Mercury and Perry

[Strange Medicine]

And as much as I like Strange Medicine,his intelligence is thinking inside the box..

Hmm? What do you mean?

It's merely an observation: I've never, ever heard Freddie Mercury rival Steve Perry's upper registers, and being a baritone, he certainly doesn't compare in terms of vocal control once you get to the tenor level; even in his prime, Mercury would be strained out the wazoo to begin to sing "Something To Hide", and in a live environment? I personally doubt it (Perry > Mercury, live).

That said, I'm not saying Perry flat out beats Mercury. He can go higher and sing better live. Mercury's covered more versatile material and his range is likely greater.

[RedWingFan]

I wouldn't at all be surprised if there was tuning in there or multiple takes put together, the man was weeks from his death when this album was made.

There was a documentry here in the UK on the making of this album and Freddie would sing 3 lines and would then have to take a seat where he was too weak to stand at the mic. Freddie's art was still at the forefront of his thoughts...leaving something behind for the fans was priority.

The final song he recorded "Mother Love" was recorded just 5 weeks before he died. He didn't actually get to put down the final verse, so Brian sings it on the final cut. Musical taste aside, there's gotta be total respect for that.

I wonder how many other artists would make such efforts in such dark times?

Exactly why I rank him #1 in my book. He had a wonderful voice right til the end. Wish I could have seen that show.

[Saint John]

This should put an end to this ridiculous argument.

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

[RedWingFan]

This should put an end to this ridiculous argument.

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

Dude the fact is Mercury sounded 10 times better on his deathbed than Perry does now.

[Saint John]

This should put an end to this ridiculous argument.

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

Dude the fact is Mercury sounded 10 times better on his deathbed than Perry does now.

This isn't a "death bed" argument. Perry hit and sustained notes Mercury couldn't hit if he had a 14 inch cucumber rammed up his ass.

[RedWingFan]

This should put an end to this ridiculous argument.

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

Dude the fact is Mercury sounded 10 times better on his deathbed than Perry does now.

This isn't a "death bed" argument. Perry hit and sustained notes Mercury couldn't hit if he had a 14 cucumber rammed up his ass.

No but longevity can't be discounted. Perry was great for a few years. Then not only did he lose his voice, but he also lost control of being a part of the band. He fired what many consider one of the best drummers in rock. Mercury and Queen always put the music ahead of any single member. That's why Queen lasted 20 years, where Perry's Journey basically lasted from '78-86. Rolie bailed cuz he couldn't stand the control freak that Perry became. These are all huge parts of being a great front man in a band. Isn't it?

[Enigma869]

This isn't a "death bed" argument. Perry hit and sustained notes Mercury couldn't hit if he had a 14 cucumber rammed up his ass.

Should I be ashamed of myself that I laughed my ass off, after reading that? SJ...your responses are CLASSIC! As I said earlier in this thread, I think Freddie and Perry were two VERY different singers, and it's impossible to compare their voices. I think they were both SUPERB vocalists, but comparing the two is like comparing a Corvette to a S Class Mercedes. They're both great cars, but they are two VERY different cars that give you very different experiences.

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

[chad]

folks, enjoy them both

life is too short

[Deb]

folks, enjoy them both

life is too short

Very true. And thankfully so far it's been a fairly friendly debate.

This should put an end to this ridiculous argument.

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

That was amazing to hear. Gawd, that one from After The Fall almost makes me weak in the knees......like his later vocal tones the best.

[Journey69]

And as much as I like Strange Medicine,his intelligence is thinking inside the box..

Hmm? What do you mean?

It's merely an observation: I've never, ever heard Freddie Mercury rival Steve Perry's upper registers, and being a baritone, he certainly doesn't compare in terms of vocal control once you get to the tenor level; even in his prime, Mercury would be strained out the wazoo to begin to sing "Something To Hide", and in a live environment? I personally doubt it (Perry > Mercury, live).

That said, I'm not saying Perry flat out beats Mercury. He can go higher and sing better live. Mercury's covered more versatile material and his range is likely greater.

What kind of range are you talking? Range of song types or vocal range.. I know your not saying vocal range,then,my little brother,you would look unintelligent...

[Journey69]

This should put an end to this ridiculous argument.

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

Dude the fact is Mercury sounded 10 times better on his deathbed than Perry does now.

This isn't a "death bed" argument. Perry hit and sustained notes Mercury couldn't hit if he had a 14 inch cucumber rammed up his ass.

Was that a homosexual shot? SJ you kill me!

[Journey69]

This isn't a "death bed" argument. Perry hit and sustained notes Mercury couldn't hit if he had a 14 cucumber rammed up his ass.

