One Year of Love- Did Queen get it all wrong?

One Year of Love has always been a favorite of mine. Although sometimes slagged off by fans as being too sappy, it's Freddie's vocal that carried it for me. I never quite cared for the sax solo- a tasteful Brian solo would have clearly topped that. But as I was just thinking about the song, I remembered the Stevie Ann version that knocked me for a loop when I heard it some time ago.
Could it be that Queen got it all wrong, and over-produced the song? I know there is a more subtle version, albeit shorter, in Highlander. But would it have gained a certain cachet if it had been stripped down with just Brian on acoustic and Freddie on vocals and/or piano? I think it could have been a highlight of the Magic tour- performed just like LOML and Is This the World We Created? Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and perhaps the band made the right choice. For those uninitiated, here is one of the wonderful Stevie Ann versions....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BC1DXkb97fI&feature=related

Yes, I think you're absolutely right. And that's not the only case where a little less had been more. That's why I like most live versions of Quen's songs better than the studio productions.

I agree, I think the vocals are amazing on this song but the rest of it is laid on a little heavy. I heard the extended version too but that doesn't improve on the original either-simplicity is the key with this track. There are some really talented fan mixers on here, I wonder if they could work some magic on it?

An orchestral arrangement would have been Fab!

... a matter of personal taste of course, but I love it *because* it is so heavily laden.

"Stripped down", it is a lovely, heartfelt ballad.

The way it is, it doesn't just speak of romantic love: it has the sudden blood rush and thick taste of desire.

That unspoken shiver of lust, waiting to burst out just under the surface, is exactly what singled it out for me in the entire "Highlander" movie.

While the beauty of the images made me take no notice at all of WWTLF, just to name one...

IMVHO of course

Sappy ballad, further ruined by a sax solo instead of a screaming red special geetar solo!

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]jcomber wrote: [/QUOTENAME]An orchestral arrangement would have been Fab![/QUOTE]

Agree totally, It would be nice to do some layered guitar work together with the Deacy Amp like in the solo part of love of my life for example.

I know it's blasphemy here, but I think the problem with the song is the lead vocals. This is a nice little ballad, well done by the girl you posted, but Freddie's screaming at the top of his lungs in parts of the Queen version. I think the best change would have been lowering the key a step or two and let Freddie wrap his voice around it instead of using to test the upper register of his range.

For another example, compare the studio version of Spread Your Wings with the Live Killers version. It is so much more emotional and effective when Freddie just sings it (Live Killers) instead of showing off his range (studio). Although, if you're blessed with that range and power, it would be hard not to show it off as much as possible!

If you've got it, flaunt it - right Freddie? ;)

I like the song but I think Freddie's vocals on it are a bit OTT at times. Now I know Freddie was known for being over the top and all that but it seems too much on the song. The saxaphone is too slushy for me as well.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Bijou In Queens Crown wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I think Freddie's vocals on it are a bit OTT at times.[/QUOTE]... lust is OTT, by definition...

Hmm, it's quite nice in Stevie Ann form I must say. Who knows, maybe the next tour would have brought it out for the acoustic set, had there been one :)

But I don't think Queen got anything wrong.. something like this would have seemed rather odd within the AKOM album I think. I like the album version as it is (as well as the extended mix which actually does have an 'orchestral' element).

The only thing wrong with the original track in my opinion is the nasty glitch around 3:14.. a bad edit in the backing track maybe, I dunno.

Topics like these make me laugh. One Year of Love was written for a movie! It was supposed to be a sappy love ballad. I think it's a beautiful song...beutifully written, sung, and musically, especially the sax solo! LOVE IT!

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME] .....ASSDUDE...... wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color="black">Rogers Queen? wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Topics like these make me laugh. One Year of Love was written for a movie! It was supposed to be a sappy love ballad. I think it's a beautiful song...beutifully written, sung, and musically, especially the sax solo! LOVE IT![/QUOTE]


But.... I still love you.... doesnt that count for something????? lol :)
[/QUOTE]

hahaha..you...you always make me smile lol. Aww that's so sweet. Of course that counts azza...hahahaha lol =P

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]drwinston wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I know it's blasphemy here, but I think the problem with the song is the lead vocals. This is a nice little ballad, well done by the girl you posted, but Freddie's screaming at the top of his lungs in parts of the Queen version. I think the best change would have been lowering the key a step or two and let Freddie wrap his voice around it instead of using to test the upper register of his range.

[/QUOTE]

That's another way of looking at it I suppose but I think the claim that he was 'screaming at the top of his lungs' is a bit of a hyperbole. It was certainly a slightly different vocal performance from Freddie but I think it was a good platform for him to try a more soulful style of singing.
Support for Stevie-Ann's version seems unanimous and I'm probably alone here but I find her vocal style just a tad generic. That 'yodel' like warble she uses especially at the end of phrases seems to be widespread among female singers today. I'm not saying they can't sing, it's just not distinctive and unique.

Many of Queen's later ballads were too loud for my taste. One Year of Love, It's A Hard Life and A Winter's Tale come to mind. For some reason, Queen allowed a loud, unbridled vocal to replace an emotive one. For me, Freddie's biggest weakness as a lead singer was his lack of restraint.

Imagine if he applied the "Over Year of Love" treatment to These Are The Days of Our Lives. Yikes.