What is all the hype about Freddie Mercury's voice?

I am a vocal student and after hearing all the praise of Freddie Mercury as a singer I went and studied some of his songs out of interest even though queen is not really my type of band. That is when I discovered this forum and wanted to add that I finished watching the wembley 86 concert and as a live performance, I don't think he sounds that good. His voice sounds so strained. On recordings I do think he sounds good but I only evaluate a singer by his live singing and so should anybody else really as studios do a lot of amazing things - even in those days.

Also, one of the songs I was studying was "friends will be friends" and all the live videos have queen playing to a backing track??? Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?

You probably picked one of Freddie weakest live performances. During his career he was plagued with vocal nodules which greatly affected his live vocal performance. Not being a singer, I'm not sure what nodules are tho, maybe some one on here can elaborate? If you want to evaluate his live vocal abilities, try listening to Live in Montreal or perhaps Live Aid as just examples of his abilities.

You picked the wrong concert to study pal. Please check Montreal '81, Newcastle '79, Milton Keynes '82, Live Aid '85. Check Save Me from Montreal, to me he sounds pretty much perfect there [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEIjyrdwRo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEIjyrdwRo[/url]

P.S. Gregsynth, man where are you?

[QUOTE] [b]attaboy_jhb wrote:[/b]

I finished watching the wembley 86 concert and as a live performance, I don't think he sounds that good. His voice sounds so strained.[/QUOTE]
Indeed - not one of his best shows. Listen to Budapest 86 instead, where he sounds much stronger. Or Montreal 81. That's where he's at his peak.

[QUOTE]Also, one of the songs I was studying was "friends will be friends" and all the live videos have queen playing to a backing track??? Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?[/QUOTE]
http://queenlive.ca/queen/86-05-11.htm

^ it was probably this show that you saw a clip of. Queen played over 700 shows, and only three were mimed.

[QUOTE]

[b]attaboy_jhb wrote: [/b]  Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?[/QUOTE]

As Wizard says, that's probably the Montreux festival.

I remember how Brian May told a story about Freddie's 'chest wig' in Montreal DVD commentary. Apparently Freddie did 1 or 2 photoshoots in the 70s with shaved chest because he wanted such clean look for some reason in the particular shoot. Now, an article appears in the paper how Freddie was wearing a chest wig all this time.
It's about the same as calling Freddie a lipsync artist if you see what I mean.

The thing with wembley is that it is full of the songs from the magic album that Queen wrote as big ballad, grand songs....plenty of overdubs, building of the vocals, not really the songs to be performed live.....plus as someone said before wembley was near the end of the tour, after a european leg, and his voice was not exactly fresh, so wembley, although vocally a weak one, is made up with his charisma, Freddie is larger than life in that concert and reached everyone that was there, his performance on stage with movement and energy made up for when his voice could match the carefully made studio version....plys Fred always liked doing it different to the record anyway..x

"I am a vocal student"

Eh?

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]attaboy_jhb wrote:[/b]

I finished watching the wembley 86 concert and as a live performance, I don't think he sounds that good. His voice sounds so strained.[/QUOTE]
Indeed - not one of his best shows. Listen to Budapest 86 instead, where he sounds much stronger. Or Montreal 81. That's where he's at his peak.

[QUOTE]Also, one of the songs I was studying was "friends will be friends" and all the live videos have queen playing to a backing track??? Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?[/QUOTE]
http://queenlive.ca/queen/86-05-11.htm

^ it was probably this show that you saw a clip of. Queen played over 700 shows, and only three were mimed.
[/QUOTE]

Wasn't both San Remo and both Montreux Festival concerts mimed?

[QUOTE] [b]attaboy_jhb wrote:[/b]

I am a vocal student and after hearing all the praise of Freddie Mercury as a singer I went and studied some of his songs out of interest even though queen is not really my type of band. That is when I discovered this forum and wanted to add that I finished watching the wembley 86 concert and as a live performance, I don't think he sounds that good. His voice sounds so strained. On recordings I do think he sounds good but I only evaluate a singer by his live singing and so should anybody else really as studios do a lot of amazing things - even in those days.

Also, one of the songs I was studying was "friends will be friends" and all the live videos have queen playing to a backing track??? Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?[/QUOTE]
I think you still have to learn lots and lots and lots about singing in general and Freddie Mercury as a vocalist specifically....

You judge Freddie on mostly - apparently - one live performance and only technical criteria. While those are - of course - not the criteria that matter most...
Try to understand that it is Freddie's unique vocal timbre and versatility combined with a great musicality that made him a vocal genius. Try to see the voice as an instrument and how it is used in specific songs to creatz specific sounds and emotions...

