Queen, Spread Your Wings - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction
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- čas přidán 26. 01. 2024
- #queen #freddiemercury #johndeacon #rogertaylor #brianmay
Well, this was a surprise! In what way? The stylistic “mood” of the piece! But it’s very well-done, and the music plays an important role in the telling of the story!
Here’s the link to the original song by Queen:
• Queen - Spread Your Wi...
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Queen
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YES! As I mentioned in the live premier chat I have been hoping for you to notice how Brian's distinct guitar tone and style are unique from the other guitar players you have heard, and the fact that you also love and appreciate it is a big bonus. This along with your more in-depth appreciation and analysis of various guitar solos recently (at least in the good ones) have been big landmarks in your journey through rock appreciation.😀 I really do like this song, it is a well told story with interesting musical elements. Great catch by Vlad on the Rocky Racoon feel. I really noticed it in the rhythm and sound of the opening vocal melody. Great overall reaction and observations by you Amy.
I’m listening to this again because I missed some points. The chat is too much fun. Brian’s playing is very distinctive. Most of the great players that came out of the sixties are easy to distinguish because of the emphasis on individuality, it’s even more interesting when you consider how limited the range of equipment and guitars there were back then. Maybe those cleaner tones allowed more of the quirks and nuances of the player come through. Brian’s guitar here sounds like a cat in heat,that upper midrange peaky howl.
@@Hartlor_Tayley Yeah there are certain players and bands that I have been able to identify as them on a first listen on the radio, before I even hear a vocal. I have noticed new Neil Young songs from a few bars on the first time I heard them on the radio before he ever starts singing. I have done the same with just hearing the first few bars of a song by The Cult, since their combination of guitar and drums has always sounded very unique to them. Those are just two of several personal examples of where I can do this, and Brian's guitar is another. Part of it with Brian is that he has been using the same custom made guitar for his entire career that he and his dad (an electrical engineer) built when Brian was a teenager, with a unique pickup setup. But it is also his technique and amp choice.
@@LeeKennison that’s true. But even if you gave them all a Les Paul and a Fender Deluxe they would still be distinctive.
Ha!....you would have to be not only tone deaf .. but actually deaf ...to NOT know that May's guitar sound is unique ....!!
....my cat can recognise his guitar sound.......
Part of Brian’s sound can be traced back to his homemade guitar. Which was different at the time with 24 frets (and some funky custom electronics) to many guitars of the day which had 21 frets this gave him a full two octaves per string compared to other players
This one always brings tears. I hope all the Sammy's out there can throw down the broom and break free.
John Deacon (AKA "Deaky") was the silent anchor that gave the Queen ship stability, as well as the living embodiment of the saying "quality over quantity." His musical contributions to the Queen catalogue may be quiet and small but they're seismic in its impact amongst longtime admirers....
He stole the bass line from Rappers Delight.
@@binxbollingYou've got that backwards. Queen came out with this song in 1977. Rappers delight was recorded in 1979.
John Deacon has a talent for putting down bass lines that many want to copy. When you are the best, that tends to happen.
I wouldn't say quiet and small...Another One Bites the Dust...I Want to Break Free for a couple of examples. I just don't want to see John's music entirely put into a category where it doesn't belong. Maybe John was Sammy. He got away and made a huge name for himself with unforgettable songs that are some of Queen's best.
@@JanS1 Don't forget You're My Best Friend. I love that song. That one and Spread Your Wings are my favorite Deaky songs. John was Queen's secret weapon!
I really do not know of any other band where all members wrote multiple hit songs and where all members could masterfully play a variety of instruments. And, three of the four had great voices!
There is no other band like Queen.
“Sammy” is a young man who dreams of bigger things than his current situation.
“The Boss”, owner of The Emerald Bar, is constantly talking down to Sammy, saying he should just be happy with his humble job and accept his fate. (The Boss’s negging is his attempt to keep Sammy underpaid and under his thumb.) This constant criticism is the source of the darkness of the body of the song.
