Freddie Mercury Tribute: Queen 2 (Black Side) Reaction & Analysis | The Daily Doug Episode 694
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- čas přidán 23. 11. 2023
- #queen #freddiemercury
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to all of side 2...the black side...of Queen 2. As this video goes live, today is the 32nd anniversary of Freddie's death. And, as I was deciding what song(s) from Queen to review next on the channel, I decided to take this anniversary as an opportunity to listen to a classic Queen album side that features all songs written by Freddie Mercury. We're listening to Ogre Battle, The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke, Nevermore, The March of the Black Queen, Funny How Love Is, and Seven Seas of Rhye. Enjoy!
Reference Video: • Queen II (1974)
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Queen II is one of the most Underrated Albums in Rock! How underrated?? This is one of the band's highest rated albums by fans, influenced many artists in Rock and Metal, and yet it was their least selling studio album, even below the Flash Gordon soundtrack! How that can be is beyond me as this is my 2nd favourite album of all time! Amazing songs throughout!!!
What's your nr 1 favourite? Just curious :)
Además. El el álbum desde el punto de vista musical, más s complejo, difícil y virtuoso.
Freddie Mercury was and still is the undisputed master of musicianship and will be until the sun sets for the last time in this world.
"Black side" of Queen II is likely my favourite "side" in all of rock music, bar none. I may like other albums better, but that set of songs together is such a treat, unbeatable for me. Definitely one of my desert island discs.
And don't forget, this was approximately 50 years ago!!!
Queen I & II are master prog albums. These were the first two albums I ever got on my own, it was 1975 l, I talked my mom into buying them for me, but it was my choice. I fell in love with rock and roll!
I stole Queen II from my sister in 74. Then bought their first album a week later. Imho, these two and Sheer Heart Attack were their best.
March Of The Black Queen is one of my favorite Queen songs and this album is just fantastic from start to finish.
There can be only one! QUEEN II is a masterpiece.
...what's easy to forget with this is that it was recorded in 1974 and is a masterpiece....to this day my favourite Queen album....
"Oh I do like to be beside the seaside" is embedded in the the British psyche.
Not only is it used to close Queen's second album but it is used to open their third.
This is queens finest album
I truly can't rank the ones I consider top-tier. For example, I've just heard A Night At The Opera a tad too much, but I'd say while Queen II has a bit more of a "weirdness" factor, A Night At The Opera is a bit better produced (even after remasters). A Day At The Races is on that top-tier shelf for me as well, and so is Innuendo. But you're probably right, and if I could choose only one album to listen to for the rest of my life, I might end up selecting this one, too. Or A Day At The Races. Or Innuendo. Or what the heck: Opera.
Queen II has always been my favorite Queen album, and one of my all-time favorite albums.
Mine too, mate! :) I agree :)
The Fairy Feller lyrics actually describe the painting - all the people can be found in it, if you look at it long enough! I have a replica on my wall, and spent hours looking for all the details 🤓
As a lifelong Queen fan (54 now) courtesy of my dad, it's been a blast to see you discover an old school album of theirs. You've already responded to me crowing about seeing them 6 times, but I'm bloody blessed cos they were the best...
march of the black queen is QUEEN at its absolute best!!!!!!
Oh I'm setting my alarm click, my beautiful Farrokh, my favorite Queen song is March of the black Queen...... enjoy you all!!!! Warm hug from a stranger from the Netherlands ❤
March of the Black Queen has been my all time favorite song since 1975!
?
He didn't like being called that
Queen II is a truly amazing album. I've been a huge Queen fan since 75, and this has always been right up there as one of my favourite Queen albums. And Side Black is an amazing showcase of Freddie's writing talent. Great reacton!
I think this is one of my earliest and most listened to albums. I sometimes think the Universe only existed so Freddie could happen.
Hands down my favourite Queen album, absolutely needs more love
Lifelong Queen fan here, Queen II is a magic album and personally a gateway to Prog. Their best in my humble opinion. Great reaction as always Doug !
This is an amazing record. Side Black was and continues to be a favorite all these decades later.
The 1st album was an intro to the band, this one was a foreshadowing of things to come on, what I believe, are 3 of there best records "A Day at the Races", "A Night at the Opera" and "News of the World".
Freddie had learned a lot about multi tracking, overdubs switching channels to get what he wanted on Queen II.
