Thanks for all your replies guys and gals it's well appreciated.
If you want a review of a any queen album please let me know and i'll be only too glad to help,i grew up with queen like many others around and on here and sharing my experience of buying a album at a particular time takes me back in time when i was younger and totally absorbed with queen.
Once again thanks for the positive feedback.
Thread
Posts in chronological order
The album is good, really. The remaining 3 guys did a great job, even if I think they had better things to put on it ("Dog With A Bone", "Self-Made Man"...). I'm not sure whether Brian was really enthusiastic about this project at the beginning: I read some interviews at the time of the sessions where he clearly talked about arguing with John and Roger, who began the job without him. Anyway, he shone through the album, his solos, his guitar parts... But Freddie was the true star of MIH, of course.
WORST. QUEEN ALBUM. EVER.
Hahah to those who think he didn't want this stuff released.
Lemme get this straight : he sung a song called "Show must go on", and made added lyrics like 'I'll face it with a grin, I'm never giving in'... yet you obviously met him after he changed his mind and said 'music is for chumps, and I don't want this released after all'.
Uh-huh. What a retard you are.
Lemme get this straight : he sung a song called "Show must go on", and made added lyrics like 'I'll face it with a grin, I'm never giving in'... yet you obviously met him after he changed his mind and said 'music is for chumps, and I don't want this released after all'.
Uh-huh. What a retard you are.
Never their worst album hot space will forever hold that honour.
BHM0271 Why do you think it's their worst? let's have your opinion on it?
BHM0271 Why do you think it's their worst? let's have your opinion on it?
They did a hell of a job completing "Made in Heaven"... I like this recording very much due to great songs like Mother Love, A Winters Tale or Let Me Live. But I allways had wished that they had "closed" the album with a song like "No One But You" instead of a "hidden Track 13". That, to me, would have been a perfect finish to their "legacy"...
Well, Brenda, as I posted months back...
Brian said that the process involved the remaining members passing the material back and forth and making changes independently. Call me crazy but that's what the album sounds like, a recording made without a band dynamic.
Second, the songs are incomplete or rehashed. Track 1 and 13 are unfinished. Mother Love was unfinished. Piece of my heart was unfinished.
Three, the songwriting was weak. Everybody's opinion is different, but these songs sounded like throwaways dug up for the purpose of releasing product.
Four, and most importantly for the US market, it was flat and boring. Queen was a rock band in the US, period. They were liked by the masses for AOBTD, but their creative and popular peak was when they were rockers. There is nothing resembling a rock song on the album, and don't say IWBTLY is a rock song. It's a synth tune with guitars (which sound contrived.) There are no amazing "Queen" moments.
Five, it's beyond maudlin. Other than Mother Love for emotion, it's in Celine Dion cornball territory. If they had ended with the honesty of Innuendo, I think it would have been a perfect goodbye, but it reeks of a manipulative goodbye.
Six, the covers are inferior to all of the others. And IWBTLY was unknown in the US, so who cared if was covered?
Finally, it's emotionally dishonest. Freddie may have written Made in Heaven in '85 about his thoughts upon finding out he was HIV+. Or he may have written it about the feeling he got when he went to the gay nightclub 'Heaven', which he apparently frequented in the 80s. Whatever it was, it was an uplifting piece of music. When it was redone for MIH, it was given ominous, plodding beats, a solo that was ill fitted, and worst of all, the piano at the end with the guitars turns the mood dark, which certainly wasn't the way Freddie wrote it. So it became a song about death, which is totally dishonest.
To each his own, and I'm sure people on this board feel the same as ANATO, which is my favourite album. But I remember a station which supported (and still supports Queen) in Canada saying that the album was a nice tribute, too bad they couldn't have given him a farewell with some decent songs. My sentiments exactly.
Brian said that the process involved the remaining members passing the material back and forth and making changes independently. Call me crazy but that's what the album sounds like, a recording made without a band dynamic.
Second, the songs are incomplete or rehashed. Track 1 and 13 are unfinished. Mother Love was unfinished. Piece of my heart was unfinished.
Three, the songwriting was weak. Everybody's opinion is different, but these songs sounded like throwaways dug up for the purpose of releasing product.
Four, and most importantly for the US market, it was flat and boring. Queen was a rock band in the US, period. They were liked by the masses for AOBTD, but their creative and popular peak was when they were rockers. There is nothing resembling a rock song on the album, and don't say IWBTLY is a rock song. It's a synth tune with guitars (which sound contrived.) There are no amazing "Queen" moments.
