To me, The Prophet's Song is one of my favorite Queen songs, and personally may be a more complex piece of music than Bo Rhap. Not sure, but this may have been Brian's "I can write an epic like Bo Rhap, too"
Everyone praises Mercury for his vocals, but I think his talent as a songwriter is what really shines (as well as his piano playing). Imagine any other band having the fortitude to do a song like this.
This tune is "silly" genius. The harmonies are actually not that simple and arrangement and overdub vocals are spectacular. Watch any other acappella covers (and there are some good ones) on youtube and not one can hit that level of precision which creates the magic.
Queen was so clever, experimental, and fearless to be different from other rock bands. This is the reason why Queen's fans ranged from kids to grandparents, all ages loved them. Freddie loved the old black and white movies, I'm sure he watched lots of musicals. Great reaction. I always enjoy your insights.
I am so looking forward to this reaction! I bought the album on its release in 1975, when I was 15 years old. My mother, who had learnt piano as a girl and could also play by ear, was delighted when she first heard this song, and it became one of her favorites. Even though she was of an older generation (born in 1918), she really grew to love Queen's music, and Freddie's piano playing in particular!
Seaside Rendevous is one of my favourite Queen songs and a good example showing, that you cannot put a label on Queen. They are always different and unique. Even if one isn't a fan of this kind of music, you have to respect that they are never boring. Queen is the music-love of my life since 33 years.
I always felt like this whole album was like a traveling minstrel show, a three penny opera .Like a variety show, with each song presenting another act.
I just love the quirky nature of this song, such fun. Another very individual performance from Queen, who never fail to surprise us with their recordings. Never boring, and timeless.
"Seaside Rendezvous", "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon", and "Good Old Fashioned Loverboy" are all Freddie Mercury songs exploring the lifestyles of wealthy young English men in the Interwar Period (1920s and 1930s). You can easily imagine the fun loving son of an aristocratic family - from a grand country estate - looking for fun in the city (London) or at a posh Mediterranean resort (Saint-Tropez); and with the money to afford cars ("Limousines"), diners at fine restaurants ("The Ritz"), visiting famous galleries ("The Louvre") and not having to work too hard because Daddy and Mummy have always indulged Charles or is it Edward! Also an attitude to women which extols wealthy male confidence and a Valentino-esque ability to seduce them! (Set my alarm, Turn on my charm"). And all three written and arranged in a jazz style (swing jazz) typical of the era. There's enough material here for a sociology lecture!
I picture an old-timey black and white movie with the man wearing a full body swim suit (horizontal stripes, of course, with a straw hat), probably somewhat rich, walking on the beach with a woman in a frilly swim suit carrying a parasol. Queen could rock out but they had a great playful side as well. Just one of the many reasons I love them. They didnt always take themselves so seriously
"Give us a kiss" final line is actually a cheeky playful way that an Englishman might say when he knows he is in tune with the woman and is being softly naughty. It fits with an English seaside playfulness and never used in those intense moments (unless he wants to deliberately create cheeky laughter). When the woman is being too serious for the moment LOL. of course, needs good timing... Not too waffle on too much, English English has very many cultural dynamics that are not always picked up when none - English people speak English. Americans; Canadians; Australian et cetera will often say how they had to relearn the meaning of English when they came to live in England. So the song has all the adventure and colour of seaside romances But ends with English seaside banter; of course, not taking the whole thing too seriously.
What a great fun song. So glad you enjoyed it Amy. It's so very British! Both Roger and Freddie had a great sense of humour. They must have really enjoyed performing this song together.
Thanks for you wonderful analysis. I always thought this sounded less '30s jazz & more Vaudeville/Music Hall & ragtime. Goofy, lighthearted, a generally fun song. So very NOT rock n' roll. Which is why I love Queen so much. Can't put them in the corner!
I still believe that "Night at opera" is one big vaudeville play with comedy, music, opera, drama, dancing and everything that you can think of to put in play, recorded on album and let your imagination drive you to great experience. After all, the name of album was inspired with the Marx brothers movie of the same name from 1930's, so it is kind a comedy in same time, and camp, yes; but fun and great musicianship too. So let's just enjoy! Greetings to you an Vlad and kid'o Amy! Keep on the good work you good people.
Some people’s Kitsch is other people’s Fabulosity ( a Freddie word I’ll bet ) I love it so I am on the Fabulosity side 😂 Freddie and Roger were great friends and were roommates when they were young and had no money and also had a little ‘ boutique’ ( a stall ) where they sold second clothes and Freddie’s artwork. One day when Freddie wasn’t at the stall a customer came in and saw Freddie’s shirt or jacket on the back of a chair and Roger sold it to him. Freddie was upset about Roger selling his shirt.😂 I find this song hangs around in my mind after I hear it and I end up humming it for the rest of the day. Love Freddie and Roger ♥️
Oh, oh, children of the land Love is still the answer take my hand The vision fades a voice I hear "Listen to the madman!" Ooh, but still I fear and still I dare not Laugh at the madman!
The end is pure British slapstick! Kiss Me Quick hats, Beano’s to the seaside, promenading, it’s what the Boys were brought up on even Freddie knew the vibe. Love it, been a Queen fan since I was 12 in ‘73 and will listen to them til I die 😁
I adore this song. Freddie was such a creative musician. The whole band were incredibly talented and not afraid to try a lot of different styles. This song is so fun!
