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So this was the original topic concerning Freddies vocal range. And also the change of it during the later years and his ability to sing with such a power, even from the death.bed, so to speak.
I was watching the Return of The Champions the otherday. The thing which I noticed is, that whereas all the other songs seem to be performed from the original key, The Show Must Go On is not.
The original key on Innuendo album is "Bm". But on the Q+PR tour it was performed two semitones lower, from "Am" that is.
So if Paul is able to sing most of the Freddie songs from original key, but not this one, what could be the reason?
I thought that, maybe, just maybe, they used some tricks on Innuendo -like speeding the tape - to get this higher vocal tone from Freddie?
If you check back Queen: Live In Budapest 1986 there is a same sort of effect. The tape is running a bit too fast, which makes the songs to jump up a semitone. So all the songs sound like they are one step higher. Like "One Vision" which is played from D, sounds like being played from D# on this recording. You can hear this from the vocal aswell. Compared to Wembley concert, Freddie sounds like a choir-boy: link link
Just made me wonder, while I was making tabulatures for The Show Must GO On.
Even though TSMGO is a half a step down on ROTC, Paul Rodgers doesn't actually transpose (modulate) the song note for note. He sings around the note, usually under the note. IWTBF for example is done in the key of D, a full step down and so is AOBTD. Freddie did AOBTD in the key of E live.
Freddie range during the later part of his life is truly magical.
"I thought that, maybe, just maybe, they used some tricks on Innuendo -like speeding the tape - to get this higher vocal tone from Freddie?"
Nope. His voice just changed with age. It's actually a pretty interesting transition from '84 to '91. A transition for the better, I believe.
As mentioned by Roger Daltrey during the tribute rehearsals, "they're changing the keys to these songs, because no-one can sing them".
Freddie did have this amazing voice and from memory, i was told he could reach up to 8 octaves.
Freddie indeed had an amazing voice, perhaps greatest male voice in history. We must remember that Freddie could sing anything from light opera to heavy rock.
I think that only singer who is about his equal is Elvis (early 70's) Not same vocal range that Freddie had, but Elvis could also sing all styles.
Those who doubt the skill of Elvis, check this. Filmed only weeks before of his death. I recommend to use headphones :D link
According to Brian there are no tricks on this track!
And, if my memory serves me right, it was donne in the first take (?).
Paul Sings it very well, and a 56 years old guy must preserve is voice for the tour. I believe he could sing it in the right key, but it would be too demanding for his throat.
If Queen could tour for INNUENDO, I believe that even Freddie would have to change key if he wanted to last untill the end of the tour.
There are a couple of songs in the Magic Tour that didn´t worked naturally for Freddie´s range at that time- AOBTD and IWTBF.
But it´s true, his tone was very beautifful the last couple of years of his life.
Take care
Well shit, Freddie had to drop Friends Will Be Friends a bit for the Magic Tour... I'm not going to hold it against Paul Rodgers for slightly lowering The Show Must Go On when, I think, it's a harder song to deliver.
I do believe the 'one take' you speak of concerning The Show Must Go On was in the 'face it with a grin' segment, as Freddie added those lyrics ad lib.
So despite it being (to my mind) a Brian song, there are very Freddie moments in it; that obviously being one of them. Hehe.
I really don't think any technical tricks were used on Innuendo... his voice had been headed that way for years. I'll be buggered if I can explain it properly, but one would best listen to certain songs from '84 to '91. Listen to how his 'rough' voice changes (going from maybe Hammer to Fall, Gimme the Prize, I Want It All and maybe The Hitman?).
PS Someone mentioned Roger Daltrey... I still say he was best in show at that Tribute.
Well Freddie could do so much more with his voice by Innuendo. He could sound like a disgruntled jazz singer on I'm Going Slightly Mad with what sounds like a frayed baritone.Then on DTSH, he sounds almost exactly as he did on the first Queen album, on The Hitman and Headlong he growls but in a less gravelly way than the eighties albums.
There is a definite "ringing" in his voice- he is singing rather than shouting and his enunciation is better than ever. It was nice to hear him singing with such control again; on something like Time or In My Defence he is really powerful which is great but his voice is fraying and spilling out all over the show with those awkward stresses as he holds notes. Still from a live perspective, his 86 voice I loved.
Finn Baron wrote: Freddie indeed had an amazing voice, perhaps greatest male voice in history. We must remember that Freddie could sing anything from light opera to heavy rock.
I think that only singer who is about his equal is Elvis (early 70's) Not same vocal range that Freddie had, but Elvis could also sing all styles.
Those who doubt the skill of Elvis, check this. Filmed only weeks before of his death. I recommend to use headphones :D
link
No one in their right mind is gonna doubt the vocal skills of elvis. I always say it's elvis and freddie as the best rock singers. their voices fit in so many different styles of music.
Finn Baron wrote: . Those who doubt the skill of Elvis, check this. Filmed only weeks before of his death. I recommend to use headphones :D
link
This isn't a criticism in anyway, but am I the only one who can see and hear a resemblance to Meat Loaf in that clip?
As regards Innuendo, although the facts seems to deny this, it wouldn't surprise me if there were some vocal 'tweaks', given that they knew time was limited, and that the songs would never be sung live (by Freddie).
