Barcelona 2012 version - thoughts?

I think i'll agree.

The original version is more "in your face", more "boomy", has more power and maybe that's a thing that only a synth/keyboard can give.

But on the other hand, the synth/keyboard feels unnatural (obviously), while the orchestraded version feels much more natural because it's really humans playing instruments.

I like the new version. For people who don't like it, maybe with time you will change your mind.

This will be our first Queen related purchase since 'Live At The Bowl', if for nothing but the title track. The whole idea shows great promise and is a fitting anniversary tribute.

Just grateful they didn't go all techno or disco as was done with too much of his solo material.

Just to get my feelings clear here:

1) The "in your face" feeling is NOT because of synth/keyboard sounds. This comes from the person putting it all together. Personal production and mixing choices are made.

2) Freddie's delivery doesn't quite match the new orchestration. There's a sense of urgency missing from the orchestration. I guess we should remember that the Barcelona track was put together with Freddie's particular rhythm sensibility/guidance. More on this later...

3) Freddie's vocals are more prominent, and yet, pulled back at times...


Okay, I'm going to expand a bit on some of the above.

Sounds are made to fit by the people composing them and the person mixing them. For instance, I would say that I am more inclined to emphasise certain midrange sounds while mixing, whereas someone else doing the same job may want the complete opposite. I hear this particular change the most, e.g. the vocals are more prominent and clearer than before - however, the piano is a little more muted/muffled in comparison to how it was before.

As for my comment in no.2, well, I think I'm slowly figuring something out. Is it related to the new bells? They're fairly buried in this new version. Of course, the old ones were very prominent at times. They're also real bells now.
What difference would it make if they were brought up to a similar level in the original? The way they used to be ever present in the start of the chorus is kinda lacking for me. Of course, maybe they should've left something familiar sounding in there...what better than the rhythmic bells. I gotta have more bell!


The reason I started this thread was to hear what other people thought. Maybe I'm in the minority on this, but, for me, the title track is missing a few things to make it what I once heard in the original. And maybe with some things altered to improve on these aspects, I'd get more from it. But perhaps that's my own hang up with this new version. If so, I've gotta live with it. Either that or somehow make a mash up :P

Adam.

P.s. I still like the new version as it's different and has a new quality feel to it :)

Perhaps we should see it as a different but complimentary work, rather than a replacement for the original (which seems to be how it is being marketed, ie "the album it should have been").

Adam - Good point about Freddie's rhythmic sensibilities when putting the original orchestrations together. I'm still wondering whether Mike Moran chose not to be involved in this reworking but gave his blessing, or whether he was just overlooked?

[QUOTE] [b]coops wrote:[/b]
One of my favorite albums and Freddie never sounded so good. I always thought the orchestration was a little heavy and unaware it all or mostly synths. I have placed an order for the vinyl version and cannot wait to play it.
[/QUOTE]

You're actually going to PLAY your vinyl???
Not a sad collector like me then who doesn't play his Queen vinyls... ;-)

I finally located the track listings for the deluxe set at Queen Online. Don't know why I didn't see those before. We have "Freddie Mercury, Lover of Life, Singer of Songs", which is where I'm familiar with the story of Barcelona and the video performance. I never got around to acquiring the Barcelona CD. Anyway, after reading about it again and seeing what's on the discs, and reading the discussion here, I decided to go ahead and preorder the set. Have to wait until September 11 here in USA, so now for the waiting............

[QUOTE] [b]brians wig wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE] [b]coops wrote:[/b]
One of my favorite albums and Freddie never sounded so good. I always thought the orchestration was a little heavy and unaware it all or mostly synths. I have placed an order for the vinyl version and cannot wait to play it.
[/QUOTE]
You're actually going to PLAY your vinyl???
Not a sad collector like me then who doesn't play his Queen vinyls... ;-)
[/QUOTE]
Ha, playing the same albums I bought in the 70's.

Mike Moran should have been involved with this as he already knew how everything was supposed to be, what were the limitations at the time etc...
Does anybody knows why he is not involved with this new version?

I agree 100% Mike Moran should of had at least some kind of input, I liked the few new camera angles pity there was not more but nice to see it finally cleaned up.

Mediocre work.

By that I don't mean it's bad - it's really good, but it could've been way better.

By that I don't mean I could do it better - I mean THEY (the arranger, the conductor, the engineers and producer) could've done it better.

http://soundcloud.com/purplepr/freddie-mercury-montserrat

Sounds great to me.

I've got my husband going on Barcelona now and he was rummaging around online and came across a video where Freddie and Montserrat performed it with all the trimmings - orchestra and fireworks. What I thought was also interesting was what was written at this website along with:

[i]Freddie Mercury’s talent has always seemed a little bit otherworldly to me. Touched by the gods. Divine. In the truest sense of the word. Watch how he moves his body. His open-legged stance at the very beginning, like he’s planting his feet on the boards, getting ready to go where the performance will take him. He’s a showman, an entertainer, a born performer, from every hair on his head to the tips of every finger. Every gesture, every breath, every look is all pouring into the intention of this song. And that flow doesn’t stop when he’s not the one singing. Watch his body during her sections. He is tossing massive support under her, throwing his energy at her, filling up the stage at the same time that he is sharing the stage with her. Kathy Bates came and spoke at my school once, and she said, “Look, if you have a gift for something, you just have to give it away. All day, every day, just give it away.”That’s what Freddie Mercury does, instinctively, habitually, in every moment, always. There is not one tiny bit of him that is not fully present. And that, to me, is Divine.[/i]

I think one of the most beautiful attempts at putting it into words that I have seen.

Website: http://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=33248

Just to be clear, will the standard CD version (1 disc) have the orchestra, or is it just a remaster of the original album?

[QUOTE]

[b]Freddie rey wrote: [/b][url=http://soundcloud.com:80/purplepr/freddie-mercury-montserrat%5B/QUOTE] http://soundcloud.com/purplepr/freddie-mercury-montserrat[/QUOTE[/url]]

[/QUOTE] Better than video version but still sucks. Sounds like it looses some instrumentals from original version.
They should include original version and that. Not that instead of original version.
It's pathetic.