Freddie's best/worst live performances

Just another fun topic we can all participate in:

None of these are in order.

BEST:

1. Save Me (12/3/1979): Freddie nails the whole song. It's the closest ever version to the record.
2. See What A Fool I've Been (10/6/1977): Freddie absolutely goes all out--a complete 180 from the studio version.
3. Need Your Loving Tonight (7/14/1980): Freddie aces the whole song.
4. Somebody To Love (12/3/1979): Freddie aces the studio phrasing in spots--plus he register switches to Head Voice (rare).
5. Bohemian Rhapsody (12/4/1979): Freddie nails most of the song-plus he gets the C5 in the rock section.
6. A Kind Of Magic (6/11/1986 or 6/12/1986--can't decide which is better): Freddie hits most of the studio notes
7. In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited (6/17/1986): Freddie sings in closed vowels on "funny." Plus he doesn't shout the notes.
8. Hammer To Fall (7/13/1985): Freddie nails the song the closest to the studio version.
9. We Are The Champions (7/13/1985): Freddie nails the chorus on Bb4s (only time he does so).
10. Radio Ga Ga (7/13/1985): Freddie aces the song.

WORST:

1. In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited (3/24/1976): Worst version of the song (cracked notes, wrong key, lyric flubs, etc).
2. Sweet Lady (3/26/1976): Worst version of the song.
3. Get Down Make Love (5/1/1979): Monotone voice in the wrong key.
4. Bohemian Rhapsody (4/23/1979, 4/28/1979, 4/30/1979,  5/1/1979): All are worse than 4/25/1979--no joke.
5. Don't Stop Me Now (4/28/1979): Cracking to 5 different notes isn't good!
6. We Are The Champions (5/1/1979): Freddie doesn't sing half the song--and the parts he does sing are bad.
7. Staying Power (4/17/1982): Worst Version of the song.
8. Body Language (11/3/1982): I love the cracks throughout.
9. It's A Hard Life (9/7/1984): The intro is legendary.
10. Another One Bites The Dust (9/29/1984): Worst version ever.

I think you gotta add Bohemian Rhapsody from the Champions shoot and Glasgow 12/1/1979 to that list.

I think these are my 5 live favorites:

- Is This The World We Created.........? (Live Magic)
- It's a Hard Life (Rock in Rio)
- '39 (Live Killers)
- In the Lap of the Gods..........revisited (Live at Wembley '86)
- White Queen (Live at the Rainbow '74)

jamster1111 wrote: I think you gotta add Bohemian Rhapsody from the Champions shoot and Glasgow 12/1/1979 to that list.
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I was just naming 10 random performances. Add them to your list! haha

For me Now I'm Here 12/26/79 is the best

A few of my favourites:

- Dreamers ball: May 6 1979 Sapporo: some of my favourite re-interpretations by Freddie
- It's a hard life: Osaka May 15 1985: very emotional rendition of this song. FM's range was pretty limited but even with this limited range he managed to sing this song so beautifully
I also adore Somebody to love from this show. His intro is wonderful...
- Spread your wings: December 14 1978
- Somebody to love: Buenos Aires March 8 1981: very intense performance
- I want to break free: Brussels August 24 1984
- Another one bites the dust: Montreal November 24 1981
- Save me: London december 8 1980
- Fat bottomed girls: december 8 1980
- spread your wings: Copenhagen april 13 1978
- it's late: Tokyo april 24 1979:-)
- we will rock you: sapporo october 29 1982

Every show was the worst - they really were a joke, live.

Nagoya 1985 has an awesome version of I Want To Break Free (He actually hits the bridge B4)!

Very stunning live performances:
It's a Hard Life (Brussels/1984) - even better than the album version I think
Bohemian Rhapsody (Montreal/1981) - to me this is the best live performance of this song
In the Lap of the Gods...Revisited (Rainbow Theatre/1974) --- very close to the album version

Zebonka12 wrote: Every show was the worst - they really were a joke, live.
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XD

The first four versions of It's A Hard Life are awesome (especially Brussels). Stay away from 9/7! haha

Rio first night is also good, and the 5/8 and 5/9 Japan versions are fantastic!

This is the best version of the song ever. Freddie nails pretty much everything--and aces the bridge!

Zebonka12 wrote: Every show was the worst - they really were a joke, live. .

Ha ha ! - nice one.

The only "good" show was 12/4/1979.

XD

@ gregsynth is that the first Leiden show 11/06/86 ?