Listening to Queen on Radio Paradise

Not their best...but still a solid 8!!

Posted 1 year ago by IvanTheMediocre [ Reply ]

ed_cardiff wrote:

My air heater kicked in and obscured a line or two mid-way through this song, so I cursed it for being disrespectful and turned it off.

If your ears aren't bleeding you're not playing it right - that goes for most (but not all) Queen tracks. The heater shouldn't have stood a chance

Posted 2 years ago by hellsgardener [ Reply ]

Band aid glory moment. Not my favourite band. But this was glorious. An opera.

Posted 2 years ago by deniseperry [ Reply ]

I'm in the "rated: 1" camp... so noisy, put the cat out of its misery already.

Posted 2 years ago by jasonv [ Reply ]

The tenn-iest of tens...so very ten...thanks boys, you will rock out forever...

Posted 2 years ago by sfoster66 [ Reply ]

ed_cardiff wrote:

My air heater kicked in and obscured a line or two mid-way through this song, so I cursed it for being disrespectful and turned it off.

if you can't hear this song over a jet engine, you are playing it wrong...

Posted 2 years ago by snowcone [ Reply ]

My air heater kicked in and obscured a line or two mid-way through this song, so I cursed it for being disrespectful and turned it off.

Posted 2 years ago by ed_cardiff [ Reply ]

Sometimes, this song... just... it.. damn...

Posted 3 years ago by sajitjacob [ Reply ]

csumby wrote:

A one take vocal by a man in the final days of his life. A consummate performance by a consummate performer. Will we ever see or hear the like again.

Yes. But not in our lifetimes.

Posted 3 years ago by itsme_bygolly [ Reply ]

Truly, gloriously operatic. Freddie sure could belt the songs out.

Posted 3 years ago by fredriley [ Reply ]

A one take vocal by a man in the final days of his life. A consummate performance by a consummate performer. Will we ever see or hear the like again.

Posted 3 years ago by csumby [ Reply ]

Beautiful transition from Massive Attack to this :)

Posted 3 years ago by Marr [ Reply ]

Einer der schlechtesten Queen Songs.

Posted 3 years ago by Majoran [ Reply ]

so many "souvenirs" with this amazing song...

Posted 3 years ago by asap.band [ Reply ]

damn

Posted 3 years ago by snowcone [ Reply ]

scott_bruce wrote:

Is it allowed within the RP Listenership By-Laws to bump the rating of the song up after reading the above passage?

8 -> 9.

Yeah.

Posted 3 years ago by LizK [ Reply ]

It's an amazing, intensely personal and gut-wrenching performance from a nearly dead man. It's up there with Bowie's last stand, in an obviously more glam, stagey, Freddie way.

But I wish he'd improved upon "my smile still stays on." It's clunky and it bugs me. Soz.

Posted 4 years ago by MattRudely [ Reply ]

acolt wrote:

Paul Simon, Kanye West, Adele, and Kurt Cobain beg to differ.

Kanye West? Adele? Kurt Cobain? You have got to be joking.

Posted 4 years ago by Edweirdo [ Reply ]

I am not a fan. That said, they are amazing! When I make myself listen like when they play here I am always in awe of the talent and skills of these musicians. Wow, just wow.

Posted 4 years ago by WWWillie [ Reply ]

liveaudio608 wrote:

Too bad the zenith of popular music took place in the '60s and '70s. Where are the songwriters who can take it farther? We've been WAITING.

Paul Simon, Kanye West, Adele, and Kurt Cobain beg to differ.

Posted 4 years ago by acolt [ Reply ]

Too bad the zenith of popular music took place in the '60s and '70s. Where are the songwriters who can take it farther? We've been WAITING.

Posted 4 years ago by liveaudio608 [ Reply ]

YYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSS

That is all.

Posted 4 years ago by acolt [ Reply ]

At this point in Freddie's life, his AIDS had badly affected his vocal cords and every note of this must have taken a super-human effort. Yet, it's vocal dynamite. What a human being he was!

