bohemian Rhapsody- cologne 6th May 1982

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

This performance is better than Glasgow 1979s. This is the best 1980s Bo Rhap, and it's the 2nd best overall (Newcastle is #1)!

[kokakolafreddie]

1.Bowl 1982

2.Montreal 1981

3.Hammersmith 1979

4. Hammersmith 1975

5. Wembley 1986

in my opinion

[marriusmal]

this version is the best of ever because after 1980 freddie''s voice changed because of the nodules, so it is rare that in 1982 freddie had performed a so great bohemian rapsody! where can i find this concert on the net??

[thebiggestqueenfan]

I actually think this is the best live bohemian rhapsody..newcastle and glasgow are next

[Gregsynth]

I think the Glasgow performance is the best because he hits every single note.

[thebiggestqueenfan]

ya actually i agree with you..haha i listened to glasgow again and it is even better

[Gregsynth]

This is a top 5 version though!

[thebiggestqueenfan]

Yes definetly. This is second best

[Gregsynth]

For me it's:

1. Glasgow 1979

2. Newcastle 1979

3. Cologne 1982

4. Hammersmith 1979

5. Montreal 1981

[sephiroth34567890]

I'd have the same as your list for the top 5 Bo Rhaps but I'd have number 5 a draw between Montreal 1981 and Leiden 1986, both are very similar versions (in that he hits the exact same notes) but Freddie's shear power in 86 may give that one the edge...

gotta admit I was very surprised when Freddie sang it that way in 1986, but then again he was in stunning form for the first few shows upto the 3rd Leiden performance on the 19th (though of course there are other good shows after that!)

[Gregsynth]

I'm more suprised that he sang C5's during the magic tour! I did notice that Freddie was almost "yelling" in the magic tour (started on the Works Tour). Hey, but he can sing ANY style!

[sephiroth34567890]

His vocal style certainly changed by the Magic tour but his voice was pretty amazing upto as I said the 3rd Leiden show. After that he became more jaded, though even then he still put in quite a few good performances, esp from Manchester performance through to the Budapest show.

I'll put up a great ending performance from Brussels 1986 tomorrow, probably the best on tour version of we will rock since 81...

[Gregsynth]

Sweet!

[thebiggestqueenfan]

He hit a C5 during the magic tour? Which song?

[Gregsynth]

He got the C5 in Who Wants To Live Forever on Stockholm and Leiden (first night), though they sound very strained sounding. He also nails several B4's during those two shows.

[thebiggestqueenfan]

Oh!! Ya of course...the "cat scratching" sound...I thought you were talking about a C5 during Bo Rhap and I was like "woh"

[Gregsynth]

If he ever hit a C5 during a 1986 Rhapsody, my jaw would be on the floor.

Well, we know he could hit and sustain A4 to B4 on that tour, so it's obvious he still had his live range intact on the Magic Tour.

[sephiroth34567890]

Yep no doubts he could have done it in the first few shows, indeed he hits the high C in WATC so he was clearly able to do it at least at that show and it was far friom strained sounding as well...

[Gregsynth]

I think he could still do it up to either the third Leiden gig, or one of those first German gigs (Berlin, etc), because his vocals were far stronger on this tour than the Works Tour. Plus he got his voice/range back after wembley (Frejus, Budapest, etc).

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

He also got the C5 during the Brussels 1986 WATC!!!

[formulaonemad]

@Gregsynthbootlegs No he didn't! Hahahaha!

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Damn! LOL

[Gregsynth]

We are the Champions, he hits a C5!

[sephiroth34567890]

Yeah his range was very good from Manchester onwards, esp in Colonge, that show was IMO very close to the 2nd night at Leiden in terms of his vocals.

[Gregsynth]

And people say he was at his worst on the magic tour? LMFAO!

[thebiggestqueenfan]

@sephiroth34567890 Ya but the C5 in Bo rhap is much harder to sing because you are singing a vowel (die-AH-EYE).

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

It's easier to sing vowel sounds (at least to me).

[thebiggestqueenfan]

@Gregsynthbootlegs Oh for me it isn't. It is easier to me to sing a Bb4 fighting in WATC than a A4 die-ah-eye in borhap

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Hmmm...that's weird.

I'm the opposite!

[sephiroth34567890]

@thebiggestqueenfan I tend to be able to get that High C note in Bo Rhap most times, but I do struggle a little for some reason with trying to get a High C on WATC, though today I managed to hit a full chest voice High C which was a little bit of a shocker lol.

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

The C5 in Bo Rhap is pretty easy for me. As for the WATC C5, I rarely go for it, unless I'm 100% certain that I can hit it.

[sephiroth34567890]

@Gregsynthbootlegs Yeah same, I remember just once being able to hit a full blown C5 (to my surprise) on WATC, meanwhile I'll get the C5 on Bo Rhap even when I'm a little ragged, I think its because on WATC you don't come down as far you do on Bo Rhap.

B4s though are the real tough notes, if I'll crack, it'll be on that note, usually Bb4s are the top chest voice range, I have to be in very good vocal shape to get B4s usually!

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Well, ever since my timbre went down (recently), I have to almost oversing to get anything above A4.

