I react to and analyze Freddie Mercury's brilliant live performance of Somebody to Love, from Montreal 1981. Check out the Intelligent Vocalist podcast: johnhenny.com/category/podcast/
*_Get this 10 galllon hat Stedsen hat. Bohemian Cowboy StedSenScale 🎶🎤📢 Opera tion Best singer songwriter producer and director and producer of the best singer ever Fredddy Marquis3e Mercury_* ...????? FredsgotwVVings 👑 FredsUPstars 🌟 Everyone's favourite voice
So Freddy did all this naturally, with no teacher and 40 years later we study his "way" and it's still brilliant and hard to reproduce. Thank you John, nice review.
"Sound guy's in trouble there". Yep, about 6-8dB down from the piano to the half-boom. He noticed it and let the sound guy correct instead of pushing it. Keep in mind this was before we had presets and mute groups. The stagehand did the handoff and the FOH and monitor engineer had to cut the piano vocal mic and unmute the half-stand very quickly. Levels were guesswork from the last song, and complicated by the high risk of feedback. Unused mics could not be left open as I'm sure the stage volume off those wedges was insane.
I was at that concert in 1981, I was 15 ! It was my first live concert ... and as you can imagine.... yes ! I was blown away :) I was already a fan since 1975 (yep! I was 10) First song I heard from them was Bohemian Rhapsody, from the album, A Night at The Opera (my sister got the album). At the time of this concert, I knew every Queen song there was... and every one ever since. Freddy Mercury's voice was unique and incredible ! May God bless his sweet soul.
Absolutely! He always kept the band on point, and always supported Freddie vocally. They all supported each other, and were so in sync with each other ❤️👑🎹🎤🥁🎸👑
I'm always just as impressed by Roger Taylor with his 4-5 octave range. Great vocals whilst murdering a full percussion set, no less. It takes immense core and diaphragmatic control to keep the voice steady instead of getting distorted by the movement of his limbs.
Besides having a great voice, Freddie was also a great songwriter, lyricist, showman, and a pretty decent pianist too. I can't think of any performer today that comes close to him talent wise
@Cody Weiss I meant of course as a rock musician, and in the broader context of his many other musical talents. He was far from being a technical virtuoso, as he himself would readily admit
@@IslandPlumber Prince was VERY talented. At the risk of offending a lot of people, I think Prince was probably a better musician than Freddie, but Freddie was a much better singer. Hard to judge on song-writing, but I have to go with Freddie.
He was smart that he decided to stick with what he did, he is a great singer, drummer, guitarist, song writer ect but felt it best to utilise this with Queen, he has said himself he would never sell as many records on his own or with any other band other than Queen. If Freddie not been around Roger could have gone full time vocalist.
@@plof9882 yep, Brian funnily enough does not have a rock voice, a lot softer but he has sung some great rock songs, "Resurrection", "Driven by you" to name a couple but "Why don't we try again" is lovely
Freddie said in more than one interview: "If you come to a concert expecting to hear the album, you might as well just stay home". The concert was always done differently from the songs on the albums because he felt they were there to perform something slightly different from what you coukd get if you had just saved your money and stayed home. AWESOME!!
My favorite thing about Freddie is that he connects so well with his audience it almost seems like a relaxed conversation, that he and the listener are inside the song together.
cupid stunt Freddy was cool in everything he sang ... I just wish he took better care of himself .... his ashes are now in the cemetery..... with his real name Farrokh Bulsara. In lieu of his stage name Freddie Mercury . Someone walking through the cemetery saw his name there .
I did, Detroit at the Masonic Temple Nov. 2, 1976 The best small concert I ever saw period. They did the Night at the Opera, full show very theatrical excellent production. Brian May had his Rock orchestra which was 16 Vox AC 30 amps set in four row of 4 amps all set differently for an amazing array of sounds.
I did, twice! Both times in London: Live Aid and them alone at the concert that would become Live at Wembley. Live aid Queen was the best concert ever.
His voice can be as smooth as butter or as powerful as thunder! He's my favorite artist and most favorite voice. This is my favorite performance by the boys, they were superhuman and completely in sync! Perfect!
His voice gives me goosebumps in my soul, Roger Taylor compliments Freddie in such a way that wouldn't work any other way, Brian amazing as always with that guitar and not making too much noise and super chill we can see John doing his thing, GAWD! Can't have enough of them! By the way, your smile throughout the video and your head banging made my day, thanks for sharing!
