I would've loved to be able to have been there to see that.
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[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Adam Baboolal wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I never compare the two versions. But in all honesty, I choose the Queen version cause it feels like so much more than the BTTL version. And I had wished for many years that there'd been a Freddie sung version, and et voila, come 1995, there it was!
Adam.[/QUOTE]
I agreed until it happened. Freddie just sounds so ill by the time he recorded it, that it didn't get the performance that he could have delivered in earlier years. Both versions are sad to me for different reasons - Brian expresses his emotions and Freddie has lost his power. I choose to remember Freddie as a strong life force, so I rarely listen to the Queen version of the song.
Adam.[/QUOTE]
I agreed until it happened. Freddie just sounds so ill by the time he recorded it, that it didn't get the performance that he could have delivered in earlier years. Both versions are sad to me for different reasons - Brian expresses his emotions and Freddie has lost his power. I choose to remember Freddie as a strong life force, so I rarely listen to the Queen version of the song.
People think Brian sang it better than Freddie because Brian sings softer. The hard rock guitarist (Brian) sings softer than the love song writer (Freddie). But, I really think Freddie puts MUCH MORE POWER into it. How can anyone argue with that. Brian sings through the song almost as if he's talking the lyrics out. Freddie SINGS them, and he nails the fucking lyrics better than anyone. Anyone here would most likely be able to imitate Brian's vocals on that song better than they could imitate Freddie. And it's not because Freddie is a one of a kind vocalist, but it's because Freddie sings with such incredible power, it's over the top!
That Freddie is a more powerful vocalist is undeniable. IMHO, his version is almost devoid of emotion (it's Brian's song about Brian's life falling apart so how could Freddie sing it with more emotion?), it seems more like a reading of a script, and it's one of the few songs where I find Freddie's phrasing to be annoying. So more powerful, sure. Better sung and emoted? In the eye of the beholder.
As we're debating Freddie/Brian emotional singing stuff, does anyone else find Brian's version of Love Of My Life on ROTC much more heart-wrenching than Freddie's ever was? Although I don't know if that's Brian's style or just that the song is much more potent given Freddie's fate...
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Fur wrote: [/QUOTENAME]As we're debating Freddie/Brian emotional singing stuff, does anyone else find Brian's version of Love Of My Life on ROTC much more heart-wrenching than Freddie's ever was? Although I don't know if that's Brian's style or just that the song is much more potent given Freddie's fate...[/QUOTE]
I see what you're saying. I think the occasion and circumstances proabably played a large part in raising the emotional level in the ROTC case. On the other hand Brian's voice has always had a vulnerable edge to it compared to Freddie's. Even on his (Freddie's) love songs, I sense a certain vocal'performance' although some of the lyrics are indeed heartfelt. I think he hid his true feelings a little more than Brian does. The LOML from the Queen days developed into a crowd singalong so maybe sounded more uplifting and positive than emotional. That's not taking anything away from Freddie's vocals, I could listen to him all day but Brian only in small doses. Freddie's voice had the ability to bring out emotion in the *listener* so we can put our own interpretation into the songs.
I see what you're saying. I think the occasion and circumstances proabably played a large part in raising the emotional level in the ROTC case. On the other hand Brian's voice has always had a vulnerable edge to it compared to Freddie's. Even on his (Freddie's) love songs, I sense a certain vocal'performance' although some of the lyrics are indeed heartfelt. I think he hid his true feelings a little more than Brian does. The LOML from the Queen days developed into a crowd singalong so maybe sounded more uplifting and positive than emotional. That's not taking anything away from Freddie's vocals, I could listen to him all day but Brian only in small doses. Freddie's voice had the ability to bring out emotion in the *listener* so we can put our own interpretation into the songs.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Fur wrote: [/QUOTENAME]As we're debating Freddie/Brian emotional singing stuff, does anyone else find Brian's version of Love Of My Life on ROTC much more heart-wrenching than Freddie's ever was? Although I don't know if that's Brian's style or just that the song is much more potent given Freddie's fate... [/QUOTE]
I dont think that Brian's version is any better or worse than Freddie's version. Its different in that Brian is singing it for Freddie, and because it is Brian's emotion for his dead friend that shows through.
That said, I have always thought the best version of this song is the studio version on ANATO. Beautiful piano playing and singing on that version.
One song where Freddie definetely wins is In The Lap Of The Gods. Brian did make a valiant attempt at this song (as you can see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3z_Jq4XMt0&mode=related&search= ) but is ultimately (on this occasion at least imho) no Freddie.
I dont think that Brian's version is any better or worse than Freddie's version. Its different in that Brian is singing it for Freddie, and because it is Brian's emotion for his dead friend that shows through.
That said, I have always thought the best version of this song is the studio version on ANATO. Beautiful piano playing and singing on that version.
One song where Freddie definetely wins is In The Lap Of The Gods. Brian did make a valiant attempt at this song (as you can see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3z_Jq4XMt0&mode=related&search= ) but is ultimately (on this occasion at least imho) no Freddie.
I haven't listened to ROTC but I've heard Brian singing LOML in recordings from his solo tours, and I do prefer his voice over Fred's for that one.