I am just loving your reactions, especially the Queen selections! I hope you aren't finished with this album. This is a terrific album, every track is so creative. Please do it all!
Hello Amy and Vlad, according to what I've read, the band was trying to decide what to title this album. They were supposedly watching TV one evening and found the Marx Brothers movie A Night at the Opera and settled on that. Groucho Marx had became something of a fan and he invited them to his home shortly before he died. Spoiler alert: their follow up album was also titled after another Marx Brothers film.
Wow! Once again, never in a million years would I have guessed that you would react and review to this most adorable song (much like I thought about Porcelina of the Vast Oceans by The Smashing Pumpkins). Seaside Rendezvous is my favorite _hidden gem_ from Queen. Thank you another million times more! 😊 I've never seen you laugh and smile so much, and yea, it's contagious. I'm glad you enjoyed it so thoroughly. P.S. I love the story about you and your siblings' nighttime concerts! 🥰
This piece of music is like a good book, where you can SEE the story while reading it. Freddie was a great storyteller by his singing style and musically as well and the band members were able to incorporate into his, sort of playful world. Freddie and Roger were 2 rascals, who took part in every mischievous actions.
Noel Cowardesque, playing the thimbles and comb and imitating a trumpet, this song is nuts but it works on every level and the decade it represents is caught perfectly, very fun but musically a masterpiece.
As others in the Comments have been saying, it would be a great shame if The Prophet's Song and 39 were excluded from your look into this Album, Amy. The former is an all time classic Queen song and the latter is also wonderful and gives insight into Brian May's outlook on life, particularly his relationship with his father. This is important to get a context for a lot of his music going forward. The exclusion of much of Queen II is also a problem. The first (White) side (4 out of 5 songs composed by Brian May includes the excellent White Queen and Father to Son. The latter is relevant to my previous point about May's philosophical look on life. The second (Black) side (all songs composed by Freddy Mercury) is exceptional. Ogre Battle, The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke, Nevermore and March of the Black Queen form a suite that would have given you great insight into Freddy's love of the fantastical, his vivid imagination, playfulness, originality (in Rock terms) and would have helped you understand the developmental curve which resulted in the work on A Night at the Opera. I hope Vlad is not too stubborn to admit his oversight and to correct this issue before you proceed with Queen's subsequent albums. No offence meant.
Thank you Amy for your great work and as a Queen fan I appreciate what you do. When Freddie, Brian, John and Roger got together and formed this band, they gave us special and unique music. And just as you say at the end of the video: it's Queen and everyone contributed to that project. Thank you for everything, and we look forward to more of your analysis.
It's a jangley piano ragtime flapper more champagne waiter! ditti......upper class and a bit snooty while incredibly charming...brilliant in words, music and delivery. Boy I miss Freddie.
I love it when a band can cover a lot of different styles - to the point where you can almost use genre itself as a compositional element. Putting something in the setting of a 1930's pop song says something different than putting it in the style of a jazz ballad, or a reggae tune.
I would say the ending 'Give us a kiss', is typically English or British. It's what a slightly shy Englishman would say to a girl after a first date, and I should know.
There is a wonderful Seaside Rendezvouz video on Utube that illustrates the sillyness of British people at the seaside, with bathing beauties and variety hall sequence that is worth a look. It is amazing that Queen are willing to risk alienating their core fan with such musical diversity, there is traces of Spike Jones and his City slickers and Red Inglis and the Unnatural Seven in this song, but then you are far too young to know to know the music of the forties and fifties!
Loved your reaction, Amy! Seaside Rendezvous are together with Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon the two songs that make this album more than just a great album. It became a fantastic album because of these two gems from Freddie Mercury.❤
It is definitely super fun to hear them imitate the variety of instruments with their voices here, but it is also super fun to hear when Brian does that same kind of thing with his guitar in Good Company!
Whoa! What happened to ‘39?? It’s a classic and is still being performed by Queen. I saw them this past week and Brian does it as a solo during the show.
I'm not sure it's as fashionable here now, but certainly in the past "Give us a kiss" has been a flirty phrase in the UK... It would certainly fit with this style and era, I think.
This song reminds me of just how technically dedicated these guys were to making just absolutely perfect bits of pop rock music. Every vocal, every background oooo vocals, the kuzu sounds, drums, piano etc….lyrically etc, the equivalent of a perfect sonic painting.
Thanks for the usual insightful analysis. Very pleased you enjoyed it. However I'm a little dismayed that you're moving on without listening to the Prophet Song,. Many would regard this as Queen's best song. However you have done You're My Best Friend, which is a perfectly good pop song but hardly ground-breaking. The choice of tracks seems odd. I note that you also missed The March of the Black Queen on the Queen 2 album, another epic track and the possible answer to "where did Bohemian Rhapsody come from?".
Thanks, VR - I love this.. it is so much fun! very much like "lazing... " quite evocative, as you say..so "romantic"...and the harmonies are perfectly placed.. (p.s. using some French terms, and also period English words like "jollification" lol) Oh, yeah.. and also "no synths"..
