Yes, unfortunately... but then, at the end (Innuendo and MIH), when he stopped smoking and drinking because of his illness, his voice "rises up" again to become what it was near the beginning of their career.
His voice never returned to the 70s range. On certain later tracks (Slightly Mad, You Don't Fool Me, Ride the Wild Wind, for example) it got even lower. There's a certainly fragility and darkness to Freddie's vocals on Innuendo that I like. Probably the album with the most vocal variety.
S
Scott_Mercury
· Member since
I myself, like how his voice sounds on Innuendo just as well as any album from the 1970's.
On 1991's Innuendo, while his voice TONE may have changed somewhat, he is still hitting notes on "Don't try so hard" as he was hitting on 1973's "The Night Comes Down".
I hate smoking, and don't buy the "he was trying to change his voice" thing.... but I don't think that Fred's voice changed anymore than age naturally would have changed it.
I mean, listen to Steven Tyler on Aeosmith's "Dream On".... then listen to 1989's "Love in an elevator"....sounds like to different people.
Or Jagger in 1970...then Jagger in 1990.
Voices change, I actually think Freddie's is the most consistent of all the big hitters.
Let's remember. Freddie was a compulsive cigarette "lighter".... while he did inhale his puff's, watch an interview with him....in a 20 minute interview, he'd like 2 cigarettes, and take a total of 4 puffs.
While thats still too much smoking as far as I am concerned....
He was more of a "light and hold" guy....then an actual chain smoker.
