Peotr
05-09-2008, 09:02 AM
Going back in time ...
Today's song: "All Dead, All Dead (http://www.bagofmice.com/tunes/daily/9.5.08.mp3)" by Queen (from the album News Of The World, Hollywood Records, 1977).
For the scholarly musicphiles Queen is an enigma. A major talent from the 70s and 80s, Queen is now considered 'classic rock', defined by the formula of guitar-based rock and roll that is suitable for classic rock radio. When asked, over 75% of the people in english-speaking countries identify Queen as 'heavy metal'.
Although Queen's music is classic in the sense that the band's material stretches back more than 30 years, the idea that it is comparable to other acts in the classic rock library is absurd. Even more absurd is the idea that Queen is heavy metal - yes, Brian May has a guitar sound that is unique and identifiable, and Queen tended to uptempo their songs for concerts, but very little of Queen's discography is similar to 'heavy metal', and most of it has very little in common with the bubble-gumminess that musicphiles consider 'pop'.
In 2008 Queen's music is familiar and comfortable, which makes it hard to stand back and realize how different and unusual the material is. Operatic chordings sung with falsetto aria harmonies is not the standard stuff of rock and roll. Although copied today, the sound and stylings are out of the ballpark for their time. The fact that Queen was able to make albums that are tuneful, professional and enjoyable, thereby stamping their sound onto the mainstream, is a testament to craftsmanship and talent.
Things that people don't know about the song "All Dead, All Dead":
It is commonly thought that the song is about Freddy Mercury's experience as a gay man at the start of the AIDS epidemic. It's not. Although the disease was noticed inside the gay culture as early as 1975 the media did not start reporting on it until the early 1980s, and the CDC did not start tracking deaths until 1980 (there were a total of 35 confirmed AIDS deaths before 1981.) The medical definition of AIDS was not established until 1982, and the virus was not identified until 1983.
The song is based on the childhood memories of Brian May (guitar) concerning the death of his cat, Squeaky.
It is commonly thought that this is Freddy Mercury singing. Although Mercury does sing harmonies (and he sang "All Dead, All Dead" in concert), the recorded version is actually sung by Brian May.
It's a good example of Brian May's singing style. May sings in a high, soft register, and Roger Taylor (drums) also sings in falsetto, and they come together to create those great harmonies that are common for Queen's backing vocals. Contrary to popular notion, Queen did not use professional singers to record their elaborate harmonies, such as the ones found in "Bohemian Rhapsody".
It is also commonly thought that this is Freddy Mercury playing the piano. It's not. It's Brian May, who wrote the song and originally recorded the piano part as a studio demo. Mercury later recorded what was supposed to be the 'official' piano part, but his was more elaborate, and the producer asked to return to Brian May's simpler version. In the opening piano part you can hear the room that May is recording in, a studio room that hasn't been draped with sound-proofing curtains or rugs.
Although Freddy Mercury is a classical pianist (and played most of the piano parts in concert) both Brian May and John Deacon (bass) played piano and keyboards in the studio.
-- Peotr
P.S. Caveat: This music is copyrighted, and is available here solely for the purpose of discussion.
Today's song: "All Dead, All Dead (http://www.bagofmice.com/tunes/daily/9.5.08.mp3)" by Queen (from the album News Of The World, Hollywood Records, 1977).
For the scholarly musicphiles Queen is an enigma. A major talent from the 70s and 80s, Queen is now considered 'classic rock', defined by the formula of guitar-based rock and roll that is suitable for classic rock radio. When asked, over 75% of the people in english-speaking countries identify Queen as 'heavy metal'.
Although Queen's music is classic in the sense that the band's material stretches back more than 30 years, the idea that it is comparable to other acts in the classic rock library is absurd. Even more absurd is the idea that Queen is heavy metal - yes, Brian May has a guitar sound that is unique and identifiable, and Queen tended to uptempo their songs for concerts, but very little of Queen's discography is similar to 'heavy metal', and most of it has very little in common with the bubble-gumminess that musicphiles consider 'pop'.
In 2008 Queen's music is familiar and comfortable, which makes it hard to stand back and realize how different and unusual the material is. Operatic chordings sung with falsetto aria harmonies is not the standard stuff of rock and roll. Although copied today, the sound and stylings are out of the ballpark for their time. The fact that Queen was able to make albums that are tuneful, professional and enjoyable, thereby stamping their sound onto the mainstream, is a testament to craftsmanship and talent.
Things that people don't know about the song "All Dead, All Dead":
It is commonly thought that the song is about Freddy Mercury's experience as a gay man at the start of the AIDS epidemic. It's not. Although the disease was noticed inside the gay culture as early as 1975 the media did not start reporting on it until the early 1980s, and the CDC did not start tracking deaths until 1980 (there were a total of 35 confirmed AIDS deaths before 1981.) The medical definition of AIDS was not established until 1982, and the virus was not identified until 1983.
The song is based on the childhood memories of Brian May (guitar) concerning the death of his cat, Squeaky.
It is commonly thought that this is Freddy Mercury singing. Although Mercury does sing harmonies (and he sang "All Dead, All Dead" in concert), the recorded version is actually sung by Brian May.
It's a good example of Brian May's singing style. May sings in a high, soft register, and Roger Taylor (drums) also sings in falsetto, and they come together to create those great harmonies that are common for Queen's backing vocals. Contrary to popular notion, Queen did not use professional singers to record their elaborate harmonies, such as the ones found in "Bohemian Rhapsody".
It is also commonly thought that this is Freddy Mercury playing the piano. It's not. It's Brian May, who wrote the song and originally recorded the piano part as a studio demo. Mercury later recorded what was supposed to be the 'official' piano part, but his was more elaborate, and the producer asked to return to Brian May's simpler version. In the opening piano part you can hear the room that May is recording in, a studio room that hasn't been draped with sound-proofing curtains or rugs.
Although Freddy Mercury is a classical pianist (and played most of the piano parts in concert) both Brian May and John Deacon (bass) played piano and keyboards in the studio.
-- Peotr
P.S. Caveat: This music is copyrighted, and is available here solely for the purpose of discussion.