But still Sammy dreams of his ambitions to “fly away” from suffocating, safe expectations, and to bring to life the man he’s truly meant to be.
In the end, he pulls himself together and leaves behind the Boss and the Emerald Bar, off to fly free and chase his dreams.
All in all, I view this song as POSITIVE - Sammy didn’t bend and break to the naysayers.
If you look at John Deacon’s life - he grew up in Oadby (a suburb/bedroom community near to Leicester, England in the Midlands). He was a “nerd” - a very quiet, rather subdued and shy Honours student with a very protective mum (having lost his father at 11 in a very sudden death). He had only a few real friends, the boys in his hometown band The Opposition.
Most everybody expected John to get his Electronics degree in London, then come back to Oadby to open an electronics shop or something…
While his boyhood bandmates guessed he would end up doing “something more” than that, they never guessed he’d end up loving London and staying there. And even if he did, NOBODY guessed that John would end up becoming a member of one of the most famous and successful bands in the world with millions of devoted fans.
I’m not saying John *is* Sammy - but certainly we all have people in our lives that try to hold back our own inner Sammy… whether it’s an unappreciative Boss, or a Mum who just wants you to have a steady job with a safe income, or a so-called “friend” who tries to “give you a reality check”.
In the end, the song IS Victorious and Uplifting. Sammy went ahead and spread his wings and is flying away to find his destiny - the courage to make the attempt alone *is* a win, when weighed against the pressure on him to life a dull, safe life instead.
John Deacon is a multi-multi-millionaire. Spread Your Wings is an uplifting song in my opinion.
The acoustic guitar on this song was actually John Deacon playing.
Brian's often said that John was as good a rhythm guitarist as you'd find anywhere. His work on Staying Power is jaw-dropping.
It’s one of Queen’s classic songs and it’s very uplifting to my ears in both the lyrics and tone. The highlight for me is Freddie’s raw and passionate delivery. You try singing this song and you will know what I mean. Great song.
Absolutely love Brian's contribution to the song and his simple but gorgeous and touching solo at the end.
Great example of "Less is More".
Gives me goosebumps each time.
I have loved this song from the first time I heard it upon its release. I always felt like I was being encouraged to look for my own strength to soar. Freddie's vocal comes through as absolutely loving singing this song. It's a very special part of Queen's music.
Perfectly put!
Freddie shouted, rather than sang this song all the way through, about right for a power ballard
John certainly wasn‘t the rockstar type person. He kind of was an accidental rockstar if you will. He joined a band that he wanted to play in on weekends while doing his regular job and then that band got a bit bigger than he expected. He‘s also been with his childhood love since Veronica since 1971 (married since 1975) and they‘ve got six children.
And still live in their first house they bought. ❤
One of my all time favorites.
I loved listening to this song as a kid and really imagined Sammy gloomilly sweeping up at the Emerald Bar wishing he could follow his dreams instead. I was sure that he evetually went onto better things. Then years later my first job was sweeping up in a warehouse. I think that song helped instill the belief in me that I could do better and just had to get off my arse and make things happen. It took a while but I still remember hanging up my work overalls and walking out of there without anything new lined up. I never looked back! 😉
I adore this song. John Deacon became such a great songwriter and Freddie Mercury sang his heart out for this one. He made it a fascinating and uplifting story. I listen to this one over and over. I can understand the Rocky Racoon comparison. That was a song my dad sang to my sisters and I when we were little ones. All these guys created such magical music. Thanks for your analysis! As always I adore your insights! ❤ Listening makes me want to spread my little wings and follow my passions. So inspiring - you’re right!
Wasn't it Freddie who said that he found John's songs particularly nice to sing along?
Yes, music from Queen is fantastic. Inspiring, enjoyable,I think is the best group in the world. When Freddie was alive.
The best song from Deacon !!!
Don`t forget " My melanclolyc Blues" It`s ...different:)
Yes! I really hope that Vlad won't let Amy miss that song!
