talon
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Post by talon on May 12, 2014 6:52:49 GMT -5
Dangerland
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis - Lead Vocals
Brian May - Guitars, Bass, Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
John Micelli - Drums
- Issued on the B-Side of ‘I’m Not That Girl’ in 2010 in the UK
- Written specifically for the project, it is a moody rocker used to open the live concerts throughout the Anthems tour.
- Some Queen fans suggest that The Cosmos Rocks could have been better if Brian wasn't holding back some material for Kerry, like this track.
LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
- Interesting artistic opening and Brian, for the first time in awhile, getting back into the old glamor mode in his outfit.
PERSONAL NOTES: A great opening to the album. If Brian was holding this back well it worked for him and Kerry. It lends itself to a certain theatricality. All in all an awesome rocker.
NEXT? The title song and theme of the whole project...Anthem
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talon
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Post by talon on May 13, 2014 7:31:00 GMT -5
Anthem
Written by: Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus/Tim Rice
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis – lead vocals, backing vocals
Brian May – arrangement, backing vocals, bass, guitars, piano, keyboards, production
Steve Sidwell – arrangement, orchestra conductor
John Miceli – drums
- Issued as a single with an unknown B-Side in 2010 in the UK (where it did not chart).
- From the musical, Chess, this reworked version is far more rocking and pardon the pun – anthemic.
- Played live throughout the Anthems tour.
Live at the Festival of Remembrance - 2010
- Love this version - not sure why, maybe it was the staging or performing in front of the Queen and Prince Charles
PERSONAL NOTES: One of my favs off this album - it really fit it's reworking like a glove. Powerful track!
NEXT? Brian and Kerry lament I Can't Be Your Friend
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talon
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Post by talon on May 14, 2014 8:29:16 GMT -5
I Can't Be Your FriendWritten by: Brian May/Don Black Musicians: Kerry Ellis - lead vocals Brian May - guitars, bass, piano, keyboards and backing vocals John Micelli - drums - Played live during the Anthems tour and sporadically during the multi year Acoustic by Candlelight tour, with a live version appearing on Acoustic By Candlelight- Written specifically for the project by Brian and famed lyricist Don Black. This collaboration has spurred talk that Brian and Don might write a musical together. OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSION ACOUSTIC BY CANDLELIGHTNO YT VID - Taken from a performance in Corby in 2012 UNOFFICIAL LIVE VERSION LIVE IN SOUTHEND 2011PERSONAL NOTES: A very nice song. Some powerful moments and proof if Brian would concentrate on it Brian could write whole albums again! Get to it Bri!  NEXT? Brian and Kerry are Defying Gravity
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talon
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Post by talon on May 15, 2014 7:52:08 GMT -5
Defying Gravity
Written by: Stephen Schwartz
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis - lead vocals
Brian May - guitar, bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals
Taylor Hawkins - drums
- Performed live throughout the Anthems tour
- From the musical, Wicked, this was the track that sealed the collaboration when performed live in 2008.
- Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters plays drums for his friend.
ALTERNATE VERSIONS
WICKED IN ROCK VERSION
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- From the original EP a few years back
- The only real difference is there is no segue between songs
WICKED IN ROCK INSTRUMENTAL
- NOT ESSENTIAL but nice. Good to hear more of the Doctor.
G.A.Y. REMIX
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A dancy remix - less of Brian. The video is of Thom Yorke of Radiohead put to this song -- Note this is fanmade, not something Thom did.
- Issued as a single backed with the album version and an extended remix in the UK (where it did not chart)
- Remixed by Brian May, Jeremy Joseph, and Craig Jones for a dance club single to benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust
G.A.Y. EDIT
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A slight edit of the Full version.
LIVE IN THE STUDIO
- ESSENTIAL
- Shot by Brian in his studio as Kerry lays down the vocal to the track. Nice to see it done live like that.
LIVE ROYAL VARIETY 2008
- Once again the collaboration that started it all!
PERSONAL NOTES:
I LOVE this song. I can't really listen to the original now as it seems so wimpy in comparison. Brian flexes him muscle and Kerry wails. Very fun track.
NEXT? More Wicked as Kerry states I'm Not That Girl
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talon
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Post by talon on May 16, 2014 7:11:35 GMT -5
I'm Not That Girl
Written by: Stephen Schwartz
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis - lead vocals
Brian May - guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Chris Chaney - bass
Taylor Hawkins - drums
- Issued as a single backed with ‘Dangerland’ in 2010 in the UK (where it did not chart).
- Performed live throughout the Anthems tour.
- From the musical, Wicked.
- Again Taylor Hawkins helps Brian out!
LIVE ON BBC RADIO
PERSONAL NOTES: Another good track from Wicked. Not quite as good as Defying Gravity though!
