They didn't meet until quite late in Freddie life, he loved Opera and Ballet he wrote a whole album for the two of them, and this song was used for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 a year after he passed away, he did a couple of solo albums, likewise Dr Brian May and Roger Taylor, who have actually just released solo albums in the last few weeks, and Roger Taylor doing a solo tour
Great reaction Adogg! I love the enthusiasm you bring to these songs. Freddie was so special, he moved here from East Africa, he had the nerve to change his name from Farrok Bulsara. Wstched to whole vudeo
Caballé was a world-renowned opera singer that did an album with Freddie. Barcelona was written for the '92 Olympics in, go figure, Barcelona (Caballé's hometown). Freddie died in 1991, so never got to perform it at the Olympics, obviously. (And no, it is not easy, and thank you for not trying it on camera. ;-) )
This was the first crossover between a rock singer and an opera diva. Montserrat mentioned it was a great service towards the people who never listend to opera before, because their collaboration has definitely increased the popularity of this genre. They admired and loved each other, became very good friends too. Montserrat's famous and beautiful aria D'amor sull'ali rosee was played at Freddie's funeral which was his favorite.
The world was lucky to have had Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe’. A match “made in Heaven” no doubt. Freddie wrote the music & most of the lyrics for songs on the Barcelona album. One of my favorites is called THE GOLDEN BOY. It’s Fabulous!! Montsy (Freddie’s nickname for Montserrat) once commented that during one of their rehearsals Freddie had tears in his eyes. Dreams do come true!! R.I.P. Beautiful Angels 😇
Seeing people watch and hear Freddie and Montsy perform together, and being absolutely blown away, just never gets old. Two fabulously talented divas - RIP to them both.
The joy in your eyes and smile is infectious. Freddie's talent was genius. He composed the music and wrote most of the lyrics for their album and performance together. Montserrat Caballe had long been a famous opera singer with an impressive reputation. This performance and collaboration brought Opera to a much larger audience. Many trained musicians, self trained musicians, and non-musicians are not exposed to various genres of music; once exposed a new world is accessible, therefore expanding one's creativity, imagination, knowledge, and pleasure. This applies to all areas of music and the arts if one remains open. You embody that and it has been wonderful to watch. Thanks for sharing.
Smile on your face tell everything 😀 This is amazing powerful and emotional song. This was Freddie's last live performance. He was diagnosed in 1987 and was getting sicker, but he look so strong. Montsy loved Freddie they had beautiful friendship.🌹 after when Freddie died she didn't want to do duets like this with anyone else, because Freddie was special irreplaceable. ❤🌹
What she is doing, not that many people have the talent or skill to do period. She makes it look easy because she is one of the best...but its really really difficult.
Your face is so angelic listening to beautiful music... long may you enjoy going down the Freddie & Queen paths. The TALENT and the SOUL these artists share is what I live for.
This is a famous soprano. Who Freddie admired and them came together to write a song for the 92 olympics, sadly Freddie passed before then. But she sang with Freddie as he was shown on a giant screen
To me this 1988 performance at the "La Nit" Cultural center in Barcelona, must go down as one of, if not the most spectacular live musical performances of all time. Yet in no way did the setting or the effects overshadow, but rather utterly complimented, the equally spectacular and triumphant duet between two musical giants from totally different worlds. It might have gone quite horribly wrong in so many ways, yet it did NOT. Received from the very first with rapturous applause and accolades, it silenced forever those "doubting Thomases" and showed all what sublime music can be created by those with true respect., regard and admiration for the other's talents.."VIVA BARCELONA" !!
Freddie loved her. He arranged to meet her. When they started talking music she realized that he had great knowledge of music and they talked for hours. They decided they could do a n album together
I love this, Freddie wanted to do opera and this was the result! Perfect voices and show effects. Everything timed perfect. Shows the great versatility of these two stars and how well they matched up. Thank you playing this!
Freddie was a long time fan of Montserrat Caballe ( who was his equivalent or more in the classical world ), and was completely besotted/enchanted/ spellbound by her. He said in a Spanish TV interview once that she was the only person he'd want to sing with as "she has the best voice in the world". Montserrat met with him, they agreed to do an album as she saw his musicianship. And from that a true love and admiration developed between the two - they were musical soulmates, that gave him great comfort in his final years. You mentioned about Freddie never being nervous - those closest to him say he was the most nervous they had ever seen him every time he was meeting up with Montserrat. It's a very sweet story and the background behind it all makes the album all much more meaningful and richer.
You are so right!! Monserrat is effortless and her voice is perfection. I am so glad that you reviewed this song! Freddie had a voice range that is unmatched, and he had fun exploring multiple genres. Don’t ya wish that you could be as fearless as him? I sure do!
Most rock stars could not have done this. I mean, opera is a whole different animal. The fact that Freddie could perform like this is a testament to his incredible talent and singing ability.
I just found your channel this week. I have truly enjoyed watching you enjoy Queen, the Bee Gees and Gretchen Wilson. It's very obvious that you genuinely appreciate all genres of music. Keep sharing the joy. Hugs..