This teacher isn’t trying to convince people Freddie was great-he’s using music theory to explain some of the impact of his amazing artistry. He doesn’t talk for whole phrases of the song, because he’s just enjoying it. I loved learning the technical stuff...and seeing more people who love Freddie (and Queen)!
Stephanie Baker... Absolutely the best! I remember hearing Queen decades ago😲! Before the internet or 'm.t.v.' and thinking"Wow, who is this guy"? 💡 Memories of 8 track cassettes and typewriters! Microfiche!.😅
Freddie's musical ability is of such a high standard that no one else can approach it. Is an incredible talent, a glamorous personality who was passionate sang the his songs. No words, his songs are so beautiful. Freddie's thousand-colored personality made the queen extremely powerful, and Roger, Brian and John wonderful. Since then, no such band has been born on Earth. Thank you, for the fantastic song analysis!
Amazing. The older I get the more special he seems. Lots of people can sing. But to sing and play an instrument with such depth and soul. That is talent
4 highly intelligent and truly loving pure music men. They knew together they were stronger than each one alone. Took control of their music and the royalties.
Such an Amazing performance by the whole band!!! One of the things I miss most about bands back then, and especially Queen, was the fact that they were 4 brilliant musicians at the top of their game. It didn't have to be autotuned to make the performance better than any live act in the last 20 years!! Their tiny imperfections made it special!! As Freddie always said, if you want an exact rendition of the song, stay home and listen to the record. If you want a show, a performance, an experience, then go see them live!! Thanks for s great explanation! Well done!
This is my all time favorite live performance. I love videos like these. So interesting, especially when you consider he never had any vocal training. He never sang Somebody To Love live like it sounds in the studio version, not even in the 70s. He also sang it differently every time, so I'm pretty sure it was a choice. Same with Bohemian Rhapsody.
It was a choice. I saw a video where they (Queen) were talking about it. They figured if you wanted to hear the album version, buy the record. They made it a point to vary their performances.
It's both challenging AND boring to sing a Queen song the EXACT same way every time, especially if you're a naturally musical and creative person like Freddie was. I'm sure he felt like doing it differently each time was like putting his personal signature on each and every performance.
@@zyxwut321 You can pick up the different energy signature of each song and performance. Freddie was like a disco ball with hundreds of different aspects, which he willingly shared with anyone who cared to listen.
Freddy Mercury’s voice is so beautiful it makes me want to cry...He is so mesmerizing to me. Brings back great childhood memories. DEFINITELY THE BEST BAND of ALL TIME! Thx u 4 educating us on the techniques. Just beautiful...😊
George Michael did a stunning rendition of this song in Freddie’s memorial concert in 1992 with the rest of the band from Queen. George later said it was the best performance of his career. No mean feat.
Yes and no. Of course he was ultra gifted, at the same time he took vocal training in 80’s since Freddie realized his way of singing is too tough for his throat. So he changed his singing style from 70’s to 80’s.
Freddie was the real deal... Just gifted beyond belief.. he didn't have computers.. mixers.. it was raw talent. I wish I had his range. Being a young guy in the 70s. His style is was just beyond the groups of the his day.
Don’t loathe saying that he wasn’t perfection! Freddie said that he avoided vocal lessons because he wanted to sound raw and real and didn’t want to sound too polished, as it could take humanity and the true rock and roll sound away from his songs. So I think he’d approve of your comment. 😊
@@cherylk6164 um, Mariah is one of the great vocalists ever recorded. Her earlier work was great, from the early 90s to about 2000. But she ended up unfortunately trying to keep up with these mediocre and marginally able to sing girls of the last two decades. She got caught up in this autotune pop trap soul wave, which seems to not challenge artists vocally much at all. Look at Taylor Swift. That's the most weakest, flat uninspired singing you could ever hear. Her voice has to character or nuance. Wish Mariah could go back to her true form and leave the kids today to what they do.
@@bernardpetit84 She was using autotune when she was 'awarded' the title of the most pitch perfect singer. She doesn't sing live - she lip-syncs. How would we know if her voice is any good at all. She's dumb, self obsessed and generally a piece of irrelevant shit. I do agree with you about most of the modern singers, especially the women. I wasn't a particular fan of Whitney Houston (not my kind of music) but until the drugs got her, at least she had a genuinely good voice.
freddie could sound like anything when he wanted to. he was famous for that and his many tones. listen to what montserrat caballe said and not to those bunch of people who are called vocal teachers or trainers. as far as i know freddie was the only singer whose voice was worth a study by musical scientists.
