Mercury and Perry

[Saint John]

Not only that, it's distasteful to speak ill of the dead.

So saying that Hitler was an asshole is distasteful?

[msmercury01]

We were originally discussing the vocal talents of Perry vs. Mercury and you chose to bring Mercury's sexuality into it. How can you bring Hitler into all of this? How on earth can you compare Hitler and Mercury? One has nothing to do with the other.

[Saint John]

We were originally discussing the vocal talents of Perry vs. Mercury and you chose to bring Mercury's sexuality into it. How can you bring Hitler into all of this? How on earth can you compare Hitler and Mercury? One has nothing to do with the other.

I'm not comparing Mercury to Hitler, stupid. I clearly quoted one of your statements and refuted it, and because you have no comeback you're saying that I'm comparing the two. Nice try at spin.

[msmercury01]

I am NOT stupid. You are just trying to veer off the subject to be argumentative. The fact is you have a problem with Mercury's sexuality and that is your bias. The whole Hitler thing was your try at spin.

[Saint John]

I am NOT stupid. You are just trying to veer off the subject to be argumentative. The fact is you have a problem with Mercury's sexuality and that is your bias. The whole Hitler thing was your try at spin.

My "whole Hitler thing" was in response to you saying that "it's distasteful to speak ill of the dead." I don't care that Mercury was a turd burglar. Didn't concern or affect me in the least. I do however find it funny that a man would put his pecker up another man's shit slide, and that's why I make the crude remarks that you referred to. If you read around those remarks I have offered quite a good argument as to why Perry is better and even offered some audio evidence as well.

[fredinator]

I needed a good laugh--thanks, SJ. I just love F Mercury but laughed my butt off over "t* burglar."

[Saint John]

I needed a good laugh--thanks, SJ. I just love F Mercury but laughed my butt off over "t* burglar."

Certainly not making fun of the fact that the man is dead, but his eccentric lifestyle makes for some good one liners. I thought Mercury was an outstanding talent.

[fredinator]

Seems like most gifted artists are eccentric. I had to laugh over the accumulation of all the one-liners with the burglar one at the top of the heap... I loved Freddie, too; if I think about it too long, I will get sad .

[Journey/Survivor]

There's no denying that Mercury was a very talented singer, but I still feel that Perry, Jamison, Gramm were/are better.

If I was forming a new band and had my pick of singers when they were in their prime I'd take Jamison, Perry, Gramm, Joe Lynn Turner and Paul Rodgers over Mercury.

[Vladan]

If I was forming a new band and had my pick of singers when they were in their prime I'd take Jamison, Perry, Gramm, Joe Lynn Turner and Paul Rodgers over Mercury.

With all due respect that is a biased statement, if I have ever read one. As good as Jamison is, even in his prime not one the best singers of all time. The thing I like about Jamison is his tone, and unique sound, but thats about as far as it goes, a poor mans Steve Perry I'm afraid.

I've never seen anyone rate Jamison over Perry or Mercury apart from you matey you know as much as I love Perry, people from the US are too blinded with Perry. You still have Russell Watson, John Farnham, Michael Bolton (who is a better singer than most of these people mentioned) you have George Michael... and as good these American volalists go, there are better singers out there. America is only a portion of the music world.

[Journey/Survivor]

If I was forming a new band and had my pick of singers when they were in their prime I'd take Jamison, Perry, Gramm, Joe Lynn Turner and Paul Rodgers over Mercury.

With all due respect that is a biased statement, if I have ever read one. As good as Jamison is, even in his prime not one the best singers of all time. The thing I like about Jamison is his tone, and unique sound, but thats about as far as it goes, a poor mans Steve Perry I'm afraid.

I've never seen anyone rate Jamison over Perry or Mercury apart from you matey you know as much as I love Perry, people from the US are too blinded with Perry. You still have Russell Watson, John Farnham, Michael Bolton (who is a better singer than most of these people mentioned) you have George Michael... and as good these American volalists go, there are better singers out there. America is only a portion of the music world.

Actually, I have seen many people who rank Jimi Jamison ahead of Steve Perry. But Perry is an extremely close second on my list.