Should I be ashamed of myself that I laughed my ass off, after reading that? SJ...your responses are CLASSIC! As I said earlier in this thread, I think Freddie and Perry were two VERY different singers, and it's impossible to compare their voices. I think they were both SUPERB vocalists, but comparing the two is like comparing a Corvette to a S Class Mercedes. They're both great cars, but they are two VERY different cars that give you very different experiences.

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

+1 I'm dying over here!

[msmercury01]

To me, Mercury was a better vocalist, better showman and had more talent all the way around. I'm not saying I don't like Perry but hands down I say Mercury.

Who's your avatar? A. Jolie?

And I loved MST3K !

Yes, it's Jolie from the movie Gia. I also loved MST3K. I hated it when it went off the air.

[msmercury01]

Calling "Another One Bites The Dust" disco is ridiculous. As are some of your other classifications. Perry sang that pillow biter under the table. A place I'm sure he frequented a time or two.

What a disgusting and immature thing to say. We are talking about the vocal abilities of a very talented man. You can disagree about his vocal abilities but to drag his personal life into it is a very immature thing to do. Not only that, it's distasteful to speak ill of the dead.

[Strange Medicine]

What kind of range are you talking? Range of song types or vocal range.. I know your not saying vocal range,then,my little brother,you would look unintelligent...

I was referring to vocal range, big brother. The fact that Perry can hit higher notes than Mercury does not - in any way, shape, or form - indicate that he somehow possesses the superior range. It goes both ways. If you listen to the full scope of Queen's material, Mercury's solo projects, and then participate in the debates at digitaldreamdoor, you'll see that Mercury's range is most impressive. He can hit and sustain extremely low notes as well as decently high notes.

[Saint John]

From Perry's inception with Journey until 1986 he never had a bad night. He may be the only singer I've ever heard not have an off night. The guy was simply a brilliant live performer. Granted, the sped up ROR shows and some of the covers they played on that tour weren't everyone's cup of tea, but the man delivered. Mercury on the other hand, was known to struggle through shows and was regarded as a "hit or miss" performer live. That simply cannot be said about Perry. Hell, it's hard to argue whether or not he was hit or miss on one song let alone an entire show!!! Perry wins, Freddy "light in the loafers" Mercury loses. Who's up next versus Perry?

[msmercury01]

You just can't leave his sexuality out of it, can you, SJ? Seems like that is part of your reason for not liking Freddie.

[Strange Medicine]

Mercury was an excellent live performer. As a frontman, his charisma is legendary (moreso than Perry's own). However, Perry was simply the absolute best live rock singer in history.

[Saint John]

You just can't leave his sexuality out of it, can you, SJ? Seems like that is part of your reason for not liking Freddie.

Who said I didn't like him?

[Journey69]

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!

[Joe Vana]

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

[StoneCold]

However, Perry was simply the absolute best live rock singer in history.

Okay, now that's overstating things a bit.

Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svR3iXKT ... re=related

The Who - Love Reign Over Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9WuB_1Vpio

Jeff Buckley - Mojo Pin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQJFunXnz4o

I'm sure there's more but these are a few I thought of. SP was a great singer in his prime but best live in rock? Can't agree with that one.

[StoneCold]

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!

Here's one that doesn't get noted much but Mercury's great in it. Not live though.

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSnrZf3a7rE

This one looks like a live recording in the studio. Either way, Buckley was an amazing singer.

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

[kgdjpubs]

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.

[StoneCold]

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

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.

I like Mercury not for opera but variety of sounds. Perry does have some variety but it came at the expense of his voice.

He sounded great on Frontiers as his voice started to lower. TBF is even lower but still sounds good.

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

[msmercury01]

You just can't leave his sexuality out of it, can you, SJ? Seems like that is part of your reason for not liking Freddie.

Who said I didn't like him?

You did.

[Saint John]

You just can't leave his sexuality out of it, can you, SJ? Seems like that is part of your reason for not liking Freddie.

Who said I didn't like him?

You did.

Where?

[StoneCold]

Uh oh SJ, I foresee her finding the quote and pullin this graphic out pointing up to it (as in "Right There" )

[Saint John]

Uh oh SJ, I foresee her finding the quote and pullin this graphic out pointing up to it (as in "Right There" )

LOL...just because Mercury liked sucking cock and/or having men shove their cranks in his ass doesn't mean I didn't like him. His sexually deviant/disgusting behavior doesn't take away from the fact that he was a wonderful singer and performer.

[msmercury01]

It's the fact that you have to bring up his sexuality in a crude way that makes me believe you don't like him. Why bring up his sexuality when we are discussing his singing?