This is a super-duper group
September 8, 2015 10:15 AM Subscribe
On what would have been Freddie Mercury's 69th birthday, John Paul Jones and Roger Taylor join the Foo Fighters onstage to play "Under Pressure."
Oooof. Good stuff. Hawkins does a passable Mercury. Grohl doesn't quite capture the urgency of Bowie, but hell, he's just having a good time and who can blame him.
And yes, the Grohl Throne is resplendent.
posted by dry white toast at 10:38 AM on September 8, 2015
And yes, the Grohl Throne is resplendent.
posted by dry white toast at 10:38 AM on September 8, 2015
Man, I hope I age as well as John Paul Jones. Also, Roger Taylor's got a whole Anthony Hopkins thing going on with that badass beard.
Missing Brian May, though. No one can hold a candle to Freddie, although they make a surprisingly decent attempt.
posted by Existential Dread at 10:39 AM on September 8, 2015
Missing Brian May, though. No one can hold a candle to Freddie, although they make a surprisingly decent attempt.
posted by Existential Dread at 10:39 AM on September 8, 2015
Not that they have a Freddie at all, but I wonder if Foo Fighters are turning into today's Queen in a dadrock that everyone is generally fond of type way?
posted by runincircles at 10:56 AM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by runincircles at 10:56 AM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh man this is just such a perfect pop song but one that is almost impossible to play in a way that matches the power of the single. So many perfect things in the single - Mercury's impossible falsetto, that bass line, the remarkable bridge and that ultimate rock special effect, Bowie.
That the Foo Fighters can play this without embarrassing themselves is pretty decent evidence of their strength as a band. I think playing it like this - competently with a couple of rock legends and with the sheer joy of playing a song you love - is the best any non-Queen-with-Bowie band can hope to do. Good for them.
Yeah, but that throne.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:02 AM on September 8, 2015 [12 favorites]
That the Foo Fighters can play this without embarrassing themselves is pretty decent evidence of their strength as a band. I think playing it like this - competently with a couple of rock legends and with the sheer joy of playing a song you love - is the best any non-Queen-with-Bowie band can hope to do. Good for them.
Yeah, but that throne.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:02 AM on September 8, 2015 [12 favorites]
They missed a golden opportunity to have Jedward throw in a verse of two of "ice, ice, baby".
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 11:20 AM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 11:20 AM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
I wouldn't say they were missing it, Bob.
posted by Etrigan at 11:27 AM on September 8, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 11:27 AM on September 8, 2015 [11 favorites]
I once saw one of those VH-1 best-songs-of-a-given-decade countdown shows, where the narrator described "Under Pressure" as "TOTALLY. FREAKING. TRANSCENDENT."
Yes.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:28 AM on September 8, 2015
Yes.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:28 AM on September 8, 2015
I've been enjoying the Protomen's The Cover Up recently, and their lead singer does a pretty good Mercury on Princes Of The Universe while keeping some of his own style. Their cover of Mr Roboto is also quite excellent.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:30 AM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:30 AM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
My wedding recessional last year was my handbell group's version of "Under Pressure" and I have absolutely no regrets. Transcendent indeed.
posted by ilana at 11:32 AM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by ilana at 11:32 AM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
Missing Brian May, though.
Yeah, it's pretty awesome.
posted by bonehead at 12:04 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it's pretty awesome.
posted by bonehead at 12:04 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hopefully now we can forget the entire Adam Lambert/Queen thing ever happened.
posted by emptythought at 12:17 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by emptythought at 12:17 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
No one can hold a candle to Freddie, although they make a surprisingly decent attempt.
No man perhaps. I think Annie Lennox carries the flame superbly here ...
posted by philip-random at 12:18 PM on September 8, 2015 [14 favorites]
No man perhaps. I think Annie Lennox carries the flame superbly here ...
posted by philip-random at 12:18 PM on September 8, 2015 [14 favorites]
To paraphrase someone on my social media regarding this:
STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME LOVE YOU DAVE GROHL; I GIVE IN.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:24 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME LOVE YOU DAVE GROHL; I GIVE IN.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:24 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
No one can hold a candle to Freddie
Technically, this was pretty much exactly holding a candle to Freddie, I think.
posted by rokusan at 12:31 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Technically, this was pretty much exactly holding a candle to Freddie, I think.
posted by rokusan at 12:31 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Wow. Makes me miss Freddie so damn much but that was truly crazy and inspired.