Five, it's beyond maudlin. Other than Mother Love for emotion, it's in Celine Dion cornball territory. If they had ended with the honesty of Innuendo, I think it would have been a perfect goodbye, but it reeks of a manipulative goodbye.
Six, the covers are inferior to all of the others. And IWBTLY was unknown in the US, so who cared if was covered?
Finally, it's emotionally dishonest. Freddie may have written Made in Heaven in '85 about his thoughts upon finding out he was HIV+. Or he may have written it about the feeling he got when he went to the gay nightclub 'Heaven', which he apparently frequented in the 80s. Whatever it was, it was an uplifting piece of music. When it was redone for MIH, it was given ominous, plodding beats, a solo that was ill fitted, and worst of all, the piano at the end with the guitars turns the mood dark, which certainly wasn't the way Freddie wrote it. So it became a song about death, which is totally dishonest.
To each his own, and I'm sure people on this board feel the same as ANATO, which is my favourite album. But I remember a station which supported (and still supports Queen) in Canada saying that the album was a nice tribute, too bad they couldn't have given him a farewell with some decent songs. My sentiments exactly.
Good points bhm0271 thanks for your opinion very interesting to read what you thought about the made in heaven album.
"Track 1 and 13 are unfinished. Mother Love was unfinished. Piece of my heart was unfinished."
Track 1 is an improvisation and is therefore, not incomplete. It is what it is... I've recorded similar improvisations and I don't call them incomplete or unfinished.
Track 13 is a hidden track and is included as a completed piece of music. Track 13 can't be called incomplete as it does play through to a conclusion.
Mother Love being incomplete... Why do you say that? Just because Freddie didn't get to do the last verse? Jeez... What an insult to Brian.
Let Me Live - fair enough, in a sense. But I'd rather judge it after hearing the original demo recording.
"...don't say IWBTLY is a rock song. It's a synth tune with guitars (which sound contrived.) There are no amazing "Queen" moments."
Dear lord..! What does that mean? Just because it included synths means that it's lesser for it? Or that a rock song can't have synths..? If so, that's a very contrived opinion to have. And there are plenty of great Queen moments to hear on the MIH album.
"but it reeks of a manipulative goodbye."
What did you expect? The album is designed to say goodbye in a particular way. But manipulative is far too strong a word to use. As if to say they did something they should've have. How insulting to Bri, Rog and John.
And about the song, MIH. Just because it's arranged in a different way, changes the song for you? I can listen to both and I don't hear anything but the music set differently. I think you might have analysed that one a little too far.
And finally, you reveal, "...too bad they couldn't have given him a farewell with some decent songs. My sentiments exactly." That says it all. I'm starting to understand why some say, "if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all."
Peace,
Adam.
Track 1 is an improvisation and is therefore, not incomplete. It is what it is... I've recorded similar improvisations and I don't call them incomplete or unfinished.
Track 13 is a hidden track and is included as a completed piece of music. Track 13 can't be called incomplete as it does play through to a conclusion.
Mother Love being incomplete... Why do you say that? Just because Freddie didn't get to do the last verse? Jeez... What an insult to Brian.
Let Me Live - fair enough, in a sense. But I'd rather judge it after hearing the original demo recording.
"...don't say IWBTLY is a rock song. It's a synth tune with guitars (which sound contrived.) There are no amazing "Queen" moments."
Dear lord..! What does that mean? Just because it included synths means that it's lesser for it? Or that a rock song can't have synths..? If so, that's a very contrived opinion to have. And there are plenty of great Queen moments to hear on the MIH album.
"but it reeks of a manipulative goodbye."
What did you expect? The album is designed to say goodbye in a particular way. But manipulative is far too strong a word to use. As if to say they did something they should've have. How insulting to Bri, Rog and John.
And about the song, MIH. Just because it's arranged in a different way, changes the song for you? I can listen to both and I don't hear anything but the music set differently. I think you might have analysed that one a little too far.
And finally, you reveal, "...too bad they couldn't have given him a farewell with some decent songs. My sentiments exactly." That says it all. I'm starting to understand why some say, "if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all."
Peace,
Adam.
Coming from a guy who another poster took to task for not having anything good to say about the songs done by board members, your last part is rich.
Further, Adam, your views are entirely based on your emotional feelings towards topics. If you want a further explanation, here goes.
