Band of the Week: Queen!

[Koga]

We all knew I was going to do this eventually, and I just thought I'd get this over with immediately.

Queen

Genre: Symphonic/Glam Rock
Formed: 1970

Members:
Freddie Mercury (deceased 1991): vocals, piano, keyboards, occasional guitar
Brian May: guitars, vocals, keyboards
Roger Taylor: drums and percussion, vocals, occasional keyboards and (bass)guitar
John Deacon (retired): bass guitar, occasional accoustic guitar and keyboards

Discography:
Queen (1973)
Queen II (1974)
Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
A Night At The Opera (1975)
A Day At The Races (1976)
News Of The World (1977)
Jazz (1978)
The Game (1980)
Flash Gordon (1980)
Hot Space (1982)
The Works (1984)
A Kind Of Magic (1986)
The Miracle (1989)
Innuendo (1991)
Made In Heaven (1995)

[Koga]

I don't think I have to tell you how much I like this band. I have always loved their greatest hits albums, which my father owns, but I only recently got into their back catalogue. Starting with their DVD collection which featured some lesser known songs, I soon found myself downloading (:0) all their material, and eventually buying all their albums. I know own their entire discography, including compilation albums, live albums, an album comprised of BBC radio sessions and an instrumental (karakoke) album. I have 8 Queen DVDs (some of them not featuring all members) and I went to see Queen + Paul Rodgers twice.

There are several reasons why I like this band so much. First, it's their originality. They have some songs that you just have never heard before (Bohemian Rhapsody is the prime example). Secondly it's the way they produced their albums with the layers of vocals and guitars. This is especially true for the first 5 albums, which are my favourites. I also like how they kept trying new stuff (not succesfully in each case), and did songs in many genres. For example, Antoher One Bites The Dust is completely different from Killer Queen, but I love them both. Last but not least, they were an amazing live band. May, Taylor and Deacon were very competent musicians (May especially), but the magic of their performance comes from the incredible energy of Freddie Mercury. If you have a chance watch their performance at Live Aid, which was recently voted the best gig of all time by some British magazine. It's only 20 minutes long, but it perfectly represents the quality of Queen as a live act. Sadly I'm too young to have ever seen them at their prime, but I'm very happy that I saw two of them perform last year.

If you have any questions about this band feel free to ask them. I think I'll be able to answer nearly all of them.

[Koga]

Like Vinny and Neko did before me, I'm going to decide the artist of the week myself. If you have any suggestions PM me and if I get many PMs, I will do one suggestion one week and one of my own favourites the next. Most of my favourite artists are (or at least were) world famous, so don't expect too many artist you have never heard of.

[CaptHayfever]

What can I say that you haven't already said? Truly one of the greats.
Queen will outlive my grandchildren.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[L007 is Undecided]

I am so looking forward to the Queen + Paul Rodgers concert in Minnesota (Which is also the weekend before our High School band goes to Chicago. Shame, if we would go earlier, we could of gone to the concert there). However, the ONLY problem I have with Paul is that he just can't seem to hold his voice long enough, which threw off A Kind of Magic in Return of the Champions quite a bit. Still, early in the concert, songs like Wishing Well and Another One Bites the Dust seemed nearly perfect. Oh, and for future references, Danny Miranda is an awesome bassist.

Probably my favorite quote of Freddie is his comment about his sh**ty guitar before Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Awesome, even though he was a better chord player than I am. =/

And for a last note, I have NEVER heard so many songs that I liked by one band. From One Vision to Ogre Battle to Seven Seas of Rhye to Death on Two Legs... Yeah.

[Koga]

I think Wishing Well was one of the highlights, but I didn't particularly like Another One Bites The Dust. It was too rock-like and guitar heavy, in my opinion. Like with AKOM, I think AOBTD suffered from the absence of John Deacon. I think Danny Miranda is awesome as well, but for those bass-heavy songs I really wished Deacy could've been there.

What albums do you own, L007? Or are you still in the downloading phase?(believe me, you'll want to own every album some day too).

[Heroine of the Dragon]

We are the champions, my friend.. and we'lllll keep on fighting 'til the end....

I love Queen. They have some awesome songs of which I have about 6 particular favourites.

[Curly Brace]

I like Queen, don't get me wrong. But the "Body Language" song scares the daylights out of me.