Bolton is impressive in some ways, but damn annoying in many others, IMO.
George Michael has a good voice, but I would not call it great.
I know that I know who John Farnham is, but I can't remember who he is at the moment.
And I've never heard of Russel Watson.

I think that most people will tell you that Jimi Jamison is one of the greatest singers in the world? Now I'm not saying that everyone ranks him as high as I do. Although I know some singers who've told me that they feel that Jamison is a far better all around singer than Steve Perry. Now, let's make it clear that I don't agree with that, even though I rank Jamison slightly ahead. But most people who understand all aspects of singing, and who are familiar with a wide range of Jimi Jamison's singing and songs, will say that Jamison is one of the greatest.

[finalfight]

in my honest opinion, i think vocally Freddie Mercury is too over-rated. Why does he keep getting these best singer titles. Perry sings and still sings circles around Mercury. Freddie barely can hit the notes Perry hits live. Perry's range is far superior to Mercury's. Mercurys high notes really arent that impressive. They are just loud, because he had vocal nodules.HE often sang in high falsetto, which to be honest really isnt too hard once you understand how to do it. Perry had the soul to captivate the audience, singing loudly but in tune, or even soft like in winds of march. I dont mean to offend any Queen fans, but vocally i believe Perry is the one who should be getting all the recognition.

I love Steve Perry....but as a pure singer, IMHO, Freddy Mercury was the most gifted of our time.....Tone, Style, and Technically superior....Just listen to the song "who wants to live forever"....

Again....Just my opinion.....

JV

Did you check this video? Technically superior my arse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51vJElLy ... re=related

[finalfight]

All I can tell you is that for my ears, NOBODY (including Mercury) hit the notes that Perry hit! As someone else said in this thread...That doesn't automatically make him the superior singer (although I think he is). I loved listening to Freddie sing, and thought the guy was exceptional. I would rank him ahead of a whole lot of vocalists. Perry is just one guy I simply don't think he was better than!


John from Boston

There are plenty of people who can hit notes HIGHER than Perry hit. If you want your dogs and cats to run for cover, check out the similar compilation of Freddy Curci, who was the singer for Sheriff ("When I'm With You") and Alias ("More Than Words Can Say"). The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJt9ktfC ... re=related. Thank goodness he sings lower than this 95% of the time. High notes aren't everything, but the guy had/has some range on him, even though he lost a lot a few years ago with an infection that took out part of his hearing also.

Now, on the Perry vs. Mercury debate....the debate in the end is what vocal style you prefer. If you want soul, go for Perry. If you want opera, go with Mercury. Hard to rank singers whose approaches are totally different.

If you want to go with opera check out the big boys like Pavarotti or Domingo. Freddie didn't sing opera the style you are thinking of was much more camp almost like operetta-lite. I actually find this embarrassing to listen too although it is very popular (hello Mika)!

[*Laura]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51vJElLy ... re=related

Dear God....Everytime I hear the final parts of the Passaic & Houston "Patiently", I stop breathing.Those are the most incredible goosebump generator vocal parts ever performed.
Sorry Freddie.

[Enigma869]

There are plenty of people who can hit notes HIGHER than Perry hit. If you want your dogs and cats to run for cover, check out the similar compilation of Freddy Curci, who was the singer for Sheriff ("When I'm With You") and Alias ("More Than Words Can Say"). The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJt9ktfC ... re=related. Thank goodness he sings lower than this 95% of the time. High notes aren't everything, but the guy had/has some range on him, even though he lost a lot a few years ago with an infection that took out part of his hearing also.

Now, on the Perry vs. Mercury debate....the debate in the end is what vocal style you prefer. If you want soul, go for Perry. If you want opera, go with Mercury. Hard to rank singers whose approaches are totally different.

Well, if you read my quote...I said that for my ears! I know both of the songs you pointed out, and I don't agree with you on the Alias track. The Sheriff track...I do agree that some VERY high notes are hit in that song, but perhaps I should of clarified that I was speaking more of rock and roll tracks and not cheesy love songs!


