It's on Spotify.
But I think I will buy this - I'm weak for these things...
ITSM
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scovel001
I've just listened to this on Spotify, all I can say is 'wow' this album sounds exceptional. Even on my lowly Macbook Pro.
I never had the original, however, my friend did & I remember thinking how dated the synths made things sound.
This one is a belter, very impressed indeed.
I never had the original, however, my friend did & I remember thinking how dated the synths made things sound.
This one is a belter, very impressed indeed.
Sheer Brass Neck
[QUOTE]
[b]dowens wrote: [/b] I just can't understand why people seem to get so upset at the Queen versions of Freddie's solo stuff on MIH. You never know, Freddie could have given them free range on whatever before he died. [/QUOTE]
Why people are upset with Freddie's stuff on MIH? It was emotionally manipulative and dishonest. Two pretty good reasons.
[b]dowens wrote: [/b] I just can't understand why people seem to get so upset at the Queen versions of Freddie's solo stuff on MIH. You never know, Freddie could have given them free range on whatever before he died. [/QUOTE]
Why people are upset with Freddie's stuff on MIH? It was emotionally manipulative and dishonest. Two pretty good reasons.
Sebastian
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]I just can't understand why people seem to get so upset at the Queen versions of Freddie's solo stuff on MIH.[/QUOTE]
A lot of people do, a lot of people don't. I personally don't mind either way.
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]You never know, Freddie could have given them free range on whatever before he died.[/QUOTE]
Schrödinger's will.
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]It would be great to get an in-depth interview about the process of making MIH.[/QUOTE]
Fifteen years ago, yes. Nowadays, however, it would be so revisionist, with Brian and Roger portraying themselves as saviours and saints fulfilling a dying man's last wish while saying John was barely more than a session musician who played two notes and got one third (or fourth) of the performing royalties for it... that *if* they bother mentioning him at all.
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]I'd rather here more Queen versions of Freddie's songs rather that the "flavor of the month" artist performing with Brian and Roger.[/QUOTE]
IMO, that's like a manager of a football team telling the press 'I'd rather we lose 0-5 than 0-5.' Well, of course... but it's still a loss IMO.
A lot of people do, a lot of people don't. I personally don't mind either way.
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]You never know, Freddie could have given them free range on whatever before he died.[/QUOTE]
Schrödinger's will.
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]It would be great to get an in-depth interview about the process of making MIH.[/QUOTE]
Fifteen years ago, yes. Nowadays, however, it would be so revisionist, with Brian and Roger portraying themselves as saviours and saints fulfilling a dying man's last wish while saying John was barely more than a session musician who played two notes and got one third (or fourth) of the performing royalties for it... that *if* they bother mentioning him at all.
[QUOTE] [b]dowens wrote:[/b]I'd rather here more Queen versions of Freddie's songs rather that the "flavor of the month" artist performing with Brian and Roger.[/QUOTE]
IMO, that's like a manager of a football team telling the press 'I'd rather we lose 0-5 than 0-5.' Well, of course... but it's still a loss IMO.
dowens
Emotionally manipulative and dishonest?! You seem to get too emotional about this. Did you personally know Freddie?! I think Brian and Roger did.
Sorry, I don't get the "lose 0-5 than be 0-5".
There simply is nothing wrong with Queen making versions of Freddie's songs, there is nothing dishonest about it. They are superior versions to the originals, IMO.
Sorry, I don't get the "lose 0-5 than be 0-5".
There simply is nothing wrong with Queen making versions of Freddie's songs, there is nothing dishonest about it. They are superior versions to the originals, IMO.
YAFF
[QUOTE] [b]scovel001 wrote:[/b]
I've just listened to this on Spotify, all I can say is 'wow' this album sounds exceptional. Even on my lowly Macbook Pro.
I never had the original, however, my friend did & I remember thinking how dated the synths made things sound.
This one is a belter, very impressed indeed.[/QUOTE]
Have to disagree. The original is better. New orchestra lacks punch in many key places and drowns the vocals at times. Rufus Taylor's drum parts are crap. This has got to be one of the few instances in history where synthesizers trump an 80 piece orchestra!!!!
I've just listened to this on Spotify, all I can say is 'wow' this album sounds exceptional. Even on my lowly Macbook Pro.
I never had the original, however, my friend did & I remember thinking how dated the synths made things sound.
This one is a belter, very impressed indeed.[/QUOTE]
Have to disagree. The original is better. New orchestra lacks punch in many key places and drowns the vocals at times. Rufus Taylor's drum parts are crap. This has got to be one of the few instances in history where synthesizers trump an 80 piece orchestra!!!!