She did not forget it!!!
I love when Amy adds her own flavor to it when she plays her harp...
Yeah, you are right: A bit of a Rocky Raccoon vibe to it. I also with you about John Deacon being very level-headed. He reminded me of George, and his own role within The Beatles:
Standing aside, quietly, playing his bass unpretentiously and unassumingly yet, without his contributions Queen would have been an altogether different band. He had a down-to-earth, realistic view about himself within the band, as well as about his personal finances.
Spread You Wings! Never let anyone tell you, "YOU CAN'T ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS!".
John was a soul boy. Not a rocker. Without that Queen wouldn't have been Queen. He was the essential ingredient for their popularity. Bri was the head. Roger was the body. Freddie was the heart. John was the soul.
I know (and you mentioned as well), that this song is based on John's personal experiences, but I feel that the lyrics could also have been written about Freddie, who had his own difficulties even in his youth. And that's why I think, Freddie sang it by this raw emotional way.
I agree. Also, do you know what God had little wings? 😉
@@HelenaDax Mercury! 😉
I remember reading a review of the album when it was released (can't remember the publication but it would have been Creem , Hit Parader, NME or Melody Maker) and in it the writer wrote that John had mentioned that Freddie was part of the inspiration behind the lyrics.
Don't let anyone step on your dreams. It is better to try and fail than never have tried at all.
Who knows?
You just might succeed.
It took a long time for me to figure that out.
Great song! But every song on that album is great 😊
BBC live session 1977 is the best version of this song , from far . It's worth listening to, because the ending it's completely changed, compared to the studio version.
100% agree.
That's how they would do it on stage with the 'extended doubletime" jamming at the end.
Thanks for the tip . Just listened to it , it is , brilliant!
I think Deaky was ( is ) an empath. He loved Freddie… thought of Freddie as a protective big brother. He knew Freddie was the only one who should sing this song ( actually ALL his songs… he said in an interview that when he wrote it was Freddie’s voice he had in his head ) I suppose I’m going off on a tangent by saying when Freddie died Deaky said without Freddie there was no Queen and then he basically retired. There was darkness and some sadness here ( Deaky and Freddie ) Also I wouldn’t be surprised if Freddie added … spread your ‘ little’ wings and fly away 😊 if Freddie just went with it Deaky would love it 🥰✌🏼 And yes… when Brian comes in his guitar sings with Freddie .Thank you Amy 🌷 Please don’t let Vlad skip ‘ My melancholy blues’ … Freddie all the way.
Second “My Melancholy Blues”
John and Freddie had the same outlook on music, especially when it came to disco/funk, unlike Taylor and May who felt more comfortable in the Hendrix/Baker rock genre
I think you are spot on! Well let's go a little further shall we...
Just think of it like this: What if this song is semi-autobiographic...
Sammy=John...
He struggles for a while when he joint Queen. Didn't know whether this would go anywhere, full of doubt...
After a while he made up his mind, this could be my last chance to make it in the music industrie.
His continuing support he received from Freddie pulled him across the line to really make an effort in this band called Queen...
Well I guess you know what I am meaning by now...
We definitely need a "Another Queen 50, the deep cuts" after the first 50, as all the albums have just so much more to offer.
Er ....there are OTHER bands, y'know.....
....Amy is a rock virgin.....she needs exposure to more than the Queen Superfan Club......!!
She's doing that, too. There simply is no problem. :) @@andymccabe6712
@@andymccabe6712 Queen started her journey, we’ve been here since “Love of My Life”. You’re welcome.
It’s easy to believe this is somewhat autobiographical given John’s background.
Brian always says of the electric guitar, “I just like the noise of it.” The story of his Red Special is a story in itself. Brian is always melodic.
This is one of my favorite vocals from Freddie.
