I love Freddie's piano playing a lot! ...sounds somewhat classical and graceful even in heavy tunes such as "Death On Two Legs" and he sometimes played ad-lib somewhat classically for an intro on live stage. His playing often reminds me Chopin's compositions. That reminds me "Frederic" Chopin was his fav. classical composer. I think he loved training classical piano lessons and was inspired from them a lot. He sometimes played beautiful arpeggios, so I also think both he loved and he knew he was good at playing them...his playing is no doubt one of the striking points of Queen music.
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To respond to what Bohardy said above...well that's all true. I never said Freddie *was* an exceptional pianist (technically, though). And well I'm a Queen fan so obviously I am not going to say, ah average, mediocre, so-so. But while it's true that all his pieces were not incredibly complicated - from Death on Two Legs (intro anyway) to Seven Seas of Rhye or Bo Rhap, and if you want to compare him to an accomplished pianist - well hell then I suppose he was (technically) not good at all. But I think the sheer fact that Freddie was such a genius in the true sense of the word (can you deny that?) added so much to his piano playing to raise it way above the ordinary. Anyone can *learn* to play the piano, but some just have a gift...and I agree wholeheartedly with what ernie said.
And then Scott_Mercury, well it's difficult to rank them like that...Freddie on par with Elton and Jerry Lee Lewis? That's a tough call. Technical-aspects is the only ground on which you can fairly compare them (in which case Freddie would lag behind badly) but there's far more to it than that of course.
And then Scott_Mercury, well it's difficult to rank them like that...Freddie on par with Elton and Jerry Lee Lewis? That's a tough call. Technical-aspects is the only ground on which you can fairly compare them (in which case Freddie would lag behind badly) but there's far more to it than that of course.
I don't give a **** about what Bohardy say.
Montserrat Caballe said to Freddie (on the day they've met for the first time):
"... I shall give it a world premiere in three days time at Covent Garden. And YOU shall play."
Would greatest opera diva risked to have someone who is not excellent piano player - to play on her concert???
Montserrat Caballe said to Freddie (on the day they've met for the first time):
"... I shall give it a world premiere in three days time at Covent Garden. And YOU shall play."
Would greatest opera diva risked to have someone who is not excellent piano player - to play on her concert???
Moet,
You are right...
Freddie's playing itself is probably not there from a technical point of voice with Elton and Jerry Lee Lewis.
What's amazing is, is that somewhere along the line, Freddie as picked up a great grasp of music theory.
And the truth is....it may just be through trial and error, and by what he hears.
For example, McCartney and Lennon have both said... they thought it was hilarious when some music buff would tell them... "I loved how you combined the Dsus2 chord, with the diminished A chord, while playing the melody in E Harmonic Minor"....
McCartney used to say that they had no clue what they were doing, they would just piece chords together until it sounded good....then show Harrison what was going on, and he's arpeggiate a melody over it, or strum chords too.
______________The reason I ranked Freddie's ability so high, and I know Sebastian would agree... is that the complexity of Fred's songs made the other 3 in the band look like rank amatures.
And this is a fact.
"March of the Black Queen", "Bo Rhap", "Killer Queen"...etc could have NEVER BEEN WRITTEN by any of the other three.
Its way out of their realm of complex theory knowledge.
While Brian, knowing the chord changes, and what key the song is in can figure out his part....he would just be more likey to write a "Fat Bottom Girls" himself.
...I was just on a website the other day where someone said "Innuendo is my favorite song by Roger Taylor".
As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work.
Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?
You are right...
Freddie's playing itself is probably not there from a technical point of voice with Elton and Jerry Lee Lewis.
What's amazing is, is that somewhere along the line, Freddie as picked up a great grasp of music theory.
And the truth is....it may just be through trial and error, and by what he hears.
For example, McCartney and Lennon have both said... they thought it was hilarious when some music buff would tell them... "I loved how you combined the Dsus2 chord, with the diminished A chord, while playing the melody in E Harmonic Minor"....
McCartney used to say that they had no clue what they were doing, they would just piece chords together until it sounded good....then show Harrison what was going on, and he's arpeggiate a melody over it, or strum chords too.
