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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 15:00:21 GMT
Post by Reactionary Rage on Nov 27, 2019 15:00:21 GMT
Just how great were they?
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rayge
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Post by rayge on Nov 27, 2019 15:20:51 GMT
Not at all. Next!
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Deleted
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 16:13:02 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2019 16:13:02 GMT
I think they can be over the top, but that's part of their appeal and you have to buy into that first.
My only criticism would that they don't swing too well, which is different than not being able to rock, which they certainly do.
There are very few white rock bands that can do funk very well. Bands like Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Queen kinda fail when they do. Their attempts at more funky stuff are kinda leaden.
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 16:16:53 GMT
Post by Charlie O. on Nov 27, 2019 16:16:53 GMT
I love A Night At The Opera and like the first album very much and otherwise it's just a song here and there for me.
Which I guess would suggest that I don't completely buy into them. But they definitely had their own thing goin' and they got some good music out of it, so... respect.
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nolamike
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 16:18:56 GMT
Post by nolamike on Nov 27, 2019 16:18:56 GMT
There are very few white rock bands that can do funk very well. Bands like Zeppelin... kinda fail when they do. Their attempts at more funky stuff are kinda leaden. But they were just trying to find that confounded bridge.
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Post by Crunchy Col on Nov 27, 2019 16:35:30 GMT
Something like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' - I think it's an amazing achievement, a great piece of songwriting. It just doesn't move me.
And while we're talking about Aerosmith, I feel similarly about them as I do Queen - their later stuff appeals to me more than the likes of Rocks or A Night At The Opera. I love 'Radio Ga Ga' and 'Love In An Elevator'.
Mind you, 'Brighton Rock' is something special. I think even straight-leg G likes that one!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2019 16:38:11 GMT
They were talented, perhaps even prodigously so and there's no denying Feddie's abilities as a frontman, even if it does very little for me personally. But (...and you knew that was coming) they're a hard band to like. Most of their songwriting is contrived and empty. They don't have a lot to say, they lack the soul of artists. And their records mainly sound terrible, full of unwise production choices and gimmicky instrumentation.
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nolamike
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 16:49:59 GMT
Post by nolamike on Nov 27, 2019 16:49:59 GMT
They were talented, perhaps even prodigously so and there's no denying Feddie's abilities as a frontman, even if it does very little for me personally. But (...and you knew that was coming) they're a hard band to like. Most of their songwriting is contrived and empty. They don't have a lot to say, they lack the soul of artists. And their records mainly sound terrible, full of unwise production choices and gimmicky instrumentation. That's spot on. My older daughter was very much into Queen back in the spring, which led to me hearing a lot more of them than I had in ages. And at the end of the day, there just isn't much in their catalogue that excites me. I don't know if they have a single song which, if it came on the radio, I wouldn't continue scanning the other channels.
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loveless
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Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 17:08:48 GMT
Post by loveless on Nov 27, 2019 17:08:48 GMT
I don't remember what we were discussing recently (maybe the Doors and one other act whose name now eludes me), but - similar to Queen - the main premise was "I love them to bits, and - yes, I know exactly how naff they are."
Never wanted or needed anyone else to love them, generally understand the revulsion, but...they are quite special to me.
It all goes pretty pear shaped for me in the 80s, granted. Their 80s may as well be Neil Young's, as far as I'm concerned.
I know I've mentioned that I'm the guitarist in a Queen tribute band, and the considerable thrill I get from playing all of the 73-78 stuff (LOTTA deep cuts) is balanced by a general "Eh, it's part of the gig, right?" feeling re: the likes of "I Want to Break Free"/"Radio Ga Ga"/etc.
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loveless
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Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
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Post by loveless on Nov 27, 2019 17:10:03 GMT
unwise production choices and gimmicky instrumentation. Those are my favorite bits!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2019 17:15:06 GMT
I don't remember what we were discussing recently (maybe the Doors and one other act whose name now eludes me), but - similar to Queen - the main premise was "I love them to bits, and - yes, I know exactly how naff they are." Never wanted or needed anyone else to love them, generally understand the revulsion, but...they are quite special to me. It all goes pretty pear shaped for me in the 80s, granted. Their 80s may as well be Neil Young's, as far as I'm concerned. I know I've mentioned that I'm the guitarist in a Queen tribute band, and the considerable thrill I get from playing all of the 73-78 stuff (LOTTA deep cuts) is balanced by a general "Eh, it's part of the gig, right?" feeling re: the likes of "I Want to Break Free"/"Radio Ga Ga"/etc. They're a bit less insufferable in the 80s than the 70s, when at least a pop sensibility takes over a bit. I don't think there's a worse record than "We Will Rock You".
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Post by Crunchy Col on Nov 27, 2019 17:16:52 GMT
'Hammer To Fall', 'One Vision' - they're OK.
The 'operatic' stuff is intolerable. But I guess that's what true fans go for.
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loveless
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Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 17:21:10 GMT
Post by loveless on Nov 27, 2019 17:21:10 GMT
I don't think there's a worse record than "We Will Rock You".
Hand on heart, easily one of my favorite things they ever did. This is as good an example as any of two people viewing the same object and admiring/recoiling at identical features.
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Sneelock
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there's a difference, you know...
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Post by Sneelock on Nov 27, 2019 19:26:12 GMT
I saw a friend's band at an itty-bitty place. we were talking about our favorite songs by different bands (as one does). I said my favorite Queen song was "Tie Your Mother Down". My friend hollered at the band and they played it. it just thrilled me no end. Only Freddie himself strutting around could have made it WAY more exciting than it already was. this is no small thing. this kind of journeyman like ability to play something well by someone else is a skill born of love & appreciation. everybody in that place was stomping along. it's a GREAT fuckin' song.
I got "Queen II" when it was new on cutout for a couple of bucks and I liked it well enough. not enough to buy "Sheer Heart Attack" even though I liked it better. Maybe because I didn't have to buy it. they were getting a lot of AM & FM airplay in L.A. even then.
It's funny Aerosmith should be mentioned because my last year of High School I sort of lumped those bands together. they were both headlining our big place( the Forum) and I was a bit snobby about that. it seemed to me that they hadn't been around enough to be headlining THE BIG PLACE yet. I was wrong. Rock shows were coming into their own then. I thought they still needed to "pay their dues" or some shit. what a jerk! of course they paid their dues. I would continue to think of it as music made for people a couple of years younger than me even as "Bohemian Rhapsody" became the single biggest Zeitgeist song of my last gasp in High School.
I pretty much agree with G's take on Queen. I think the albums are pretty padded and the tunes often don't add up to much. what my younger friends got and what I missed at the time was how much FUN they were. I get that now. I always dug May's slippery guitar style but some of those tunes have just plain never grown on me.
still, what is there is still a lot of fun. Night & Day are both really fun records one way or the other. I never dreamed I'd rock out to a bar band playing one of their tunes. life is full of surprises.
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Queen
Nov 27, 2019 20:30:04 GMT
Post by DarknessFish on Nov 27, 2019 20:30:04 GMT
Well, I guess I'll end the suspense and announce that I don't like Queen, either. Like G said, there's a musical talent there, and they didn't play it safe with song structures, and definitely developed with a pop sensibility in the 80s. It's just I find it all so frigging wearing, it's a chore to listen to, it's all big brash guitars, big brash drums, and some ultra-rock warbler just fucking hollering away. Panache without subtlety, showmanship without soul, the most American thing Britain ever produced.
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