talon
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Post by talon on Oct 30, 2014 8:32:16 GMT -5
Roger Taylor - Best
A little history
A long time coming, Roger releases a best of compilation, a year after a career retrospective box set in The Lot (of which I'll detail soon along with 2000's Freddie Mercury Box Set.) Best was hand picked by Roger according to the liner note as to be the best loved tracks of his solo career that does NOT include any material recorded with The Cross. It is only from his five solo albums and his initial solo single. It does, imo, offer a fair introduction into Roger's solo material with his first solo single, a few of his 80s tracks which have aged well despite some synth heavy moments and his 90s material which date very nicely and including two songs from his 2013 album as well. There are some songs that are surprisingly not included - including some that were singles at the time (such as My Country or Pressure On) but overall it's a good selection. My only criticism is that I wish they had shaken up the track listing a bit so it wasn't 99% chronological. If you switch up tracks 1-2 you get a complete chronological order. But I digress. Tracks
1. Future Management (You Don't Need Nobody Else) (Taylor) 2. I Wanna Testify (Taylor/Clinton/Taylor) 3. Let's Get Crazy (Taylor) 4. Magic Is Loose (Taylor) 5. Strange Frontier (Taylor) 6. Man On Fire (Taylor) 7. Beautiful Dreams (Taylor) 8. Nazis 1994 (Taylor) 9. Foreign Sand (Taylor/Yoshiki) 10. Everybody Hurts Sometimes (Taylor) 11. Happiness (Taylor) 12. Surrender (Taylor) 13. Where Are You Now? (Taylor) 14. A Nation Of Haircuts (Taylor) 15. Tonight (Taylor) 16. No More Fun (Taylor) 17. The Unblinking Eye (Everything Is Broken) (Single Version) (Taylor) 18. Sunny Day (Taylor)
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Post by talon on Oct 22, 2014 9:35:11 GMT -5
[They already dropped DOML for most of Asia Pacific. They switched it to AKOM in most of the concerts. I am not sure if this was directed at my comment because I did NOT post that Adam should sing substantially more. To repeat my three points more bluntly and hopefully more clearly: 1. LOML with Freddie is a beautiful moment, no need to add more. IMO adding another Freddie video for TSMGO (as Talon posted was considered) would be overkill. 2. I think the nostalgia video and DOMY was not effective. Q+AL did not include this song in most of the Asia-Pacific shows and I prefer that setlist. I prefer Roger singing AKOM. 3. The only addition I would like to hear is to have Adam sing the last part of Bohemian Rhapsody without the Freddie video -- I am not generally a fan of live singer-video duets and it is not needed here. I do NOT expect this to happen, I do NOT believe this is a universal preference, it is just my preference. I referred to the section of the NA concert setlist that dragged a bit as the "non-Adam section" because it was the part without Adam. But just to be super-clear, there is a difference between me not wanting to watch/listen to video tape of singers, even Freddie, in concert and me wanting Adam to sing more. I am a Queen fan and I want to see and hear Brian, Roger and Neil perform, too. I didn't think you meant that I know how much of a Queen fan you are But just to say: 1. I want to clarify that I didn't think it *SHOULD* be added, nor was I saying they were considering it now. It was considered PRIOR to NA when thinking of adding a second "Freddie" moment. They nixed the Show Must Go On idea and went instead with Freddie during Love Of My Life. So no worries I think! 2. Hey that's cool :D I just thought it was very effective It was a nice way to showcase the band as a whole rather than a Freddie moment. Seeing the band in their hey day. I love Rog singing Magic too. In fact in 2012 when he did it in Hammersmith, I thought it was the best it sounded in years (although I do hold a soft spot for seeing him drum and sing that one ) I personally hope he does both. 3. I understand I really hope Brian goes back to the Hammersmith performances and see how well received his "song of the day" was and does more of those...imagine the numbers he could slide in - White Queen - Dreamers Ball - Best Friend - Long Away - Good Company - Too Much Love - No One But You....