I hope you also do another song on this album called Good Company. It is written, & sung by Brian May. It is in a similar vein. Except he uses his guitar to imitate a brass band. In the style of Dixieland Jazz. Note. Brian also plays a banjolele in the song.
A fun and enjoyable reaction to a fun and enjoyable song. I love your imagination and the visual imagery you get when hearing certain music. Looking forward to the future Queen songs.
This song reminds me of walking along Brighton Pier during a family holiday, and the musical elements also remind me of old cockney music-hall songs (which as a child I discovered via the TV show "The Good Old Days".) That little rising and falling pattern near the start of the "instrumental" is similar to the " 'Ave a banana!" line that was often used to underscore the saucy innuendos. =:o}
Freddie’s knowledge of chord structure, harmonies, melodies, his compositional brilliance and dexterity, is in pop music, somewhat unparalleled. His piano playing was always underrated. And then, his voice. Not only his perfect falsetto, perfectly executed vibrato, his perfect transition from chest voice to head voice, and back and forth…his ability to sing perfectly in tune and in time with himself. Not only supremely gifted, but a gym rat, that obviously did so much woodshedding. By this point, he was daring anyone to compete with him, and they still haven’t.
I love your reviews. I think it is very cool that you are such a nerd and get so excited analyzing the music. I am actually a retired soldier with multiple combat tours but I am also a music nerd who sings with a symphony chorale and is majoring in collaborative piano. It is fun to see someone who analyzes songs like I do. BTW, if you liked seaside rendezvous, check out Benny the bouncer. by elp. Not as whimsical as seaside but really fun to play and very honky tonk.
Don't forget the Marx Brothers' 1935 movie A Night at the Opera! Several songs on this album have connections to that film. Very much so for Seaside Rendez-Vous. Thank you for your very enjoyable videos!
I remember buying my first Queen LP. Sheer Heart Attack. A similar song to Sea Side... Is Leroy Brown. It was a wonderful experience listening to Queen back then in 1975. Y❤our reaction and explanation of these songs, has re kindled these wonderful happy feelings! Thank You❤
In the 1930's it was fashionable to fly to Monte Carlo and Cannes for the season (of events and grand balls and celebrities'). This could explain some references. But there are also a lot of references to the British seaside styles and seafront entertainments, including at the end, I suggest, the iconic 'Kiss Me Quick' hat (which brings us back to the UK with a bump)! There's an old TV series called 'Good Companions' (1980) which reflects this 'end of the pier show' culture nicely. I always interpreted this one as enjoying the (UK) beach promenade and having SUCH a good time that you begin wondering whether you could develop it into a whole lifestyle, flying or sailing around (Europe) just 'promenading' in different places. Oh yes, and one more vote to look at 'Prophet's song' before you move on! (lot's of meat for you to digest, I think)
Thank you, Amy, for your critique on Seaside Rendezvous. I think Freddie did about 3 songs with that 1920s-1930s flair. This song reminds me of Brighton Beach in the UK. I can see the huge gazebo with rag time musicians playing. Freddie's voice reminds me of Rudy Vallee singing through his megaphone in the 1920s (I'm old, but not that old...just remember old movies...ruclips.net/video/bvBsx7mhaBk/видео.html). Can't you just see the men in their one piece modest bathing suits, ladies in their bloomer or long one piece swim suits, ladies with headbands with feathers, parasols, spats on men's shoes? Everyone is happy and having a lovely time after the end of WWI.
I'd say the end part is Very English, rather than American... It' reminds me the "kiss me quick (squeeze me slow) hats" which were sold at the seaside in the 1950's.
Can we take a moment to remember that without Roy Thomas Baker (producer), Mike Stone (engineer) and Gary Lyons (engineer) this album would not exist? Yes Queen wrote and performed the songs but the producer and engineers had a good deal of creative input into the final result. It kinda bugs me that Amy never acknowledges the talents of producers and engineers.
I would suggest giving a listen to "The prophet song" being one of the more remarkeble song on the album, Writen by Brain May haveing changes of timestamps, special guitar section using mutipule guirar layers and mostly, an amazing delay a-capela section by Freddie.
I kept seeing this as an old postcard turning into a black and white scene, and then it gets colorized in glorious pastels as motion is introduced. Old style movie reel that moves too fast, like in silent movies, with a dandy like Fred Astaire mixed with Bertie Wooster flirting with a pretty young woman, illustrating with large gestures as they walk along the beach (well, he certainly dances a step or two from time to time!). It may be a result of having watched a lot of BBC comedies, especially "Jeeves and Wooster" , Benny Hill, anything Monty Python, and even a dash of "Absolutely Fabulous", but if the video has not been made yet, there's my script!
queen es uno de las mejores bandas no solo del rock sino de la historia de la musica en unos 10 años mas sera estudiada lo que hicieron traspaso la musica popular y en una epoca donde para triunfar tenias que ser realmente extraordinario solo hay que pensar que estaban los led zepellin deep purple rolling stones the beatles en fin una serie de musicos que eran brillantes tal vez fue una de las mejores epocas de la musica rock desde los 30 a principios del 2000 y en toda esta gama de musicos creativos y geniales queen era uno de los mas grandes , es una lastima que la musica bajara tanto de calidad despues del 2000 pero como dijo alguien por ahi cada generacion merece la musica que tiene y la generacion de queen fue la mejor y la banda una de las mas grandes que han pisado este planeta , freddie te fuiste muy pronto quien sabe que piezas mas nos habrias regalado pero con las que dejaste los que amamos la musica nos regocijamos gracias queen por tanto
i believe john lennon said, "give us a kiss" to the uptight businessman on the train in the beatles' movie "a hard days night",so it's a very british saying. btw happy birthday, john! (83 IF...)
