talon
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Post by talon on Aug 14, 2012 10:05:12 GMT -5
Please note: I've decided to go back and add a few things. I've decided to add when the band did a different kind of performance - as in part of a medley instead of the full version - just for comparison. I've also decided to add alternative versions from post 1986 with other singers... So for the record not much has been added from what's already been posted - it will be more important as we go forward. BUT what has been added? Keep Yourself Alive: -Added a vid from Rock In Rio 1985 when it was part of a medley -Added a vid from QPR in Chile in 2008 when Brian added the riff to the beginning of his guitar solo. -- Added a vid from QAL in London 2012 - YES, I am going to include Adam and discuss differences between Adam and Freddie. If you are a bit sensitive to criticism about Adam, I ask you to please take into account that I loved the QAL shows and will go see them if they come to the US, I am a fan of Adam definitely - but of course this is from a Queen fan and a Freddie fanatic like you all are Adam fanatics. I will be fair and I will never slam Adam but I will give my opinion in a non-insulting fashion! But I do prefer Freddie - always have, always will! But it does make for interesting discussion. Hopefully it won't turn anyone against me  Liar- A live version from Japan 1985 where it was part of a medley - A live snippet from Vienna 1986 where Brian played the riff as a nod to the fans before going into another song. I think the alternative live performances will make for interesting discussion as the band has performed with QUITE a few over the year...in fact the We Will Rock You post alone may make for LENGTHY listening! I might need to give you a week to digest that!  In all seriousness I'll have to take it song by song - posting EVERY time they performed with someone might be a bit much so I may choose to just showcase a few of them  |
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 14, 2012 17:29:48 GMT -5
Keep Yourself Alive: -Added a vid from Rock In Rio 1985 when it was part of a medley -Added a vid from QPR in Chile in 2008 when Brian added the riff to the beginning of his guitar solo. Wow! That was an awesome performance. Never heard of this song before until QAL and just love fast version in this live performance. I'm glad you are including Adam's performance and I have no problem with anybody voicing their preference in performance comparison. Personally, I prefer to watch AL's performance as I expected him to perform and also watch FM's as his expected performance. Both can go above and beyond my expectation but comparing them, IMO, is not something I would do. Two different performers, different times, FM had younger bandmates then ;D Were the pace/tempo changed from the original due to: 1. AL decision to interpret it by changing the pace/tempo? or 2. BM and RT' may also also have wanted try out a different vibe? For me, I love both versions. I won't hold it against you if you prefer FM's version ;D because I love it too! ETA: The only time I did compare was my own interpretation of WATC. The evolution of WATC from AI-9 performance to EMA and QAL tour vs FM's Live Aid in '85. Not comparing which one is better but rather how the interpretation affects the listener, IMO I will wait until we get to that song. I was basing it on my perception listening to each performance. I did watch that QPR video where BM added it to his guitar solo. Does it mean PR never performed this song? A little OT... In London 3 where BM added a guitar intro (which I love) in IWTBF was that a sample taken from another song? |
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 14, 2012 18:00:24 GMT -5
Ogre BattleWow! Loving the dramatic intro. Love the first video you posted and what BM said here is more recognizable: "That was a bit of a miracle, actually. They had this massive gong in the studio that Roger hit. When we turned the tape over, the gong sounded great backwards and that sound was going to be at the beginning of the track. That got us wondering what the rest of the track would sound like backwards. Well it sounded very similar. The riff is palindromic; it sounds the same forwards and backwards in the intro and then we seamlessly crossfaded it with the forward track. I don't think it's even a crossfade. I think it's a butt edit and you can't even tell. I used my fingerboard pickup and bridge pickup out of phase for that tone." - Brian May - Guitar Player - 2008 Since I am just getting to know Queen's music, so far this is the Queen's heaviest works. The sound effect is outstanding and for some reason I am imagining first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day)! The ocean waves, the airplane propeller's sound, the soldiers getting ready to dedicate their lives and ready for battle, and the screams. BM's guitar riffs, RT getting crazy with his drums and add FM's dramatic delivery ... Oh, I wish they have performed this live with QAL. OUTSTANDING track. 