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Post by talon on Oct 22, 2014 9:17:31 GMT -5
^ I agree with that. Although I believe the impetus of the change was more that AKOM and I Want To Break Free are NOT songs done often in North America. NA doesn't really know those songs as well. When QPR came through AKOM was dropped before the tour and Break Free like 6 gigs in. I know Roger loves AKOM and Break Free and often performs them at his solo gigs so he probably tried to get them back in once they left America! I think Dragon Attack might have been brought in to avoid the two power ballads in a row, especially at the end of the tour. AND Adam loves it. I also though think it is back in to stay and will not be in the bass solo All I know is I would expect LOML/39 to stay as is. Brian is a creature of habit and this is always one of his own highlights. As for the other non-Adam sections, as I said I wouldn't be surprised if Rog got Days AND Magic in the middle there, ala 2012.
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Post by talon on Oct 22, 2014 8:24:19 GMT -5
So I had a chat with a source who said that when they added the Love Of My Life "Freddie moment", it was partially because of the huge reaction Freddie got whenever he appeared on the screen. They thought Bo Rap was definitely a Freddie moment, but they had toyed with finding a second. They obviously settled on Love Of My Life which is PERFECT. BUT what he revealed was that they had considered adding him to a piece of The Show Must Go On...particularly giving him the bridge as a moment. Now they obviously decided against it and for good reason....in the set it's too close to Bo Rap anyways...BUT I decided to try to throw a remix together to see how it could have sounded....it's kind of cool. It's a bit rough because I have no REAL audio mixing tools and obviously I don't have any multitracks but it's still kind of fun. I would love to have heard a true duet between the two... The Show Must Go On (QAL wF)
Because it was fun, I may do some other duet moments....we'll see :D Thankfully they did not insert a video clip into TSMGO. IMO there is enough [maybe too much] video in the show as it is. I am there for a live show, not to watch and listen to videos. There are more than enough Queen nostalgia shows out there. For me, the show would be better if the Freddie video was used once during LOML. That is an effective, moving moment. I saw the show quite a number of times in both the US and Canada, and the band video section during TWTDOOL always drains energy out of the building. It is the one song I would cut completely but if it makes Roger happy it is OK with me. Bores the audience, every time. Finally, BoRhap -- the duet is nice, IMO Queen + Adam just performing the song live would be better with just the head video. >> I expect to see both the LOML and the BoRhap Freddie videos. **** Since the UK + Europe shows have a GA floor, I am wondering if they will cut that long section in the middle (the no Adam part) and make it more lively. Perhaps cutting the bass solo? Interesting from different perspectives. While I am glad they did not add Freddie to TSMGO, I thought it was still cool to hear once :D All 3 shows I went to had Days of Our Lives as a highlight. People aren't going to go crazy for a quiet introspective song, but the crowds I were sitting with were pretty transfixed and loving it...It was the only time John was seen on screen as well (minus the talking head Bo Rap part). LOML and Bo Rap will definitely be there. As for cutting the No Adam part? I *HIGHLY* doubt it. I think if anything it would have been cut more for America than Europe, being Adam's home turf, and Queen's latter day struggles...If anything I wouldn't be surprised if Roger got another number...Remember in 2012 in Europe Rog got Days of Our Lives AND A Kind Of Magic during that section. I hope they don't cut the bass solo...I would love to see Neil vary it up - throw in a few different numbers a night...I mean it's literally like a 3 minute "solo" of obscure Queen riffs but I know that's just me He did vary it more during 2012. When he brought it back in 2014 he varied a bit at first but eventually settled into the Nevermore-Don't Try Suicide-Body Language-Dragon Attack run (well at least til QAL started doing Dragon Attack again)
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Post by talon on Oct 22, 2014 7:17:24 GMT -5
And here's #2. Although Adam does a phenomenal job with WWTLF, I always wanted to see QAL use the arrangement of the track that they used during the Freddie Tribute concert with Seal performing...SO I took Hammersmith 3's WWTLF (my fav) and at the end mixed in the Seal arrangement. Unfortunately I don't have Adam singing in that arrangement so it'll take a little imagination but I love this arrangement....and all of Adam's glory notes are intact QAL + Seal