John from Boston

[kgdjpubs]

There are plenty of people who can hit notes HIGHER than Perry hit. If you want your dogs and cats to run for cover, check out the similar compilation of Freddy Curci, who was the singer for Sheriff ("When I'm With You") and Alias ("More Than Words Can Say"). The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJt9ktfC ... re=related. Thank goodness he sings lower than this 95% of the time. High notes aren't everything, but the guy had/has some range on him, even though he lost a lot a few years ago with an infection that took out part of his hearing also.

Now, on the Perry vs. Mercury debate....the debate in the end is what vocal style you prefer. If you want soul, go for Perry. If you want opera, go with Mercury. Hard to rank singers whose approaches are totally different.

Well, if you read my quote...I said that for my ears! I know both of the songs you pointed out, and I don't agree with you on the Alias track. The Sheriff track...I do agree that some VERY high notes are hit in that song, but perhaps I should of clarified that I was speaking more of rock and roll tracks and not cheesy love songs!


John from Boston

I know this is all subjective. Either way though, the vast majority of the high notes in that clip of high notes were from the rock (or at least uptempo) material, not the cheesy love songs--of which both of the hits definitely qualify. Other than the long note at the end of When I'm With You, neither of those hits had the really high notes. Curci said that after the illness, the first song he performed was Alias' More Than Words Can Say, because he could basically sing that in his sleep.

Not trying to say Curci is the better singer, although he is very good. Perry's got that one easy. I'll be the first to admit that Sheriff-era Curci was basically using songs as a springboard for vocal acrobatics, and that he became a much better singer later in Alias and the solo album, when he started singing what was needed for the song--something Perry always did. But, Curci IS the higher rock singer of the two, although granted Perry did more rocking, where Curci did more mid-tempo overall. If Perry could hit those notes (which is possible in the early days), he never tried on record.

[Deb]

The clip of Sheriff reminded me of the singer from Triumph. Magic Power? He hit some high notes too. Rik Emmett.

Triumph - Magic Power (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRDS9AwDF6g

Love that one! Rik definitely had some great pipes too.

[youkeepmewaiting]

I like Jamesons voice alot, but i've never heard a perfect live vocal performance by him, as much as i love his voice he is certainly not one of the best of all time.

Freddy id a great singer, and in my opinion second to Perry but he has alot of ropey live performances.

John Farnham is miles ahead as a singer compared to Jimi, serisouly Farnham is immense.

Russel Watson is a fantastic singer , but he is opera so therefore not counted.

[BobbyinTN]

Mercury was a great singer! I just felt some of there songs were mediocre,and all of Journey's are classic...Hell,even the Journey songs I thought were questionable were good just because of Perry's voice.. Can do isn't a good typical Journey song,but Perry is so good that you listen to it anyhow..How many Queen songs do that,even with Freddy's voice? Hell,I'm not even a real Queen fan except I thought "One Vision" was exceptional and so was Freddy's voice!

I agree with this. While I think Freddie and Steve are incredible, there are more songs of Steve's I listen to more often than those of Freddie. Freddie had strange taste and was a versatile singer, Steve seem to stick with his strengths. I rarely listen to Queen these days, but have Journey and Steve's solo stuff on my iPod all the time.

But the guys had completely different voices and sang in completely different ways. It's like comparing Beverly Sills and Ann Wilson.

However, the fucked up homophobic shit that some of you can't seem to post without, is wrong and degrades the person posting it more than it does the subject of the post.

[msmercury01]

Mercury was a great singer! I just felt some of there songs were mediocre,and all of Journey's are classic...Hell,even the Journey songs I thought were questionable were good just because of Perry's voice.. Can do isn't a good typical Journey song,but Perry is so good that you listen to it anyhow..How many Queen songs do that,even with Freddy's voice? Hell,I'm not even a real Queen fan except I thought "One Vision" was exceptional and so was Freddy's voice!

I agree with this. While I think Freddie and Steve are incredible, there are more songs of Steve's I listen to more often than those of Freddie. Freddie had strange taste and was a versatile singer, Steve seem to stick with his strengths. I rarely listen to Queen these days, but have Journey and Steve's solo stuff on my iPod all the time.