It was a constant theme of the band that they would go where they wanted, which probably contributed to their grating relationship with the critics, which to their credit didn't seem to affect them enough to damage their desire for authenticity. Even when their material approached commercial it was still clearly them and their roots always shone through, something for which I had a wealth of respect.
I'm 61 and first got into Queen from Sheer Heart Attack, the album after this one. Queen II .... Queen at their heaviest!
I didn't get to see them live until 1980, but was lucky to see them live four times - with Freddie of course.
Thank you for your great reaction. I also love the yellow jacket of Freddie. After 32 yests without Freddie,,, he is very much alive in his music and in our hearts. The greatest frontman and no one can replace him. A true gem! LEGEND! Nothing compares. Love Freddie and Queen forever! ♥️👑👑🎹🎼🎶♥️
I actually bought this album when it came out based on the album cover. I was like 14 and it blew my mind. It's interesting the mutual respect that Ritchie Blackmore and Brian May have for each other. I think that's a telling situation of the two players writing music and playing bands that had an impact on the future.
Seven Seas of Rhye - the first queen single that I bought two days after they first played it on UK TV. I still have it in my collection. And yes, we Brits love our traditional sing-alongs - 🎤 *Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside...* 🎤🥁🪕🎺
i blasted this in my car constantly when others were listening to 'another one bites the dust'... it was like it was made only for me...
@Tone11111, I can relate to that
this was wonderful to hear it all together and to watch your excitement. Thank you. RIP - Freddie Mercury! No one can take his place.
One of my absolute favourite sides of Queen. King Freddie on fire 🔥
This was the first Queen album that I listened to over and over and over and over. Its inspired me so much. The first 4 track I got I filled up making little guitar quartets. Brian Mays creativity is amazing. The whole band is amazing.
Ogre Battle opening: Mercury Retrograde. Get it? Great fun listening to this with you, Doc. I was 10 when that record came out. As long as I live, I'll never forget opening that gatefold and seeing that glorious shot of them all in white. It was all over. I was 10. I'll be 60 next year. I'll never forget where I was 32 years ago. Long live Freddie. Long live Queen.
Hi Doug
I know this is a bit of an old clip,would feature in but I suspect the “I do like to be beside the seaside” might have been a nod to the track “Seaside Rendezvous” from the Night at the Opera album, and Brighton Rock”, which was later to be on their third album “Sheer Heart Attack”
Thankyou for continuing to showcase the band,,I have been a huge fan since their “Smile” days. I have been fortunate to see them live at both ends of their time with Freddie, in 1975, and 1986. Would love to hear what you make of the “White Side” of Q2!
Long time Queen fan. This is an excellent side of music. I do cherish this album, as you so insightfully mention. I saw the Dadd painting when I was at the Tate in 1985. Busy is indeed the perfect adjective for both song and delightful painting. I thought while I was looking over the painting, "I wonder how many times Freddie has stood here looking at this." What a great find. I'm happy you enjoyed Side Black. It is so much fun. 35:45 35:45
I took my then gf to see the painting many years ago
Still amazes me that they did one the most complex rock albums ever in their 2nd recording, instead going for a more commercial one
It's very cool to see musical analysis from someone who is not stuffy. I loved every puzzled look and every "what?" because early Queen provided a lot of those moments! Fairy Feller's especially, a lot of stuff packed into such a short piece. Love it.
Fascinating to me how great bands and songwriters mature over time. I love how Queen started with their first two albums in the realm of fantasy metal sometimes, pure hard rock sometimes, and the occasional love ballad. Much like Led Zeppelin's journey from almost exclusively heavy blues to slowly incorporating pop hooks, Queen's beginnings didn't really prepare the listener for what was to come. I find similar arcs in some other great songwriters, such as Paul Simon relying heavily on his musicianship and folk roots, copying some other musicians because their guitar skills were what he admired, but then growing as his own artist and coming to rely on other musicians in the production process and letting the lyrics speak for themselves. Springsteen from his first to his third albums found his inner poet as he found complexity, eventually coming back to simpler songs with more mature lyrics. Billy Joel started out with all hooks and piano tricks and "clever" lyrics, went through more phases than almost anyone trying to understand his own roots, but finding the occasional diamond in the rough. Don Henley with his country rock roots also eventually found his mature lyricist and the beauty of simplicity. I often wonder what would have happened to Freddie Mercury's songwriting skills as he got older. He lived a little too hard and fast, all anger and resentment at the way he was treated, and yet his best work came as he resigned himself to his life and eventually to his impending death. He was fortunate to have found support in some of the best musicians around, and yet it wasn't always what he wanted. His is a difficult story, certainly understandable on a superficial level, but really relatable to no one else. A very unique life and enormous talent.
