talon
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Post by talon on Apr 19, 2014 6:25:43 GMT -5
Small
Written by: Roger Taylor
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead vocals
Brian May - guitars, bass guitar (?), backing vocals
Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, keyboards (?), bass guitar (?), backing vocals
SADLY ANOTHER BLOCKED YT VID :(
- A gentle acoustic number that most thought initially was a Brian instigated track.
- A reprise was done at the end of the album so as to fade off on a nice note.
- Never attempted live
- Roger would re-record his own solo version for his 2013 album Fun On Earth - to be detailed later.
ALTERNATE
ROGER 2013 VERSION
- Much different with Roger on vocal/guitar and without Brian. I prefer Rog's vocals with Brian's guitar but at least this gives you an idea....
PERSONAL NOTES: This is a great Roger song. In his latter days he has become the master of the melancholy, low key ballad (Days of Our Lives, Old Friends, etc.) and this is just one of those perfect strum along songs. Beautiful sentiment.
Next? Paul's originally acoustic song becomes a thumping march due to Roger with Warboys (A Prayer For Peace)
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talon
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Post by talon on Apr 20, 2014 6:32:51 GMT -5
Warboys (A Prayer For Peace)
Written by: Paul Rodgers
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead and backing vocals, piano, bass guitar (?), acoustic guitar (?)
Brian May - guitars, bass guitar (?), backing vocals
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- Originally played by Paul on his solo tours but played a few times during the 2008 tour
- The track began as an acoustic before Brian and Roger got a hold of it.
QUOTES:
"I called "Warboys" as a sub-title "A Prayer To Peace" because I wanted people to understand that it is a prayer for peace; it’s not a glorification of war in any way. I’m of the opinion, when you look back through the history of mankind, there always seems to have been hardwired into us this need for warfare. I wish, I really truly wish, we could transcend that. And live and work the earth as if it was a garden. You know what I mean? And share things. It would be so cool if we were more spiritually aware. It’s been on the back burner for a long time, actually. And I never really got it finished. There’s been a lot of wars, not just the current one. In between starting the writing of that song and its culmination right now, it just seems to be appropriate now. I was playing this for a wonderful lady friend of mine called Cynthia. And I was saying, ‘You know, I’ve got this song, and it just needs a middle eight and goes something like this… ‘ and I said, ‘That’s what it needs.’ And the song was finished right there, you know." - Paul Rodgers - 2008 - Vintage Rock
LIVE IN BERLIN 2008
- Nice live version even if not in great quality
PERSONAL NOTES: A thunderous song that was needed to really rock up the Cosmos Rocks. Powerful and driven. Great rockin' track.
NEXT? Brian's soapbox comes to life in the Disneyesque power ballad, We Believe
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talon
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Post by talon on Apr 21, 2014 3:49:14 GMT -5
We Believe
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, bass guitar (?), keyboards (?), backing vocals
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- Played live on the 2008 tour – the first few times Brian sang the first verse with live versions featuring on 2008 Official Downloads (two versions).
- Released as a single in Italy where it hit #4.
QUOTES:
Can you tell us about other songs [on the new album]?
"This is very much Brian's song, that one, in which I think he sort of puts his views on everything, you know - on the state of everything according to him ... It's very, it's very well meant, you know. 'There's no evil that we didn't have a hand in', I think is quite well put and, yeah, it's a sort of statement."
- Roger Taylor - 2008 - BBC Radio 2
"There's also another called 'We Believe', which is fairly upbeat."
- Brian May - 2008 - Classic Rock Magazine
“This is something that was close to my heart. I wrote it for the Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration, but these things kind of get swept away with the passage of time, and I was really thrilled when Martha (Rossi) said she wanted to do a special version of it for the Italian audience. Raffaella Roll has done an excellent translation and this work has been going on for some time and I’ve taken a little part in it, but not a very big part. Anyway I wanted to congratulate Martha on a fantastic piece of work, which means a lot to me, and I hope we have a great success out there.” – Brian May
ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS
SINGLE PROMO EDIT
- NOT ESSENTIAL but nice
- A ton of instrumental bits were chopped off but it made it an effective radio edit.
UNOFFICIAL LIVE VERSIONS
LIVE IN ROTTERDAM 2008
-ESSENTIAL
- This is one of the first times they did the song and during the first few times, Brian actually sang the first verse allowing Paul to come in on the chorus and for the remainder of the track. After a few times, this would revert to the normal Paul taking on the whole song.
LIVE IN SANTIAGO 2008
- The far more traditional version.
PERSONAL NOTES:
As it can be at times Queen can write some really maudlin, sappy and naive lyrics but I don't mind. It really reads like Obama's campaign promises of that year...and reads a bit like Brian's soapbox. BUT it is also one of the more "Queen"-like tracks on the album with the full on power ballad moments.
NEXT? Another song that had many "Queen" qualities...despite it being written by Paul (and a bit of a repetitive lyric). A bit of son of Crazy Little Thing...this one is Call Me
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talon
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Post by talon on Apr 22, 2014 8:13:56 GMT -5
Call Me
Written by: Paul Rodgers
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian May - acoustic (?) and electric guitars, bass guitar (?), backing vocals
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- Surprisingly a Paul song so obviously Brian and Roger added a lot to it with all the big harmonies.