But the guys had completely different voices and sang in completely different ways. It's like comparing Beverly Sills and Ann Wilson.

However, the fucked up homophobic shit that some of you can't seem to post without, is wrong and degrades the person posting it more than it does the subject of the post.

Thanks for that last part there, Bobby. I don't understand the homophobic insults about a very talented man.

[Paul_UK]

If i had anything negative to say about Perry is that sometimes, particularly live, its difficult to determine a word he sings! Sometimes hitting that high note isn't the be all and end all.

[Enigma869]

If i had anything negative to say about Perry is that sometimes, particularly live, its difficult to determine a word he sings! Sometimes hitting that high note isn't the be all and end all.

I don't agree with this, AT ALL! In fact, I think the brilliance of Perry really came down to he wasn't a "one-trick pony". He wasn't just a guy who could hit "big notes". He emoted better than ANY singer I've ever heard. You could almost "feel" the song, as he sang it. I thought the most impressive thing about Perry was the fact that I could always understand the words, regardless of what scale he was singing on!


John from Boston

[Paul_UK]

If i had anything negative to say about Perry is that sometimes, particularly live, its difficult to determine a word he sings! Sometimes hitting that high note isn't the be all and end all.

I don't agree with this, AT ALL! In fact, I think the brilliance of Perry really came down to he wasn't a "one-trick pony". He wasn't just a guy who could hit "big notes". He emoted better than ANY singer I've ever heard. You could almost "feel" the song, as he sang it. I thought the most impressive thing about Perry was the fact that I could always understand the words, regardless of what scale he was singing on!


John from Boston

Oh, dont get me wrong i totally agree with you and i would certainly never in a million years say that Perry was a one trick pony, far from it. However, i do believe that sometimes the pernounciation of what he was singing was sometimes not that clear.

Just my opinion.

[Journey/Survivor]

I like Jamesons voice alot, but i've never heard a perfect live vocal performance by him, as much as i love his voice he is certainly not one of the best of all time.

Freddy id a great singer, and in my opinion second to Perry but he has alot of ropey live performances.

John Farnham is miles ahead as a singer compared to Jimi, serisouly Farnham is immense.

Russel Watson is a fantastic singer , but he is opera so therefore not counted.

I've heard Jimi Jamison have flawless concerts vocaly. Now that he's in his mid to late 50's he will some times strugle a little bit, but he still sounds great most of the time.

A question I have for anyone who doubts that Jamison is one of the greatest singers ever, how much of Jamison's vocals have you heard?

To completely understand how great of a singer he is you have to have listened closely to not only the 4 Survivor albums that he was on, but also his 2 solo albums, his Cobra CD, and his 2 Target albums.

And like I said, I have heard Jamison sing flawlessly live in concert on many occasions, some of which I was at.

And not that I'm saying that this proves anything, but Casey Kasem has Jimi Jamison on his top 10 greatest lead vocalists of all time list.

[Enigma869]

I've heard Jimi Jamison have flawless concerts vocaly. Now that he's in his mid to late 50's he will some times strugle a little bit, but he still sounds great most of the time.

A question I have for anyone who doubts that Jamison is one of the greatest singers ever, how much of Jamison's vocals have you heard?

To completely understand how great of a singer he is you have to have listened closely to not only the 4 Survivor albums that he was on, but also his 2 solo albums, his Cobra CD, and his 2 Target albums.

And like I said, I have heard Jamison sing flawlessly live in concert on many occasions, some of which I was at.

And not that I'm saying that this proves anything, but Casey Kasem has Jimi Jamison on his top 10 greatest lead vocalists of all time list.

Dude...you need to just go play tonsil hockey with Jamison and get it over with! Jesus...We get it already! You think Jimi Jamison is fucking GOD! I NEVER thought I would see a guy turn EVERY thread about a singer on a JOURNEY forum into a Jamison worship thread! For the record, I personally like Jimi Jamison, and actually think the guy is an underrated vocalist. I have an acapella version of Jamison singing "The Search is Over" (a challenging song)on an Orlando radio station, and the guy sounds incredible! That said, you're beating a dead horse, with the endless "Jimi Jamison is the greatest singer, EVER, and if you don't believe me, just ask Casey Kasem" nonsense!