@@bernardpetit84 I never cared for Mariah or Whitney Houston as singers... "belters", I call them. Impressive ranges but just never touched my soul the way others' voices (Karen Carpenter's, for example) did. And yes, autotune kills the subtle nuances of singers' voices. It's awful.
What i find amazing about queen, is the feeling they manage to pass on to the listeners. Not many bands are capable of making you feel the music in the whole body. You might get goosebumps, or a sway in the body. but this music you feel everywhere. The passion.
He was a natural , truly amazing and talented musician, singer, performer, man. He was an angel in disguise and we are so lucky to have had him on this earth. He was a gift to us all.
About the beer and drinks on the piano: According to Freddie's roadie Peter Hince, who was the one who supplyed Freddie with whatever he needed during a show - it was some beer, still water or a warm honey drink. Not fizzy water, he didn't like that at concerts (burping in the mic is not the best). Warm honey drinks for every time his throat was sore and that was pretty often. So Freddie could drink - absolutely, but not much alcohol during a show. Afterwards was a different matter.
I've heard warm water and honey recommended by singers as well as from voice actors. Some have mentioned gargling with a bit of hydrogen peroxide, though that's not something to do during a performance, but something more for maintenance. It tastes awful, and you really want to avoid swallowing that stuff.
Simply Majestic! I love Queen and Freddie's music, but the track which absolutely triggers all the hairs on the back of my neck is his live performance of Barcelona, in Barcelona, with Montserrat Caballé. It is a truly magical performance 😍
Freddie was just magic. One of the very few musicians that you could listen to and not really know if it was live or in the studio by just listening to his voice. Just an unreal and unmatched genius.
Soooo gooood! Love this performance! Your analysis is fascinating! Love Freddy, but Roger and those drums! How he sang out of the corner of his mouth like that! Wow! Queen Forever!
I had the great good fortune to see Queen twice.Precious memories,both.Belonged to the fan club,all of it.Devastated when Freddie died.It makes me happy that he,and Queen in general,are given so much appreciation now,'cause I can tell you that there were plenty of so-called critics out there who really enjoyed savaging them in the 70s and 80s.Not just their music,but getting personal as well.It's very very pleasing to hear them given the kudos they deserved,because it took all four of them to be Queen,not just Freddie,and he would say the same if he was still with us.Love and miss you,Freddie!
Don't forget, this guy is critiquing a man with a strained voice, performing LIVE and the quality is still studio quality. Maybe even better. What an amazing live band...quality is beyond fantastic!!
I loved your analysis of this. We all know Freddie is amazing but this just clarified it even further. Thank you for this reaction and for acknowledging Roger. So many people don’t
So happy someone gives also credit to Roger, love this performance, they knock it out of the park, didn't they! Very interesting comment, thank you so much.
Freddy was such a dominant performer. It's impossible to look away from him while he's on stage. If you are looking for more things to react to, please check out LP - Lost on You [Live Session]. She has such a unique style and approach to her music, I'd love to hear your take on it. I have no clue how she does it!
I cry almost every time I watch Freddie and Queen on the live footage. In the car I’m singing and rocking along with my kids, getting all the goosebumps, but when I see him in this environment I’m moved to tears and I can’t explain it. It’s like awe and adoration, love and happiness and sadness all mixed together with a million other thoughts and feelings. Does that sound odd? I never had the opportunity to see Queen live. I do remember vividly the Live Aid concert when it aired. I’d have been four years old and we watched the show all day. The whole family sat around our little white television set and I remember Queen coming on stage and we were enthralled and somehow I knew that this was something very, very important. Queen were a huge part of my musical upbringing and although I never saw them live, I am still so very happy to have been aware and to have lived on this Earth while Freddie was on it.
Great analysis. There are so many great renditions of this song. Some of the best are audio only. I always smile when people get entranced by this performance & Then he & Roger go for it at the end and take it to another level. He’s a joy to watch. They all were.
I get what you mean, but I think you phrased it badly - you mean their attempts to add some critical balance to their reaction. They got nothing there, because he’s astonishing. They got plenty of reactions. But they’re just almost universally impressed.