Sheer Brass Neck
[QUOTE]
[b]dowens wrote: [/b] Emotionally manipulative and dishonest?! You seem to get too emotional about this. Did you personally know Freddie?! I think Brian and Roger did.
Sorry, I don't get the "lose 0-5 than be 0-5".
There simply is nothing wrong with Queen making versions of Freddie's songs, there is nothing dishonest about it. They are superior versions to the originals, IMO.[/QUOTE]
To point 1, not emotional at all. They changed the tone of the song MIH from uplifting to plodding, adding a minor key ending, when Freddie's version could have been about a night at the club Heaven where he used to hang out. Now it's about "heaven", where Freddie may or may not be? Shockingly dishonest. Same with Let me Live. No where did they state that was a song from 10 or so years prior to Freddie's death. However, it appears on the "final" Queen album like it's a plea from Freddie to let me live. Weak shit there. My knowing Freddie is as important to this discussion as knowing you,
To point 3, superior in your opinion. Inferior for the stated reasons in my opinion.
[b]dowens wrote: [/b] Emotionally manipulative and dishonest?! You seem to get too emotional about this. Did you personally know Freddie?! I think Brian and Roger did.
Sorry, I don't get the "lose 0-5 than be 0-5".
There simply is nothing wrong with Queen making versions of Freddie's songs, there is nothing dishonest about it. They are superior versions to the originals, IMO.[/QUOTE]
To point 1, not emotional at all. They changed the tone of the song MIH from uplifting to plodding, adding a minor key ending, when Freddie's version could have been about a night at the club Heaven where he used to hang out. Now it's about "heaven", where Freddie may or may not be? Shockingly dishonest. Same with Let me Live. No where did they state that was a song from 10 or so years prior to Freddie's death. However, it appears on the "final" Queen album like it's a plea from Freddie to let me live. Weak shit there. My knowing Freddie is as important to this discussion as knowing you,
To point 3, superior in your opinion. Inferior for the stated reasons in my opinion.
dowens
You know, I always thought MIH seemed prophetic in a way, was surprised to realize it was written so early. Just be because you end something in minor doesn't make you dishonest. Let Me Live is quite fitting on the album, and I'm glad the demo was finished and has seen the light of day. I guess what you call weak, I call creative.
It's clear you dislike the final album, so we can just agree to disagree. But manipulative and dishonest? Can't see that.
It's clear you dislike the final album, so we can just agree to disagree. But manipulative and dishonest? Can't see that.
john bodega
"They changed the tone of the song MIH from uplifting to plodding"
*shrug* I've never found the original version to be terribly uplifting at all. Sounds like a weak-ass demo.
To me, the only real hatchet job of his Mr. Bad Guy era stuff would be I Was Born To Love You. The Queen version was just a little too far in the direction of 'car commercial'. I like the track, but it feels like one of the more constructed pieces of the album - even measured against You Don't Fool Me, which really was 'constructed'. A little too much manipulation of Freddie's performance, a few too many samples - and the fadeout ending always sounded a bit lazy to me.
I really believe that Made in Heaven, on the other hand, was a great job. There's nothing plodding about the guitar solo. Reminds me a little of Free As A Bird - although a lot of people had problems with that too, so it might not be the best example. Ha.
One might not feel like it was a good idea to make the song seem lugubrious or whatever, but I think the vocal meshes with the new backing a lot better than it did with Born To Love You.
As for this new Barcelona thing - I dunno. It's a very worthwhile idea, but the new backings are dodgy. The title track (the last I heard, anyway) was severely lacking in percussion. Some of the big moments of the song lack any impact.
*shrug* I've never found the original version to be terribly uplifting at all. Sounds like a weak-ass demo.
To me, the only real hatchet job of his Mr. Bad Guy era stuff would be I Was Born To Love You. The Queen version was just a little too far in the direction of 'car commercial'. I like the track, but it feels like one of the more constructed pieces of the album - even measured against You Don't Fool Me, which really was 'constructed'. A little too much manipulation of Freddie's performance, a few too many samples - and the fadeout ending always sounded a bit lazy to me.
I really believe that Made in Heaven, on the other hand, was a great job. There's nothing plodding about the guitar solo. Reminds me a little of Free As A Bird - although a lot of people had problems with that too, so it might not be the best example. Ha.
One might not feel like it was a good idea to make the song seem lugubrious or whatever, but I think the vocal meshes with the new backing a lot better than it did with Born To Love You.
As for this new Barcelona thing - I dunno. It's a very worthwhile idea, but the new backings are dodgy. The title track (the last I heard, anyway) was severely lacking in percussion. Some of the big moments of the song lack any impact.
rhyeking
I won't bore you all with a song by song analysis. It sounds great overall to me. Is it perfect? No, but neither was the original. Both are pretty damn good.
