Queen: Classic Or Dud

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Yeah, get well Dr. May!

Also, Queen=dud. Or at least dud beyond most of the hits (and even half of them are riff-kitsch). I was talking to a friend last night, and he was ripping on Beyonce, saying it took six songwriters or whatever to come up with [name of some song], and then he brings up fucking "Bohemian Rhapsody" and goes, "and that's just one songwriter!" And I was like, first of all, the song may be awesome but it also kind of sucks, and its lyrics suck, and even if you like it it's nothing to hold up as the epitome of anything beyond lots of different well-recorded and arranged parts in one song, and even then, most Queen albums suck (I assume), so yeah, make fun of Beyonce's musical sweatshop, fair enough, but do better than Queen as your counterpoint.

He also defended Journey. But then a few minutes later got all quiet and asked "am I the only one who doesn't like the Eagles?" And I said, "fuck no, tons of people HATE the Eagles!" And he was really relieved, saying "Phew, I thought I was the only one!"

Josh in Chicago, Friday, 28 October 2016 19:42 (seven years ago) link

Journey also well worth defending FYI

though she denies it to the press, (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Friday, 28 October 2016 20:14 (seven years ago) link

I'd rather listen to Journey instead of Queen, no question

Οὖτις, Friday, 28 October 2016 20:18 (seven years ago) link

Brian's spoken recently about suffering from depression, I'm guessing that's what he's referring to

Also, Queen rule. Especially Sheer Heart Attack and Day At The Races.

Is that my hand, manatee? (stevie), Friday, 28 October 2016 20:23 (seven years ago) link

I mean, Beyonce rules too.

Is that my hand, manatee? (stevie), Friday, 28 October 2016 20:24 (seven years ago) link

Queen is great. However, the fast version of "We Will Rock You" feels wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekm6WtKwQos

EZ Snappin, Friday, 28 October 2016 20:25 (seven years ago) link

Assuming they are defensible at all, I refuse to believe that Queen or Journey, let alone the Eagles, are "good" beyond their hits. I guess I like Stone Cold crazy, that wasn't a hit right?

Josh in Chicago, Friday, 28 October 2016 20:27 (seven years ago) link

Queen are better than just their hits, at least in the 70s. One of the great album-track bands of all time. Not even sure what you mean by Bohemian "may be awesome but it sucks" Rhapsody either. Unless you're actually Dave Marsh from 1979 quantum leap'd onto 2016 ILM, in which case, that's a hell of a story.

Dominique, Friday, 28 October 2016 20:33 (seven years ago) link

Not the biggest Queen fan, but after a dozen years on ILM like to think I know better then to go onto a thread of such a band and put down their entire output. Treading very lightly on the American Music Club thread as well.

Funkateers for Fears (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 28 October 2016 20:41 (seven years ago) link

Ha, I mostly meant it as a joke. It's a classic or dud thread! I love the idea that anyone can go into a thread and just say "dud." There's always something to like, even with Queen.

xpost I mean I think much of the pleasure of it transcends "good" or "bad." Kinda kitsch, but still seriously rocks, but still can't take it seriously, but still fun. Like a good novelty song, imo. I know I've heard a couple of their albums, but I've never had anything really jump out at me, except some proto metal-esque riffing in maybe Queen II? They just kind of make me feel a little queasy. Too much and yet not enough. Certainly they have their place.

