can talk more precisely ?
My e-mail is info@qvl.nl or to add me on msn quantumvisionlabs@hotmail.com.
The storyteller story sounded promissing. I can see Brian's point by saying no one will ever unplug him, and on that note I can already hear some electric solo bits in the acoustic session, so no problem with that. Having Brian and Roger on board for this project would be any musicians cream dream, but thats just wishful thinking. Listening to some of the cover versions in the Stage of Champions I can hear there are some very good musicians right here.