It's like the 1984-1986 Freddie! LOL

[thebiggestqueenfan]

what about stockholm 86? I think that Bo Rhap is better than Lieden.

[sephiroth34567890]

Its good but Freddie doesn't attempt the higher notes in the second verse at Stockholm whilst he nails them AKA Montreal at the first night in Leiden...plus to be honest I think he sounds rather lacking in power on the higher parts of the first verse as well compared to other concerts...perhaps thats actually because his voice was comfortable with those notes for once!

[thebiggestqueenfan]

you have a good point there. I have listened to both lieden and stockholm and i think he sings the first verse in stockholm much better than lieden. I guess lieden might have been the last magic tour concert or queen concert in general where fred's voice was in great shape

[sephiroth34567890]

Its just down to personal taste I suppose, I think it sounds a little thin but maybe thats just because of the recording sound quality, which whilst good does seem to slightly lack depth...

IMO the last concert where his voice is in top shape is the 3rd night of Leiden (the 6th show) after that his voice isn't quite as good.

Though saying that Cologne 86 is IMO as good as the first few concerts for a good percent of the songs...

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Stockholm's isn't as good as some of the "higher note" versions: Versions like Cologne, Barcelona, 1st Wembley, and Leiden, have much better 1st verses.

[thebiggestqueenfan]

@Gregsynthbootlegs I think the first verse is much better at Stockholm than first Wembley

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

There's no power or vibrato compared to the other versions, nothing about Stockholm's version impresses me.

[thebiggestqueenfan]

@Gregsynthbootlegs What impresses me is how he sings the phrasing perfectly in the first verse and the Bb4's are perfect on key. The only thing that I don't like about that version is he's a little flat on some notes at the very beginning of the first verse. But don't worry Stockholm 1986...synths are hard to impress

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

The only thing I can say in its favor is that he hits the Bb4s in the verse, and those notes are on key (the Bb4s). My point is, that I've heard much better versions (overall), of that song. Look at Leiden 1986 (3rd night), and Barcelona's version: Those have him hitting the same notes, but they have vibrato, and much better phrasing. Plus he sings the "NOW" with a more controlled sound, on Stockholm he just screams it (compared to the other versions).

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Plus, you even said he was off key in the first verse, and now you say that version (Stockholm) is better than versions where he does sing the verse "right" and on key? Makes no sense.

[thebiggestqueenfan]

@Gregsynthbootlegs I said the only thing wrong with Stockholm is the first couple notes are off key (mama, just killed a man) but the rest is excellent and he totally nails those high notes much better than the second Leiden and Brussels. However I think the second and third Leiden and Cologne are better. To be honest, I think that the first Leiden might be the greatest version from the magic tour because he doesn't go for some of those notes during the third leiden

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Yeah, but it's still wrong key/notes. The version's not as good as the other versions, because the notes are too dry, and have no character to them. 2nd Leiden is better because he phrases the 1st verse closer to Live Aid and hits the high notes in the 2nd verse, Brussels has a better 1st verse (2nd verse is tied). The 1st Leiden is absolutely ridiculous because he sings all the notes (with the exception of the Carry On, and the C5 in the rock section).

[Gregsynthbootlegs]

Because Stockholm was kind of a "test gig" for Freddie on the Magic Tour. Since it was the 1st night, he could see what his voice was capable of. By the next gig (Leiden), he fully knew what he could do live--so he went all out! He ended up blowing his voice out towards the end of the gig! LOL

He got it back for the next Leiden gig though (which was nearly/if as good as the first night).

[thebiggestqueenfan]

which other concerts does freddie hit the C5 in the rock part. I think newcastle '79 is one of them but which is the other

[Gregsynth]

This concert, Newcastle 1979, and Glasgow 1979.

[btnsvideos]

if you sent me this i could make it sound better and send it back to you

[423likeajewel]

omg... im at a loss for words... i mean this is perfection

[rogertaylorNr1]

yeah holy shit! i will never have the opportunity to see him live!!! he was the best singer in the world!!!!

[Alexander87oclock]

Holy SHIT!!! C5!!! this is the best one ive heard

[sephiroth34567890]

I have to admit when I heard this I was humming along and actually didn't notice the high note, so I played it back and was in shock that Freddie had the guts to go for that note, its such a rare note for him to go for!

[Gregsynth]

If he didn't have those nodules....

[sephiroth34567890]

I think whats most impressive about the European part of the Hot space tour is his voice just got better and better as the tour went on, its one of the few tours where his voice was quite a lot better at the end then at the start!

[Gregsynth]

Oh, the European leg of the Hot Space tour was FANTASTIC.

The Crazy Tour (the Newcastle, Glascow, and Hammersmith shows on Youtube) are probably some of the BEST live performances I've seen Freddie do.

[thebiggestqueenfan]

ya not only did he hit the C5 but he hit it flawlessly...as good as the recording except without all the voice overs

[insomniacjezz]

God I wish a non-distorted version of this was available...

[sephiroth34567890]

Yeah it would certainly be amazing to hear this in high quality, still to have it all is good!

[Gregsynth]

One of the BEST interpretations of Bo Rhap I have EVER heard!

3:19-THE TENOR C!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The audio is sped up by one semitone: Just for reference.