Josh in Chicago, Friday, 28 October 2016 20:48 (seven years ago) link

this raised my interest in Queen enough to listen to the In The Studio with Redbeard Interview on "The Game"

and was O_o at not knowing Michael Jackson persuaded them to release Bites the Dust as a single (+ WBLS may've played a role somewhere that July/August)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USXDH5ag4lI

PappaWheelie V, Friday, 28 October 2016 21:55 (seven years ago) link

If I was alive in the 70s I'd probably hate Queen as much as I hate Beyonce. Pretty much the same thing if you think about it. Obvious, stupid music.

punksishippies, Friday, 28 October 2016 23:51 (seven years ago) link

music kills enjoyment
*dead*

PappaWheelie V, Saturday, 29 October 2016 00:22 (seven years ago) link

a band can still be "classic" even if they never release a good album

brimstead, Saturday, 29 October 2016 02:08 (seven years ago) link

I like Journey's hits a lot more than Queen's

1st Journey album is fuckin rad

brimstead, Saturday, 29 October 2016 02:25 (seven years ago) link

I'd rather listen to Journey instead of Queen, no question

― Οὖτις, Friday, October 28, 2016 4:18 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

belongs in the GTFO Hall of Fame it does

Neanderthal, Saturday, 29 October 2016 02:31 (seven years ago) link

Assuming they are defensible at all, I refuse to believe that Queen or Journey, let alone the Eagles, are "good" beyond their hits.

man whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

I'm not big on Queen I (though "Keep Yourself Alive" and "Liar" are good), but Queen II is fantastic almost front to back, as is Sheer Heart Attack and Night at the Opera. you shoulda seen how we were geeking out in the Queen poll about deep cuts.

Neanderthal, Saturday, 29 October 2016 02:33 (seven years ago) link

I'd rather listen to Journey instead of Queen, no question

― Οὖτις, Friday, October 28, 2016 4:18 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

belongs in the GTFO Hall of Fame it does

― Neanderthal, Friday, October 28, 2016 10:31 PM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

shit I even silently sided w/ shakey over being callus on the RIP of Anna Nicole but this is just blatent bad taste

PappaWheelie V, Saturday, 29 October 2016 02:57 (seven years ago) link

There's excellent deep cuts on pretty much all of Queen's studio albums, and a lot of singles that didn't even make it onto either Greatest Hits or Greatest Hits II.

pen pineapple apple pen (Turrican), Saturday, 29 October 2016 12:40 (seven years ago) link

Yeah, I'll give them another shot (for the record: Queen is not dud, they are silly, but so is a lot of music.) It's tough, because like a handful of bands Queen is not really about "hits," as such, but AOR monoliths (a la Zeppelin). Maybe because those monoliths are so, well, monolithic, that explains why I've never been able to get into them as an album act? When you have "Bohemian Rhapsody" on an album, it tends to overshadow things. (That's probably why it's at the end.) Anyway, I know I saw the "Night at the Opera" classic albums doc, which means I've heard a few deep cuts for sure, but looking at the track list I think I recognize (beside "Best Friend" ) "Car" and "39." Will relisten next week. Looks like I even own the records! I recall liking Queen II (which is all deep cuts?) and Sheer Heart Attack.

Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 29 October 2016 13:48 (seven years ago) link

My opinions about Queen are well documented here: why did rock critics hate Queen so much in the 1970s/80s? for those who care

Οὖτις, Saturday, 29 October 2016 15:29 (seven years ago) link

duke, i deeply care but it's not the destination; it's the Journey

PappaWheelie V, Saturday, 29 October 2016 15:33 (seven years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIcdj4UH9u0

Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 29 October 2016 20:55 (seven years ago) link

(No comment on Queen, someone just forwarded me this trove. I've yet to make it though any of them! Earth Wind and Fire one was particularly rough.)

Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 29 October 2016 20:57 (seven years ago) link

wow, thanks for introducing me to shittyflute

here we are now entertain us (snoball), Saturday, 29 October 2016 21:02 (seven years ago) link

like a primary school recorder class meets the Portsmouth Sinfonia.

here we are now entertain us (snoball), Saturday, 29 October 2016 21:04 (seven years ago) link

Probably the Queen song I hate the most:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BmL_HZdqbg

here we are now entertain us (snoball), Saturday, 29 October 2016 21:08 (seven years ago) link

'We Are The Champions'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e61lGbGeu8

here we are now entertain us (snoball), Saturday, 29 October 2016 21:17 (seven years ago) link

ten months pass...