I wonder what would have happened if Freddie hadn't have died. Would Queen have trotted into irrelevancy, would he have drifted into campy solo albums, would he be struggling with a voice that no longer had the earth-shattering power? Robert Plant learned how to sing lower and still commands the stage. Jagger acts like he owns a time machine. So maybe Freddie would have endured. At least I like to think so.
posted by Ber at 12:35 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I wonder what would have happened if Freddie hadn't have died. Would Queen have trotted into irrelevancy, would he have drifted into campy solo albums, would he be struggling with a voice that no longer had the earth-shattering power? Robert Plant learned how to sing lower and still commands the stage. Jagger acts like he owns a time machine. So maybe Freddie would have endured. At least I like to think so.
posted by Ber at 12:35 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
While there hasn't been an obvious "song of the summer", there's this pretty strong case that it's been the summer of Dave Grohl. I too give in, and love you Dave, please stop (or don't ever stop) being awesome at me!
posted by ersatzkat at 12:54 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ersatzkat at 12:54 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
It would be nice if John Deacon came out of his self-imposed exile once in a while, but I guess JPJ is a passable replacement for a one-off like this.
posted by rocket88 at 1:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rocket88 at 1:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Awesome but really missing Deaky.
posted by Cosine at 1:21 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cosine at 1:21 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Anybody else think that Dave Grohl has won the reincarnation jackpot? Like in his past life he saved a whole train of kids from the nazis, or stopped the third atom bomb from getting dropped, or invented cheese whiz or something? He's just living one hell of a life.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:41 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:41 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
And the real thing. Holy hell.
That performance was so epic that they paid tribute to it during the closing ceremony for the London Olympics; they paired Brian May and Roger Tayler with a singer named Jessie J, who dressed in Yellow like Freddy did, and found a way to resurrect Freddy to do that call-and-response with the crowd.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:55 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
That performance was so epic that they paid tribute to it during the closing ceremony for the London Olympics; they paired Brian May and Roger Tayler with a singer named Jessie J, who dressed in Yellow like Freddy did, and found a way to resurrect Freddy to do that call-and-response with the crowd.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:55 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
We got free tickets to see this Foo tour when they came to town and while they did a good bit of pandering to the crowd by opening with their most famous numbers (i dont begrudge them this, it makes good sense) i was really impressed with this cover.
Taylor hawkins singing was quite impressive, almost as impressive as the way he plays with his hair in the midst of the giant fan-powered tornado in which they center his drumkit.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Taylor hawkins singing was quite impressive, almost as impressive as the way he plays with his hair in the midst of the giant fan-powered tornado in which they center his drumkit.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
They missed a golden opportunity to have Jedward throw in a verse of two of "ice, ice, baby"
Or White, White, Baby.
My wedding recessional last year was my handbell group's version of "Under Pressure" and I have absolutely no regrets. Transcendent indeed.
A fellow handbell nerd. Squee! *hugs*
posted by Melismata at 2:09 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Or White, White, Baby.
My wedding recessional last year was my handbell group's version of "Under Pressure" and I have absolutely no regrets. Transcendent indeed.
A fellow handbell nerd. Squee! *hugs*
posted by Melismata at 2:09 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Gail Ann Dorsey, Bowie's long time fabulous bassist does an amazing turn on this song. Here they are on Mr Jones' last tour. Her crescendo is... just watch.
posted by merocet at 2:46 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by merocet at 2:46 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
Wow Ilana I'd like a recording of that!
posted by merocet at 2:56 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by merocet at 2:56 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's been a long time and I can't remember her exact words, but I was disappointed with Annie Lennox's comments about Queen after she sang Under Pressure with Bowie circa '92. She said she did it just to be able to sing with her idol, Bowie, and that she was no fan of Queen and their Neanderthal rock (or words to that effect). I tried finding the exact quote but gave up after perusing the first page of google results which all consisted of fans' comments about the performance. But yeah, I thought she was very insensitive considering the performance was at a Freddie Mercury tribute concert featuring the surviving members of Queen.
posted by Devils Slide at 3:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Slide at 3:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Devil: I can't think of many huge rock band less neanderthal than Queen, sheesh.
posted by Cosine at 3:13 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by Cosine at 3:13 PM on September 8, 2015
Gail Ann Dorsey, Bowie's long time fabulous bassist does an amazing turn on this song. Here they are vimeo on Mr Jones' last tour. Her crescendo is... just watch.
