Barcelona 2012 version - thoughts?

What they've done is change what Freddie intended us to hear.

Isn't that a bit like painting over bits of the Mona Lisa to make it appear more current.

[QUOTE] [b]Vocal harmony wrote:[/b]
What they've done is change what Freddie intended us to hear.
Isn't that a bit like painting over bits of the Mona Lisa to make it appear more current.
[/QUOTE]

Maybe there wasn't the budget at the time to have the orchestra. Maybe Fred would've wanted an orchestra but there wasn't time to do it. Maybe he was just lazy and synths were quick and easy.

There 's no doubt this is different but it's hard to make a judgement based on one Youtube video. I wonder how many people are hearing it through crappy computer speakers and rushing to judgement? In any event, this new recording is going to be a matter of personal taste. From what I've heard it sounds really interesting and, in any event, nothing can take away from those wonderful vocal performances.

i like what they have done with this album it's a very nice sound abit week in some spots but over all, very good

This ends in about 11 hours from now, in case anyone's interested: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/271027722621

This is convincing evidence that Brian May & Co. should be made to wear straitjackets and gags for the rest of their lives, out of strictly humanitarian motives.

Worst...re-recording...ever

Can that be real ?

Holly, I've listened to this through my studio monitors. And I got the 1080p version and let me say, I have put videos on youtube in that quality and hardly hear a difference between the raw video and the youtube version. Also, there's a soundcloud link on this very page of the full track which is good quality, too.

Just look at it this way, some will like it, some won't and some will not be sure. Just be happy that you like it - don't worry about people's opinions.

Adam.

[QUOTE] [b]Adam Baboolal wrote:[/b]
Holly, I've listened to this through my studio monitors. And I got the 1080p version and let me say, I have put videos on youtube in that quality and hardly hear a difference between the raw video and the youtube version. Also, there's a soundcloud link on this very page of the full track which is good quality, too.
Just look at it this way, some will like it, some won't and some will not be sure. Just be happy that you like it - don't worry about people's opinions.
Adam.[/QUOTE]

To be clear, the remark about crappy speakers wasn't aimed at you.

I must admit though I'm having a hard time understanding multiple very negative reactions to this release. Fans have been saying for years they would like a re-rlease of Fred's 1980s stuff without the crappy synths. Now we have what we wanted surely? It's not a direct copy of the original but what would be the point in that anyway? Maybe it lacks the punch of the synths but it seems to make up for that in quality i.e. real musicians playing real instruments will imo always be better than a 1980s synth orchestra.

I am happy with what I;ve heard so far. This may be one of the very few post-Fred official releases I will actually buy :)

If I've learned anything about the Queen community, at least on message boards(!), we're a picky bunch. Some, more than others. And, we can be quite harsh, too.

I still like the release and look forward to sitting down and having a good listen, but, the title track is very well known, so people will have stronger opinions on it than the rest of the album.

Adam.

(whisper) I don't like Barcelona.

I can appreciate how well it's sung, but the song itself has never done anything for me, so I'll look forward to hearing the rest of the album instead (especially Guide Me Home/How Can I Go On and La Japonaise).

I only ever liked Barcelona and Guide Me Home - making sure to immediately switch it off before How Can I Go On got started. Way too fuckin' 80's for me.

I was laboring under the (evidently mistaken) assumption that they would kick the crappy synths and try to re-create the arrangement as exactly as possible with a real orchestra. Apparently, they prefer to just mess the whole thing up by screwing with the vocal balance and adding (weak-sounding) orchestral backdrops that take a very liberal view of the original arrangement.

Yes, I am disappointed. Not because this version is *horrible*, but because it's a lost opportunity - it could've been great, now it's fair.

It's not even released and yet some here are already pronouncing it DOA. Amazing! According to what I read it sounded as if they went to some care in doing this and I prefer to listen to it as a quality production, not having that spoiled by someone throwing a tantrum and declaring it a joke.

I thought the whole point is it IS an exact replica arrangement-wise??

I think that with orchestra it sounds flat. In the original 80's version you can hear freshness, there is some space for music, while here....
On the other hand, it's not the final mix, they have time to master it properly.