[L007 is Undecided]

I don't think we'll ever see Deacon. He's already said how he didn't like Brittany Spears' rendition of, what was it, We Will Rock You? Or was it We are the Champions? Either way, he has a point, although he certainly should come out of retirement for at least one concert because I don't know if Paul Rodgers will be with Queen for a long time (Paul was in his solo career).

Of course, I have never heard Deacon's voice. I know he wouldn't really sing, but only lip synched (Which he does a good job at in Wembley).

I'm a bad little boy, Koga. >_> I've only downloaded (Except for the two DVDs I have). I don't have all the semi-famous songs, and our K-Mart and Sam Goodey has the Platinum Collection, so I may buy that if my mom would LET ME. >_>

[Koga]

Which ones are those, HotD?

I agree, Tikal, it's one of my least favourite songs by them.

It was actually the WATC performance of Robbie Williams (for the movie a Knight's Tale) that he was slagging off. I must admit I haven't heard that particular version, but I can definitely see where he's coming from. I think he was already fed up with touring at the end of Queen's career, although he did a few events after Freddie's death up to 1997. I think something may have happened around that time between Roger/Brian and John, something that made him decide he didn't want to be in the limelight at all anymore (I also think it's a shame he isn't involved with any of the DVDs).

I'm not sure whether he lip synched (or sang with his mic off) at Wembley, or whether he actually sang live. Even people with a bad voice sound ok in a group. Fact is that he never sang on a Queen recording, although there are rumours he can be heard on Liar on the Queen at the BBC CD.

[CaptHayfever]

Why would they use a cover of WATC when they were already using the original of WWRY?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Koga]

I have no idea. I haven't seen the film, but I thought WWRY was re-recorded for it as well. I have no idea why they re-recorded it anyway, and I don't really see how it fits the film (but then again I haven't seen it, so I can't really judge).

[L007 is Undecided]

This isn't really about Deacon singing, but about the fact that I have never even heard him SPEAK in the first place. I mean, if I hear one interview with him, then that will give me an idea about what he would sound like if he sung.

Yeah, I'm looking at getting a bass guitar right now, and quite frankly, watching Deacon/Miranda on the DVDs REALLY help a lot about how to strum and the beat they keep with their body.

[Koga]

On the Greatest Video Hits II DVD there are many interviews and you can hear Deacon speak in quite a few of them. He has a very nasal voice and he can't really pronounce the 'r'. He sounds kind of funny, but I don't think it would've sounded good if he sang solo.

Bass guitar may be the instrument I would like to learn to play the most at the moment. I cannot play the guitar at all, though.

[CaptHayfever]

A Knight's Tale, first & foremost, is a sports film, not a period piece; it just happens to be about a medieval sport. Anachronisms like the music serve both as comedy and to illustrate that time period's view of its own music.
The vocal & guitar for WWRY were definitely the originals; the crowd in the film provided the beat, though.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Koga]

I see. And WATC is used at the end when the main character wins, I presume?

The best use of a Queen song in a movie is Shaun of the Dead, in my opinion. I love that film.

[CaptHayfever]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's at the end. Been a while since I've seen it, though.

The best use of a Queen song in a movie is Shaun of the Dead, in my opinion. I love that film.

You make good sense, my friend.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Booyakasha]

Hey, Queen's great. 'Dragon Attack' is probably my favourite rock song ever.

I'm not much of a music guy, but I've got quite a few of their albums. 'Night at the Opera', 'Day at the Races', 'The Game', 'A Kind of Magic', 'News of the World', 'Made in Heaven', 'Queen II', and the Wembley album.

I would've chosen a different shot to represent Queen than one from 'I Want to Break Free'. Could've been worse, though; could've been the neon 'Don Bluth turned gay'-style animation from 'A Kind of Magic'. Well, whatever.

[Koga]

Well, since I already have an iconic image of the 70s (perhaps the most iconic) as my avatar, I wanted a picture that was iconic of the 80s, and I like this one the best. I think these two images represent what Queen was all about pompous and over the top (my avatar), but with tongues firmly in cheek (Break Free image).

[Col. Les Claypool]

This topic wins.


My favorite Queen song is "I want to Ride my Bicycle" followed by "Killer Queen".