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Post by lambo on Aug 14, 2012 18:18:19 GMT -5
Were the pace/tempo changed from the original due to: 1. AL decision to interpret it by changing the pace/tempo? or 2. BM and RT' may also also have wanted try out a different vibe? I've wondered about this re: Dragon Attack. The original is much faster, QAL's is heavier but laid back to "groove" a lot more, and it's something that really suits Adam so I'm thinking it was his idea. |
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talon
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Post by talon on Aug 14, 2012 20:50:42 GMT -5
Wow! That was an awesome performance. Never heard of this song before until QAL and just love fast version in this live performance. Yeah! Live Queen tends to play with tempo just a bit. And during the medley they usually play fast and furious to whip the crowd up... I can agree with that. I enjoy both performances as well for example like I said in this particular incident, I enjoyed Adam's performance of QAL. I just like the more dangerous edge to Freddie's voice in the rockier numbers Just a personal preference. I've wondered about this re: Dragon Attack. The original is much faster, QAL's is heavier but laid back to "groove" a lot more, and it's something that really suits Adam so I'm thinking it was his idea. Figure I'll answer both here. It's a good question that we'll probably never know the answer to unless we meet Brian, Roger, or Adam or hear an interview regarding it. BUT if I had my thoughts...I believe it was probably a mutual decision for a few things. I'm sure Adam wanted to slow things down and make it a bit more slinky and suitable for him. BUT it also probably suited the boys (Roger especially...) for their...shall we say advanced age. There are quotes where even back in the day that Roger said that Dragon Attack was one of the hardest to play live. It was fast, rocking, and needed a TON of stamina. Slowing down the tempo a bit probably made it a bit easier on the elder statesmen drummer Fair enough I wouldn't blame anyone for opinions. I might say they're wrong j/k. I can't wait to read it! I love hearing people's opinions on it things. That is true. The last time the band or anyone from the band performed the song was in 1985 bar an occasional riff by Brian in a guitar solo. So it really had been 27 years since they had last done it when QAL did it!! No, not that I know of. I believe it was a spontaneous thing on the part of Brian. He kind of did it at the first two concert but was full on doing it by Day 3. But yeah I LOVED it. It added a TON to the song imo. I wish he started doing it 25+ years ago! LOVED it. Ogre BattleWow! Loving the dramatic intro. Since I am just getting to know Queen's music, so far this is the Queen's heaviest works. The sound effect is outstanding and for some reason I am imagining first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day)! The ocean waves, the airplane propeller's sound, the soldiers getting ready to dedicate their lives and ready for battle, and the screams. Well, it is a battle! :D But yes it is powerful and ROCKING. Indeed and that's why it was such a fan fav. I too think Adam could have done well with it. Maybe next time? |
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 14, 2012 21:49:24 GMT -5
Talon.... another OT question...
BM - it is well known by his fans that he finished his PhD
FM - he was pursuing Graphic Arts, right?
1. Did he ever graduate or did he drop out after joining the band?
2. Was he responsible for designing the Queen logo?
3. I've read that symbols represent their astrological signs but I can't place the phoenix?
4. Their earlier tour showed a drum with a face. Was that just art or did it represent a person?
5. Did Queen hire a designer for all their customs?
RT - he was pursuing Dentistry. Did he ever finish or dropped out after he joined BM? Of the 4 members he seemed to be the one who was really living up to the life of a rockstar ;D
JD - was he an Electronic Engineer or also dropped out after joining Queen?
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talon
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Post by talon on Aug 14, 2012 23:34:33 GMT -5
Talon.... another OT question... Excellent! Keep 'em coming! :D Yes, he graduated with a diploma in Art and Graphic Design from the prestigious Ealing Art College. Again yes he did. He was always excited to draw. and often doodled on lyrics pages.  - This was Freddie's work on Jimi Hendrix! Good question. That is correct: "You know, I designed the Queen crest. I simply combined all the creatures that represent our star signs-and I don't even believe in astrology." -Freddie Mercury Brian May born 7/19 - Cancer - the Crab John Deacon born 8/19 - Leo - one Lion Roger Taylor born 7/26 - Leo - one Lion Freddie Mercury born 9/5 - Virgo - the Fairy/Nymphs The Phoenix is not part of their astrological sign, just an apt symbol - Symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death...much as Freddie has lived on long after his death. Which one did you mean? If you mean the one in the early 80s during the AOBTD video for example...  it was actually Roger's own face! Close up! I guess he wasn't content hiding behind the drum kit even then BUT as an aside...I like Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) drum kit:  I'm sorry, I don't understand the question here? He pursued Denistry but then switched to Biology as he could get research grants that way...a good way to make a living at the time While it was all basically so he could be in London to pursue rock and roll he did finish a BSc in Biology! John earned a First Class Honours degree in Electronics so yes he was! Of course he only used it in the realm of the band. But he was indeed! All 4 very very intelligent men...one reason I think the music was so good |
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talon
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Post by talon on Aug 15, 2012 8:49:02 GMT -5
I put this in the Olympic Thread but I'll put it here too: I had THE most vivid dream last night - it's rare I dream about the band but anyways and I didn't know where else to put it. In this dream the Closing Ceremony performance was QUITE different and as I think about it I think it was a lost opportunity of sorts... In my dream, instead of the Bo Rhap intro to Imagine, they used the Freddie singalong. THEN at the end, they used the Bo Rhap intro (the remixed version) but then a spotlight went up and it was Elton John on the piano starting the chords off and doing the first line. Then another spotlight came on and Liam Gallagher did the next line...and it went til everyone who was at the ceremony (Yes I know Elton wasn't there..), had done a line or whatever...then the middle section went as per usual Queen concert with the light show (on the chairs and everything) with the camera also showing Olympians all singing along...then the rock part happened and Matt Bellamy from Muse sang the rock section Then as it wound down... Brian went to a mic to sing: Nothing really matters Roger: Anyone can see... The whole cast: Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me..... Then the light goes down and Brian's guitar trails down to the end where there is a big pause. A solitary spotlight shines in the middle and a hologram of Freddie sang Any way the wind blows..... If it went off half as well as it did in my dream it would have been an amazing moment. Ok back to real world discussion but I needed to share this somewhere |
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 15, 2012 8:57:04 GMT -5
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talon
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Post by talon on Aug 15, 2012 9:05:24 GMT -5
Ahh ok. In that case their early 70s frocks were designed (with help from the band) by famous English designer Zandra Rhodes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zandra_Rhodes There are other quotes I can't find off hand where she mentions how Freddie was far more hands on than anyone she ever designed for and how he had his own ideas and wanted them incorporated but how they worked really well together and that he was a genius in his own right
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In all seriousness I'll have to take it song by song - posting EVERY time they performed with someone might be a bit much so I may choose to just showcase a few of them 