John from Boston

[RedWingFan]

I've heard Jimi Jamison have flawless concerts vocaly. Now that he's in his mid to late 50's he will some times strugle a little bit, but he still sounds great most of the time.

A question I have for anyone who doubts that Jamison is one of the greatest singers ever, how much of Jamison's vocals have you heard?

To completely understand how great of a singer he is you have to have listened closely to not only the 4 Survivor albums that he was on, but also his 2 solo albums, his Cobra CD, and his 2 Target albums.

And like I said, I have heard Jamison sing flawlessly live in concert on many occasions, some of which I was at.

And not that I'm saying that this proves anything, but Casey Kasem has Jimi Jamison on his top 10 greatest lead vocalists of all time list.

Dude...you need to just go play tonsil hockey with Jamison and get it over with! Jesus...We get it already! You think Jimi Jamison is fucking GOD! I NEVER thought I would see a guy turn EVERY thread about a singer on a JOURNEY forum into a Jamison worship thread! For the record, I personally like Jimi Jamison, and actually think the guy is an underrated vocalist. I have an acapella version of Jamison singing "The Search is Over" (a challenging song)on an Orlando radio station, and the guy sounds incredible! That said, you're beating a dead horse, with the endless "Jimi Jamison is the greatest singer, EVER, and if you don't believe me, just ask Casey Kasem" nonsense!


John from Boston


John from Boston

The funny thing is that J.J. is soooo great and he can't even get the band to pay him what they owe him.

[Saint John]

The clip of Sheriff reminded me of the singer from Triumph. Magic Power? He hit some high notes too. Rik Emmett.

Triumph - Magic Power (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRDS9AwDF6g

Love that one! Rik definitely had some great pipes too.

Umm..."has" would be the appropriate term, ma'am. Saw him last year and he rocked. Dude can still bring it.

[finalfight]

The reason I'll always consider Mercury better is hearing Brian May tell the story about Freddie who was riddled with AIDS a few weeks from death, get up to belt out a couple of beautiful lines. Then have to rest to do it all over again. He struggled to record whatever he could up until the last. What's Perry doing? Perry was great. Now he's petting his cat. Both in their prime were great. But this story ranks Mercury higher, always will.

Illness aside Mercury was a lot younger at that point then Perry is now. Perry was the superior vocalist just as an olympic athlete will always be a superior runner to a a special olympian. It's not a matter of motivation, courage or will but of result and Perry's record speaks for itself.

Once again I like them both but Perry is in a league of his own here.

[RedWingFan]

The reason I'll always consider Mercury better is hearing Brian May tell the story about Freddie who was riddled with AIDS a few weeks from death, get up to belt out a couple of beautiful lines. Then have to rest to do it all over again. He struggled to record whatever he could up until the last. What's Perry doing? Perry was great. Now he's petting his cat. Both in their prime were great. But this story ranks Mercury higher, always will.

Illness aside Mercury was a lot younger at that point then Perry is now.

Mercury riddled with aids in '90 or '91 sounded better than Perry in '86. I'd cite the live version of "I'll Be Alright Without You" Love the song. But Perry's voice was shot and sounded terrible. Love the "Someday maybe" adlib at the end though.

[NealIsGod]

The reason I'll always consider Mercury better is hearing Brian May tell the story about Freddie who was riddled with AIDS a few weeks from death, get up to belt out a couple of beautiful lines. Then have to rest to do it all over again. He struggled to record whatever he could up until the last. What's Perry doing? Perry was great. Now he's petting his cat. Both in their prime were great. But this story ranks Mercury higher, always will.

Illness aside Mercury was a lot younger at that point then Perry is now.

Mercury riddled with aids in '90 or '91 sounded better than Perry in '86. I'd cite the live version of "I'll Be Alright Without You" Love the song. But Perry's voice was shot and sounded terrible. Love the "Someday maybe" adlib at the end though.

Damn that's hash.