Posted 4 years ago by njswede [ Reply ]

Pretty good song. Not Queen's best, but just for you, Freddie, I humbly rate this a 10.

Freddie, you were GODLIKE.

Posted 4 years ago by mgtom [ Reply ]

Never been a fan but this is great.

Posted 4 years ago by todbothom [ Reply ]

KevinM wrote:

I stopped following Queen after ’The Game’ this is new to me, sounds like I didn’t miss much.

The most over-rated band ever!

Posted 4 years ago by TreyCowhig [ Reply ]

Just tuned in, on comes this amazing song... I log in to vote it a 10 - already done it

Love RP - has helped keep me sane-ish during Covid and working from home!!!! Thanks guys

Posted 5 years ago by meanderer [ Reply ]

jackie0 wrote:

kellipeter05 wrote:

AMAZING. Love Freddie. This song makes me think about the end of his life. RIP Freddie. You are a god.

Yes, so true.
And as I write this Knophler's Brothers in Arms comes on, what perfect sequencing! Thank you Radio Paradise!

Wonder if I'll get the same segue four years later... nope - Everlong by Foo Fighters. It's all good...

Posted 5 years ago by laozilover [ Reply ]

I stopped following Queen after ’The Game’ this is new to me, sounds like I didn’t miss much.

Posted 5 years ago by KevinM [ Reply ]

Epic

Posted 5 years ago by rpdevotee [ Reply ]

11

Posted 5 years ago by sxediy [ Reply ]

Still makes me cry. Miss you, Freddie.

Posted 5 years ago by mysa_nal787 [ Reply ]

It boggles my mind how anyone could rate this song below a 7, especially if one is aware of the history of Freddie Mercury.

Posted 6 years ago by SpencerAR [ Reply ]

Tomasni wrote:

Long Live Radio Paradise
9 -OUTSTANDING to me

I'll make the +1 and join you Tomasni. Long Live RP indeed!

Posted 6 years ago by lizardking [ Reply ]

Can you really not give a 10? I'm just so abashed!!! Although not being a dedicated Queen fan, this is nothing but pure gold, sorry for all the bad (h)ears here...

Posted 6 years ago by zaam [ Reply ]

Long Live Radio Paradise
9 -OUTSTANDING to me

Posted 6 years ago by Tomasni [ Reply ]

Nice! My 8 year heard 'We are the Champions' on the radio and started singing. I said I have this on vinyl, (yes she knows what this is, also knows to walk softly when daddy's music is playing).

I played Queen's Greatest Hits while my daughter and a friend was over playing. When they heard Bicycle Race they went NUTS! What is this song PaPa!!

FourFortyEight wrote:

Did you take her into your lap and share these lovely tunes with her and explain their amazing origins with a life lesson of hope and joy or did you smack her across the room? Inquiring minds want to know.

Posted 7 years ago by V12Silly [ Reply ]

ravnur wrote:

My 10 year old daughter just peeked around the corner and asked if I was watching Spongebob

Did you take her into your lap and share these lovely tunes with her and explain their amazing origins with a life lesson of hope and joy or did you smack her across the room? Inquiring minds want to know.

Posted 7 years ago by FourFortyEight [ Reply ]

My 10 year old daughter just peeked around the corner and asked if I was watching Spongebob

Posted 7 years ago by ravnur [ Reply ]

ncollingridge wrote:

Horrible.

Then I'm sure you'll enjoy

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ New Trailer Touches on Freddie Mercury’s Sexuality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP0VHJYFOAU

Posted 7 years ago by kingart [ Reply ]

Superlative showman. We won't see his like again.

Posted 7 years ago by DaidyBoy [ Reply ]

If the lyrics were about something other than his impending death, this song would be a 5 or 6. But given the subject and release shortly before his death, this is quite stirring. Moved up to an 8 based on that relevance.

Posted 7 years ago by Relayer [ Reply ]

Lol. Are we even listening to the same track? Ah well, each to his own!

ncollingridge wrote:

Horrible.

Posted 7 years ago by yurasuka [ Reply ]

Horrible.

Posted 7 years ago by ncollingridge [ Reply ]

this is seriously awful.