- This was not attempted live
QUOTES:
Can you tell us about other songs [on the new album]?
“It was actually, it was just sort of one take actually. Paul said, 'Look, I've got this thing', and I was on drums, he was playing [acoustic] guitar, and the basis of it was sort of one take. And it's got that sort of relaxed feel. Brian put some great guitar on it, and it's got that sort of spontaneous spontaneity about it." - Roger Taylor - 2008 - BBC Radio 2
"Paul has contributed some lovely stuff that people might compare to our Sheer Heart Attack days, including a great little ditty called 'Call Me'. I won't say it's like 'Killer Queen' but it has that same lightness." - Brian May - 2008 - Classic Rock Magazine
PERSONAL NOTES Ok, it is a bit repetitive. The lyrics go on and on and on and on. Call Me if you need my love, call me if you need my love, call me if you need my love. That's about it. BUT with that being said it is a fun track. Very fun singalong, strumalong with some great vocal harmonies. All in all one of the most fun track on the album!
NEXT? Paul gets his blues on with Voodoo
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Post by talon on Apr 24, 2014 7:43:52 GMT -5
Voodoo
Written by: Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian May - guitars, bass guitar (?)
Roger Taylor - drums, percussion
- Played live at the end of the 2008 tour with a live version featuring on 2008 Official Downloads.
- Initially a Paul Rodgers song that was played both pre collaboration and post collaboration
QUOTES:
“'Voodoo' was a song I had already when I came into the studio. We really just jammed on it, I picked up an acoustic guitar and played it, then Roger came on the drums,Brian then joined in and we played through it. We recorded the second or third take. It ended up being quite a sparse song with not much instrumentation on it, and, dare I say it, very bluesy, very loose. We didn’t know what we were going to do or sound like, so we were just playing to see what came up.” – Paul Rodgers – Halesowen News.
"Some songs are carefully produced, while some are just a result of a current inspiration. For example, the song 'Voodoo' represents a real jazz session. I began playing the guitar and everybody joined. I think that we have managed to retain a positive atmosphere on that album." - Paul Rodgers - BLIC
LIVE 2008
LIVE IN CHILE
PERSONAL NOTES: Not a very memorable song if I'm honest but not bad at all. It's kind of hypnotic in it's way.
NEXT? Probably THE most Queen song on the album, Some Things That Glitter
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Post by talon on Apr 25, 2014 6:56:08 GMT -5
Some Things That Glitter
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - piano (?), guitars, bass guitar (?), backing vocals
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- Hailed as the most vintage Queen-like song on the album
- Later re-recorded with Kerry Ellis as ‘I Loved A Butterfly’ on Brian and Kerry’s Anthems album and played live with Kerry during the Anthems Tour. This was done acoustically and was far simpler (and we'll discuss it during the Anthems discussion).
- Not played live in it's original format.
QUOTE:
“Some of the songs on the album are different; some are very natural and organic, like ‘Voodoo’, but there are others that are beautifully produced, too: ‘All That Glitters [sic], for example.” – Paul Rodgers – Halesowen News
PERSONAL NOTES: This is the best song on the album I feel. A true Queen ballad. VERY powerful.
NEXT? Roger takes a shot at those who are trying to be famous for being famous' sake...C-Lebrity
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talon
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Post by talon on Apr 28, 2014 9:15:46 GMT -5
C-LebrityWritten by: Roger Taylor Musicians: Paul Rodgers - lead and backing vocals Brian May - guitars, bass guitar, backing vocals Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, backing vocals Taylor Hawkins - backing vocals - Issued as a single backed with a live version of ‘Fire and Water’ in September 2008 in the UK (where it hit #33) on the UK Charts. The Digital download version also contains a live version of ‘The Show Must Go On’ from Japan. - Issued as a single backed with ‘Say It’s Not True’, and a live version of ‘Tie Your Mother Down’ in September 2008 in Germany. - Issued as a promo in the US in September 2008. - Played live throughout the 2008 tour with live versions featuring on Live In Ukraine and 2008 Official Downloads. - A very polarizing song in the Queen community NOW more than ever. Many purist Queen fans now see the band as being very hypocritical. They believe this song is a direct attack on AI and all the contestant type shows. So to tour with someone who rose to fame on such a show is seen as hypocritical. It's worse to appear on said shows. *SHRUG* I can see the point about performing on the shows....BUT I always thought that the band was quite clear that what they didn't like was the format and the judgment and they never slighted the performers...well not all of them. If they are there for the right reasons (like Adam was) than they are fine....I also think the band was more attacking the Paris Hilton/Kardashian type of C-Lebrity - famous for...being famous. QUOTES: "It's to do with the phenomenon of celebrity culture; the desperation to get your face on the telly. The assumption that if somebody becomes famous they'll also be rich is so naïve. It annoys me that there are so many famous, useless people." - Roger Taylor - 