______________The reason I ranked Freddie's ability so high, and I know Sebastian would agree... is that the complexity of Fred's songs made the other 3 in the band look like rank amatures.
And this is a fact.
"March of the Black Queen", "Bo Rhap", "Killer Queen"...etc could have NEVER BEEN WRITTEN by any of the other three.
Its way out of their realm of complex theory knowledge.
While Brian, knowing the chord changes, and what key the song is in can figure out his part....he would just be more likey to write a "Fat Bottom Girls" himself.
...I was just on a website the other day where someone said "Innuendo is my favorite song by Roger Taylor".
As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work.
Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?
someone said "Innuendo is my favorite song by Roger Taylor".
As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work.
Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?
No, it doesn't sound.
But, from what I know - Innuendo is Roger's song.
If someone has a proof that I'm wrong, please write it.
That's the spirit XcessQueen!!!
Well two more examples I want to use. Lengthy perhaps but its to illustrate a point to Bohardy.
I have been fortunate enough to witness on one or two occasions the, well - sheer virtuosity - of a German pianist who is a family friend of ours. In a single word, he is mind-blowing. He spends (up to) 10 hours a day practising, and he has been playing since a very early age. Perfect pitch and all that, well that almost goes without saying. His technical ability is mesmerising...I asked him to play a few pieces, and I was shocked...the tone he was able to elicit from the piano, and the expertise with which he was able to play, well - any piece I presented to him - was beyond belief.
Then I asked him, how about a little improvisation? 'No,' he replied, 'I can't do that.' Hmm? What? Come on, I can improvise and I don't have one grain of your ability. And well he sure could improvise, but only improvise as far as a formulaic, mechanical improvisation goes. Sure, he knew a million and one chords and modes and scales and whatnot, but as precise and complicated his improvisation may have been, it was NOT inspiring. Not remotely...he did a far better job of interprating others' masterpieces. What about composing, I asked? Same story...And at the end of the day I was slightly disappointed to hear that.
Second story -- (its short dont worry). A friend of mine was a useless musician. His teachers could *immediately* recognise this, he simply did NOT have a brain that was suited to it. He was terrible and had no talent, to put it gently. Tho he was a stubborn bastard and was determined to stick to getting music tuition. These days? Well, he's no virtuoso, but listen to him and you would never believe that he could once have been considered bad. He certainly came a long way and now most people would probably be rather impressed by his playing.
So what's my point? You can be a 'virtuoso' and yet still not have a true heart for the music. Freddie might only have had a compartively measly musical education, but he was able to come up with really inspired music nonetheless. Bohemian Rhapsody - the piano is terribly simple, make no mistake - but you can't deny that the notes he struck were hauntingly beautiful at times. Other times you can just sense an elegance, or taste, or sheer energy, in his playing. Furthermore, to a certain degree, anybody can learn music. If that rather incompetent friend of mine could do it, then CERTAINLY a genius like Freddie could have been one *helluva* accomplished pianist. But he didn't need to be one...and if he had, I suspect that the musical world wud have been that much darker, Freddie instead spending his days doing Bach or perhaps Chopin!
Nuff said? Freddie was a genius one way or the other, whether he was a studied virtuoso or not. Ah but back to the original topic rather... =P
Well two more examples I want to use. Lengthy perhaps but its to illustrate a point to Bohardy.
I have been fortunate enough to witness on one or two occasions the, well - sheer virtuosity - of a German pianist who is a family friend of ours. In a single word, he is mind-blowing. He spends (up to) 10 hours a day practising, and he has been playing since a very early age. Perfect pitch and all that, well that almost goes without saying. His technical ability is mesmerising...I asked him to play a few pieces, and I was shocked...the tone he was able to elicit from the piano, and the expertise with which he was able to play, well - any piece I presented to him - was beyond belief.