Also - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOZuIV2FZTc

MaresNest, Monday, 4 September 2017 19:23 (six years ago) link

Interesting that this one is getting the anniversary treatment.

more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 4 September 2017 19:37 (six years ago) link

Would much rather have deluxe overdose editions of day at the races and sheer heart attack

Yeah, I agree!

more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 4 September 2017 19:52 (six years ago) link

eight months pass...

hm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y7X6le5qmE

piscesx, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 13:52 (five years ago) link

I mean, I've seen worse?

https://i.imgur.com/rMHrPim.jpg

pplains, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 15:51 (five years ago) link

The Freddie in this BBC production isn't terrible, though his moustache is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xipkQboBAE

dinnerboat, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 17:19 (five years ago) link

looks pretty hacky tbh, can't imagine the one-two of a decent mid-length doc and a concert film wouldn't be 10x better

Simon H., Tuesday, 15 May 2018 17:24 (five years ago) link

I thought the Days of Our Lives doc was decent, but could have been better. I think the definitive Queen doc is yet to be made and I think the quality of it would be down to how much the band members feel comfortable about revealing and John Deacon's involvement.

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Tuesday, 15 May 2018 19:26 (five years ago) link

As long as the movie's second half covers 'Nazis 1994' and music May wrote for Timothy Spall's 'Frank Stubbs Promotes' then I'll be satisfied

PaulTMA, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 22:08 (five years ago) link

five months pass...

so? I haven't seen it, haven't decided whether I want to, but surely someone here has…

veronica moser, Monday, 5 November 2018 22:40 (five years ago) link

There’s a thread on ILE; I can’t link from Zing.

Sing The Mighty Beat (sic), Monday, 5 November 2018 22:45 (five years ago) link

I wonder how many times I'm going to have to explain to people that Queen didn't actually split up and were actually in full touring mode by the time of Live Aid...

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Monday, 12 November 2018 20:57 (five years ago) link

Haven't seen the film yet but I just know the coverage of that pre-Live Aid period is going to extremely irritating

PaulTMA, Monday, 12 November 2018 21:07 (five years ago) link

BE

day-oh

PaulTMA, Monday, 12 November 2018 21:07 (five years ago) link

The movie does have some good things about it - the actors playing Brian May and John Deacon are really dead-on, and I was blown away by how they recreated the Live Aid gig at insane levels of forensic detail... that must have taken some serious fucking rehearsing.

However, the script/dialogue is woeful in places, and a lot of the fucking about with the timeline and historical facts is really irritating to me. I'm really supposed to believe that they performed 'Fat Bottomed Girls' on an American tour in 1974? (This is just one example of... well, far too many)

Yeah, I understand that it was supposed to be relatively "family friendly", and that there's so much that would have impossible to explore with any degree of depth over 90 minutes, but this would have been easier to live with if they hadn't fucked about with the facts too much.

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 22 November 2018 19:20 (five years ago) link

one month passes...
two years pass...

Listening to the Flash Gordon soundtrack this morning...wow is that a wacky record. Parts of it would not sound out of place on some of Trans Am's later records with the synth parts.

earlnash, Tuesday, 28 September 2021 14:17 (two years ago) link

My favourite Queen songs not written by Freddie:
Keep Yourself Alive (Brian)
Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll (Roger)
White Queen (Brian)
Brighton Rock (Brian)
Tenement Funster (Roger)
Now I'm Here (Brian)
I'm in Love with My Car (Roger)
'39 (Brian)
The Prophet's Song (Brian)
Long Away (Brian)
Sheer Heart Attack (Roger)
Plus various bits of the Flash soundtrack not written by Fred

Not much John there I guess, sorry John.

a down-on-his-luck gastromancer enters (Matt #2), Tuesday, 28 September 2021 14:32 (two years ago) link

No love for "Another one Bites the Dust"? That's an all time groove all genres.

earlnash, Tuesday, 28 September 2021 14:39 (two years ago) link


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