Too Much Love Will Kill You, Brian May Version

OK, so I've always wondered this.  At the beginning of May's TMLWKY on his "Back to the Light" album, the opening vocal harmonies sound like Freddie.  Is it Freddie and Brian's harmonies?  I love them and always thought it sounded a lot like Freddie.  Since Freddie laid vocals down for this track, could it be?

I dunno...but I've always prefered this version of the song than the one with Freddie on lead vocals...it just seems more genuine and sincere.

Brian can sometimes sound like Freddie, especially during harmonies. It's just Brian, no Freddie there at all.

I always thought higher part of the two part "Make you plead and scream and crawl" harmony sounded like Freddie. (particularly the 'plead')

I know better now of course, but still I find it compelling every time I hear it.

I don't think much of this song overall, but in what it tries to be Brian does do a better job.  It did seem that his personal identification with it communicated something more searing and emotive.  It  would be interesting to know what Freddie thought of the song, if he felt he could get behind it emotionally etc.

I used to hear a Freddie-ish shade in the "Is dead ahead of you" line in Driven by You.

Freddie's version is better . It might seem slightly less heartfelt but the power , control and professionalism of the vocal make it more easy to appreciate than Brian's. On sound similarities both Brian's solo efforts contain a few Queenish effects , the intro to TMWKY would have been great on a Queen album.

GratefulFan wrote: I don't think much of this song overall, but in what it tries to be Brian does do a better job.  It did seem that his personal identification with it communicated something more searing and emotive.  It  would be interesting to know what Freddie thought of the song, if he felt he could get behind it emotionally etc.
Spot on. Can't stand this song myself -- too cheesy -- but Brian's version is less cheesy than Fred's.

I have to say Brian's verson is much better, especially the bise guitar version. i've got it and its beautfiful

It's Brian. But of course it has the Queen sound. Since Brian's harmonies really make the Queen sound.

No, they don't. They're part of it, an integral part of it, but they're not the Queen sound. There can be Queen sound with or without Brian, just as there can be with or without Roger and with or without Freddie.

I honestly don't think I've listened to this song. Still reeling from the Tribute Concert performance of it that just went on and on and on and on.

Just throwing in here... wanted to say I really like Brian's version but Freddie's version just KILLS me.  Incredible.  I far prefer him on the lead vocals.

PrimeJiveUSA wrote: I dunno...but I've always prefered this version of the song than the one with Freddie on lead vocals...it just seems more genuine and sincere.
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don't understand how Brian's version is more genuine and sincere...he didn't write the lyrics.....do they're not his feelings...they're either the lyricist's feelings, or the lyricist's ideas of what Brian's feeling might be...but definitely not brian's if he didn't write them

Was just listening to Brian's version earlier and, although I do like it, it's the Queen one every time for me as Freddie's vocals are just astounding on it.  It also gave Brian the chance to polish up on the guitars, which again makes the Queen one that touch better.

And have to agree with Yannick, Brian does have the knack of sounding like Freddie on harmonies!  If anyone has bothered with the Queen + PR show from Chile (2008), during Las Palabras, Brian gives a little "Yeah!", and had I not seen the visuals I would have sworn Freddie was there!