Did your opinion about Queen change over time?

Hello,

I was a huge fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury. I still am a fan but am no longer fanatical about the band, and as a consequence, my opinions about the band have changed. I feel my opinions are much more objective and levelheaded now.



1. Noone can deny Freddie's vocal talent but I believe he wasted it during the 80s on the following albums: Hot Space, Works, Magic, Miracle. In these albums, he obviously doesn't put as much attention to detail that used to be a Queen trademark. All he did on these albums was yell really loud. There's definitely a difference between their 70s classics like ANATO and Magic, don't you think?

2. Musically, I like and respect their albums from the 70s, and Hot Space. Everything else after hot space is musically pure crap. It's obvious the quality of their songs deteriorated into pop mush. If you think Queen is selling out NOW, you must be blind if you can't see that they began to "sell out" in the 80s, especially with the Works album and after.

3. Freddie Mercury. He annoys me. In some ways, I can't understand the man. To me, he isn't a person who had his head screwed on straight. And look at his life, and how it ended. It's a tragic blunder of gigantic proportions. In short, he's a gifted moron who self-destructed.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]SomebodyWhoLoves wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Hello,

I was a huge fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury. I still am a fan but am no longer fanatical about the band[/QUOTE]
Hello... ^_^
I suppose I'm the same. I used to be ever so slightly obsessed. Not quite a Stepford, but a huuuge fan. Now, as much as I still love the group, I don't get anything close to as fanatical as I was when I was younger. I suppose that's a good thing. It's easier to pick out fault this way. Something i specialise in...

[QUOTE]1. Noone can deny Freddie's vocal talent but I believe he wasted it during the 80s on the following albums: Hot Space, Works, Magic, Miracle. In these albums, he obviously doesn't put as much attention to detail that used to be a Queen trademark. All he did on these albums was yell really loud. There's definitely a difference between their 70s classics like ANATO and Magic, don't you think?[/QUOTE]

As far as his vocals are concerned, I have never really noticed him simply 'yelling really loud'. I do perfer most of the '70s vocals, certainly. However, it is natural for ones voice to change with age (and the smoking didn't exactly help...) But, then again, some of the stuff from the '90s was just... *heart stops beating*

[QUOTE]2. Musically, I like and respect their albums from the 70s, and Hot Space. Everything else after hot space is musically pure crap. It's obvious the quality of their songs deteriorated into pop mush. If you think Queen is selling out NOW, you must be blind if you can't see that they began to "sell out" in the 80s, especially with the Works album and after.[/QUOTE]

All my favourite Queen albums are from the '70s. I have never been too much of a fan of their '80s output. I don't consider it all 'bad', per se, just certainly not up to standard, certainly when viewed in comparison with their '70s work. I could never bring myself to like stuff like Radio Ga Ga...

[QUOTE]3. Freddie Mercury. He annoys me. In some ways, I can't understand the man. To me, he isn't a person who had his head screwed on straight. And look at his life, and how it ended. It's a tragic blunder of gigantic proportions. In short, he's a gifted moron who self-destructed.[/QUOTE]

I can see how this comment may prove to evoke extreme rage in a few people on this board ^_^. Personally, I choose to make no comment on how he decided to handle his personal life. His life, his choice... out loss, but whatever.

^Those responses were a bit of a mess. I'm too tired...

Interesting opinion and I for one will not knock you for your opinion but I do disagree with it!

I guess I'm one of the older Queen fans as I first got into them during the Mott The Hoople tour so I do speak from a "growing old with Queen" perspective.

You are right the '70's were the Queen Rock era where they produced probably there most complex work, however I think the success of this work mean't that they could follow there own musical course basically they didn't need to sell out but they did change direction frequently. The thing that has always kept me interested in Queen is the diversity in there music, yes a lot of it was deemed popular but I honestly think Hot Space was the only album they recorded where they were really trying to be trendy and cool! For most of the '70's and 80's it was in fact quite un cool to like Queen the thing that changed that perception was Live Aid. Queen are now one of those few bands that almost everybody admits they liked at some time or other!

I could never understand how Freddie lived his life it is a different world to the one I lived in but it was his life and it is easy for those outside to critizise!

Well thats my opinion for what its worth

Well, I like all their output. Some tracks are a little niggly, but for the most part, I like most of it. I'm no stepford and have never been one.

And I have to agree that he never shouted. His voice was changing because of age, fitness and smoking. The main culprits.

And I don't think Freddie threw his life away. He lived it the way he wanted and because of something out of anyones control, he died.

Peace,
Adam.

"In short, he's a gifted moron who self-destructed."

perhaps - but he achieved more than most people who lived to 100.

yes, i am getting that way now. its like when you first discover them you have lots to shout about, but now its all calmed down. Erm, i think yes, 70s, their style was fittingly complex, as was fashion at the time. i think 80s they just realised it didnt have to be like that, it could just be 'disposable pop' and i think in alot of 80s music by queen, there was a different kind of genius at work.