Hi 👋 Miss Amy, A fantastic analysis of a masterpiece of creative music with a pinch of sapid irony. I tough (when he sings “dancing in the rain ☔️) that drum stick short burst of strikes wants to imitate kind of tip tap dance step into a puddle, rather then the patter of the rain. Anyway they are absolute genius. And I’m pretty sure you will really enjoy “the prophet’s song” because it’s such a complete song, a real opera adventure. Thank you again for your RUclips channel
I have a feeling Amy is going to be hideously disappointed when she hits the 80s with Queen, when synthesizers come in, and innovation and complexity go out. Queen wrote some good, straight-ahead pop songs in the 80s, but they pale in comparison to the startling ambition of their work in the 70s.
This song is unlike Queen, but at the same time only Queen would do something like this. People say Don't stop me now is the most happy song, i think this is. You say that you can picture the beach, one of their videos is all old beach videos in England.
This song always puts me in mind of silent movies of the early film era... Harold Lloyd et al... I remember watching them as a kid in the mid 70s they were always on BBC TV and wondered if Freddie was influenced by them.
It's a madcap romp!!! If this had been released in the roaring 20s it would have been considered the cats pajamas (I looked up 1920s slang, I still hear this term and its meaning hasn't changed).
I always get the impression of a young man dressed to the 9's in white strides, a boating jacket, boater hat and walking cane trying his darnedest to impress and express his feelings for the young lady he's taken out for a walk along the seaside promenade, set sometime in the Edwardian period. He makes so many suggestions and is showing off to her by using French phrases, and she's being a little bit standoffish, which is why he's laying on the charm in bucket-fulls. The song itself is very reminiscent of the Vaudeville style of old music hall, that would exaggerate that which is being expressed, usually for comic effect. You omitted '39 from this album, which might have given another example of a different genre of music, (folk music), and an opportunity to hear Brian singing. The subject matter of the song being an interesting one that pertained to the fact that Brian studied Astrophysics and would later become a PhD in the subject, years later. But, then we can't have it all.
First time i heard this song but i did like it, very happy and it remaninds me the 30's and early cartoons and yes, it sounds american not european, well surprise, surprise all the time, about this firstime listen of this song.
"Give us a kiss" (the use of "us" instead of "me") is actually very English
This is QUEEN in a nutshell: Over the top, bombastic, operatic, and highly theatrical. No band ever did it better! 🏆
The prophet song and '39 are also Gems from this album.
To me, The Prophet's Song is one of my favorite Queen songs, and personally may be a more complex piece of music than Bo Rhap. Not sure, but this may have been Brian's "I can write an epic like Bo Rhap, too"
Yep, love the use of the voices doing a canon.
The Prophet's Song is my favourite Queen song.
Completely agree. The Prophet Song and 39 are favourites too along with Love of My Life.
Everyone praises Mercury for his vocals, but I think his talent as a songwriter is what really shines (as well as his piano playing). Imagine any other band having the fortitude to do a song like this.
Amen
This tune is "silly" genius. The harmonies are actually not that simple and arrangement and overdub vocals are spectacular. Watch any other acappella covers (and there are some good ones) on youtube and not one can hit that level of precision which creates the magic.
It would be SUCH a shame if you skip over the 2 BEST songs on this album, " '39" & "The Prophet's Song". 😞
And Brian's Big Band masterpiece Good Company.
Yes, so much Brian May was under-appreciated...
I agree, both are masterpieces
And Love of my life
Not the best songs on the album, they belong to Freddie, but still good.
Queen was so clever, experimental, and fearless to be different from other rock bands. This is the reason why Queen's fans ranged from kids to grandparents, all ages loved them. Freddie loved the old black and white movies, I'm sure he watched lots of musicals. Great reaction. I always enjoy your insights.
It is FUN! That is my review.
I am so looking forward to this reaction! I bought the album on its release in 1975, when I was 15 years old. My mother, who had learnt piano as a girl and could also play by ear, was delighted when she first heard this song, and it became one of her favorites. Even though she was of an older generation (born in 1918), she really grew to love Queen's music, and Freddie's piano playing in particular!
My own Mum also quite liked Freddie and certain Queen songs 😀 She too played piano and organ 😊
Seaside Rendevous is one of my favourite Queen songs and a good example showing, that you cannot put a label on Queen. They are always different and unique. Even if one isn't a fan of this kind of music, you have to respect that they are never boring. Queen is the music-love of my life since 33 years.
Same, I absolutely love this song. As well as Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon.
I always felt like this whole album was like a traveling minstrel show, a three penny opera .Like a variety show, with each song presenting another act.
