The Somebody To Love Live Discussion Thread (Debates/Discussions Needed)!

For one of my upcoming projects, I want to make a video centered around the live versions of Somebody To Love! I want to know everybody's opinion on what they think is the best version of this song live. To make it slightly simpler, I'll nix all the Works Tour versions, and keep it to the 1977-1982 versions.

I'm torn between Crazy Tour Versions, the two 1980 recordings of the song, some 1981 versions, and a few 1982 versions for my personal opinion on the best version. I also think that Stockholm 1978 is excellent! I want to know everybody's opinion on the best version of the song live.

Here's a list that I made going off comments I've seen on Queenzone, Facebook, and Youtube. This list has 10 versions of STL that are almost always brought up when this song gets mentioned. The list is in chronological order:


1. Stockholm 1978
2. Newcastle 1979 (1st)
3. Newcastle 1979 (2nd)
4. Hammersmith 1979
5. Oakland 1980
6. Sao Paulo 1981 (1st night)
7. Monterrey 1981
8. Montreal 1981
9. Munich 1982
10. Milton Keynes 1982

I'm 100% sure that people would disagree, and say that some of the above versions aren't nominees for the best. I'm also 100% sure that people would nominate different versions for their opinion on the best version! I encourage debates, discussions, etc. The work on this site will be featured on Youtube (when the project gets done), so do your best!

-Gregsynthbootlegs

just to get things started:
my vote goes to mk, amazin' version

you must add
rio(The first night)
Edinburgh (1982, first night)

yeah, i love Stockholm 78, Sao Paulo 81, Montreal 81, Milton 82, Hammersmith 79 Leeds 82 and...hmm... Buenos Aires 81

Buenos Aires 3-8-81
Puebla 10-17-81
Leiden 4-25-82
Leeds 82
Edinburgh 82 both nights
New York 7-28-82

...are worthy of a mention. Many of the News Of The World versions are good too (like Philadelphia and Houston 77), but they get lost in the mix because Freddie's r&b-influenced creativity in the early 80s brought him into another dimension.

1979-82 was Mercury's peak on stage, and he was growing as a vocalist and performer by the night. Shows like Hammersmith 79, Sao Paulo 81 and Milton Keynes 82 (all at the ends of tours) are peaks of periods of growth.

Milton Keynes number one for me

I've got a soft spot for Osaka 24/10/1982 too. Wonderful version of STL. Freddie was very creative on stage in 1982.

I agree with the Real Wizard concerning Freddie's peak shows. You could hear him get better - and more confident and consistent - from concert to concert. Imagine having an official Hammy'79 dvd. The best tribute to Freddie ever imo.

[QUOTE] [b]on my way up wrote:[/b]
I've got a soft spot for Osaka 24/10/1982 too. Wonderful version of STL. Freddie was very creative on stage in 1982.
I agree with the Real Wizard concerning Freddie's peak shows. You could hear him get better - and more confident and consistent - from concert to concert. Imagine having an official Hammy'79 dvd. The best tribute to Freddie ever imo.[/QUOTE]

If that was officially released--it would probably be the best show out of all of the official releases!

I think Osaka 1982 has a very underrated version. Sure he's not in the best voice, but at least he tries--and he's very creative. I find it better than 7/28/1982's version!

[QUOTE] [b]mut92 wrote:[/b]
you must add
rio(The first night)
Edinburgh (1982, first night)
[/QUOTE]

The Edinburgh versions are fantastic! Rio is most likely the best version on the 1984/5 tour--but I'm just focusing on the "full" versions of the song.

This has been discussed before:

http://www.queenzone.com/forums/1249971/the-best-live-versions-of-somebody-to-love.aspx

That discussion wasn't going anywhere. This thread is more "people-orientated" and everybody's views will be featured in a video!

Actually it's hard to choose. A few versions are just awesome, and I can't tell which one is better because all of them are fantastic. Hammy '79 is one of these awesome versions IMO.

My favorite STLs were when I heard Rog's backing vocals very clearly and Freddie did one of those really high falsetto whoooooos!!! One reason I love MK so much...But I also do have to say that Montreal, Hammy 79, Oakland 80, Puebla Mexico in 81 tickle my fancy as well...

[QUOTE] [b]soxtalon wrote:[/b]
My favorite STLs were when I heard Rog's backing vocals very clearly and Freddie did one of those really high falsetto whoooooos!!! One reason I love MK so much...But I also do have to say that Montreal, Hammy 79, Oakland 80, Puebla Mexico in 81 tickle my fancy as well...[/QUOTE]

Plenty of versions from 1979-1982 tickle my fancy as well--that's why it's so hard to chose the best version! With everybody's help, we can together figure out the best version (or at least narrow it down)!

[QUOTE] [b]Lostman wrote:[/b]
Actually it's hard to choose. A few versions are just awesome, and I can't tell which one is better because all of them are fantastic. Hammy '79 is one of these awesome versions IMO.[/QUOTE]

Most people will agree with Hammy 1979 being awesome!