Posted 7 years ago by scrubbrush [ Reply ]

too soulful atm
bye

Posted 8 years ago by markthecarp [ Reply ]

thewiseking wrote:

this is godawful hair band crap. sure they had a solid guitarist and powerful vocals but face it, much of their catalogue, especially this later stuff, was rubbish

Yup, apart from Seven Seas of Rhye, Now I'm Here, and Keep Yourself Alive I personally find most of their stuff as you describe.

Posted 8 years ago by ncollingridge [ Reply ]

From a purely musical standpoint, Queen has recorded better songs, but one has to admire the courage of this performance. A solid 8 for me, and a song that always brings vivid memories of the day that Freddie passed.

Posted 8 years ago by Synth80s [ Reply ]

black321 wrote:

OK, this sounds like Spongebob singing in that episode when Squidward tries to conduct a band at football halftime show, with Patrick on the drums and Mrs. Puff on guitar.

Ha...i like to laugh at my own jokes.

Posted 8 years ago by black321 [ Reply ]

Bluhhh!

Couldn't stand this noise then. It has not mellowed with age.

Posted 8 years ago by jagdriver [ Reply ]

jackie0 wrote:

And as I write this Knophler's Brothers in Arms comes on, what perfect sequencing! Thank you Radio Paradise!

Same sequence today, btw.

Posted 8 years ago by GreenKittenLines [ Reply ]

this is godawful hair band crap. sure they had a solid guitarist and powerful vocals but face it, much of their catalogue, especially this later stuff, was rubbish

Posted 9 years ago by thewiseking [ Reply ]

Never "got" Queen. This is great.

Posted 9 years ago by Segue [ Reply ]

Not my favorite song by Queen or period. I liked their stuff in the 70's with gusto. I struggled with their stuff in the 80's. Creatively, they had moved on. Which is what artists do to stay fresh and interesting. I respect that. Having said that, Freddies vocals in this were short of miraculous given his health at the time. He left a huge void when he passed. Little Queenie forever!!

Posted 9 years ago by bm.deavenport613 [ Reply ]

I just thought about how human needs ideals and what happens him when he don't have them.

Posted 9 years ago by otaznick [ Reply ]

kellipeter05 wrote:

THE BEST Queen song. I love the story behind this song, but it does break my heart. RIP Freddie. I will always love you.

Same here. This gives me the chills. The backstory behind David Bowie's recording of "Blackstar" is eerily similar.

Posted 9 years ago by jkamm14 [ Reply ]

THE BEST Queen song. I love the story behind this song, but it does break my heart. RIP Freddie. I will always love you.

Posted 9 years ago by kellipeter05 [ Reply ]

kellipeter05 wrote:

AMAZING. Love Freddie. This song makes me think about the end of his life. RIP Freddie. You are a god.

Yes, so true.
And as I write this Knophler's Brothers in Arms comes on, what perfect sequencing! Thank you Radio Paradise!

Posted 9 years ago by jackie0 [ Reply ]

scrubbrush wrote:

Sounded like the Scorpions circa 1989.

Exactly! and many another 80s hair band. Makes you appreciate how influential Queen was.

Posted 9 years ago by Sasha2001 [ Reply ]

Woah! Sheer regal magnificence. Great tune. Nice surprise.

Posted 9 years ago by ppopp [ Reply ]

scrubbrush wrote:

Sounded like the Scorpions circa 1989.

The Scorpions singer could never approach Freddie's voice. The man was amazing.

Posted 10 years ago by kcar [ Reply ]

Sounded like the Scorpions circa 1989.

Posted 10 years ago by scrubbrush [ Reply ]

Not many singers get to say Goodbye

Posted 10 years ago by jmsmy [ Reply ]

AMAZING. Love Freddie. This song makes me think about the end of his life. RIP Freddie. You are a god.

Posted 10 years ago by kellipeter05 [ Reply ]

Over the curtain in the pantomime, and the mime is keen on lasting until the show is over.

Posted 10 years ago by twoplain2sea [ Reply ]

This song goes to eleven!