'Give us a kiss' is a nod too the very very British seaside holiday phrase you would get on hats 'kiss me quick '
These are the "funny" songs I love by Queen so much. They may not be the No. 1 hits, but are just the best.
I just love the quirky nature of this song, such fun. Another very individual performance from Queen, who never fail to surprise us with their recordings. Never boring, and timeless.
"Seaside Rendezvous", "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon", and "Good Old Fashioned Loverboy" are all Freddie Mercury songs exploring the lifestyles of wealthy young English men in the Interwar Period (1920s and 1930s). You can easily imagine the fun loving son of an aristocratic family - from a grand country estate - looking for fun in the city (London) or at a posh Mediterranean resort (Saint-Tropez); and with the money to afford cars ("Limousines"), diners at fine restaurants ("The Ritz"), visiting famous galleries ("The Louvre") and not having to work too hard because Daddy and Mummy have always indulged Charles or is it Edward! Also an attitude to women which extols wealthy male confidence and a Valentino-esque ability to seduce them! (Set my alarm, Turn on my charm"). And all three written and arranged in a jazz style (swing jazz) typical of the era. There's enough material here for a sociology lecture!
that was the world Freddie always wanted to live in
Please please you should listen to every song on that album , The entire album is a masterpiece 🙏
YES !!
It is indeed!!!!!
I picture an old-timey black and white movie with the man wearing a full body swim suit (horizontal stripes, of course, with a straw hat), probably somewhat rich, walking on the beach with a woman in a frilly swim suit carrying a parasol. Queen could rock out but they had a great playful side as well. Just one of the many reasons I love them. They didnt always take themselves so seriously
"Give us a kiss" final line is actually a cheeky playful way that an Englishman might say when he knows he is in tune with the woman and is being softly naughty. It fits with an English seaside playfulness and never used in those intense moments (unless he wants to deliberately create cheeky laughter). When the woman is being too serious for the moment LOL. of course, needs good timing...
Not too waffle on too much, English English has very many cultural dynamics that are not always picked up when none - English people speak English. Americans; Canadians; Australian et cetera will often say how they had to relearn the meaning of English when they came to live in England.
So the song has all the adventure and colour of seaside romances But ends with English seaside banter; of course, not taking the whole thing too seriously.
So disappointed that you won't be tackling Prophet's Song (especially after not reacting to March of the Black Queen). 😢
Still holding out hope for Millionaire’s Waltz!
Would love to see an analysis of Bowie's "Life on Mars".
What a great fun song. So glad you enjoyed it Amy. It's so very British! Both Roger and Freddie had a great sense of humour. They must have really enjoyed performing this song together.
Thanks for you wonderful analysis. I always thought this sounded less '30s jazz & more Vaudeville/Music Hall & ragtime. Goofy, lighthearted, a generally fun song. So very NOT rock n' roll. Which is why I love Queen so much. Can't put them in the corner!
Lots of people will be sad you have not listen to The Prophet Song (Brian May) from this album
I still believe that "Night at opera" is one big vaudeville play with comedy, music, opera, drama, dancing and everything that you can think of to put in play, recorded on album and let your imagination drive you to great experience.
After all, the name of album was inspired with the Marx brothers movie of the same name from 1930's, so it is kind a comedy in same time, and camp, yes; but fun and great musicianship too.
So let's just enjoy!
Greetings to you an Vlad and kid'o Amy! Keep on the good work you good people.
Some people’s Kitsch is other people’s Fabulosity ( a Freddie word I’ll bet ) I love it so I am on the Fabulosity side 😂 Freddie and Roger were great friends and were roommates when they were young and had no money and also had a little ‘ boutique’ ( a stall ) where they sold second clothes and Freddie’s artwork. One day when Freddie wasn’t at the stall a customer came in and saw Freddie’s shirt or jacket on the back of a chair and Roger sold it to him. Freddie was upset about Roger selling his shirt.😂
I find this song hangs around in my mind after I hear it and I end up humming it for the rest of the day. Love Freddie and Roger ♥️
Oh emm gee, does this mean that 'The Prophet's Song' will be up next?! 😃
Oh, oh, children of the land
Love is still the answer take my hand
The vision fades a voice I hear
"Listen to the madman!"
Ooh, but still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the madman!
Fingers crossed!
I sure hope so !
If there’s one more from this album she has to review, it’s certainly this one!
BEST queen song ever! Always brings me back to speed with life. Anti-stress - great to play on repeat!
The end is pure British slapstick! Kiss Me Quick hats, Beano’s to the seaside, promenading, it’s what the Boys were brought up on even Freddie knew the vibe. Love it, been a Queen fan since I was 12 in ‘73 and will listen to them til I die 😁
Lyrics and music so carefree, so lively and fun... so setting us up for The Prophet's Song. I can't wait for your reaction on that song!
She said she’s moving on to next album unfortunately she will be missing some great tracks in doing so.
Gutted she won't be listening to it
I adore this song. Freddie was such a creative musician. The whole band were incredibly talented and not afraid to try a lot of different styles. This song is so fun!
I am just loving your reactions, especially the Queen selections! I hope you aren't finished with this album. This is a terrific album, every track is so creative. Please do it all!
