(untitled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjkDo3_IJEQ

This video was put together by a friend: This is exactly how NOT to sing Killer Queen--and why Japan 1979 had better versions!

Freddie was advised after Rio by his GP (doctor) not to perform anymore due too his HIV relative things. So he kind of forbidden the MAGIC tour  I read somewehere in Phoebe's book that by 1985 a kind of strange 'mushroom' shaped thing grew in the back of his mouth that affected his singing quality dramaticly. It's the book by author Lesley-Ann Jones.

That sounds like his Lymph nodes were swollen!

Bad Seed wrote: Do you know I disagree. A year or two ago I would have agreed but the more I listen to the Magic tour the more I think it was his worst tour of all. 
Alot of the songs he struggles with on the Works were dropped for the Magic tour. Take STL, pretty bad for alot of the Works show's, but I cant imagine any Magic tour show where he would have put in a performance even as good as the first night in Rio. Could you imagine a Magic tour version of that! 
I know he hit the odd C5 on the Magic tour but even in those shows he struggles and bark's his way through almost everything.
When he was good on the Works he was very good (even sounding '82ish at times), when he was bad it was dreadful.
To me, he was pretty dreadful throughout the Magic tour.
And lets not forget that the Works was a significantly longer and more demanding tour.
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For some reason I don't remember reading this comment, but I'll reply:

The early Magic gigs sing circles around most of the Works Tour stuff: While I can agree on the struggling/barking, that's just for most of the later half of the dates. Gigs like Stockholm, Leiden and Brussels have Freddie in brilliant voice, and most of the songs that still remained from the Works Tour was better. Tear It up was TERRIBLE on the Works Tour about 70% of the time (Freddie cracks, squeals, hits wrong notes, etc), while he nails the song on most Magic Tour gigs. Tie Your Mother down kicked ass on the Magic Tour (Freddie actually hits the notes instead of modulating down to the 3rd octave), The 1986 versions of Bo Rhap piss on the 1984-1985 versions (not counting Live Aid), because he actually sang the 1st verse right--and didn't hit random notes in the rock section. Another One Bites The Dust sucked on the Works Tour (the electronic drums, Freddie couldn't hit the notes to save his life, ete), while he totally owns the song on the Magic Tour (even on his weaker gigs).

I Want To Break Free, Hammer To Fall, and Seven Seas Of Rhye were better (overall), on the Works Tour. However, most of the "worst" versions of these songs were from that tour: Stay away from 9/4, 9/5, 9/7, 9/8, 9/10, 9/21, 9/22, and 9/29. Those gigs are honestly the worst I've EVER heard Freddie sing in the 80s. As for the Magic Tour, there's only a few "bad" gigs for Freddie (Zurich, Marbella, etc), but his worst on the 1986 tour, isn't as bad as his worst 1984-1985 gigs.

Cheers!

-Gregsynthbootlegs

My pennies worth this is from Japan 1985

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9p_ECoEHLs

I don't know which date but it is Tokyo as that's where the venue is so either 08/09/11 of May

Budapest 86

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqfqIPTutAc

After listening to both (& on the Japan gig I went up to Now I'm Here) I can honestly say Freddie sounded far better in 1986

You should never forget, that the concerts were also about the show.

And a show with the size of the Magic Tour stage demands a lot more of energy for running around than maybe a club concert.
Also the hearing is different cause of the wide acoustics.
All this influences the vocal performance. Just compare to the Rolling Stones how Jagger still sang on smaller stages and how he "spoke" his lyrics when he ran all over the big stadium stages.    

Also never forget that people sometimes simply have a cold. Which is a nightmare for every singer. It costs a fortune to cancel a show, so bands try to avoid this and perform even when they are pretty sick. And voice problems from a cold or a flu can last for weeks and make a whole leg of a tour sound terrible.

maxpower wrote: My pennies worth this is from Japan 1985

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9p_ECoEHLs

I don't know which date but it is Tokyo as that's where the venue is so either 08/09/11 of May

Budapest 86

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqfqIPTutAc

After listening to both (& on the Japan gig I went up to Now I'm Here) I can honestly say Freddie sounded far better in 1986
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That Japan concert is the 5/11/1985 concert. Freddie was stronger on 5/8 and 5/9!

I can't add anything on here as folks have said it all, but it's just a shame that the Set List from 'The Works' Tour wasn't swapped for the 'Magic' Tour Set List as you would have a great sounding (in most parts) Freddie with the best Set List I think they ever did - always thought the extended acoustic set was fun to them if a tad boring to us.

VS This is an example of what I'm talking about!

& the point is I'm confused haha

maxpower wrote: & the point is I'm confused haha

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The point is that 1986 Freddie, sings circles around 1984 Freddie! :)