Posted 10 years ago by Larrygrrl [ Reply ]

GwaiLo wrote:

For me, the reason this song is so amazing is summed up in this passage:

Demo versions featured May singing, having to sing some parts in falsetto because they were too high. When Brian May presented the final demo to Mercury, he had doubts that Mercury would be physically capable of singing the song's highly demanding vocal line, due to the extent of his illness at the time. To May's surprise, when the time came to record the vocals, Mercury consumed a measure of vodka and said "I'll fuckin do it, darling!" then proceeded to nail the vocal line in one take without problems. To this day, Brian May regards this vocal performance as one of Mercury's best.

For me, it's basically a eulogy for himself, that one last final song, his gift.

Is it allowed within the RP Listenership By-Laws to bump the rating of the song up after reading the above passage?

8 -> 9.

Posted 10 years ago by scott_bruce [ Reply ]

My god. This is horrible. PSD please.

Posted 10 years ago by bendame [ Reply ]

is it passion, or is it real fear? I can feel something, and its not easy listening! RIP Freddie.

undoubtedly a 9.

Posted 11 years ago by stunix [ Reply ]

cc_rider wrote:

Awesome.

Posted 12 years ago by hencini [ Reply ]

Or a mincing prince, more like.

andesitic wrote:

Queen is the King!

Posted 12 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

Posted 12 years ago by cc_rider [ Reply ]

Yeah, I can hear ABBA do this...but Freddie can give so much more than Agnetha.

Hey, for Cheesy 70s Drama Rock, it's hard to beat a song like this. Tons of fun, if one appreciates this for what it is (which may not be what Queen wanted it to be...).

MT

Posted 12 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

GwaiLo wrote:

For me, the reason this song is so amazing is summed up in this passage:

Demo versions featured May singing, having to sing some parts in falsetto because they were too high. When Brian May presented the final demo to Mercury, he had doubts that Mercury would be physically capable of singing the song's highly demanding vocal line, due to the extent of his illness at the time. To May's surprise, when the time came to record the vocals, Mercury consumed a measure of vodka and said "I'll fuckin do it, darling!" then proceeded to nail the vocal line in one take without problems. To this day, Brian May regards this vocal performance as one of Mercury's best.

For me, it's basically a eulogy for himself, that one last final song, his gift.

Agreed. This is a spectacular swan song, in every sense of the metaphor.

Posted 12 years ago by Beanie [ Reply ]

GwaiLo wrote:

For me, the reason this song is so amazing is summed up in this passage:

Demo versions featured May singing, having to sing some parts in falsetto because they were too high. When Brian May presented the final demo to Mercury, he had doubts that Mercury would be physically capable of singing the song's highly demanding vocal line, due to the extent of his illness at the time. To May's surprise, when the time came to record the vocals, Mercury consumed a measure of vodka and said "I'll fuckin do it, darling!" then proceeded to nail the vocal line in one take without problems. To this day, Brian May regards this vocal performance as one of Mercury's best.

For me, it's basically a eulogy for himself, that one last final song, his gift.

Without this context, the song isn't that great by Queen standards, but with that backstory, it kicks ass.

Posted 12 years ago by jbunniii [ Reply ]

How the F--- can anyone vote this song anything less than a 10....??

Posted 12 years ago by linzie [ Reply ]

What a phenomenal band. What an extremely talented singer. So sad to have lost him.

Posted 12 years ago by casey1024 [ Reply ]

A band that is getting better with age. RIP Freddie.

Posted 13 years ago by BKardon [ Reply ]

Miss this band along with Freddie M.

Posted 13 years ago by ziakut [ Reply ]

If ever a song deserved an 11, this song is it.

Freddie Mercury was quite the genius.

i still mourn his passing.

yet i revel in the celebration of his soul.

Posted 13 years ago by BLADERUNNER [ Reply ]

Apart from how I rate this song it's very RP-ish to play Queen (or another artist) after a song from Queen (or another artist) played by another

which I like a lot!!

