Could we make our own Queen cover?

Just a slightly mad idea: collectively, we could make a Queen cover. To do something fun before the movie hits, what if we make something ourselves that can only be done by a group of people?

There are members here who can sing, play guitar, bass, drums, etc., and those of us who can't, we might as well provide backing vocals, as awful as they may be, but mixed together it can't sound too bad. I'm sure someone can do some sound engineering magic as well. Everyone should be able to record with their phones in acceptable quality, so we just need the performances.

Of course, the more people involved, the more we can do. We would have to choose a song, then the best performers... if anyone is actually down for it, LOL.

So... anybody?

Easy. We pick a song - pick a BPM - agree on the key - everyone does whatever they do and we can have fun putting it all together.

Could be pretty nice, could fail miserably. I'm game.

Great plan! I'm up for it. I've sung Dear Friends on the Stage Of Champions before.

I'd love to participate but sadly have no adequate recording gear. (*not a bum. I have a job, just miserably aware living with family that's potentially aging to the point of requiring care soon.... the psychological stuff, oh boy)

I do have friends who have studios.

What song would be nominated?

Something better than Body Language I'd hope.

And who will mix the raw data tracks? CMatt?

I'd be happy to provide Vocals wherever needed. Mixing I will have to leave to someone else, but I am open to the majority of the Queen Catalogue in terms of a chosen Track.

I've got drums and decent multitrack recording gear

Can I nominate Flash or Attack Of The Hawkmen - because then we can have talking bits that people could do who might not be too confident playing an instrument.

How about something not so known or so complicated?
Something like Hangman, Dog with the bone, or The Earth from The Smile days? If you are looking for the keyboard player, I am in.

Wow, so many eager artists!

Perhaps we can make some sort of poll as to which track to choose. Should we do a hit, a deep cut, a rarity, a solo track?

If we want this to be open to as many people as possible, as the TS suggested, each contributing with their own instruments/voices in their own way, I would have the following suggestion:

Choose a song that doesn't rely heavily on its arrangement, or on a delicate interplay of melodic lines.

If you take a song like Love Of My Life, or My Fairy King, or Innuendo, (or, god forbid, You Take My Breath Away) you'd really need to do a note-by-note reproduction for it to sound good - that's awesome if you've got a talented band working in synch, but not so great if it's more of an ad-hoc thing and you don't know in advance what parts you're going to get.

If, on the other hand, you take something a little simpler, less delicate, even rough around the edges, like I Want It All, or even Long Away, or Crazy Little Thing Called Love, I think it'd be easier to fit in different people with different instruments, playing at different levels.

I'm open to pretty much anything, from the greatest hit to the deepest, most obscure cut, but please, don't just choose a song that sounds great when Queen does it, but a song that'll sound good when a very random band of people does it.

Oh, and maybe we should consider, when it's recorded, to make the different parts available and let everyone who wants to have a go at putting the whole thing together.

^Yup, that's the correct mindset. Some songs will be off-limits in terms of craftsmanship, mixing and/or talent, so I agree that it needs to be a "simple" song, which narrows the catalog down. Those of you who actually know music should suggest the best candidates.

I suppose someone (the lead singer?) can make a guide for backing vocals, so that us who can't sing can provide something as close to the original as possible. Perhaps we can use the original multitrack stems if the chosen track is available.

Should be fun to make a Queenzone cover, I can play a piano but: 1. I've moved to a new city and left my pianos for a moment. (both electric and acoustic) 2. Mara is already willing to cooparate. So I'll have to wait for my chance.

I'm not sure I can give you a Galileo (I fear autotune would be needed), but I make a very convincing handclap or finger snap... That can work with a lot of songs.

hell yeah!! lets do a rare one like dog with a bone!! I'm in!!!