"Track 1 is an improvisation and is therefore, not incomplete. It is what it is... I've recorded similar improvisations and I don't call them incomplete or unfinished."
Good for you. It's still unfinished and "IMHO", it's the seeds of a great song, not a great song.
"Track 13 is a hidden track and is included as a completed piece of music. Track 13 can't be called incomplete as it does play through to a conclusion."
If Track 13 is among the top 150 Queen songs, I'll eat your hat. It's the equivalent of guys fucking around with sounds. Forget completeness, it's not a good song.
"Mother Love being incomplete... Why do you say that? Just because Freddie didn't get to do the last verse? Jeez... What an insult to Brian."
No insult meant, but in fairness it could come off that way.
"Dear lord..! What does that mean? Just because it included synths means that it's lesser for it? Or that a rock song can't have synths..?"
No, it means that it was a Freddie based synth song with drum programming. To make it into something else entirely is contrived, along with the 953rd "ha, ha" from AKOM. It's not a rock song Adam. End of story. They could re-record Mustapha and make it bluesy. They could make Ogre Battle a dance hall number. That's contrived, they are making something that wasn't there into something else. If it works for you, super, I think it's hokey.
"What did you expect? The album is designed to say goodbye in a particular way. But manipulative is far too strong a word to use. As if to say they did something they should've have. How insulting to Bri, Rog and John."
It's not insulting Adam, it is manipulative. Re-read (or read) my post on the song Made in Heaven. It's now about death, including the darker piano chords at the end. When I first heard the FM version of the song, I thought it was postive and introspective. On MIH, it's about Freddie's death, and to turn it darker at the end is manipulative. Compare the ending of the tow versions. I know you're a smart guy who understands music more than I ever will. The "colour" is lighter on Freddie's version, on MIH there's a darker tone that leads to finality. Not Freddie's vision. And who said they did something they shouldn't have either? I didn't say they shouldn't have, I'm saying they wanted an album of Freddie saying goodbye (which should have been Innuendo) and that the death theme was creepy.
"And finally, you reveal, "...too bad they couldn't have given him a farewell with some decent songs. My sentiments exactly." I didn't say that, it was said on a Canadian FM station that has always supported Queen. To me the album was boring and flat. It had no emotional resonance, and this is from a guy who loves Queen's music. To each their own i suppose. But for the record Adam, not that it means anything, but for the final Freddie album, it did squat here in sales despite decent promotion. Queen was a rock band with a bunch of other amazing sides. Here they were a MOR band venturing too close to Michael Bolton/Celine dion over the top melodrama. "IMHO", which of course ou may disagree with :)
Further, Adam, your views are entirely based on your emotional feelings towards topics. If you want a further explanation, here goes.
"Track 1 is an improvisation and is therefore, not incomplete. It is what it is... I've recorded similar improvisations and I don't call them incomplete or unfinished."
Good for you. It's still unfinished and "IMHO", it's the seeds of a great song, not a great song.
"Track 13 is a hidden track and is included as a completed piece of music. Track 13 can't be called incomplete as it does play through to a conclusion."
If Track 13 is among the top 150 Queen songs, I'll eat your hat. It's the equivalent of guys fucking around with sounds. Forget completeness, it's not a good song.
"Mother Love being incomplete... Why do you say that? Just because Freddie didn't get to do the last verse? Jeez... What an insult to Brian."
No insult meant, but in fairness it could come off that way.
"Dear lord..! What does that mean? Just because it included synths means that it's lesser for it? Or that a rock song can't have synths..?"
No, it means that it was a Freddie based synth song with drum programming. To make it into something else entirely is contrived, along with the 953rd "ha, ha" from AKOM. It's not a rock song Adam. End of story. They could re-record Mustapha and make it bluesy. They could make Ogre Battle a dance hall number. That's contrived, they are making something that wasn't there into something else. If it works for you, super, I think it's hokey.
"What did you expect? The album is designed to say goodbye in a particular way. But manipulative is far too strong a word to use. As if to say they did something they should've have. How insulting to Bri, Rog and John."
It's not insulting Adam, it is manipulative. Re-read (or read) my post on the song Made in Heaven. It's now about death, including the darker piano chords at the end. When I first heard the FM version of the song, I thought it was postive and introspective. On MIH, it's about Freddie's death, and to turn it darker at the end is manipulative. Compare the ending of the tow versions. I know you're a smart guy who understands music more than I ever will. The "colour" is lighter on Freddie's version, on MIH there's a darker tone that leads to finality. Not Freddie's vision. And who said they did something they shouldn't have either? I didn't say they shouldn't have, I'm saying they wanted an album of Freddie saying goodbye (which should have been Innuendo) and that the death theme was creepy.