This was the first Queen song I remember listening to on loop. As a 12 year old, I guess it's teenage angst relatable. I feel it's about potential, and breaking free from chains.
great breakdown... love this song ! The other songs on this album like Too Late & My Melancholy Blues are great too
By the way, John Deacon features here on acoustic guitar as well.
Really looking forward to it! This album has so many excellent songs.
It's an uplifting song in my mind (and ears)... One of my fav's from them.
Musicologist Nick Braae describes the structure of "Spread Your Wings" as being somewhat unusual, in that after the initial verse and refrain centered on the key of D major, there is a bridge centered on the key of B minor, followed by an instrumental bridge that starts moving back to D major for the next verse-refrain pair. Deacon used this double-bridge strategy in several other songs including "You And I" and "Need Your Loving Tonight".
The track features Freddie Mercury on piano and vocals, Brian May on electric guitar, Roger Taylor on drums and John Deacon on bass and acoustic guitars. Thank you.
Im just floating with the song
My favourite song!!
33:12 - I'm glad you also noticed the irony of the juxtaposition of "no ambition" and "always dreaming". :)
The Sammy in the story probably enjoyed partaking in that very popular herbal substance that people like to put in their pipes. Which relates to another Sammy, when Sammy Hagar sings of this dilemma in his song "High Hopes", but instead of the word dreaming he refers to it as inspiration.😉(Edit: I just went back and listened to this song for the first time in many years. He actually does use the word dream in the opening line, "Another dream goes up in smoke.")
I have around 160 Queen songs on CZcams playlist and Spread your wings is always the first song I click to play first then shuffle all the rest 😅... what a beautiful track :voice, message, instrumentation, melody, tone and emotion.
The first line ‘Sammy was low’ sad from the start.
Queens advice hotline starts with Good company , follows with Tie your mother Down, Spread Your Wings , If you can't beat them, Play the Game, Don't try suicide, Don't lose your head and ends nicely with Don't try so Hard. All sage advice for Queen fans.
Jealousy: "Oh how wrong can you be..."
You really bring so much to these songs and hear many things I missed, it’s a real pleasure to learn and share all these songs. Thank you
I remember when this came out, I must have been around ten. This was my favorite song on this classic album. I stop started it to write down the lyrics. I haven't heard this song in 20 years and still know them all.
Wonderful!
I bought this record 1978 wgen i was ten. Everybody talked about 'We will rock you' and 'We are the champions'. But the second side is one of its kind. 'Its late', 'Sheer heard attack', 'My melancholy blue' and - of course - 'Spread your wings' brought me down on my knees - and they are still doing so...great reaction. Keep on rocking!
Gosh darn it honey ( Amy ) you sounded like my momma who was born and raised in Memphis. ☺️😊
I always imagine the boss sees himself in Sammy, and that his dreams didn't come to fruition, so he's advising Sammy to settle for the easy path, and save himself the pain. However, that is a lesson every dreamer needs to learn for themselves, unless they succeed.
POINT
Suggesting Funeral for a Friend, by Elton John. Kind of a long one but one of my faves. Enjoying all the videos, and the Queen series and the Wall are particularly awesome.
A great hidden pearl in Queen's discography.
Some others are "White Queen (as it began)", "Teo Toriatte" and "The Prophet's Song".
Thank you very much for the review of one of my favorite Queen song. I recommend a visualisation with drawings of this song made by someone korean on youtube, just search: 삽화와 함께 듣는 Spread Your Wings
Your eyes take my breath away ❤
I’ve loved this song since 1978, and it would be on my personal Queen greatest hits list.
I love the phase pedal on the outro, it really soars
I'm so glad I've found this series - a wonderful analysis, the joy of analysing each component, and then enjoying it as a whole too
The live version of this on the live killers album is my favorite live song ever.
Thank you Amy❤ I can vaguely remember this song from 50 years ago...... somehow I still remember the lyrics! I love all your reactions from Pennsylvania
Maybe Sammy is a character from the alternate universe of Piano Man, maybe he started sweeping and ended up playing piano, spread Your Wings is a song that didn't come to a time in this alternate reality.