2008 - Classic Rock Magazine "C-lebrity is really a comment on the current concept of fame – success and all that goes with it. Getting your face on TV is enough – talent doesn’t really enter into the equation. ‘Celebrity’ is an overused and devalued word today." - Roger Taylor - 2008 - Queen Press Release "I see the song as Rogers’ take on the increasing emphasis on fame for its own sake. It’s quite ironic that Andy Warhol’s statement that everyone will have fifteen minutes of fame is becoming something of a reality, although it may be down to fifteen seconds in today’s world of instant communication." - Paul Rodgers - 2008 - Queen Press Release "I think it’s an interesting lyrical idea, which came from Roger. It was his kind of comment on the . . . Yeah the cult of personality I suppose, and the cult of fame for its own sake, which to us is a very alien concept. I don’t think it really makes people very happy but it’s taken over the world for a little while." - Brian May - 2008 - Bob & Tom Show, US Radio ALTERNATE VERSION ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT VERSION- NOT essential but funny. This is actually more of a promo piece that Entertainment Tonight did on the then upcoming album release. They change the lyrics from I want to be a face on TV to ...a face on ET. It's one of the few promo pieces I ever saw on the non-existent p.r. for the album. - The piece also includes bits of interviews with the boys...a nice piece. OFFICIAL LIVE RELEASE LIVE IN UKRAINE- Not sure why I can't find a better version and just the single song...but obviously the DVD is FAR better  UNOFFICIAL LIVE AL MURRAY SHOW- ESSENTIAL! - This is actually ALL the bits that QPR was involved with on this particular episode but highlighted by the first performance of C-Lebrity. Also includes them doing Free's All Right Now LIVE IN CHILE 2008PERSONAL NOTES: I thought it was a nice ROCKING song to start the collaboration with. Some nice RT/Taylor Hawkins backing vocals there. NEXT? Paul takes us Through The Night
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Post by talon on May 1, 2014 7:07:58 GMT -5
Through The Night
Written by: Paul Rodgers
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead vocals, piano (?)
Brian May - guitars, bass guitar (?)
Roger Taylor - drums
- Another bluesy piano song very typical of Paul Rodgers
- Never attempted live
PERSONAL NOTES:
Meh. Nothing spectacular. It's not a bad song by any means and in some ways soothing, but it's not very memorable.
NEXT? Roger tries again with Say It's Not True
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Post by talon on May 2, 2014 7:08:49 GMT -5
Say It's Not True
Written by: Roger Taylor
Roger Taylor - vocals (1st verse and choruses), drums, keyboards (?), bass guitar (?)
Brian May - vocals (2nd verse and choruses), guitars, bass guitar (?)
Paul Rodgers - vocals (final chorus)
- Issued as a free download-only single for World AIDS Day (and thus not chartable and then later physically without a B-Side in December 2007 in the UK (where it hit #90).
- Older version performed during the 2005-2006 tour, new version performed through 2008, with live versions of the old on the 46664 Concert, Return Of The Champions, and 2005 Official Downloads, as well as a live version of the new way on Live In Ukraine and 2008 Official Downloads.
- Originally written by Roger for 46664 efforts, but rearranged with three lead vocals and a much heavier ending.
- Later on re-recorded again by Roger for his solo album 2013's Fun On Earth
QUOTE
Can you tell us about other songs [on the new album]?
"We've also re-recorded 'Say It's Not True', the one we did as a free download for Nelson Mandela [and his World AIDS Day in 2007], but it now has all three of us singing the verses, and it gets massively heavy at the end." - Roger Taylor - 2008 - Classic Rock Magazine
OFFICIAL RELEASED LIVE VERSION
LIVE IN KHARKOV
UNOFFICIAL LIVE VERSION
LIVE IN CHILE 2008
PERSONAL NOTES:
This is an awesome version of the track. I love trading off three vocalists. Live it works even better, starting out with simply Roger on vocals/drums, joined by Brian, and then by Paul. Beautiful sentimental song.
NEXT? The boys get nostalgic for old school rock and roll as Roger takes us to Surf's Up...School's Out[/u][/u]
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Post by talon on May 3, 2014 7:32:53 GMT -5
Surf's Up...School's Out!
Written by: Roger Taylor
Musicians:
Paul Rodgers - lead and backing vocals, harmonica
Brian May - guitars, bass guitar (?), backing vocals
Roger Taylor - lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, timpani, keyboards (?) , bass guitar (?)
- Initially the beginning sequence was used during the opening of the 2008 tour. It eventually was dropped from the opening slot but the song was still played in the middle of the concerts with live versions featuring on 2008 Official Downloads (four versions).
- A song harkening back to the good old days of rock and roll with the Beach Boys, etc. Features Roger prominently on vocals for the "Follow that dream" part.
LIVE IN CHILE - 2008
- Works well live!
PERSONAL NOTES: It's a silly song, and some might bristly at three men in their 60s talking about school being out and going surfing but they would miss the point. The point was trying to do a song from that era and capture the optimism they contained and following that dream. In that way it worked well and I love Rog's prominent vocals!
NEXT? A reprise of...Small
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