Wow. That's fabulous.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:17 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wow. That's fabulous.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:17 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Devil: I can't think of many huge rock band less neanderthal than Queen, sheesh.
I agree, Cosine. The certainly have some complex songs as well as straight ahead rockers in their discography. And I don't think Lennox used the word "Neanderthal" but it was something along the same lines. Disrespectful to say the least.
posted by Devils Slide at 4:01 PM on September 8, 2015
I agree, Cosine. The certainly have some complex songs as well as straight ahead rockers in their discography. And I don't think Lennox used the word "Neanderthal" but it was something along the same lines. Disrespectful to say the least.
posted by Devils Slide at 4:01 PM on September 8, 2015
my guess is Ms Lennox's concerns were with regard to Queen's playing South Africa during Apartheid and being paid very well for it.
posted by philip-random at 4:14 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by philip-random at 4:14 PM on September 8, 2015
I was there. I can confirm it was awesome. Since I wasn't able to make it to Wembley in '86, being 8 at the time and all, this will have to do.
Judging by the audience, the Foos are totally DadRock now. Sorry.
posted by Helga-woo at 4:41 PM on September 8, 2015
Judging by the audience, the Foos are totally DadRock now. Sorry.
posted by Helga-woo at 4:41 PM on September 8, 2015
phil: Not sure about that, she certainly has no issue with Elton John.
posted by Cosine at 4:45 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by Cosine at 4:45 PM on September 8, 2015
my guess is Ms Lennox's concerns were with regard to Queen's playing South Africa during Apartheid and being paid very well for it.
She never mentioned that in her critique. I understand not liking a particular band for whatever reason and being very vocal about it, what I have a problem with is playing at a concert featuring 3/4 of that band (in honor of their deceased singer) and attended by thousands of their fans, and then belittling them afterwards and saying you just did it because you wanted to perform with another guest at said concert.
posted by Devils Slide at 5:05 PM on September 8, 2015
And the real thing. Holy hell.
Yes the real thing. Played uptempo, tight, and powered by Freddie's charisma and his ability to connect with a crowd while never seeming to lower himself to their level.
Freddie Mercury was unique, irreplaceable, unmatchable. His style is incredibly difficult to interpret, but I have got chills watching quality singers impersonate him. The reason is that people try to work with his music and his technique, when what really made him shine, especially live, was his presence. He wasn't that technically great a singer live, especially later in a tour when his vocal nodes would restrict his range to that of a rock and roll crooner. But he was the centre of that band, a gravity well of energy and pure lust that emitted at times nonsensical lyrics in a voice that went right through you.
I went to the last Queen tour (with Adam Lambert, who to his credit didn't pretend to be anybody but Adam Lambert) just to see Brian May play Love of My Life as a duet with a video of Freddie Mercury. Even dead all these years, even in two story high video form, the magic came through. Lambert was a nothing beside him, in fact he tastefully left the stage while we all had this moment with Brian May. And Adam Lambert was the guy the band chose to sing with them. I don't even remember Adam Lambert being there actually, except that it says so on the ticket I bought.
I looked around and I really can't find a video of Freddie that tops that Wembley performance. All agreed it was the highlight of Queen's career. I remember watching it, and I thought if I never seem them play again I will feel happy to have lived to see that.
Credit to Foo Fighters for honouring Freddie, but I think they chose the wrong song. Under Pressure, great as it was, was cobbled together in a jam session, led by Roger and John Deacon, who had bass lines like this just flow out of him all the time. It is mostly a gibberish song and it shows off Freddie's high bits, and has a nice David Bowie cameo.