The "first person" discussion is really interesting. Obviously the chorus is third person... spread *your* wings, but you can talk to yourself, and this really feels like someone telling themselves *you* can do this.
But it makes it so powerful to listen to, if you're going through a bad time. Freddie is telling us we can do it, we can spread our wings.
I am such a big fan of Brian May. He is a magical combination consisting of relentless musicality combined with humility and kindness. The way he plays his beloved 'Red Special' with sixpence coins in stead of picks with the Vox amps is amazing. I have been fortunate enough to experience him performing up close and personal with Queen and Adam Lambert twice now. The amount of finesse and control he demonstrates is out of this world. When he is playing his guitar is part of his body. It is more like a voice to him than an instrument.
Easily in my top favorite five Queen songs ever so underrated doesn’t get nearly as much AirPlay ever
The live version is mandatory despite the poor quality of that recording. As so many other Queen songs, it has a great participation of the audience.
14:56 : Thank you, Amy for creating my new cell phone ringtone for powerfull incoming Messages. 😉
Another great reaction. I love this song since I was 12, which is quite a time ago - and I still love it.
Greetings from northern Germany ♥️🇩🇪
John Deacon originally wrote this song, yes. To me this song always sounds like an example of the members bringing their talents together to… make Johns Deacons voluntary and elected retirement - what it was. Which fits with the lyrics of the song. He had to look after himself, like the Emerald Bar employee in his song. With less democratic and thoughtful teammates, bandmates I mean, it could have worked out very differently.
Well a lot of help from Freddie!
As he said he loved singing Johns songs
Brian and Roger didnt like John style
Brian said Freddie fought for his songs more than john did!
@@bluebell3720Brian and Roger did like John’s style then, they might not have like it that much in the 80s.
@@bluebell3720 Back Chat!
Oh my god. Never looked at it that way. Freddie said, “come on, honey.. fly with me” 😢😢😢
Decades ago I fell in love with this song…
Thanks Amy for your great reactions. Through many of your Queen reactions I come across their songs the first time since almost 40 years. All the original vinyls from the 70´s are still in the cabinet, but I kind of "forgot" about them over the years.
Most surprising that I still know every single note, every drum beat or break. Keep on rocking!
Love this song ❤
The Singles B-Side 'Sheer Heart Attack' would be an interesting reaction...🙂
Omg this is the best - you literally turned this song into a movie - you are the absolute best ever ❤
You're ok at not just sticking to the bread and butter of other commentators ❤
Yeah, the melody resembles Rocky Raccoon as in McCartney's verse, "Her name was Magill. And she called herself Lil. But everyone knew her as Nancy."
One of my favourite Queen songs. And you offer a gorgeous perception of it. It is indeed a dark song, suggesting hope at the end. Freddie's voice is occasionally tired and weak in this recording which fits Sammy's narrative as he sweeps the bar.
Thanks, V - the video filmed in Roger's garden is great... also, yes, a bit "depressing" at first.. but at the end it really SOARS (the "awakening"!) ... lol
A lovely John Deacon track, the story really touches you, Brian's guitar interplay at the end, the cordial touches in the solo is great! Thank you!
Please after listening the studio version, also listen to live killers one
I think that the one they recorded for BBC is the best
@@konradtomala3580 yes, it's really raw and beautiful. I prefer the killers version though,because of crowd "backing vocals"
John Deacon has a 1st class degree in electrical engineering so unsurprisingly grounded :-).
aaaah haha - you boke the QUEEN internet - kudos 2u
broke lol
I MISS OUR FREDDIE MERCURY! REST IN PEACE! ❤
one of my favourite Queen songs! Video in Central park in the snow!
Definite fave.
Your mention of Brian May’s unique guitar tone brought to mind a one-off solo record he did with Eddie Van Halen called Starfleet Project. Eddie also has an unmistakable tone. The record has a lot of call and response between the two musical titans. It’s always gloriously obvious who is taking their turn. You would love it.