"And finally, you reveal, "...too bad they couldn't have given him a farewell with some decent songs. My sentiments exactly." I didn't say that, it was said on a Canadian FM station that has always supported Queen. To me the album was boring and flat. It had no emotional resonance, and this is from a guy who loves Queen's music. To each their own i suppose. But for the record Adam, not that it means anything, but for the final Freddie album, it did squat here in sales despite decent promotion. Queen was a rock band with a bunch of other amazing sides. Here they were a MOR band venturing too close to Michael Bolton/Celine dion over the top melodrama. "IMHO", which of course ou may disagree with :)
to BHM 0271:
Hi! I respect other people's opinions, because "to each his own" and it is really so. BUT. I totally disagree with you about the track "Made In Heaven". I'll explain why.
First of all, the solo version is a poetically romantic and, yes, introspective song (AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GAY CLUB THEME AT ALL - are you crazy?????). It is so obvious - listen to it, watch the video. It is a pure escapism. It's about HEAVEN in the poetical sense.
And the Queen version. What A GREAT track... The guys payed a perfect tribute to Mercury's personna turning the original introspective "escapism" (dream) song into the retrospective theme of LIFE, CAREER, DEATH and "REAL HEAVEN". So it seems like Freddie really sings to the audience from the skies! (And the arrangements help to feel it.)
Yes, the song starts with the sad bits - you feel the presence of death, but then you suddenly get a positive and very optimistic feeling: the life goes on!!!! Fantastic, poignant solo in the middle. Every step of the track is thoroughly worked out. And the end... The lines "written in the stars" are about immortality of Freddie's spirit and his legacy.
It's a fitting tribute to the Legend Freddie was!
Hi! I respect other people's opinions, because "to each his own" and it is really so. BUT. I totally disagree with you about the track "Made In Heaven". I'll explain why.
First of all, the solo version is a poetically romantic and, yes, introspective song (AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GAY CLUB THEME AT ALL - are you crazy?????). It is so obvious - listen to it, watch the video. It is a pure escapism. It's about HEAVEN in the poetical sense.
And the Queen version. What A GREAT track... The guys payed a perfect tribute to Mercury's personna turning the original introspective "escapism" (dream) song into the retrospective theme of LIFE, CAREER, DEATH and "REAL HEAVEN". So it seems like Freddie really sings to the audience from the skies! (And the arrangements help to feel it.)
Yes, the song starts with the sad bits - you feel the presence of death, but then you suddenly get a positive and very optimistic feeling: the life goes on!!!! Fantastic, poignant solo in the middle. Every step of the track is thoroughly worked out. And the end... The lines "written in the stars" are about immortality of Freddie's spirit and his legacy.
It's a fitting tribute to the Legend Freddie was!
i agree with the last, i feel it's a great tribute and a solid album. i think 'made in heaven' is my favorite queen cover. it has a look of celebration and vicory, like freddie's spirit made to the other side, raising his hand in victory.
Hi Antiden, I too respect other people's opinions, therefore I'll explain mine to you.
If you actually read my post, then you'd see that I wrote that "Freddie may have written Made in Heaven in '85 about his thoughts upon finding out he was HIV+. Or he may have written it about the feeling he got when he went to the gay nightclub 'Heaven', which he apparently frequented in the 80s."
The word MAY means that the song could be about anything. It MAY be about the feeling that his morning bowl of cereal gave him. The tenor of the Queen version changed that. So it will relieve you and I to know that I'm not crazy for thinking it's about a gay nightclub.
I'm glad you enjoy the song and album, that's the beauty of opinion. Mine is different, and I hope I've explained why in a rational manner.
Cheers!
If you actually read my post, then you'd see that I wrote that "Freddie may have written Made in Heaven in '85 about his thoughts upon finding out he was HIV+. Or he may have written it about the feeling he got when he went to the gay nightclub 'Heaven', which he apparently frequented in the 80s."
The word MAY means that the song could be about anything. It MAY be about the feeling that his morning bowl of cereal gave him. The tenor of the Queen version changed that. So it will relieve you and I to know that I'm not crazy for thinking it's about a gay nightclub.
I'm glad you enjoy the song and album, that's the beauty of opinion. Mine is different, and I hope I've explained why in a rational manner.