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Post by talon on Oct 22, 2014 6:46:36 GMT -5
So I had a chat with a source who said that when they added the Love Of My Life "Freddie moment", it was partially because of the huge reaction Freddie got whenever he appeared on the screen. They thought Bo Rap was definitely a Freddie moment, but they had toyed with finding a second. They obviously settled on Love Of My Life which is PERFECT. BUT what he revealed was that they had considered adding him to a piece of The Show Must Go On...particularly giving him the bridge as a moment. Now they obviously decided against it and for good reason....in the set it's too close to Bo Rap anyways...BUT I decided to try to throw a remix together to see how it could have sounded....it's kind of cool. It's a bit rough because I have no REAL audio mixing tools and obviously I don't have any multitracks but it's still kind of fun. I would love to have heard a true duet between the two... The Show Must Go On (QAL wF)
Because it was fun, I may do some other duet moments....we'll see :D
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Post by talon on Oct 21, 2014 6:12:59 GMT -5
From yesterday's thread Just strange I'm watching 1986 Highlander starring christopher Lambert and Sean Connery (Battle of the Immortals) weel,, what do I hear??? WWTLF Freddie version….. Talon...well, biased I am but I really prefer AFL's version sorry…. Surprised also that they sang a good bit of the song.., back to watching Who Wants To live Forever
Yes QUeen did the soundtrack for Highlander. The A Kind of Magic is about half filled with Highlander tracks.
A Kind Of Magic, One Year Of Love, Who Wants To Live Forever, Gimme The Prize, Don't Lose Your Head, Princes Of The Universe are all from the film.
Brian saw a rough cut of the film and was touched by the idea that an immortal falling in love with a mortal was one of the most heartbreaking things he could think of...He'd have to live forever and watch the love of his life get ravaged by time.
THe film does include the only version of Freddie singing the first verse as in the single and album version, Brian sings the first verse.
As far as liking AFL's version better, that's fine we all have our own (sometimes wrong ) opinions
I will say though if there was one song that Adam put his stamp on it was this one. He does a great job with almost all the catalogue , but this was the one that, imo really compared to the original in terms of emotional delivery and that says a lot coming from me...
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talon
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Post by talon on Oct 21, 2014 6:12:21 GMT -5
Just strange I'm watching 1986 Highlander starring christopher Lambert and Sean Connery (Battle of the Immortals) weel,, what do I hear??? WWTLF Freddie version….. Talon...well, biased I am but I really prefer AFL's version sorry…. Surprised also that they sang a good bit of the song.., back to watching Who Wants To live Forever
Yes QUeen did the soundtrack for Highlander. The A Kind of Magic is about half filled with Highlander tracks.
A Kind Of Magic, One Year Of Love, Who Wants To Live Forever, Gimme The Prize, Don't Lose Your Head, Princes Of The Universe are all from the film.
Brian saw a rough cut of the film and was touched by the idea that an immortal falling in love with a mortal was one of the most heartbreaking things he could think of...He'd have to live forever and watch the love of his life get ravaged by time.
THe film does include the only version of Freddie singing the first verse as in the single and album version, Brian sings the first verse.
As far as liking AFL's version better, that's fine we all have our own (sometimes wrong ) opinions
I will say though if there was one song that Adam put his stamp on it was this one. He does a great job with almost all the catalogue , but this was the one that, imo really compared to the original in terms of emotional delivery and that says a lot coming from me...
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Post by talon on Oct 10, 2014 12:12:47 GMT -5
I suppose if they start adding Dick Pick of the Day as a feature, I will concede. Ha! Well played, Lady. Touche
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Post by talon on Oct 10, 2014 9:58:05 GMT -5
I entered as well, but seriously random rock station ... thong of the day, really? Now I know that even old rockers never grow up. *rolls eyes, shakes head, sighs* Nothing wrong with the thong of the day If you gals can look at the glambulge then so be it!
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