I love the piano intro in the alternate version
Brian’s sound mainly came from the Deacy Amp…he stated he used it frequently on their studio work..John was and is a genius ❤
John is a family man. John has been married to the same woman since the mid 70s and has 6 children. He is shy and never liked the limelight, Freddie helped him throughout his career, until Freddie died, then John retired a few years later. The song is very good, follow your dreams and ignore the naysayers. Great reaction.
Really enjoyed this reaction... as usual. I often wonder, when listening to your reactions, did you ever hear that interview where Freddie's answer to a question was :- "I am just a musical prostitute" I think he meant he would sing in whatever style was needed at that moment. I am only mentioning it because it would maybe answer some of your musing questions about the group and their music.
I believe he meant he does all the work while the record labels take all the money.
Very good . Havent thougt that way
The best lyric is the at the end: "Come on honey, Fly with me"
Brian's outro guitar is note choice perfection; you can picture a car with Sammy and his "honey" disappearing into the distance.
My favorite Queen song and Blind Guardian does a great cover of this.
le 1er album de rock que j'ai acheté avec mes sous, j'avais 14 ans c'est News of the world par queen. L'album est plombé par les 2 énormes hits que sont We will rock you et We are the champions alors que que les 2 perles sont It's Late et Spread your wings let's rock !!!!
9:22 "Queen is so uplifting"
Oh, yeah!
on the stability of the attitude. Remember, unlike most rock bands, these were people (other than Freddy) had non-show professions.
Queen don't have many narrative songs in their ouvre, but this is terrific example of one. I love that fluted tonality to Brian's guitar. Just so evocative. It's a tone he usef for an album or two, then moved on. I reckon that after a while, you could excise a piece of one of Brian's solos and place the song's time of origin within a year either way more often than not. What I've always found mosts fascinating is that it's quite distinct not having any backing vocals. (Off the top of my head, I don't think this occurs again until 'Bijou' on Innuendo, their penultimate album. Really spotlights the story and emotional reality of the lyric. I've always thought that Freddie had to really push his voice to hit the highest notes, and whilst this isn't uncommon for him in Queen songs, what IS uncommon is the rawness of the tone that he's used. He could easily (or eventually) have recorded takes where he landed the notes more cleanly, but the grit and effort in the timbre serves the song. That's a great lesson for all singers: serve the band and the song rather than yourself.
The song, kinda like Virgin Rock, fledgling steps at first , and then boom, off you take, higher ,brighter, further, faster- unstoppable.- Last words of the song- fly with me- us virgin rockers go - you bet
There is a huge difference between being rich and acting rich.
I love this song especially the guitar solo in the end of the song but the strong point is the lyric.
News of the World is kind of a dark album. The songs (not all but most) are moodier and more ayxsty. Spread your Wings always struck me as a piece that kind of strips down Queen down to their individual talents without over production.
Another call for the song "Travel" by The Gathering, the TG25 live version. "I wish you knew your music was to stay forever".
The Live Killers has a few more embellishments by Freddie in his voice and piano. He sings certain lines, and plays certain piano phrases much more dramatic. You may like it more as I do.
This analysis is brilliant
Still waiting for Black Sabbath on this channel. N.I.B. perhaps? P s. So glad this song was chosen, one of my low key favourites of the band, very deep.
Great reaction
Nice one.
I personally like the version of Blind Guardian. Very different with Hansis voice
❤ I hope Vlad will choose My melancholy blues from this record ❤ I love this song so very much 😍
Freddie’s voice is the ultimate high point in the song.
Usually a long fadeout seems to me like an arbitrary choice (though not always), like the band didn’t know how to bring the song to a stop and opted not to and simply slowly lowered the volume to nil. But your interpretation of the end - that his little wings are giving him lift - imply that the fadeout has more to do with distance. The song gets softer the further away his wings take him from the listener.