Great reaction! No, opera is not easy, it is the most difficult style of singing. Opera singers have to train around 10 years before they even set foot on a proper stage. It takes incredible training and dedication to be an opera singer. Montserrat Caballe is one of the best opera sopranos of all time. Male opera voices sound different, so it is not really something to be duplicated. Check out Nessun Dorma - Franco Corelli, it is one of the best known opera arias, you have properly heard it before, and Franco Corelli is the best interpreter of that aria. Freddie did a great job to keep up with an opera diva such as Montserrat Caballe, that is why he is most often chosen as the best vocalist of all time, they did a whole album together, and it is a great album. He basically invented the pop-opera genre.
I love this song. Freddie was so amazing and we lost him too soon. You should hear him sing Opera, his voice made me cry. It's true Only the good die young.
Of course I watched this all the way through!! This is one of my favorite songs. I love ALL of Freddie's songs. He truly is legendary and always will be❤❤
Wow, wow. Thankyou dear!! This song is one of my favourits. Freddie was one of a kind, so musical and versatile. He and Montserrat sounded so well together and they had huge respect for each other. Much bless youngman and I hope to see more Freddie along the way 💕
This was a master piece it was so beautiful they made a couple of Albums together sadly there no longer with us but they definitely left us something special just absolutely amazing Love 💕 from Denise in Yorkshire England 🏴❤️👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🙏💔
God given talents right there. And as usual...Freddie throws he fist to the sky.. Just Beautiful. As is The Golden Boy, Guide me home / How can I go on, Le Japonaise and Freddie's own Exercises in Free love, no words tones only. Magical.
Real addog you are a great man!!!...and great reaction on my favourite singer freddie mercury ...you are very expressive and adorable ill be waiting for your answer tank you vincenzo
Have only come across your channel today and wanted to see how you would react to this incredible performance. I just knew you would be blown away by this and your smile was like watching pure joy. One of the best reactions I've seen to this and you didn't keep pausing or interrupting like too many do. Thanks! Subscribed.
O.. Freddie knew that he would not live a long life. So the music with Caballé was wjoyful with a very dark side. You could listen to The golden boy.. for instance. All the best to you from Denmark where we also love Freddie, Queens and his work with the operasinger from Barcelona..
Freddie wrote the framework for this song following a live performance by Montserrate Caballe in Barcelona, after which he asked to meet the Diva. She assented to the meeting. Apparently, Freddie was so excited by her seeing him that he was actually nervous. However, they hit it off immediately! Afterwards, he and Mike Moran (pianist) then completed a rough demo of "Barcelona" (which was about Freddie meeting her) and sent it to the Diva with a request that they record together; to which she immediately agreed. And the rest is history. For this concert (in Ibiza), Freddie was actually sick from his advancing AIDS-associated illnesses, and though still willing to sing, he reluctantly agreed to lip sync. Following Freddie's death, this song was chosen to be used at the 92 Barcelona Olympics Opening Ceremony, with the Diva performing it live. The entire album is phenomenal!
Freddie always loved Opera and fashioned Bohemean Rapsody to include it in his work. Freddie was at the end of his life when they wrote and performed Barcelona for the Olympics. He died before he had chance to sing it there so a recording of this video was played instead.
Freddie wrote this song for them to record together. He loved Opera. Barcelona was where she was born. He could sing anything. He was dead but they played it with a hologram of them at the Barcelona Olympics
There have only been three male rock stars that had given me goose bumps win I hear them sing opera 1 Freddie Mercury 2 Paul Stanley from phantom of the opera And Dimash. Thank you for reacting to this performance ❤
Fabulous amazing fantastic unbelievable brilliant and absolute perfection, also could see in your beautiful eyes that you were absolutely loving it, bless you A Dogg 👍🥰🐾🥰🐾🐾🥰🐾
Opera is not easy. Montserrat at the time of this performance has had decades of training and experience singing in operas all over the world. Still, performing with Freddie Mercury, a rock and roll god, was a new challenge for her. For him too.
Freddy was the showman on stage but apparently was quite shy away from singing. You should look for the video with his 'Exercises in Free Love' which shows his operatic style. He could sing anything.
Here’s how you know the difference between a singer in a band and a vocalist. A singer can’t do that- a vocalist can …..it’s unbelievable right ? That’s Opera, the hardest for a vocalist to do. ❤️🎼🤘😎🔥 you cannot do Opera without an assload of training and practice. Freddie always wanted to try, she gave him the opportunity to do it. Start with easy stuff like god bless America….that’s how I started at age 8…… I’ve done Barbershop harmony which is right below opera in terms of level of difficulty. Church choir soprano alto tenor bass is what most people start with after you can hold pitch and melody alone. Harmony singing in a studio is light years easier than on a live stage, especially these days with all the technology. Queen has harmony all over everywhere, especially Bohemian Rhapsody. Steve Perry from Journey is really awesome too,although he never did opera. There’s pitch accuracy and a lot of vocal gymnastics,especially live. Older Journey is awesome, however after 1980 that changed with the keyboardist changing. 1981 was the year for tours and I saw them myself in 1981. No question that guy never loses pitch,or runs out of air……and that ain’t easy live. Houston 1981, best footage from that decade.
Thanks for the reaction. Always fun to watch. I actually prefer the original rather than this remaster. This mix was done after Freddie died, thus not mixed by Freddie. Mike Moran asked Freddie if he wanted to use a live orchestra but he liked it the way it was, opting NOT to use a live orchestra. If he had wanted the live orchestra, he would have done it. Plus, I just like the way Freddie mixes. I think he has a better ear for it. Regardless, I am always amazed by Freddie's talent and versatility... and Montserrat is simply incredible. Thanks again.