You *will* hear the differences. You may not like them, especially if you're used to and love the original. Or you might think they improve upon the what was recorded in '87/'88.
Even if it's not Freddie performing the music himself, he did co-write it. I think calling the instrumental disc "Freddie-less" can be somewhat obtuse. If I understand the intent correctly, this project was intended to expand the vision of the album, to complete the idea of the classical model it was partly built on. I would argue that in this case, unlike symphonic cover albums of Queen songs, the instrumental disc is more in line with a modern transcription like of Mozart (and no, I'm not comparing Freddie to Mozart, I'm comparing classical music practices, which do relate to the Barcelona album, since it started as an operatic project of sorts). When I listen to a piano transcription of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which Mozart did not pen himself, I still hear the music Mozart created. The same goes for these instrumentals tracks.
I would suggest that you're missing out if you choose to dismiss the instrumental disc. It's a new and different way to hear Freddie's music and you may find much beauty in it.
And that goes for the entire Special Edition. It's something different, another way to experience the album. It doesn't negate the original and you don't have to pick one over the other.
You *will* hear the differences. You may not like them, especially if you're used to and love the original. Or you might think they improve upon the what was recorded in '87/'88.
Even if it's not Freddie performing the music himself, he did co-write it. I think calling the instrumental disc "Freddie-less" can be somewhat obtuse. If I understand the intent correctly, this project was intended to expand the vision of the album, to complete the idea of the classical model it was partly built on. I would argue that in this case, unlike symphonic cover albums of Queen songs, the instrumental disc is more in line with a modern transcription like of Mozart (and no, I'm not comparing Freddie to Mozart, I'm comparing classical music practices, which do relate to the Barcelona album, since it started as an operatic project of sorts). When I listen to a piano transcription of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which Mozart did not pen himself, I still hear the music Mozart created. The same goes for these instrumentals tracks.
I would suggest that you're missing out if you choose to dismiss the instrumental disc. It's a new and different way to hear Freddie's music and you may find much beauty in it.
And that goes for the entire Special Edition. It's something different, another way to experience the album. It doesn't negate the original and you don't have to pick one over the other.
YourValentine
As I said before I am not actually complaining about an additional CD only because I am not too keen about it:-) For me Freddie on a CD is mainly Freddie singing. It is true that he wrote the music but he did not write it for orchestras to play the music, he wrote it for himself and MC to perform it. It is the same when I say that I appreciate Fredie's piano skills but if he had performed a Queen concert only playing piano and not singing it would not have been a great Queen concert for me.
But I will take your advice and listen to the orchestra CD - with an open mind :-)
As to picking one album over the other: sooner or later you find that you just play one of them. Therefore it would have been much better imo if the box contained the original album, maybe even a remaster. Just out of respect for the original album, you know :-)
But I will take your advice and listen to the orchestra CD - with an open mind :-)
As to picking one album over the other: sooner or later you find that you just play one of them. Therefore it would have been much better imo if the box contained the original album, maybe even a remaster. Just out of respect for the original album, you know :-)
rhyeking
It's impossible to please everyone, but I guarantee that if they'd included the original 1988 Barcelona album, some fans would complain of having to pay more for a 5 disc set that has a disc they already own, remastered or not. If it were remastered, some would complain that the remaster didn't sound as good as the original. Issuing the set without the original version of the album at least does away with some of the accusations and increased complaining.
Disc 2 is mostly demos from the boxed set, but at least Montserrat's version of "Exercises In Free Love" is on there (a glaring omission from the boxed set, especially given Freddie's was on there twice).
I view Barcelona as a bridge between popular rock and classical opera, an attempt to marry the two forms. Orchestrating it is a logic attempt to explore the operatic side more closely, to increase its presence on the project. Whether the listener thinks they succeed is up to the individual. Regardless, the music is still Freddie's (as co-writer), it's still him communicating ideas and emotions, but with greater emphasis placed on the classical form, rather than the symphonic rock form, and the act of transcribing has a long, respected tradition in classical music.
Sorry to sort of repeat myself, I just wanted to clarify my earlier thoughts.
I really like the instrumental disc on the FM boxed set, and the instrumentals Queen and the solo works have issued. It's a different way to hear the tracks and, for me, increases my appreciation for the songs' craftsmanship. Honestly, I'd love to hear all the albums without the vocals, just to listen to the musicianship and composing involved. I still like and listen to the originals, too.
Disc 2 is mostly demos from the boxed set, but at least Montserrat's version of "Exercises In Free Love" is on there (a glaring omission from the boxed set, especially given Freddie's was on there twice).