Thanks! I posted this in my Queen group yesterday: “I normally HATE these type of videos on You Tube but this one was different because I think I actually learned something from it! For years I have been reading articles about Freddie having a better vocal range and stuff because he had more space in his mouth. It is even mentioned in the film Bohemian Rhapsody! Every time I heard this I thought to myself “his mouth wasnt bigger” his mouth was actually too small for his teeth and thats why some of them were kinda doubled. First of all, it was pretty cool to watch this vocal instructor talk about things Freddie was doing vocally that people have to learn as singers that he was naturally born with. Secondly, this is the first time the “extra space” thing made sense to me because he is talking about how Freddie actually used the “shape of his mouth” to sing certain notes! If he was actually using his mouth, or technically his lips to form certain notes, he would actually have more space because of the extra teeth! Plus this guy is actually a Queen fan and not some Joe Blow analyzing him or the band.”
I’ve always noticed the “breathy” quality of his singing. He just had such versatility and innate talent. Quite the showman, he knew how to hold the audience in the palm of his hand. Queen Rocks Still missing you Freddie!
“...apparently with about half a dozen beers about to make their way to his gullet...” This caught me by surprise and I appreciate the verbiage. Take my like, sir.
@@finlaymacintyre1 I have been listening to Queen since the 70s. I'm more partial to their earlier stuff, 70s some 80s, but I love the Innuendo album. They seemed to be getting back to their roots on that one. Of course I love to hear Freddie sing anything. Raw talent at its best.
I was a massive fan then got to see them in Seattle in 1982! We made our way up to the front and by the end we were right below Freddie. The whole experience was absolutely amazing.
He knew. He was 100% in control of his voice. Nobody can sing like Freddie sang and not know what they're doing to control their voice. His voice was natural and he knew how to make the absolute most of it.
Love Queen Forever yes love. I know he liked it because Brian showed it to him and he got huge over painted copy from me. Brian met with me personally and Adam wrote me beautiful thank you. Roger who I painted it for to begin with NOTHING! He was partying with with his wife’s friend Carrot Top that douchbag the same time I met Brian. It hurt my feelings... my feelings still hurt actually. Thanks for asking.
Freddie just always gave the performance his All...as if it weren't a performance at all...its an emotional story telling not just singing alone...hard for me to describe too....
M McBride It’s actually hot honey and hot water mixed together for his throat because he always singled out his vocal range and it made him hoarse a lot
I love this reaction!! Thank you very much! You are my new favourite reactor! Also relating to Freddie's vocal damage. In my opinion he mostly got it from singing through fatigue. I don't really think he ever rested when singing.
This is my favorite performance of Queen. Everything is great. Fred was glorious, Roger was on Fire, such great voice too, Brian's solo and Deaky's great bass.
Freddie is one of very few singers,very few, who when the first part of a note is heard you smile, because instantly you know that's Freddie Mercury Singing!!!/and it could be a new(old) recording that Queen found in "the vault"of ??songs they didn't use or finish the way they were going to do????what I am trying to say is Freddie's voice is uniquely versital & one that will forever be the most uniquely beautiful voice that was wonderful to hear in his/Queens first playing of it and will always be a wonderful voice instantly recognized in any song of Queen,his Opera Collaborations and his solo work. His voice and songs are timeless!!!! I never heard much Queen,they were a little before my time,so I am blessed-i have stated Rock and Roll is different,actually a dying art,not being replinished as it was & it is sad,BUT FREDDIE MERCURY!!!!!/QUEEN, AS THEY WERE ARE TIME LESS, FREDDIE!! THANK GOODNESS FOR BOHO RHAPSODY, I FOUND YOU AND QUEEN AND I AM RESEARCHING YOU GUYS ALOT AND ROCK N ROLL IS ALIVE AND IN 25-50 YRS FROM NOW PEOPLE WILL SMILE WHEN THEY HEAR THE FIRST WORD OF YOUR SONGS THEY WILL SMILE & SAY, YES! FREDDIE MERCURY AND QUEEN. sorry for length!!
I like your attention to details in analyzing! I would love to see your reaction to Nightwish - Ghost Love Score (live Wacken 2013) so much! Floor Jansen is the lead singer of the band and she is amazing (she's also vocal teacher, btw)
Man Freddy mercury....one in a trillion...range like that? Not possible....just not possible ...only for him with complete, raw, unadulterated talent...
When you look at the Queen line up after all these years they remain incredible. Each masters of their music and top song writers in their own right. Add the fact that they were sensational live performers and you have imo the greatest band of all time.