I’ve been listening Queen music for almost 25 years. I had got that fortune (or maybe it’s curse :-) to hear ANATO as first Queen LP and I was definitely catched by it. And I am the big fan of them till now, even probably not so ’fanatic’ I was before. I think one reason for this slight change could be a lot of other good music I always listened (I hope so :-) and second it’s a matter of time (or to say it better - matter of getting older).
I like - as most Queen fans from old times - their music from 70s the most. From my point of view (and it’s my own one!) Queen’s worst album is The Works. Ironically, it brought them probably most new fans. But for me, after this LP they got better and better. As somebody here said - I never liked Radio Gaga, but I couldn’t agree LPs (or CDs) after it wasn’t good. I think Queen tried to return some feeling from ’old times’ on these records (A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, Innuendo). And by my mean they were successful.
Concerned with Freddie life. Well, Freddie had got one of the best voices in rock (music) of all times. This is the only one important thing for me. Nothing could destroy or change this. His own life was only his own thing. And - to be honest - every ’star’ or successful man or woman is from majority point of view ’strange’ person. Look at John Lennon or Jim Morrison or maybe Albert Einstein. Their behaviour or life wasn’t standard one, but I think you’d agree they were geniuses. We live in modern times (of Rock’n’Roll :-)) and no prejudice is necessary.

Well, stop chanting for now, have a good time.

Never has, and never will!

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Libor2 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Well, Freddie had got one of the best voices in rock (music)[/QUOTE]
Well... I didn't presume you meant 'rock' in the geological sense...

Though that would sure be interesting.

I didn`t like their change of live set-up in the 80s. From a four men band they passed to be a front-man and a backing band of four (because now they added a f*****g synth player). I loved for example `Ogre Battle` live, or `Leroy Brown`, very recursive tracks and everyone had his moment of show-off. `In The Lap Of The Gods` is really great live too, with Roger`s screams and John, Fred and Brian improvising on their instruments. I preferred `Revisited` back then too, with the cool piano intro, and played full, instead of that Magic Tour short versions.

Having said that, I quite like all their albums the same, except for `The Works` and maybe `A Kind Of Magic`. But they did quite good music. Of course, as a matter of fact, more prog-oriented listeners would prefer piano/guitar/bass/drums tracks instead of synths, but they did use the latter quite good, specially in `The Miracle` and `Innuendo`. `Breakthru` for example, has a good combination of synth-bass and John`s human bass, also synth strings and stuff, combined with real guitars, real drums, vocal harmonies... it was a good way to show they could cover more stuff

I find Invisible Man very ahead of its time in terms of production and technology. For being recorded in 88/89, it was very original. Sadly not so popular as it should have been.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]\m/ (poodle permed) wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Libor2 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Well, Freddie had got one of the best voices in rock (music)[/QUOTE]
Well... I didn't presume you meant 'rock' in the geological sense...

Though that would sure be interesting.[/QUOTE]

:-))) hmm, well, I want to express his voice was exceptional in any kind of music not only rock. I agree I wrote it a little bit clumsy. I’m soooo sorry :-)) I’ll try to be more precise next time, but you know, that English ...

I used to think Queen were the best band in the world. Now they're óne of the best bands in the world. I still think their 1973-1976 output is brilliant, the stuff afterwards is just very good, with the occasional brilliant stuff (Innuendo, Was It All Worth It etc). I think their music got a bit too safe in the 80's with albums like Works, Magic and Miracle.... They didn't experiment much anymore back then.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Libor2 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
:-))) hmm, well, I want to express his voice was exceptional in any kind of music not only rock. I agree I wrote it a little bit clumsy. I’m soooo sorry :-)) I’ll try to be more precise next time, but you know, that English ...[/QUOTE]

Haha... *pats on head* You are forgiven, my child.
Seriously, don't worry about it. I'm just one of those irritating fools, who likes to take advantage of any oportunity to nitpick and take the [pee]...

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]SomebodyWhoLoves wrote: [/QUOTENAME]3. Freddie Mercury. He annoys me. In some ways, I can't understand the man. To me, he isn't a person who had his head screwed on straight. And look at his life, and how it ended. It's a tragic blunder of gigantic proportions. In short, he's a gifted moron who self-destructed.[/QUOTE]

No one understood the man. I'm not sure he understood himself. He had a fairly typical sex life for a rock star - David Lee Roth used to have groupies lining up outside his hotel room. He just got a little unlucky.

"Moron" is a bit harsh. "Not a lot of common sense", absoutely.

Speaking of live stuff... here's a thought of mine that often enters my head as I listen to concerts from 80 and beyond:

Up to and including the Jazz tour (78-79), Queen were a rock band, putting on a rock show.

After that, Queen were a pop band, playing mostly hits. By 1986, they perfected it.