NEXT? Kerry says You Have To Be There
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talon
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Post by talon on May 17, 2014 7:12:39 GMT -5
You Have To Be There
Written by: Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus/Tim Rice
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis - lead vocals
Brian May - guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Rufus Taylor - drums
- Played live on most of the Anthems tour.
- From the musical Kristina från Duvemåla, reworked by Brian.
LIVE AT RAF CRAMWELL 2011
- NICE version - not much different from the album though
PERSONAL NOTES: Another nice tune. Although I could take or leave this one if I'm to be honest. I'd rather have had another original...but that's me!
NEXT? Brian and Kerry Love It When You Call
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talon
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Post by talon on May 18, 2014 7:33:14 GMT -5
Love It When You Call
Written by: Dan Gillespie Sells/Richard Jones/Kevin Jeremiah/Ciaran Jeremiah/Paul Stewart
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis - vocals
Brian May - guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Rufus Taylor - drums
- Originally by the UK pop rock band, The Feeling
- Reworked by Brian into a power pop song.
- Played live sporadically on the Anthems tour, including a performance where Dan Sells (Feeling vocalist) joined the pair)
ALTERNATE VERSIONS:
LIVE IN THE STUDIO PREVIEW
- Appearing online as part of a tease for the new album, it is just Brian and Kerry in the studio playing with the rhythm section playing in their headphones.
LIVE IN SHEFFIELD 2011 (SNIPPET)
- Doesn't seem like there's any live performances in full left on YT :(
THE FEELING'S ORIGINAL VERSION
PERSONAL NOTES: It is kind of a strange choice. It doesn't fit a lot of the rest of the album and came out of left field a bit. It doesn't mean it's not a fun choice although a bit toooo poppy. But it's a nice arrangement.
NEXT? Kerry does her version of Save Me!
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Post by crazyoldgal on May 18, 2014 19:52:49 GMT -5
Talon
too much info it;s overwhelming but I have a question. You might have discussed this before but I'm not attentive as I should be
My question…How was this band formed? I saw a documentary where Brian mentioned he was looking to form a band, I thought he was at a university. SO how did he meet Roger and Freddie? who named the band Queen?
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talon
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Post by talon on May 19, 2014 6:42:44 GMT -5
Never worry about asking a question that may have been asked before. I tried to make the index during the first post to make it less intimidating, but yeah I do give a lot of info...
Maybe when I'm done chronologically going through song by song, I'll create a FAQ posts with an index as well :D
BUT for now I will gladly answer your question as succinctly as I can:
- Brian had a band in high school called 1984 with a man named Tim Staffell. After the band broke up both Brian and Tim went to university and looked to form a new band. They put up an ad on their university bulletin board looking for a Ginger Baker like drummer.
- Roger had a band called The Reaction which similarly had fallen apart and Roger was shown the ad by a friend. Roger auditioned for Brian and Tim and impressed them so the three formed a band called Smile.
- At this time a young Freddie Bulsara (Mercury) had been hanging around both Brian and Roger (working with Roger at a clothing stall in Kensington Market). He too was flitting through some bands but always really supported Smile, showing up at gigs and giving them advice.
- After Smile got a shitty recording contract, they released a single in the US (why?) which did nothing and never got anywhere further. At this point Tim Staffell was not thrilled with some of the musical direction Brian and Roger were going so combine that with the lack of success, he left Smile and joined Humpy Bong.
- At this point Brian and Roger were unsure they wanted to continue but Freddie jumped in and said he would sing for them. At this point they were still Smile, but they eventually changed their names going through a few in their head. Freddie offered up Queen which is what stuck! They went through a few bassists before finally settling on John Deacon and history was set!
Hope that helps!
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talon
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Post by talon on May 19, 2014 7:40:29 GMT -5
Save Me
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Kerry Ellis - lead vocals
Brian May - guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Rufus Taylor - drums
- A more slick version of the Queen song
- Played live throughout the Anthems tour but not stripped down for the Born Free tour.
ALTERNATE VERSIONS
CAMPAIGN VERSION
- I believe this is the right vid - hard to check at work - It's basically an instrumental version of the new arrangement until the end when Kerry comes in.
- This was developed as an accompaniment to the Save Me website - Brian's organization for animal welfare.
LIVE ON BBC RADIO 2
- I like this version even better than the album version. I love the intro!
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
QUEEN + KERRY ELLIS (FAN MIX)
- A Queen fan who is AMAZING at remixes. He has a website devoted to his remixes has mashed together Queen (with Freddie) and Kerry. Nice outcome!
PERSONAL NOTES:
This is a bit more...sterile than the Queen version. It's well crafted, it's polished, and it works for Kerry. It is not a bad version at all, but it doesn't touch Freddie's. I still would like to see Adam tackle this one.
NEXT? Kerry becomes a Bond girl temporarily singing Diamonds Are Forever
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