Freddie took singing lessons from the late great Benvenuto Finelli?

You are all so off the mark.

Freddie had a few vocal coaching just before he sang with Montserrat Caballé. He always had a great voice which improved and changed with age but he wanted to nail some proper operatic parts and not feel totally out of place with Montserrat.

His voice did change with age, but it hardly improved after the mid 70's.

[QUOTE] [b]Rich Tea wrote:[/b]

You are all so off the mark.[/QUOTE]

Source?


[QUOTE] [b]Rich Tea wrote:[/b]

Freddie had a few vocal coaching just before he sang with Montserrat Caballé.[/QUOTE]

Source?

When I spoke with Peter Freestone a year and a half ago - he told me that Montserrat helped out Freddie with some vocal technique-related things. One of the things mentioned was breathing/breath support.

Yeah, I heard the interview (and it was a really good one, by the way).

[QUOTE] [b]Oscar J wrote:[/b]

His voice did change with age, but it hardly improved after the mid 70's. [/QUOTE]

Could not disagree more.

Compare any live 1977 BoRhap to 1981.

He's almost a completely different singer.

Exactly, completely different and not for the better. His voice in the mid-late 70's, especially in the studio, was maybe the most pure, dynamic and versatile in rock - just listen to all the different shades of it in the isolated vocal version of STL, it's a absolute jewel. From feather like falsetto, to effortless breathy full voice in the upper fourth octave, to loud soaring notes that almost make the microphone clip. He had dozens of different tones and volumes at his disposal.

Sure, his changed vocal style meant was more consistent live in the early 80's, but there's no way he could have pulled off vocal performances like Somebody To Love, You Take My Breath Away or even Bohemian Rhapsody etc to the same standard say a decade later - it was all about power by then. Just listen to Peter Freestone talking about how Freddie in the Barcelona sessions couldn't change his voice dynamics much, instead he would back off the microphone to adjust the volume. He had definitely lost something along the way.

The 1981 live versions probably do edge out the 77 ones. But then the '79 Crazy Tour versions were probably the best ever - just before he'd turn all macho with his singing.

Oscar, I Agree, The 70's studio Freddie was pure, dynamic and versatile. Examples are Somebody to love, love of my life, Bo Rhap, The falsetto was perfect in those days. you could add original to that list...no one sounded like him back then, and these days you hear singers like the singer from muse try and fail at doing a Freddie, but we're talking about his live voice here, in the early 80's he could do anything with his voice, he hit all the high notes, even did a bit falsetto, Early 80's he was at his best live... In the studio, he had the stronger voice in the 80's by far, but he did lose some of those things you mentioned. that original sounding voice. I prefer the A night At The opera voice...He really perfected his voice on that album, and A Day At The Races..

[QUOTE] [b]Oscar J wrote:[/b]

Exactly, completely different and not for the better. His voice in the mid-late 70's, especially in the studio, was maybe the most pure, dynamic and versatile in rock - just listen to all the different shades of it in the isolated vocal version of STL, it's a absolute jewel. From feather like falsetto, to effortless breathy full voice in the upper fourth octave, to loud soaring notes that almost make the microphone clip. He had dozens of different tones and volumes at his disposal.

Sure, his changed vocal style meant was more consistent live in the early 80's, but there's no way he could have pulled off vocal performances like Somebody To Love, You Take My Breath Away or even Bohemian Rhapsody etc to the same standard say a decade later - it was all about power by then. Just listen to Peter Freestone talking about how Freddie in the Barcelona sessions couldn't change his voice dynamics much, instead he would back off the microphone to adjust the volume. He had definitely lost something along the way.

The 1981 live versions probably do edge out the 77 ones. But then the '79 Crazy Tour versions were probably the best ever - just before he'd turn all macho with his singing. [/QUOTE]

Yup, can't disagree with a word of that.

Indeed, he did lose his subtlety, the light and shade - the "thunder and the whisper" as Jimmy Page would say.