But if you really want to get a sense of his camp sensuality and vocal character you need to listen to this:
My Melancholy Blues
Hearing him flirt around on this track has made me smile since 1977.
Happy Birthday, Darling. 69 you say? Hmmmmm.
posted by salishsea at 5:36 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Yes the real thing. Played uptempo, tight, and powered by Freddie's charisma and his ability to connect with a crowd while never seeming to lower himself to their level.
Freddie Mercury was unique, irreplaceable, unmatchable. His style is incredibly difficult to interpret, but I have got chills watching quality singers impersonate him. The reason is that people try to work with his music and his technique, when what really made him shine, especially live, was his presence. He wasn't that technically great a singer live, especially later in a tour when his vocal nodes would restrict his range to that of a rock and roll crooner. But he was the centre of that band, a gravity well of energy and pure lust that emitted at times nonsensical lyrics in a voice that went right through you.
I went to the last Queen tour (with Adam Lambert, who to his credit didn't pretend to be anybody but Adam Lambert) just to see Brian May play Love of My Life as a duet with a video of Freddie Mercury. Even dead all these years, even in two story high video form, the magic came through. Lambert was a nothing beside him, in fact he tastefully left the stage while we all had this moment with Brian May. And Adam Lambert was the guy the band chose to sing with them. I don't even remember Adam Lambert being there actually, except that it says so on the ticket I bought.
I looked around and I really can't find a video of Freddie that tops that Wembley performance. All agreed it was the highlight of Queen's career. I remember watching it, and I thought if I never seem them play again I will feel happy to have lived to see that.
Credit to Foo Fighters for honouring Freddie, but I think they chose the wrong song. Under Pressure, great as it was, was cobbled together in a jam session, led by Roger and John Deacon, who had bass lines like this just flow out of him all the time. It is mostly a gibberish song and it shows off Freddie's high bits, and has a nice David Bowie cameo.
But if you really want to get a sense of his camp sensuality and vocal character you need to listen to this:
My Melancholy Blues
Hearing him flirt around on this track has made me smile since 1977.
Happy Birthday, Darling. 69 you say? Hmmmmm.
posted by salishsea at 5:36 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
I actually was weirded out by the way Annie Lennox was nuzzling Bowie like a kitten during her duet with him.
Axl Roxe surprised me on "Bohemian Rhapsody", though.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:04 PM on September 8, 2015
Axl Roxe surprised me on "Bohemian Rhapsody", though.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:04 PM on September 8, 2015
I looked around and I really can't find a video of Freddie that tops that Wembley performance.
I looked around and can't find a video of anyone that tops that Wembley performance. It really is one of the all time iconic rock performances, and with damn good reason.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 7:17 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I looked around and can't find a video of anyone that tops that Wembley performance. It really is one of the all time iconic rock performances, and with damn good reason.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 7:17 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
A fellow handbell nerd. Squee! *hugs*
Squee! We apparently find each other in threads about Freddy Mercury. He's the gift that keeps on giving. (Pavlov's Dogs have an extra ringer in the video because I am ringing one-handed with a broken elbow. Talk about cracking under pressure.) I think it's telling how awesome the song is that it works both as a huge rock showpiece and on handbells.
Wow Ilana I'd like a recording of that!
I actually do have a recording (because I couldn't actually play while walking down the aisle in a wedding dress); if anyone wants it, feel free to PM me.
posted by ilana at 9:04 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Squee! We apparently find each other in threads about Freddy Mercury. He's the gift that keeps on giving. (Pavlov's Dogs have an extra ringer in the video because I am ringing one-handed with a broken elbow. Talk about cracking under pressure.) I think it's telling how awesome the song is that it works both as a huge rock showpiece and on handbells.
Wow Ilana I'd like a recording of that!
I actually do have a recording (because I couldn't actually play while walking down the aisle in a wedding dress); if anyone wants it, feel free to PM me.
posted by ilana at 9:04 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Freddie Mercury Saved My Life: 2014 documentary by English tenor Alfie Boe.
posted by gottabefunky at 11:03 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by gottabefunky at 11:03 PM on September 8, 2015
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