Then I asked him, how about a little improvisation? 'No,' he replied, 'I can't do that.' Hmm? What? Come on, I can improvise and I don't have one grain of your ability. And well he sure could improvise, but only improvise as far as a formulaic, mechanical improvisation goes. Sure, he knew a million and one chords and modes and scales and whatnot, but as precise and complicated his improvisation may have been, it was NOT inspiring. Not remotely...he did a far better job of interprating others' masterpieces. What about composing, I asked? Same story...And at the end of the day I was slightly disappointed to hear that.
Second story -- (its short dont worry). A friend of mine was a useless musician. His teachers could *immediately* recognise this, he simply did NOT have a brain that was suited to it. He was terrible and had no talent, to put it gently. Tho he was a stubborn bastard and was determined to stick to getting music tuition. These days? Well, he's no virtuoso, but listen to him and you would never believe that he could once have been considered bad. He certainly came a long way and now most people would probably be rather impressed by his playing.
So what's my point? You can be a 'virtuoso' and yet still not have a true heart for the music. Freddie might only have had a compartively measly musical education, but he was able to come up with really inspired music nonetheless. Bohemian Rhapsody - the piano is terribly simple, make no mistake - but you can't deny that the notes he struck were hauntingly beautiful at times. Other times you can just sense an elegance, or taste, or sheer energy, in his playing. Furthermore, to a certain degree, anybody can learn music. If that rather incompetent friend of mine could do it, then CERTAINLY a genius like Freddie could have been one *helluva* accomplished pianist. But he didn't need to be one...and if he had, I suspect that the musical world wud have been that much darker, Freddie instead spending his days doing Bach or perhaps Chopin!
Nuff said? Freddie was a genius one way or the other, whether he was a studied virtuoso or not. Ah but back to the original topic rather... =P
Great point Scott_Mercury...as I said, hard to really compare them. But Freddie did things his own way, and I believe the way in which he did is just another testament to his genius.
Bohemian Rhapsody - the piano is terribly simple, make no mistake - but you can't deny that the notes he struck were hauntingly beautiful at times.
Some people say that Deacon isn't anything special as a bass player, because he played simple stuff.
Now I don't know to play anything and I don't care - because I have my hi-fi components and my CDs to play music for me. :)
BUT - I know what is a great music when I hear one.
For me, Deacon (along with Harris from Maiden) is the greatest bass player ever. And the important thing is not the complexity/simplicity of his music, but BEAUTY of his music.
Very often - simple is the best.
Kraftwerk are good example. :)
No, it doesn't sound.
But, from what I know - Innuendo is Roger's song.
If someone has a proof that I'm wrong, please write it.
http://sebastian.queenconcerts.com/innuendo.html
Yeah, and? Blank page.
Yeah, and? Blank page.
It works for me.
Go to sebastian.queenconcerts.com, then click on "Song info" and then "Innuendo".
You will read that Innuendo was written by Freddie and not by Roger.
Let's hope this is enough and poor Sebastian doesn't have to explain it again :-)
I think Freddie's piano playing relates to his music tendency and taste. As we all know, he was training classical piano for years in his young days in India and he was acquaintance with classical music and opera through his life. So I think his aspiration as a musician was a sort of classical interpretation of rock or new created "Mercury" rock with classical music method. That's why his most compositions have definite and sometmes exaggerated inflections with various techniques. I think Love Of My Life is one of his representative songs that would show his music tendency and taste.
Arlene,
Freddie plays piano on the studio version of "Save Me".
Live...Brian starts it...Freddie finishes.
Wrong again Scott, Brian plays ithe piano on the studio version on "Save Me"...see below from Sebastian's website...
http://sebastian.queenconcerts.com/
Quote "Brian played piano on Save Me
Source: A mail answer he sent myself in April 23rd 2003, which was also published in his own website, where he listed the songs he played piano. It isn`t confirmed though wheter he played both piano tracks or just one (if so, which one), and if the synthesiser was also recorded by him."
Several points, where to start...
> Freddie plays piano on the studio version of "Save Me".
No, it`s Sail Away Sweet Sister the one Fred played on. Save Me is Brian
> Live...Brian starts it...Freddie finishes.
