"Don't Stop Me Now" live phrasing help
Jun 1, 2022 11:17:07 GMT
dysan and Sammy B. Willickers like this
Post by bradyrands on Jun 1, 2022 11:17:07 GMT
Hey guys - so I recently joined a show band as a featured male vocalist (the type of band that play weddings, festivals, corporate and business events, restaurants, boardwalks, private house parties, outdoor events, etc.) and we do mostly classic rock, and for me they have learned a ton of Elton John and some Queen.
Due to the early formation of nodules a couple years back, which healed fully but cost me some ease in the upper register, I have to make adjustments to some songs here and there to help keep my voice in check and not reach for notes out of my range. Here's an example of how we do "Somebody to Love" (please note we were still perfecting the song so it wasn't fully "there" yet, and since this recording I've removed a couple extra high bits) www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthuNcr4uqQ
So I was told yesterday at our next gig we were requested to do "Don't Stop Me Now". Obviously this song will go to me and I'm excited at the idea to do it, but this one is one of the songs I'll need to figure out alternate phrasing for in a few spots -- mainly the chorus.
So I'm looking for a good example of Freddie doing the song in 1978/early 1979--not from any of the AWFUL shows--but a tape where his voice is in reasonable shape to get an idea of what his normal choices were to not strain for all the high notes and keep his voice in check. I already know to have the backing vocalists sing the normal melody on the choruses but want to nail down what to sing myself, as well as a couple more intense portions of the verses.
Doing the song is still a *maybe* since we have no prep time, so it could end up that it isn't possible to do given the vocal line or we end up scrapping it either way. But just in case we do I'd like to have a plan so to properly pace myself through the set and not blow the voice too soon. We always end with "Somebody to Love" which has been a complete crowd pleaser and it would be nice to be sure that I've got enough left in the tank after the 11 or so other songs I'll have to do...none of which are easy haha.
Thanks!
Due to the early formation of nodules a couple years back, which healed fully but cost me some ease in the upper register, I have to make adjustments to some songs here and there to help keep my voice in check and not reach for notes out of my range. Here's an example of how we do "Somebody to Love" (please note we were still perfecting the song so it wasn't fully "there" yet, and since this recording I've removed a couple extra high bits) www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthuNcr4uqQ
So I was told yesterday at our next gig we were requested to do "Don't Stop Me Now". Obviously this song will go to me and I'm excited at the idea to do it, but this one is one of the songs I'll need to figure out alternate phrasing for in a few spots -- mainly the chorus.
So I'm looking for a good example of Freddie doing the song in 1978/early 1979--not from any of the AWFUL shows--but a tape where his voice is in reasonable shape to get an idea of what his normal choices were to not strain for all the high notes and keep his voice in check. I already know to have the backing vocalists sing the normal melody on the choruses but want to nail down what to sing myself, as well as a couple more intense portions of the verses.
Doing the song is still a *maybe* since we have no prep time, so it could end up that it isn't possible to do given the vocal line or we end up scrapping it either way. But just in case we do I'd like to have a plan so to properly pace myself through the set and not blow the voice too soon. We always end with "Somebody to Love" which has been a complete crowd pleaser and it would be nice to be sure that I've got enough left in the tank after the 11 or so other songs I'll have to do...none of which are easy haha.
Thanks!
