What is the best live version of Another One Bites The Dust (Debate Topic)

I've really been listening to this song throughout all the tours (The Game through the Magic Tours), and I was wondering what is the best version of the song live (overall)? Here's some nominees (chronological order):

New York (9/28/1980): Freddie nails the whole first verse and chorus like the record (the phrasing)

Brussels (12/13/1980): Freddie nails all the B4s in the song--and is one of the few versions where he does album phrasing on the chorus (he sings Another One Bites The Dust on G4, A4, B4--like a stair-step).

Monterrey (10/9/1981): Freddie hits alot of the high notes + an awesome improv section (Back Chat)

Montreal (11/25/1981): Freddie gets most of the notes--plus his tone is fantastic

Vienna (5/12/1982): Similar to Montreal's version--plus Freddie hits a D5 in the first chorus (no joke)

Mannheim (6/21/1986): Freddie does an awesome improv in the middle section. He also displays tons of chest power, and hits an ad-libbed C#5 in one of the chorus parts

Munich (6/29/1986): Freddie nails all the B4s in the song + a very nice improv section

Cologne (7/19/1986): All-round excellent performance

Both Vienna gigs (both have awesome improv sections--the first Vienna has more high notes being hit)

Budapest (7/27/1986): All-round excellent performance

Knebworth (8/9/1986): Awesome performance, plus many fans high this version highly!

DEBATE!

I have read somewhere that the one performed at Knebworth (in the Live Magic album)  is the best live performance of the song and I agree with it.

I always liked the first night at Wembley version. They seem very relaxed and Deaky does some nice things when they 'improvise'.

Buenos Aires 81 small clip shown on Rare Live Concert, excellent catchy version with guitars sounding a-mazing
 + Freddie and Roger too.
 Slash became the Brian May imitator with the tall hat.

Knebworth... no contest.  Freddie could never do the vocal line justice live (although sometimes he came close, as Greg has so thoroughly researched), so adding the crowd singalong was perfect for the song and the setting of the tour.  And there was something magical about this last version... it's just so musical in every way.

Bob: I totally disagree. Montreal (the one on the release) is by far the best version. He gets every note perfectly and cleanly with amazing precision. Plus it has a good improv as well. I've never heard any version where he sings it like that. Knebworth's is great but to me, no song is ever the best version when he was that deep voice.

jamster1111 wrote: Bob: I totally disagree. Montreal (the one on the release) is by far the best version. He gets every note perfectly and cleanly with amazing precision. Plus it has a good improv as well. I've never heard any version where he sings it like that. Knebworth's is great but to me, no song is ever the best version when he was that deep voice.
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Brussels is better. There he hits every note (plus has better phrasing). Montreal is the best "official version" though.

Not mentioned yet (I think): Buenos Aires 08/03/1981. I really like that version, great interaction with the audience (and lovely bass-sounds:-)

Isn't that the version where Maradona gets introduced? That's also a great version!

There's much more to a performance than what notes a singer hits.  If that's all you guys are looking at when rating performances, you're completely missing the point of what live music is all about.

Sir GH wrote: There's much more to a performance than what notes a singer hits.  If that's all you guys are looking at when rating performances, you're completely missing the point of what live music is all about.
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Which is why I think most of the best versions (and some of my favorite versions) are from the Magic Tour. They have awesome improv sections. The way I judge best versions (you can hear this on the Skype debates), is by a criteria (not in order):

1. Freddie's vocal phrasing
2. Comparisons to other live versions (better solo, better improv, etc)
3. Studio comparisons
4. Freddie's note choices/interpretations

I don't like montreal version, it sounds overdubbed a lot, i mean in some parts you can actually hear two freddie voices together, at least that's what i hear.
I mean he's in great shape, but the part "hey gonna get you too another one bites the dust" sounds clearly overdubbed/effected.

Wes90 wrote: I don't like montreal version, it sounds overdubbed a lot, i mean in some parts you can actually hear two freddie voices together, at least that's what i hear.
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Interesting. What parts sound overdubbed?

Gregsynth wrote: Wes90 wrote: I don't like montreal version, it sounds overdubbed a lot, i mean in some parts you can actually hear two freddie voices together, at least that's what i hear.
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Interesting. What parts sound overdubbed?

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I just edited the post, i hear it when he sings "hey gonna get you too another one bites the dust".
But it's not that he doesn't hit the note, it just makes it stronger.

Here's Montreal's version: I'm listening to the parts you mentioned. I only hear Freddie and Roger sing that part, but what's interesting is that, he's doing the line with that same "aggressive" tone that he did on Bohemian Rhapsody (which turned out to be overdubbed vocals--as pointed out by Bad Seed, and the Audience Recording/We Will Rock You release). I guess it could go either way!