Not always
> Freddie's piano virtuosity was extraordinary and luminous
Fred`s piano virtuosity, imho, is simply unexistent
> Freddie and Billy Joel both have much more complicated songs
Yes but that covers songwriting more than playing ability. A better songwriter isn`t neccesarily a better player. Or is George Martin better cellist than Yo Yo Ma just because he wrote more interesting parts for cello?
> "... I shall give it a world premiere in three days time at Covent Garden. And YOU shall play."
She said "you shall play" to Mike, not to Freddie. For obvious reasons.
> McCartney used to say that they had no clue what they were doing
It was more than that. You can`t judge George & John due to some Paul`s quote.
> .. is that the complexity of Fred's songs made the other 3 in the band look like rank amatures.
And this is a fact.
For some extent, yes, but it doesn`t count for piano player. There are tons of great instrumentalists who can`t even compose a three-chord short tune but it doesn`t change the fact that they can play extremely well.
> "March of the Black Queen", "Bo Rhap", "Killer Queen"...etc could have NEVER BEEN WRITTEN by any of the other three.
Yes, but for the same effect, neither Fred nor Roger nor John could have written 39, neither Fred nor Brian nor Roger could have written Best Friend, etc.
> As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work.
Innuendo is Fred`s musically, and Fred and Roger in the lyrics.
> Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?
No, but it isn`t a convincing argument imo. Many wouldn`t believe that the same person who composed Crazy Little Thing wrote Fallen Priest.
> Freddie plays piano on the studio version of "Save Me".
No, it`s Sail Away Sweet Sister the one Fred played on. Save Me is Brian
> Live...Brian starts it...Freddie finishes.
Not always
> Freddie's piano virtuosity was extraordinary and luminous
Fred`s piano virtuosity, imho, is simply unexistent
> Freddie and Billy Joel both have much more complicated songs
Yes but that covers songwriting more than playing ability. A better songwriter isn`t neccesarily a better player. Or is George Martin better cellist than Yo Yo Ma just because he wrote more interesting parts for cello?
> "... I shall give it a world premiere in three days time at Covent Garden. And YOU shall play."
She said "you shall play" to Mike, not to Freddie. For obvious reasons.
> McCartney used to say that they had no clue what they were doing
It was more than that. You can`t judge George & John due to some Paul`s quote.
> .. is that the complexity of Fred's songs made the other 3 in the band look like rank amatures.
And this is a fact.
For some extent, yes, but it doesn`t count for piano player. There are tons of great instrumentalists who can`t even compose a three-chord short tune but it doesn`t change the fact that they can play extremely well.
> "March of the Black Queen", "Bo Rhap", "Killer Queen"...etc could have NEVER BEEN WRITTEN by any of the other three.
Yes, but for the same effect, neither Fred nor Roger nor John could have written 39, neither Fred nor Brian nor Roger could have written Best Friend, etc.
> As I keep saying...Innuendo has to be Freddie's, because no one else in the band has the knowledge to compose a song with 30+ chords in it, and make it work.
Innuendo is Fred`s musically, and Fred and Roger in the lyrics.
> Compare Innuendo to "Fun It"....does that sound like its written by the same person?
No, but it isn`t a convincing argument imo. Many wouldn`t believe that the same person who composed Crazy Little Thing wrote Fallen Priest.
Yeah, and? Blank page.
It works for me.
Go to sebastian.queenconcerts.com, then click on "Song info" and then "Innuendo".
You will read that Innuendo was written by Freddie and not by Roger.
Let's hope this is enough and poor Sebastian doesn't have to explain it again :-)
I've found out where was the problem - I couldn't open this site because I had that little program called Proximitron running. :)
Whoa - I'm impressed with Sebastian's knowlege. He's really an expert. I didn't want to read it all, because I think I wouldn't understand half of it.
BUT - I was hopeing to see some FACTS that are 100% true and OFFICIAL. But all this is just still guessing... Nevetheless, it sounds convincing, and I'll believe it until someday I find some different and stronger arguments.
Why couldn't they have just give us those informations on the album sleeves...? I mean - I know why they did it this way... but... why everything must be so complicated about Queen!?
:) But that makes it more fun for us now, right? :)
You really have to engage seriouslly to find what you want to know/own...