Cheers!
"Coming from a guy who another poster took to task for not having anything good to say about the songs done by board members, your last part is rich."
Not really, considering that he was wrong. I actually replied saying I liked that particular song, just didn't love it. My words were, "who said I didn't like it?" And if I don't like it, I give constructive criticism, rather than some who simply say, it's crap, etc.
"Further, Adam, your views are entirely based on your emotional feelings towards topics."
I should bloody hope so! You know?
I find your thoughts about the Beautiful Day improv completely wrong. How can an improvisation be incomplete? Improvised plays/films are not called incomplete. So, why is a song improvisation different?
"If Track 13 is among the top 150 Queen songs, I'll eat your hat. It's the equivalent of guys fucking around with sounds. Forget completeness, it's not a good song."
Nothing wrong with fucking around with sounds! How do you think some tracks are/were written in the first place?
Track 13 is also, technically, an improvised piece of music. It was created out of nothing and then completed, to their satisfaction. Just because someone isn't singing over it (instrumental) doesn't make it any less than other Queen songs. But since it's a hidden track, of course it'll be seen differently. The point was, it's a complete creation, beginning to end. And you again point to your real feeling about it, "not a good song." That's why you don't rate it.
"No, it means that it was a Freddie based synth song with drum programming. To make it into something else entirely is contrived, along with the 953rd "ha, ha" from AKOM. It's not a rock song Adam. End of story. They could re-record Mustapha and make it bluesy. They could make Ogre Battle a dance hall number. That's contrived, they are making something that wasn't there into something else. If it works for you, super, I think it's hokey."
Again, this is down to your own feeling about the track and the creative minds that go out and recreate tracks in their own way. Just because someone rocks up a track more doesn't make it contrived. I just don't see how that makes it what you say it is. There's nothing contrived about remaking a song in a different way. It's just being creative and having a different take on something. Look at the 7" or 12" remixes or the slow version of Hammer To Fall. Contrived? I don't think so.
You saw death on the track MIH, I didn't. I also don't think it really changes the song, the way they recorded/arranged it. Like Antiden says, it's about life and the idea of Heaven. The lyrics didn't change, either. Each to their own. End of story.
Peace,
Adam.
Not really, considering that he was wrong. I actually replied saying I liked that particular song, just didn't love it. My words were, "who said I didn't like it?" And if I don't like it, I give constructive criticism, rather than some who simply say, it's crap, etc.
"Further, Adam, your views are entirely based on your emotional feelings towards topics."
I should bloody hope so! You know?
I find your thoughts about the Beautiful Day improv completely wrong. How can an improvisation be incomplete? Improvised plays/films are not called incomplete. So, why is a song improvisation different?
"If Track 13 is among the top 150 Queen songs, I'll eat your hat. It's the equivalent of guys fucking around with sounds. Forget completeness, it's not a good song."
Nothing wrong with fucking around with sounds! How do you think some tracks are/were written in the first place?
Track 13 is also, technically, an improvised piece of music. It was created out of nothing and then completed, to their satisfaction. Just because someone isn't singing over it (instrumental) doesn't make it any less than other Queen songs. But since it's a hidden track, of course it'll be seen differently. The point was, it's a complete creation, beginning to end. And you again point to your real feeling about it, "not a good song." That's why you don't rate it.
"No, it means that it was a Freddie based synth song with drum programming. To make it into something else entirely is contrived, along with the 953rd "ha, ha" from AKOM. It's not a rock song Adam. End of story. They could re-record Mustapha and make it bluesy. They could make Ogre Battle a dance hall number. That's contrived, they are making something that wasn't there into something else. If it works for you, super, I think it's hokey."
Again, this is down to your own feeling about the track and the creative minds that go out and recreate tracks in their own way. Just because someone rocks up a track more doesn't make it contrived. I just don't see how that makes it what you say it is. There's nothing contrived about remaking a song in a different way. It's just being creative and having a different take on something. Look at the 7" or 12" remixes or the slow version of Hammer To Fall. Contrived? I don't think so.
You saw death on the track MIH, I didn't. I also don't think it really changes the song, the way they recorded/arranged it. Like Antiden says, it's about life and the idea of Heaven. The lyrics didn't change, either. Each to their own. End of story.
Peace,
Adam.
I place MiH in my upper half of Queen studio albums. I much prefer Queen's version of MiH song over Freddie's version. The low piano notes in the original sound hollow, empty and uninspired (IMHO).