This is a nice little ditty. It always sounded like they must have had a ball recording it
Hello Amy and Vlad, according to what I've read, the band was trying to decide what to title this album. They were supposedly watching TV one evening and found the Marx Brothers movie A Night at the Opera and settled on that. Groucho Marx had became something of a fan and he invited them to his home shortly before he died. Spoiler alert: their follow up album was also titled after another Marx Brothers film.
Wow! Once again, never in a million years would I have guessed that you would react and review to this most adorable song (much like I thought about Porcelina of the Vast Oceans by The Smashing Pumpkins). Seaside Rendezvous is my favorite _hidden gem_ from Queen. Thank you another million times more! 😊
I've never seen you laugh and smile so much, and yea, it's contagious. I'm glad you enjoyed it so thoroughly.
P.S. I love the story about you and your siblings' nighttime concerts! 🥰
Always thought John Deacon's bass lines captured the essence of dancing scenes perfectly here.
Every song, every breath, every beat of the drum in this album is like family to me! It made me a Queen fan to say the least!
the musical and artistic complexity of this 'little song' is so impressive for me...
This piece of music is like a good book, where you can SEE the story while reading it. Freddie was a great storyteller by his singing style and musically as well and the band members were able to incorporate into his, sort of playful world. Freddie and Roger were 2 rascals, who took part in every mischievous actions.
It's like a cartoon soundtrack. One of my favorite Queen songs. Brilliant production and recording, too.
Noel Cowardesque, playing the thimbles and comb and imitating a trumpet, this song is nuts but it works on every level and the decade it represents is caught perfectly, very fun but musically a masterpiece.
As others in the Comments have been saying, it would be a great shame if The Prophet's Song and 39 were excluded from your look into this Album, Amy. The former is an all time classic Queen song and the latter is also wonderful and gives insight into Brian May's outlook on life, particularly his relationship with his father. This is important to get a context for a lot of his music going forward.
The exclusion of much of Queen II is also a problem. The first (White) side (4 out of 5 songs composed by Brian May includes the excellent White Queen and Father to Son. The latter is relevant to my previous point about May's philosophical look on life. The second (Black) side (all songs composed by Freddy Mercury) is exceptional. Ogre Battle, The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke, Nevermore and March of the Black Queen form a suite that would have given you great insight into Freddy's love of the fantastical, his vivid imagination, playfulness, originality (in Rock terms) and would have helped you understand the developmental curve which resulted in the work on A Night at the Opera.
I hope Vlad is not too stubborn to admit his oversight and to correct this issue before you proceed with Queen's subsequent albums. No offence meant.
We want you to react to The March Of The Black Queen
Yes! This is my favourite Queen track!
Thank you Amy for your great work and as a Queen fan I appreciate what you do. When Freddie, Brian, John and Roger got together and formed this band, they gave us special and unique music. And just as you say at the end of the video: it's Queen and everyone contributed to that project. Thank you for everything, and we look forward to more of your analysis.
It's a jangley piano ragtime flapper more champagne waiter! ditti......upper class and a bit snooty while incredibly charming...brilliant in words, music and delivery. Boy I miss Freddie.
It's also well worth listening to the King's Singers' version of this (there are several live versions as well as a studio version).
The Millionaire Waltz from A Day at the Races is in the same style 😁
The song is very English. Its in the style of the old fashioned saucy, bawdy post cards you could buy at English seaside resorts.
It's really a shame that you aren't doing the whole album...
I love it when a band can cover a lot of different styles - to the point where you can almost use genre itself as a compositional element. Putting something in the setting of a 1930's pop song says something different than putting it in the style of a jazz ballad, or a reggae tune.
You have to remember that Freddie's moto was "if something's worth doing it's worth over doing!"
I would say the ending 'Give us a kiss', is typically English or British. It's what a slightly shy Englishman would say to a girl after a first date, and I should know.
There is a wonderful Seaside Rendezvouz video on Utube that illustrates the sillyness of British people at the seaside, with bathing beauties and variety hall sequence that is worth a look.
It is amazing that Queen are willing to risk alienating their core fan with such musical diversity, there is traces of Spike Jones and his City slickers and Red Inglis and the Unnatural Seven in this song, but then you are far too young to know to know the music of the forties and fifties!
I'm so glad you love Queen. It's what got me interested in your channel.
Loved your reaction, Amy! Seaside Rendezvous are together with Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon the two songs that make this album more than just a great album. It became a fantastic album because of these two gems from Freddie Mercury.❤
It is definitely super fun to hear them imitate the variety of instruments with their voices here, but it is also super fun to hear when Brian does that same kind of thing with his guitar in Good Company!
Give us a kiss, is very British.
Love this song.
Whoa! What happened to ‘39?? It’s a classic and is still being performed by Queen. I saw them this past week and Brian does it as a solo during the show.
Last time I was in Seaside, FL I was playing this tune in my head while casually strolling down 30A. A well-fitting soundtrack for that experience. 😋
I bet your parents loved the concerts you all performed at night! I'm sure it brought smiles to them!
Queen has two albums that shared the same titles from two, Marx Brothers films "A Day At The Races" & "A Night At The Opera". ✌️
I'm not sure it's as fashionable here now, but certainly in the past "Give us a kiss" has been a flirty phrase in the UK... It would certainly fit with this style and era, I think.