He became more consistent, but at a price.

Great post.

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

[QUOTE] [b]Oscar J wrote:[/b]

Exactly, completely different and not for the better. His voice in the mid-late 70's, especially in the studio, was maybe the most pure, dynamic and versatile in rock - just listen to all the different shades of it in the isolated vocal version of STL, it's a absolute jewel. From feather like falsetto, to effortless breathy full voice in the upper fourth octave, to loud soaring notes that almost make the microphone clip. He had dozens of different tones and volumes at his disposal.

Sure, his changed vocal style meant was more consistent live in the early 80's, but there's no way he could have pulled off vocal performances like Somebody To Love, You Take My Breath Away or even Bohemian Rhapsody etc to the same standard say a decade later - it was all about power by then. Just listen to Peter Freestone talking about how Freddie in the Barcelona sessions couldn't change his voice dynamics much, instead he would back off the microphone to adjust the volume. He had definitely lost something along the way.

The 1981 live versions probably do edge out the 77 ones. But then the '79 Crazy Tour versions were probably the best ever - just before he'd turn all macho with his singing. [/QUOTE]

Yup, can't disagree with a word of that.

Indeed, he did lose his subtlety, the light and shade - the "thunder and the whisper" as Jimmy Page would say.

He became more consistent, but at a price.

Great post.[/QUOTE]

Funny how that goes for the entire band as they went from more intimate venues to full stadium rock. Subtlety and variety were indeed the first victims.

Hi there...

I `ve just found an article about the Hamburg 78`Gig. In a short statement Freddie confirmed that he had vocal coaching because of his prone vocal cords on Tour. But he stopped cause he was afraid to loose his Rock and Roll touch...
The name "Finelli" wasn`t mentioned.

The whole thing will be shared in the future ( Wow! A bit more than two pages including Pictures)

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

Hi there...

I `ve just found an article about the Hamburg 78`Gig. In a short statement Freddie confirmed that he had vocal coaching because of his prone vocal cords on Tour. But he stopped cause he was afraid to loose his Rock and Roll touch...
The name "Finelli" wasn`t mentioned.

The whole thing will be shared in the future ( Wow! A bit more than two pages including Pictures)[/QUOTE]

Wow - that's huge !

I wouldn't be surprised if he sought help after the 77 US tour. He sounds so much better by the spring in Europe.

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

Hi there...

I `ve just found an article about the Hamburg 78`Gig. In a short statement Freddie confirmed that he had vocal coaching because of his prone vocal cords on Tour. But he stopped cause he was afraid to loose his Rock and Roll touch...
The name "Finelli" wasn`t mentioned.

The whole thing will be shared in the future ( Wow! A bit more than two pages including Pictures)[/QUOTE]

Are there still plans to share this article?

[QUOTE] [b]Chopin1995 wrote:[/b]

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

Hi there...

I `ve just found an article about the Hamburg 78`Gig. In a short statement Freddie confirmed that he had vocal coaching because of his prone vocal cords on Tour. But he stopped cause he was afraid to loose his Rock and Roll touch...
The name "Finelli" wasn`t mentioned.

The whole thing will be shared in the future ( Wow! A bit more than two pages including Pictures)[/QUOTE]

Are there still plans to share this article?

[/QUOTE]

It actually already happened in the past. But I could not find with the "search" function on this "jurassic" forum.
But thank god, Queenlive.ca saved it ;) Just look for Hamburg 78 Review of the show ( 1, 2 ,3 )
Maybe I can provide a better scan soon.

[QUOTE] [b]mike hunt wrote:[/b]

..no one sounded like him back then, and these days you hear singers like the singer from muse try and fail at doing a Freddie,[/QUOTE]

Matt has his own voice/style and isn't trying to emulate Freddie (unlike a Marc Martel). If he wants Queen-esque harmonies in songs he nails them. So, dunno where you get the "fail" part.