You are wrong. Freddie was not driven by anger or resentment. Didn't like the music press, but wrote and performed his music, and lived his life, positively.
@@grande-bretagnenilpoints8912 I do agree, @scottrbloom does a great job of looking at these songwriters and their journeys through song writing. Freddie Mercury did have his struggles, insecurities and problems like everyone. However, he loved life. He was quite a happy person generally. That makes him even more unique, musical geniuses are usually very depressed with dark lives. Not, Freddy. Which is why generally Queen's music are very uplifting and it usually makes you feel quite happy and good. That is truly an art. When you are young you relate to angst and anger. As you become older it is easier to relate to the beauty of life, because it is so rare. You just don't often find complex music that is also very uplifting, and sometimes just plainly beautiful.
Funny How Love Is was recorded as a kind of a tribute to Phil Spector's wall of sound technique.
Black Side is probably the best collection of music Queen put out, combining tons of musical harmony complexity with dense and fun pop hooks in a way they rarely were ever able to again, and indeed many bands simply have never done. Still a master stroke decades later.
excellent !!! brilliant !!! TIMELESS !!! RIP F M ...
Ive been a Queen fan since high school and I'm now 62, and i appreciate them even more now that i am better able to understand their vast talents. Thank you for sharing this today
Ogre Battle begins with musical palindrome, that is how the transition from backward to forward is made so smoothly
このアルバムを取り上げてくれてとっても嬉しいです！なかでも最も好きなものです❤❤❤そして今聴いても感動は色褪せません、neba-moaに涙が溢れます
Thanx so much Doug for the reaction and analysis to this masterpiece from Queen. This was my introduction to Queen back in my misspent youth!! One of my best friends played me The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke and then the rest of Side Black and then Side White. It is to this day, some 50 years later my fave Queen album and in my opinion, shows that A Night At The Opera was not a fluke or one off. I can't wait for you to react and analyze Side White of Queen Two!
This is not easy listening. This is the most amazing music I have ever known. I think this album is quite important as an inspiration to many a later artist we now love. There has even been 1, a single cover, that does this justice. And that was the fairy fellers ms covered by Mike Mills of Toehider, and that is genious 50 years apart.
The first two albums Queen hooked me, I thought they were extraordinary, I still do. They stretched music to the outer limits, especially in a time with limited technology, they used everything possible to make amazing music, no band was as unique as Queen, genius fearless music. Great reaction
This whole album is a blast...from.beggining to the end, ftom father to son to seven seas of rhye...so much things happening simunstaneosly, epic and overwhelming...was their creative peak
One of your BEST selections Doub: QUEEN 2 is my favorite queen album.I bought it the day it was released in 72, I think. . it's the first thing I ever heard from them.. Side BLACK is a master piece.. This is the album that made me fall in love with Freddie and Queen-- You have to listen to this straight thru with out any pauses to get the full feel of this OPUS
Can’t wait to hear your next QUEEN album choice !!!
Perhaps ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ ?!?!
Thanks Doug😊
For me, going back through Queens discography, (after truly beginning to enjoy their music, sometime around A kind of magic,) I found Queen I to be like a lot of first albums, interesting, good in parts, but very rough around the edges. QUEEN iI on the other hand was an instant like for me, recognisably the Queen sound I was familiar with, even if it was still a little different, not quite as polished, mayba still a little hurried, but definitely Queen.
Great reactions man! I love the way you did this 👑🔥
Awesome reaction! Queen II is an incredible album, one the best in my opinion. Queen just wasn't well known when this album was released, that is basically the problem. You should listen to Freddie Mercury's Barcelona album, that album is a late masterpiece from Freddie Mercury.
PLEASE do "The Millionaire Waltz" by Queen. You will NOT regret listening to it. It's essentially a part 2 to Bohemian Rhapsody and you will definitely appreciate it.
The intro of Ogre Battle is the outro played backwards.
One of the greatest album sides ever. My favorite Queen album. Always will be jealous of my brother who saw them live in the 70’s and said they opened the show with Ogre Battle! Could you imagine??
I still remember exactly where I was when I heard that Freddie had died. There's not many people who have that effect on you. I think Seven Seas was their first commercially successful single?