Posted 13 years ago by Dinges,_the_Dude [ Reply ]

GwaiLo wrote:

For me, the reason this song is so amazing is summed up in this passage:

Demo versions featured May singing, having to sing some parts in falsetto because they were too high. When Brian May presented the final demo to Mercury, he had doubts that Mercury would be physically capable of singing the song's highly demanding vocal line, due to the extent of his illness at the time. To May's surprise, when the time came to record the vocals, Mercury consumed a measure of vodka and said "I'll fuckin do it, darling!" then proceeded to nail the vocal line in one take without problems. To this day, Brian May regards this vocal performance as one of Mercury's best.

For me, it's basically a eulogy for himself, that one last final song, his gift.

I knew what the song was about, and totally appreciated how ANYONE, much less this genius, could put so much into something so gut -wrenching as a song about their own imminent demise...reading this makes it sadder yet.

...and it is a terrific song, as well!

Posted 14 years ago by linzie [ Reply ]

For me, the reason this song is so amazing is summed up in this passage:

Demo versions featured May singing, having to sing some parts in falsetto because they were too high. When Brian May presented the final demo to Mercury, he had doubts that Mercury would be physically capable of singing the song's highly demanding vocal line, due to the extent of his illness at the time. To May's surprise, when the time came to record the vocals, Mercury consumed a measure of vodka and said "I'll fuckin do it, darling!" then proceeded to nail the vocal line in one take without problems. To this day, Brian May regards this vocal performance as one of Mercury's best.

For me, it's basically a eulogy for himself, that one last final song, his gift.

Posted 14 years ago by GwaiLo [ Reply ]

damien wrote:

there are a lot of great Queen songs... and this isn't one of them

<-( It definitely is one of their best songs, if you see it in it's context

Posted 20 years ago by rolf [ Reply ]

I didn't even know this was a Queen song until I listened to the commentary track on the Moulin Rouge DVD... 8-<

Posted 21 years ago by g-rod [ Reply ]

Mark1970 wrote:

Yes, a song about Freddie dying is so much fun. I guess you put the "fun" in funerals?

Is that what it's about? Hm. Didn't listen too closely to the lyrics. Sad song, then. Still sounds like Cheesy 70s Drama Rock, though. MT

Posted 21 years ago by mdtuley [ Reply ]

mdtuley wrote:

Hey, for Cheesy 70s Drama Rock, it's hard to beat a song like this. Tons of fun, if one appreciates this for what it is (which may not be what Queen wanted it to be...). MT

Yes, a song about Freddie dying is so much fun. I guess you put the "fun" in funerals?

Posted 21 years ago by Mark1970 [ Reply ]

mdtuley wrote:

Hey, for Cheesy 70s Drama Rock, it's hard to beat a song like this. Tons of fun, if one appreciates this for what it is (which may not be what Queen wanted it to be...). MT

YES. Let us enjoy the drama in peace!

Posted 21 years ago by rah [ Reply ]

Hey, for Cheesy 70s Drama Rock, it's hard to beat a song like this. Tons of fun, if one appreciates this for what it is (which may not be what Queen wanted it to be...). MT

Posted 21 years ago by mdtuley [ Reply ]

damien wrote:

there are a lot of great Queen songs... and this isn't one of them

What he said.

Posted 21 years ago by diane [ Reply ]

I thought this was some awful Scorpions ballad until the chorus kicked in. Instead it's an awful Queen ballad.

Posted 21 years ago by randomprime [ Reply ]

damien wrote:

there are a lot of great Queen songs... and this isn't one of them

:nodhead:

Posted 21 years ago by Danny_G [ Reply ]

damien wrote:

there are a lot of great Queen songs... and this isn't one of them

When comparing their catalogue, I am inclined to agree with you. This is a ways behind their best...

Posted 21 years ago by Gregorama [ Reply ]

there are a lot of great Queen songs... and this isn't one of them

Posted 21 years ago by damien [ Reply ]

OK, this sounds like Spongebob singing in that episode when Squidward tries to conduct a band at football halftime show, with Patrick on the drums and Mrs. Puff on guitar.