Innuendo -album vocals

http://queenzone.com/queenzone/forumnew/forum_topic_view.aspx?Q=907222

So this was the original topic concerning Freddies vocal range. And also the change of it during the later years and his ability to sing with such a power, even from the death.bed, so to speak.

I was watching the Return of The Champions the otherday. The thing which I noticed is, that whereas all the other songs seem to be performed from the original key, The Show Must Go On is not.

The original key on Innuendo album is "Bm". But on the Q+PR tour it was performed two semitones lower, from "Am" that is.

So if Paul is able to sing most of the Freddie songs from original key, but not this one, what could be the reason?

I thought that, maybe, just maybe, they used some tricks on Innuendo -like speeding the tape - to get this higher vocal tone from Freddie?

If you check back Queen: Live In Budapest 1986 there is a same sort of effect. The tape is running a bit too fast, which makes the songs to jump up a semitone. So all the songs sound like they are one step higher. Like "One Vision" which is played from D, sounds like being played from D# on this recording. You can hear this from the vocal aswell. Compared to Wembley concert, Freddie sounds like a choir-boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdGcX-s99Rg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGhgQnIrt4

Just made me wonder, while I was making tabulatures for The Show Must GO On.

Just the Freddie effect. No trickery. Or at least, none I'm aware of.

Adam.

there was no trick
it`s just freddie
that is the amazing thing of freddie, he could reach notes wich cant be reached by a normal singer

Even though TSMGO is a half a step down on ROTC, Paul Rodgers doesn't actually transpose (modulate) the song note for note. He sings around the note, usually under the note. IWTBF for example is done in the key of D, a full step down and so is AOBTD. Freddie did AOBTD in the key of E live.
Freddie range during the later part of his life is truly magical.

"I thought that, maybe, just maybe, they used some tricks on Innuendo -like speeding the tape - to get this higher vocal tone from Freddie?"

Nope. His voice just changed with age. It's actually a pretty interesting transition from '84 to '91. A transition for the better, I believe.

A lot of it has to do with the fact he quit smoking. Smoking is the worst thing you can do if you're a vocalist.

As mentioned by Roger Daltrey during the tribute rehearsals, "they're changing the keys to these songs, because no-one can sing them".

Freddie did have this amazing voice and from memory, i was told he could reach up to 8 octaves.

8 octaves are utterly impossible. Freddie's range spanned around four octaves including falsetto, which is still impressive.

Very much so, Seb. Very much so.

"Freddie did have this amazing voice and from memory, i was told he could reach up to 8 octaves."

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6404/whagz2.jpg

If Freddie would have had a range of 8 octaves, he would be a Bösendorfer grand piano (xD LMAO)

Freddie indeed had an amazing voice, perhaps greatest male voice in history. We must remember that Freddie could sing anything from light opera to heavy rock.

I think that only singer who is about his equal is Elvis (early 70's) Not same vocal range that Freddie had, but Elvis could also sing all styles.

Those who doubt the skill of Elvis, check this. Filmed only weeks before of his death. I recommend to use headphones :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO9hpTL0NG8

According to Brian there are no tricks on this track!
And, if my memory serves me right, it was donne in the first take (?).

Paul Sings it very well, and a 56 years old guy must preserve is voice for the tour. I believe he could sing it in the right key, but it would be too demanding for his throat.

If Queen could tour for INNUENDO, I believe that even Freddie would have to change key if he wanted to last untill the end of the tour.

There are a couple of songs in the Magic Tour that didn´t worked naturally for Freddie´s range at that time- AOBTD and IWTBF.

But it´s true, his tone was very beautifful the last couple of years of his life.

Take care

Well shit, Freddie had to drop Friends Will Be Friends a bit for the Magic Tour... I'm not going to hold it against Paul Rodgers for slightly lowering The Show Must Go On when, I think, it's a harder song to deliver.

I do believe the 'one take' you speak of concerning The Show Must Go On was in the 'face it with a grin' segment, as Freddie added those lyrics ad lib.
So despite it being (to my mind) a Brian song, there are very Freddie moments in it; that obviously being one of them. Hehe.

I really don't think any technical tricks were used on Innuendo... his voice had been headed that way for years. I'll be buggered if I can explain it properly, but one would best listen to certain songs from '84 to '91. Listen to how his 'rough' voice changes (going from maybe Hammer to Fall, Gimme the Prize, I Want It All and maybe The Hitman?).

PS Someone mentioned Roger Daltrey... I still say he was best in show at that Tribute.

Check this out :-

http://www.queenzone.com/queenzone/forumnew/forum_topic_view.aspx?Q=884816