I view Barcelona as a bridge between popular rock and classical opera, an attempt to marry the two forms. Orchestrating it is a logic attempt to explore the operatic side more closely, to increase its presence on the project. Whether the listener thinks they succeed is up to the individual. Regardless, the music is still Freddie's (as co-writer), it's still him communicating ideas and emotions, but with greater emphasis placed on the classical form, rather than the symphonic rock form, and the act of transcribing has a long, respected tradition in classical music.
Sorry to sort of repeat myself, I just wanted to clarify my earlier thoughts.
I really like the instrumental disc on the FM boxed set, and the instrumentals Queen and the solo works have issued. It's a different way to hear the tracks and, for me, increases my appreciation for the songs' craftsmanship. Honestly, I'd love to hear all the albums without the vocals, just to listen to the musicianship and composing involved. I still like and listen to the originals, too.
TheVisibleMan
double post
TheVisibleMan
[QUOTE] [b]rhyeking wrote:[/b]
I won't bore you all with a song by song analysis. It sounds great overall to me. Is it perfect? No, but neither was the original. Both are pretty damn good.
You *will* hear the differences. You may not like them, especially if you're used to and love the original. Or you might think they improve upon the what was recorded in '87/'88.
Even if it's not Freddie performing the music himself, he did co-write it. I think calling the instrumental disc "Freddie-less" can be somewhat obtuse. If I understand the intent correctly, this project was intended to expand the vision of the album, to complete the idea of the classical model it was partly built on. I would argue that in this case, unlike symphonic cover albums of Queen songs, the instrumental disc is more in line with a modern transcription like of Mozart (and no, I'm not comparing Freddie to Mozart, I'm comparing classical music practices, which do relate to the Barcelona album, since it started as an operatic project of sorts). When I listen to a piano transcription of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which Mozart did not pen himself, I still hear the music Mozart created. The same goes for these instrumentals tracks.
I would suggest that you're missing out if you choose to dismiss the instrumental disc. It's a new and different way to hear Freddie's music and you may find much beauty in it.
And that goes for the entire Special Edition. It's something different, another way to experience the album. It doesn't negate the original and you don't have to pick one over the other.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely how i see it, too
I won't bore you all with a song by song analysis. It sounds great overall to me. Is it perfect? No, but neither was the original. Both are pretty damn good.
You *will* hear the differences. You may not like them, especially if you're used to and love the original. Or you might think they improve upon the what was recorded in '87/'88.
Even if it's not Freddie performing the music himself, he did co-write it. I think calling the instrumental disc "Freddie-less" can be somewhat obtuse. If I understand the intent correctly, this project was intended to expand the vision of the album, to complete the idea of the classical model it was partly built on. I would argue that in this case, unlike symphonic cover albums of Queen songs, the instrumental disc is more in line with a modern transcription like of Mozart (and no, I'm not comparing Freddie to Mozart, I'm comparing classical music practices, which do relate to the Barcelona album, since it started as an operatic project of sorts). When I listen to a piano transcription of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which Mozart did not pen himself, I still hear the music Mozart created. The same goes for these instrumentals tracks.
I would suggest that you're missing out if you choose to dismiss the instrumental disc. It's a new and different way to hear Freddie's music and you may find much beauty in it.
And that goes for the entire Special Edition. It's something different, another way to experience the album. It doesn't negate the original and you don't have to pick one over the other.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely how i see it, too
winterspelt
Its not a bad album, the orchestral arrangements had to be changed as keyboards and instruments of an orchestra have differences...
BUT... They took excessive "creative liberties".
One thing is to change some arrangements cause the keyboard parts were written outside the range of a violin/cello/whatever and another, totally different thing is to change things like adding an additional verse towards the end of La Japonaise (4:17) Also, the mix is awful: Sometimes the 80 piece orchestra sounds so low and shy in the mix that I still cant understand how a few keyboards can sound so powerful and how a full orchestra can sound that bad... An amazing orchestral work sounds awful thanks to the mix...
I didnt liked it at all... Thanks God I bought the regular edition!
BUT... They took excessive "creative liberties".
One thing is to change some arrangements cause the keyboard parts were written outside the range of a violin/cello/whatever and another, totally different thing is to change things like adding an additional verse towards the end of La Japonaise (4:17) Also, the mix is awful: Sometimes the 80 piece orchestra sounds so low and shy in the mix that I still cant understand how a few keyboards can sound so powerful and how a full orchestra can sound that bad... An amazing orchestral work sounds awful thanks to the mix...
I didnt liked it at all... Thanks God I bought the regular edition!