A version of Somebody to Love...i need your opinions on it.

Gregsynth wrote:

Then how do you judge a performance? Technical performance and the emotional/passion performance are both important.

===================

Not when you're at the show it isn't.  Only the latter matters.

If you're busy analyzing every note being played at a concert, then you're completely missing the point.

Sir GH wrote: Gregsynth wrote:

Then how do you judge a performance? Technical performance and the emotional/passion performance are both important.

===================

Not when you're at the show it isn't.  Only the latter matters.

If you're busy analyzing every note being played at a concert, then you're completely missing the point.
=======================

That's a moot point--both of us were not at the MSG 1982 show. We have audience recordings of the show--not the same thing as actually being there. The only "true" way to rate a performance, is to analyze it. I wasn't caring about the notes or anything at the Rush concert I attended. Only when I got the recording, did I study it.

This version right here, is a truly passionate and creative version. Tons of very soulful phrasing, and some of the best phrasing on the song. MSG may be a legendary venue--but that version of the song, just isn't that good overall (it's too fucking FAST and RUSHED--not passionate at all).

The thing is though, even if people analyse every moment of a gig, they have a great point to as then people can come to really strong conclusions about stuff and I have to agree with Greg that MSG 82's version isn't the best but it is emotional but I go with 11/17/1978 because he sounds sweeter (even though it's the Jazz tour!) I mean we're not gonna listen to gigs like Japan 1979 and say "Oh my god! Freddie sounded so emotional on 4/23/1979!" If anyone does, I'll be amazed!

Also take into account that at a concert, you will notice a bad guitar solo or barked/cracked  notes. I would rather hear Freddie not going for all the the notes than one where he has to shout and bark them out. On the American leg of the Jazz tour, Freddie was becoming more creative with note choices in STL to make up for the lack of range. I personally don't like the Jazz tour, but there are tons of performances that are more passionate and less likely to give you ear cancer like MSG '82's version will. Hitting notes flat != best version.

And yes, I've been to MSG, it's a great venue with a passionate atmosphere.

tsskiller wrote: Also take into account that at a concert, you will notice a bad guitar solo or barked/cracked  notes. I would rather hear Freddie not going for all the the notes than one where he has to shout and bark them out. On the American leg of the Jazz tour, Freddie was becoming more creative with note choices in STL to make up for the lack of range. I personally don't like the Jazz tour, but there are tons of performances that are more passionate and less likely to give you ear cancer like MSG '82's version will. Hitting notes flat != best version.

And yes, I've been to MSG, it's a great venue with a passionate atmosphere.
=================

Well said. The later Jazz 1978 gigs (Chicago, Vancouver, etc), are brilliant examples of Freddie being passionate and creative (at the expense of range). I'd rather listen to those versions of Somebody To Love over MSG 1982. Sorry, barking out notes, being RUSHED, and Brian completely fucking up the guitar parts is not passionate. It's a sloppy version overall.

formulaone+queenmad wrote: The thing is though, even if people analyse every moment of a gig, they have a great point to as then people can come to really strong conclusions about stuff and I have to agree with Greg that MSG 82's version isn't the best but it is emotional but I go with 11/17/1978 because he sounds sweeter (even though it's the Jazz tour!) I mean we're not gonna listen to gigs like Japan 1979 and say "Oh my god! Freddie sounded so emotional on 4/23/1979!" If anyone does, I'll be amazed!
==============

4/23's Bo Rhap is very emotional.

Gregsynth wrote: tsskiller wrote: Also take into account that at a concert, you will notice a bad guitar solo or barked/cracked  notes. I would rather hear Freddie not going for all the the notes than one where he has to shout and bark them out. On the American leg of the Jazz tour, Freddie was becoming more creative with note choices in STL to make up for the lack of range. I personally don't like the Jazz tour, but there are tons of performances that are more passionate and less likely to give you ear cancer like MSG '82's version will. Hitting notes flat != best version.

And yes, I've been to MSG, it's a great venue with a passionate atmosphere.
=================

Well said. The later Jazz 1978 gigs (Chicago, Vancouver, etc), are brilliant examples of Freddie being passionate and creative (at the expense of range). I'd rather listen to those versions of Somebody To Love over MSG 1982. Sorry, barking out notes, being RUSHED, and Brian completely fucking up the guitar parts is not passionate. It's a sloppy version overall.
I completely disagree with you. Brian's playing during STL in New York 1982 is very beautiful, with many beautiful embellishments. Freddie is so passionate in his vocals, he really brings over the emotion of the song. He really sounds like someone desperate for love... Isn't that what the song is about? I love it when he jumps around (vocally) during STL, it suits the song perfectly. During the Jazz era, Freddie had to be too careful with his range most of the time so he lacked power and range to bring over the emotion of the song.

on my way up wrote: 

I completely disagree with you. Brian's playing during STL in New York 1982 is very beautiful, with many beautiful embellishments. Freddie is so passionate in his vocals, he really brings over the emotion of the song. He really sounds like someone desperate for love... Isn't that what the song is about? I love it when he jumps around (vocally) during STL, it suits the song perfectly. During the Jazz era, Freddie had to be too careful with his range most of the time so he lacked power and range to bring over the emotion of the song.
==================

The song loses its meaning when it's played too fast.

In any case, I'll still take this version over some of those Works Tour performances (9/7 and 9/29 are just brilliant-haha)!

Gregsynth wrote: on my way up wrote: 

I completely disagree with you. Brian's playing during STL in New York 1982 is very beautiful, with many beautiful embellishments. Freddie is so passionate in his vocals, he really brings over the emotion of the song. He really sounds like someone desperate for love... Isn't that what the song is about? I love it when he jumps around (vocally) during STL, it suits the song perfectly. During the Jazz era, Freddie had to be too careful with his range most of the time so he lacked power and range to bring over the emotion of the song.
==================

The song loses its meaning when it's played too fast.
No, it's just perfect. "Keep losing my beat" ... haha

on my way up wrote: Gregsynth wrote: on my way up wrote: 

I completely disagree with you. Brian's playing during STL in New York 1982 is very beautiful, with many beautiful embellishments. Freddie is so passionate in his vocals, he really brings over the emotion of the song. He really sounds like someone desperate for love... Isn't that what the song is about? I love it when he jumps around (vocally) during STL, it suits the song perfectly. During the Jazz era, Freddie had to be too careful with his range most of the time so he lacked power and range to bring over the emotion of the song.
==================

The song loses its meaning when it's played too fast.
No, it's just perfect. "Keep losing my beat" ... haha
============================

I don't know. I keep listening to this performance over and over--but it's just not sounding "right." The intro is perfectly fine--no problem--but when the verses start, the tempo just speeds up (and actually fluctuates throughout the song), and Freddie totally loses the emotional part (that he did in the intro). Freddie's hitting wrong notes (or out of tune) throughout, cracks randomly, and sings way too choppy/rushed. When Roger's drum beats kick in (Freddie sings the "find me Somebody To Love" parts), Brian starts adding nuances to the song--but half of them aren't in the right key! The vocal improv and solo towards the end are fine (no problem).

I know Freddie was weaker on the Jazz Tour, but at least he didn't destroy the song's emotional/meaning level!