Yes it was. They did release Keep Yourself Alive from 1st LP. But I don't remember it getting any airplay, and def not on Top of the Pops (the UK TV pop show).
Their performance at the Band Aid concert was phenomenal !
I still remember buying this back in 1974. And Queen II is still my favourite Queen album and I do prefer this era of Queen compared to the later years.
Great reaction video thanks.
This is an amazing album released in March 1974…greatings from the netherlands..love your comments!
Queen's greatest albums for me, are ALL, hehe but, this one, Sheer Heart Attack, and Jazz... are my personal present favs... cheers!
I was 16 yesterday old when i bought this , I'm old now but this album changed me somehow
Maybe their best album, but "A Night At The Opera" saved them, because they never made any money, it all went to their then manager....so when they fired him and got a new manager, the song "Death on two legs" about their former manager was the opener. Ha....love that kind of humour!
Thanks for posting and I love your reaction(s)!
I think there is a lot of BeachBoys' "I can hear music" in "Funny how love is" :-) Indeed, they recorded that track before Queen 1st was released. I suppose Freddie loved that kind of song and wanted to have Queen song like that one. BTW Queen II, expecually the B side is my favourite "moment" of 70s' Queen career. I can listen again and again and again...
My favourite album ever
I miss more musical analysis, not just reaction, which is nice :) But I guess there's so much one ha to relate to. Perhaps one video for each song!!?!? Hhahahaaa.. Thanks /// And those lyrics, sheer poetry! What a real genius, Freddie Mercury!
Queen II is a masterpiece. Their first three albums were the best.
There is a vid on CZcams posted by Toni Valdívia of The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke by Queen. It has lyrics & the accompanying vid flicks/zooms into each part of the painting in sync to the lyrics.
The outro to Seven Seas of Rhye fades into the first track on their next album "Brighton Rock"
I enjoyed your reaction Doug, it's always good to see you really getting into music that excites you. I saw newly emerging Queen support Mott the Hoople in '73 at Hammersmith Odeon and was surprised by something unexpected. I wasn't sure what I felt that evening but something stuck and I later listened to Queen 1 in a secondhand records store and promptly bought it. I loved it and when Queen 2 came out I bought it instantly. Both albums were works of rock genius, so different and innovative. Then the third album came out and I automatically bought that. But I couldn't see a development, more a commercial drift under way. Thereafter I lost interest shunning the 'catchy' songs that drew in the requisite mass audience. Such a shame they chose that course but I'll treasure Queen 1 and 2 forever from the band that was powerful, inventive and exciting, the 2 albums still blow me away. Apologies to dyed in the wool fans but that's my opinion 😂
Footnote, the last album before Freddie's passing was very good in its way.
In a B side of QUEEN II there's all geniality of greatest Freddie Mercury. Sorry for my English I m huge Italian fan
The Red Special Brian May's guitar was handmade by his dad and himself that explains many of the interesting rifts and tone in their songs.
The guitar progression at the beginning played backwards is exactly the same as it is at the end played forwards.
Nevermore is one of their finest songs
I like most of their albums but the early ones are the best. Queen was one of the first bands I fell in love with while growing up, thanks to my father often playing A Night at the Opera.
Yes, we cherry this a lot! ❤
Seven Seas Of Rhye is a landmark song in the career of Queen as this was the first song they performed live on Top Of the Pops in 1973. As I recall they were a late replacement for another group that didn't turn up. I cannot remember who that was for sure but I think it may even of been The Rolling Stones, but I stand to be corrected on that. It was their current single, and the appearance gave them their first UK hit peaking at number 10. It was a performance I remember to this day, despite being just 13 years old at the time, because I clearly remember saying to my parents "Well they won't be around long". Not because it wasn't a great song but because they were quite obviously a bunch of long haired druggies!!!!!! How wrong was I. There is a video up on CZcams claiming to be their first appearance on TOTP but it most definitely isn't the one I remember. I understand that one was erased long ago.
A fantastic song. A fantastic side. A fantastic Album. A fantastic band.
Thank you for the listen.
Doug dresses like Freddy in the night and does karaoke, and wins😮
Dont stop him now, he will rock us, he will be our best friend, that wouldnt be a Miracle, because he will make sure that the show must go on!!!.😂
He must use the "broken" microphone stand to complete the look.
