Queen, My Melancholy Blues - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction
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- Опубліковано 16 лют 2024
- #queen #freddiemercury #johndeacon #rogertaylor #brianmay
What a special piece of music! I enjoyed this one a lot, and I’m still fascinated by the combination of Queen-esque dramatic qualities with its gentle elegance.
Here’s the link to the original song by Queen:
• Queen - My Melancholy ...
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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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I really enjoyed this reaction and happy you enjoyed this so much. Great choice Vlad. Really descriptive language and characterizations Amy for this softer jazz style of blues. I think of this as jazz blues (more jazz than blues) or cocktail jazz, which I think your Broadway blues description captures, since it did make its way into Broadway. A more sophisticated style with more jazz style chord voicings and harmonization, rather than just the heavier I-IV-V blues style that had a big impact on rock. You sometimes hear this style played on upright bass (double bass), although John Deacon's electric bass works very well here. Roger Taylor's drums sound softer and less intrusive since he plays with brushes, which is also common in these gentler styles.
They even went further with their live killers version of "dreamers ball"
and some reminiscence from Gershwin stlye!
John used his Fender Precision fretless bass for this song (the same one he used for the live version of '39, rather than the double bass he used on the album version). I agree with your comment - the bass he used in this song is very expressive and works well.
@@toddmathers5075 Wikipedia stats that he used a fretted bass in studio, and a fretless in live performances
@@danb2TJ My source is the book “Queen All the Songs.” I’ll take it over Wikipedia.
Freddie was one of those outrageous talents, where you were just grateful he came along in your lifetime.
Well said
Yes!
So true and well said
There will never be another, nobody today has the versatility and stage presence of Freddie. #LOML
I don't see what difference it makes whether a timeless talent came along in your lifetime or not?
"Every time I do this I try and put on my Ella Fitzgerald voice. One day it'll happen." - Freddie Mercury, after performing My Melancholy Blues in Toronto on the 21st November 1977, News of The World Tour
One of my favorite Queen’s tracks. When Freddie sits at the piano the magic is on
Freddie's vocal and piano are wonderful in this one
Queen really showed off their diversity with this album.
One more masterpiece from queen! This song demonstrates how many-sided were Queen at composing music and how versatile was Freddy's voice!
One of Freddies
And johns bass!
I forgot Roger!
Albums were always diverse
But each tended to have their own styles
"It's Late" is another masterpiece from that album.
Just like on the album I never separate these two gems.
Yep - I really love "it's late"!
"It's late" is one of my absolute favourite from Queen. I love it❤
Drummer Roger Taylor's use of brushes adds to the nostalgia.
The thing about Queen is that they could have this song and "Get Down, Make Love" on the same album and do them both full on, true to their respective forms. That sort of range in a pop/rock group is rare.
This is absolutely beautiful, one of my all time favorites. Freddie's voice is perfection. Great reaction
Freddie wrote My Melancholy Blues 🥰
Quote: "A stage presentation of an Intimate scene." That's a great way to explain how Freddie was a showman singing such a beautiful song. I LOVE the Jazz style. Freddie was a great Singer Songwriter. I've been playing this album since it's release and now I Listen to it with a new perspective. Thanks again for doing what you do best.
Freddie would have loved that he stirred the words Aretha and Franklin from you x
This song always felt to me like Freddie was playing the 1930s nightclub singer, draped over the piano in some smoky speakeasy. Love it.
Yes. This. Exactly this!!
Houston 1977 be like:
Funny thing is, Roger's drumming is ever present throughout this too!
… and just right ✌🏼
Having played in various blues/country swing/jazz bands for 30+ years this is my music of choice. Fabulous.
This is the kind of song that the Piano Man of Billy Joel would be playing in that old club, in front of John, Paul and Davy ( who probably is still in the navy ) and the rest of the crowd. What a beautiful song.
Imagine hearing that in small club.
I think Blues, in this case, represents a mood more than a music style. The song certainly has some blues inspiration but I feel it is closer to Jazz in style. Smokey Jazz is how I describe it. Great reaction as always. Appreciation!
Just an absolutely stellar song...
Freddie's talent was immeasurable.
He even downplayed his talent on the piano, but just listen to this.
One of my all time favorites by the band...or, Freddie in this case.
Happy you enjoyed this, and your wonderful take on it. 😊
45 years a Queen fan, and I believe this is my favorite of all their songs. I never tire of hearing it. My only complaint is that it really is too short. Every time I hear it, I want that piano outro to go on for another 2 minutes plus. You just can't get enough of that progression.
Yes I know how you feel, the only way to help me is listening to many of his songs on 1 hour loop videos/audios on UA-cam
Freddie plays the piano so beautifully in this song. It makes me oddly proud of him somehow (as though I have any right to feel that). I love this. Just another example of the crazy versatility of Queen.
True. So very true. Of all of the times in history that I could have been born in, I’m so very grateful that I was born a time when I could hear the music of Freddy Mercury.