I can't judge your singing but if you're only after hitting the right notes at all times and always being in total control then you'd better start to listen to opera... and then get frustrated like Alfie Boe or - even - to an extent Montserrat ;-)

[QUOTE]

[b]on my way up wrote: [/b] [QUOTE] [b]attaboy_jhb wrote:[/b]

I am a vocal student and after hearing all the praise of Freddie Mercury as a singer I went and studied some of his songs out of interest even though queen is not really my type of band. That is when I discovered this forum and wanted to add that I finished watching the wembley 86 concert and as a live performance, I don't think he sounds that good. His voice sounds so strained. On recordings I do think he sounds good but I only evaluate a singer by his live singing and so should anybody else really as studios do a lot of amazing things - even in those days.

Also, one of the songs I was studying was "friends will be friends" and all the live videos have queen playing to a backing track??? Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?[/QUOTE]
I can't judge your singing but if you're only after hitting the right notes at all times and always being in total control then you'd better start to listen to opera... and then get frustrated like Alfie Boe or - even - to an extent Montserrat ;-)

[/QUOTE]

Which reminds me of this - [url=http://youtu.be/8mDqXKQWx_c?t=4m24s]http://youtu.be/8mDqXKQWx_c?t=4m24s[/url]
Attaboy_jhb, see what Alfie Boe says here :-)

[QUOTE] [b]attaboy_jhb wrote:[/b]

I am a vocal student and after hearing all the praise of Freddie Mercury as a singer I went and studied some of his songs out of interest even though queen is not really my type of band. That is when I discovered this forum and wanted to add that I finished watching the wembley 86 concert and as a live performance, I don't think he sounds that good. His voice sounds so strained. On recordings I do think he sounds good but I only evaluate a singer by his live singing and so should anybody else really as studios do a lot of amazing things - even in those days.

Also, one of the songs I was studying was "friends will be friends" and all the live videos have queen playing to a backing track??? Is this common knowledge that Freddie was a lip synching artist?[/QUOTE]

Wembley 1986 is not the best concert for Freddie's voice. He developed a cold around the Newcastle 1986 timeframe which plagued his vocals for the Wembley concerts (although he sounds pretty good on the first Wembley show) and his voice is a bit blown on the second Wembley show. He suffered from vocal nodules since 1975 (and never got them removed) which can reduce vocal stamina and cause instability between vocal registers and tones.

You're better off listening to the unofficial recordings of Queen - on the Leiden 1986 shows from the Magic Tour (same tour as Wembley) he sounds a million times better compared with Wembley. There are many shows that have him in excellent voice (highlights are the Crazy Tour of late 1979, the South American 1981 shows, Oakland 1980, late Euro 1980 shows, late Euro Hot Space 1982, and Live Aid are recommended listens).

If you want any recommendations - we can be of assistance! :)

Here's a few performances that are amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBGzFt-MLvA

* Radio Ga Ga from Live Aid - easily the best version. Freddie sings the entire song clean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6waVDc8iXbU

* Save Me from Newcastle 1979 (1st night). Probably the best vocal version - vocally, clear as a bell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikzggvMgod4

* Spread Your Wings from Newcastle (2nd night). The definitive live version with Freddie embellishing the song in great ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT8X2Gkajow

* A Kind Of Magic from the first Leiden 1986 show. Million times better than Wembley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_c7aZAx3wM

* One Vision from the second Leiden 1986 show. Easily the best vocal version (thanks Chief Mouse)!

A vocal student ? Ok, there is no law that you have to like his voice - but the unability of seeing/hearing his talent...for serious ? Let`s hope your parents didn`t blow too much money on your education ;) btw Don`t feed the trolls !

[QUOTE] [b]musicland munich wrote:[/b]

btw Don`t feed the trolls !

[/QUOTE]

Exactelly what i was thinking.

Just listen to the Freddie Mercury tribute concert, nearly every artist had to bring the,Queen songs down an octave if not two.

I was a music major, you have to take vocal classes and at the time we'd have to perform a classical aria or song each week. Totally different type of singing technique. That said, although his mum Jer and even Freddie himself said he was never formally trained; they forget he took piano lessons and sang in the choir at boarding school where he most certainly would have been taught the basics of singing (using the diaphragm) and as a child you are a sponge.

There's no question in my mind that few male rock vocalists come close to Freddie. As someone mentioned earlier the Freddie Mercury Saved My Life video which can be found on YouTube is proof positive, Alfie singing Barcelona doesn't capture the feeling behind the song and Alfie admits this. While technically a trained opera singer you can't learn "soul" and Freddie had soul. Freddie even la la la"s the soprano parts for Barcelona in a tape for Monseratte Caballe.

I wouldn't choose one recording to conclude Freddie's abilities. While the Mr. Bad Guy album was a commercial failure, I think some of Freddie's best singing can be heard on those songs.

Tons of stuff out there to listen to. I'd love to hear what you think after more research, OP.

:)