I think Muse is probably the closest - for me - to a modern Queen. Prog operatic rock with a male lead who can sing in falsetto with power and grit. Matt Bellamy may not be flamboyant like Freddie but he sure is a performer like him! Please, please check out his live performance of Butterflies and Hurricanes at Wembly! You'll see what I mean. on Muse's yt channel - Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes [Live From Wembley Stadium]
US of Eurasia is one their most Queen influenced song. Madnes is I want to break free revisited.
Queen was very experimental. Muse is as well. I love that.
Never thought of Muse like that. (I live in same part of the world as them). Will give them a listen
Panic Station from Muse is like Another One Bites the Dust 😉👑🔥
Freddie is the god of music, no one comes close
If you listen to Seven seas of Rhye driving on the motorway you'll be going a lot faster by the end of it! 😂
You trying to get out of a speeding fine? x
I love Queen...but clearly they have so much that I have never heard before. Thanks Doug!
Most of Queen II was in Freddie's mind since long time ago
The white side is my favourite. Can't wait!
Man, now i really want you to follow this up with the whole of Sheer Heart Attack. Honestly, every album of Queen's, up to...well let's be honest, Hot Space wasn't great... But everything up to that point is basically perfect. I'd love to see you just work your way down the catalogue.
Agree. I grew up listening to them. I now think Day at the Races is my fav. But live was always so much fun. Took mum's Hoover to one concert and it was confiscated by security!
Genius band 👑🤘❤️
Love ur music dissections,and that ur really into every aong.ur videos are a delight 👌🤘.keep it up bro
One could easily say this is Queen's Concept Album.
Doug, you might be interested to know that Queen II finishes with 'Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside' and their next album, Sheer Heart Attack opens with Brighton Rock, in which you can hear the tune for 'Oh, I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside' being whistled as the song fades in. Definitely intentional!
Doug so needs to listen to Brighton Rock
@@stuartpatton771YES!
Brilliant. Thanks so much. Ogre Battle was great live, but they dropped it after a while. We used to take a sign (well, an old bedsheet) w Ogre Battle written on it to ask for them to play it. Freddie would point to a corner of the stage during the battle scene and an explosion would take place. Great fun, especially in the smaller theatres i the early days.
Freddie loved love and as a result perhaps could easily give us such beautiful music, i.e., 'Nevermore'.
Thank you. Seven Seas of Rhye is my favourite Queen song of all time. Loved the shaker, you could even put a guiro in next time 😂.
One of the best «progish» rockalbum ever written👌🏻
Queen's best album. Move over, Night at the Opera.
@@YT_DougHelvering-On-Tele-Gram, both albums are superb, it's just that Queen II is much more progressive and absolutely manic (in an insanely catchy and at times overwhelming manner). I think individual songs on Night at the Opera supersede the former ("Death on Two Legs," " '39" and "Bohemian Rhapsody", for instance), but the overall brazen brilliance of Q2 is far more memorable. As a teenager in 1974, hearing "Ogre Battles" was revelatory. There hasn't been a song before or since that is both that metal, melodic and bonkers.
So, in my opinion.... Ogre Battle is like Iron Maiden, only a decade earlier and with harmonies, The Farie Fellows Master Stroke is a little bit of whimsy, Nevermore is an introspective love song, March of The Black Queen is both a fantasy, and the boys flexing. Funny How Love Is is a tribute to Phil Spector's Wall Of Sound (in fact, Freddie did a version of I Can Hear Music under the name Larry Lurex prior to Queen, or around the early days of Queen) and Seven Seas Of Rye is simple a great tune with a twist in the ending! Well, that's my opinion anyway!!
Iron Maiden sucks and overrated
Hey Doug, have you ever of Godspeed You! Black Emporer? They’re a post-rock band out of Canada, and they combine a lot of ambient rock music with orchestral strings and horns. You should check out their album Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antenna To Heaven
Fantastic !
would love to see your listen to Masayoshi's Takanakas songs like the ones on his The rainbow goblins album. One of my favourite guitarists and great at jazz fusion.
You should check out the band "Extreme" and their performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. They do a Queen medley that is amazing.
Amazing band but they should have played Love of my life in Am (like Queen) instead of original C key. Cherone had a hard time singing it.
The ending of the seven seas of rye starts on the following album sheer heart attack
Live Aid performance 😁🤙 x
Working or temporary title for this album was "Over the Top". I wonder why they had considered such title, mmm.... I am happy they chose Queen II instead :)
"Queen II" is just such an amazing album. Oh, you will LOVE Side White.