So très charmante my dear.
This song reminds me of just how technically dedicated these guys were to making just absolutely perfect bits of pop rock music. Every vocal, every background oooo vocals, the kuzu sounds, drums, piano etc….lyrically etc, the equivalent of a perfect sonic painting.
Thanks for the usual insightful analysis. Very pleased you enjoyed it. However I'm a little dismayed that you're moving on without listening to the Prophet Song,. Many would regard this as Queen's best song. However you have done You're My Best Friend, which is a perfectly good pop song but hardly ground-breaking. The choice of tracks seems odd. I note that you also missed The March of the Black Queen on the Queen 2 album, another epic track and the possible answer to "where did Bohemian Rhapsody come from?".
Thanks, VR - I love this.. it is so much fun! very much like "lazing... " quite evocative, as you say..so "romantic"...and the harmonies are perfectly placed.. (p.s. using some French terms, and also period English words like "jollification" lol) Oh, yeah.. and also "no synths"..
I love Queen. I thought I heard all their songs. But this is the first time for me. I love it. 😊
I hope you also do another song on this album called Good Company. It is written, & sung by Brian May. It is in a similar vein. Except he uses his guitar to imitate a brass band. In the style of Dixieland Jazz. Note. Brian also plays a banjolele in the song.
Can’t wait 💕🌟
Seaside Rendezvous always reminds me to "Singing in the Rain" Gene Kelly.
A fun and enjoyable reaction to a fun and enjoyable song. I love your imagination and the visual imagery you get when hearing certain music. Looking forward to the future Queen songs.
I love to sing along to this song! It’s so fun. And it’s all in his imagination!!!! 😊😊😊
This song reminds me of walking along Brighton Pier during a family holiday, and the musical elements also remind me of old cockney music-hall songs (which as a child I discovered via the TV show "The Good Old Days".) That little rising and falling pattern near the start of the "instrumental" is similar to the " 'Ave a banana!" line that was often used to underscore the saucy innuendos. =:o}
Freddie’s knowledge of chord structure, harmonies, melodies, his compositional brilliance and dexterity, is in pop music, somewhat unparalleled. His piano playing was always underrated. And then, his voice. Not only his perfect falsetto, perfectly executed vibrato, his perfect transition from chest voice to head voice, and back and forth…his ability to sing perfectly in tune and in time with himself. Not only supremely gifted, but a gym rat, that obviously did so much woodshedding. By this point, he was daring anyone to compete with him, and they still haven’t.
I love your reviews. I think it is very cool that you are such a nerd and get so excited analyzing the music. I am actually a retired soldier with multiple combat tours but I am also a music nerd who sings with a symphony chorale and is majoring in collaborative piano. It is fun to see someone who analyzes songs like I do. BTW, if you liked seaside rendezvous, check out Benny the bouncer. by elp. Not as whimsical as seaside but really fun to play and very honky tonk.
This album is one of my favorites of all time. I love the mixing of styles throughout.
Don't forget the Marx Brothers' 1935 movie A Night at the Opera! Several songs on this album have connections to that film. Very much so for Seaside Rendez-Vous. Thank you for your very enjoyable videos!
I remember buying my first Queen LP. Sheer Heart Attack. A similar song to Sea Side... Is Leroy Brown. It was a wonderful experience listening to Queen back then in 1975. Y❤our reaction and explanation of these songs, has re kindled these wonderful happy feelings! Thank You❤
In the 1930's it was fashionable to fly to Monte Carlo and Cannes for the season (of events and grand balls and celebrities'). This could explain some references. But there are also a lot of references to the British seaside styles and seafront entertainments, including at the end, I suggest, the iconic 'Kiss Me Quick' hat (which brings us back to the UK with a bump)! There's an old TV series called 'Good Companions' (1980) which reflects this 'end of the pier show' culture nicely. I always interpreted this one as enjoying the (UK) beach promenade and having SUCH a good time that you begin wondering whether you could develop it into a whole lifestyle, flying or sailing around (Europe) just 'promenading' in different places.
Oh yes, and one more vote to look at 'Prophet's song' before you move on! (lot's of meat for you to digest, I think)
Thank you, Amy, for your critique on Seaside Rendezvous. I think Freddie did about 3 songs with that 1920s-1930s flair. This song reminds me of Brighton Beach in the UK. I can see the huge gazebo with rag time musicians playing. Freddie's voice reminds me of Rudy Vallee singing through his megaphone in the 1920s (I'm old, but not that old...just remember old movies...ruclips.net/video/bvBsx7mhaBk/видео.html). Can't you just see the men in their one piece modest bathing suits, ladies in their bloomer or long one piece swim suits, ladies with headbands with feathers, parasols, spats on men's shoes? Everyone is happy and having a lovely time after the end of WWI.
I'd say the end part is Very English, rather than American... It' reminds me the "kiss me quick (squeeze me slow) hats" which were sold at the seaside in the 1950's.
Can we take a moment to remember that without Roy Thomas Baker (producer), Mike Stone (engineer) and Gary Lyons (engineer) this album would not exist? Yes Queen wrote and performed the songs but the producer and engineers had a good deal of creative input into the final result. It kinda bugs me that Amy never acknowledges the talents of producers and engineers.
Queen themselves were co-producers. Of course Roy Thomas Baker and Mike Stone were very important to band. But they made albums without them as well.
I would suggest giving a listen to "The prophet song" being one of the more remarkeble song on the album, Writen by Brain May haveing changes of timestamps, special guitar section using mutipule guirar layers and mostly, an amazing delay a-capela section by Freddie.
A sua reação é tão divertida e a analise é tão boa, por favor nunca pare
I kept seeing this as an old postcard turning into a black and white scene, and then it gets colorized in glorious pastels as motion is introduced. Old style movie reel that moves too fast, like in silent movies, with a dandy like Fred Astaire mixed with Bertie Wooster flirting with a pretty young woman, illustrating with large gestures as they walk along the beach (well, he certainly dances a step or two from time to time!). It may be a result of having watched a lot of BBC comedies, especially "Jeeves and Wooster" , Benny Hill, anything Monty Python, and even a dash of "Absolutely Fabulous", but if the video has not been made yet, there's my script!
queen es uno de las mejores bandas no solo del rock sino de la historia de la musica en unos 10 años mas sera estudiada lo que hicieron traspaso la musica popular y en una epoca donde para triunfar tenias que ser realmente extraordinario solo hay que pensar que estaban los led zepellin deep purple rolling stones the beatles en fin una serie de musicos que eran brillantes tal vez fue una de las mejores epocas de la musica rock desde los 30 a principios del 2000 y en toda esta gama de musicos creativos y geniales queen era uno de los mas grandes , es una lastima que la musica bajara tanto de calidad despues del 2000 pero como dijo alguien por ahi cada generacion merece la musica que tiene y la generacion de queen fue la mejor y la banda una de las mas grandes que han pisado este planeta , freddie te fuiste muy pronto quien sabe que piezas mas nos habrias regalado pero con las que dejaste los que amamos la musica nos regocijamos gracias queen por tanto
i believe john lennon said, "give us a kiss" to the uptight businessman on the train in the beatles' movie "a hard days night",so it's a very british saying. btw happy birthday, john! (83 IF...)
"A Night at the Opera" and "A Day at the Races" are names of Marx Brothers films, the connection is obvious.
Great ! Grotesque (a french word), Freddie would have like it, that's exactly him, he loved excess and wasn't afraid to cross borders…
I've always thought "I feel like dancing in the rain" was referencing Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain dance routine from the same 1952 movie.
Hi 👋 Miss Amy,
A fantastic analysis of a masterpiece of creative music with a pinch of sapid irony. I tough (when he sings “dancing in the rain ☔️) that drum stick short burst of strikes wants to imitate kind of tip tap dance step into a puddle, rather then the patter of the rain.
Anyway they are absolute genius.
And I’m pretty sure you will really enjoy “the prophet’s song” because it’s such a complete song, a real opera adventure. Thank you again for your RUclips channel
I have a feeling Amy is going to be hideously disappointed when she hits the 80s with Queen, when synthesizers come in, and innovation and complexity go out. Queen wrote some good, straight-ahead pop songs in the 80s, but they pale in comparison to the startling ambition of their work in the 70s.
Yet another great reaction and analysis, Amy!
It took them 3 wks to do Bo Rap
I think this was Freddie rewarding Roger with a bit of fun!
Ey-yup! 😜
This song is unlike Queen, but at the same time only Queen would do something like this.
People say Don't stop me now is the most happy song, i think this is.
You say that you can picture the beach, one of their videos is all old beach videos in England.
This song always puts me in mind of silent movies of the early film era... Harold Lloyd et al... I remember watching them as a kid in the mid 70s they were always on BBC TV and wondered if Freddie was influenced by them.
I drove my mother crazy listening to Queen on repeat. Then I discovered Yes. You should give them another try with And You and I.
It's a madcap romp!!! If this had been released in the roaring 20s it would have been considered the cats pajamas (I looked up 1920s slang, I still hear this term and its meaning hasn't changed).
I always get the impression of a young man dressed to the 9's in white strides, a boating jacket, boater hat and walking cane trying his darnedest to impress and express his feelings for the young lady he's taken out for a walk along the seaside promenade, set sometime in the Edwardian period. He makes so many suggestions and is showing off to her by using French phrases, and she's being a little bit standoffish, which is why he's laying on the charm in bucket-fulls. The song itself is very reminiscent of the Vaudeville style of old music hall, that would exaggerate that which is being expressed, usually for comic effect.
You omitted '39 from this album, which might have given another example of a different genre of music, (folk music), and an opportunity to hear Brian singing. The subject matter of the song being an interesting one that pertained to the fact that Brian studied Astrophysics and would later become a PhD in the subject, years later. But, then we can't have it all.
You have some great observations about Queen songs that I haven't heard any other RUclips reactor make.
Studying a few backing tracks to become more formilure with how difficult to build the songs recorded in the 60s and 70s.
Oh what a treat for your fans and for queen fans cannot wait to watch love you
First time i heard this song but i did like it, very happy and it remaninds me the 30's and early cartoons and yes, it sounds american not european, well surprise, surprise all the time, about this firstime listen of this song.