On BBC version, Brian May added guitar solo, so gentle...
„He had a wonderful touch on the piano, Freddie. Really he didn’t think he did, you know? He was very depricating about his piano playing and in later years really didn’t do any of it. He played less and less piano, because he wanted to run around and deliver it to the audience, which he did so magnificently. He didn’t have the classical range, but he could play what came from him, inside him, like nobody else -with incredible rhythm, incredible passion and feeling.” - Brian May
he played less piano on stage with time to be able to run around the stage (a pity for me) but piano was always his key instrument to compose music
TY for this comment from Brian
Perfectly stated by Brian.
Yes. This has always been one of my absolute faves. Thank you. It's so wonderful to see the music touching you the way it always has me.
I always envision Freddie sitting at the piano in a dark dive with a spotlight only on him and his cigarette burning out in the ashtray and then I snap to and realize I’ve just listened to a little masterpiece unstudied probably just played for the first time with no thought to which note goes where …… Thank you Amy 🌷 You are the most incredible musician and I’m so grateful you like Freddie
This is Freddie following The Millionaire's Waltz, now his excess vodka and champagne has worn off and his crush has buggared off without him.
@@YourBeingParanoidPerfect ✌🏼
This is one of the finest sing in the bathtub songs ever!
Freddie's 'blues' are a bit more jazzy to me. Doesn't matter - that lad could sing & compose in so many styles like nobody's business. This one is so cool. A smokey little dive-bar, the trio of Freddie, John, and Roger playing softly in the corner of the dancefloor. Tip jar on the piano. Requests taken. :)
Queen - making the extremely hard seem easy
So true ✌🏼😊
Wow ❤ beautiful sweet Freddie 😍 this has to be my favorite Freddie song 🎉❤ thank you Vlad😅
Amy, there is one thing you absolutely NEED to do for us! I enjoy many music reactors reacting to plenty of songs and artists, but by about a Million Miles my favourite is your reactions to Queen! When you are finished your journey through your fifty Queen songs you need to immediately embark on the second series of Fifty songs by Queen to react to!! I Thank you and Vlad for all you do and especially for agreeing to my request!!
First time I have noticed Rogers gentle touch on the drums, Freddie's voice is so mesmerizing.
"And this is the time I can relax for a moment," thought Brian as he sipped his wine in the corner of the room.
One of my favourite Queen tracks. Used to play over and over on my parents stereo oh so many years ago.
Japanese influence in piano introduction... Please, react to Teo Torriatte from A Day at the Races album 😁✋
Thank you, Amy and Vlad, for reminding.me of this perfect little Freddie Mercury gem. It sounds like Freddie is channeling the emotion of Billie Holiday with the vocal technique of Ella Fitzgerald and his own unique virtuosity. Your enjoyment and joy is contagious!
Billie would have been great singing this… and Ella of course.
I adore this one. I’m so glad you covered this one! Such talent, I mean Freddie can make me feel sad, excited, maudlin, enthralled, just any way he wanted with his voice and piano playing & with the band added, it’s magic. It’s incredible. Can’t wait for you to listen. Your observations are always enlightening. ❤
My mental picture as drawn by Queen after hearing this song is of a tuxedoed Freddie sat in heavy drizzle at a grand piano at the edge of ocean in a English resort with his bow tie draped over the piano and the customary champagne glass more full of rain than champagne; it is late autumn, a heavy low mist muffles everything and misery is everywhere- but Freddie will deal with it his way, and so My Melancholy Blues. I can't keep saying it's one of my favourite Queen songs as they all are.... but this one reaches right into your heart and plucks your heart strings like a harp.
First, I am loving this series, and the songs picked out for listening are wonderful. You guys have been doing a fantastic job.
Second, as other people have said in their comments, I too have a visual image of this song. Mine is set in the early 1940's, a cold fall evening about 1:00 AM in New York City. You are walking on your way home, but just don't feel like going home. You see a green neon light on a store front "Jazz Club". You walk through the door and go down five steps to the lobby, pay your $1 entry fee and walk into the club. A bar to the side, and the modest-sized room is filled with small circular tables with a small lamp on each table. The club is only half full and cigarette smoke is hanging over the room near the ceiling. You buy a cocktail from the waiter (which is watered down of course). On the small single-tiered stage is a piano, upright bass, and a small drum kit. The band is sitting at the bar on their last break of the night. They soon make their way back to the stage and begin with My Melancholy Blues.
thanks for doing this song Amy, just great!!
A great review of a fabulous song and I love the fact that you can hear Freddy breathing, it sounds like it was sung mostly or entirely in one take rather than multiple takes edited together afterwards.
Great comment 😊
Another beautiful song of Freddie’s takes me to a place where I feel calm, relaxed and just want to enjoy life for the moment..
How I love this piece of music, txs for the analysis. Brilliant was usual.
Great reaction! It really feels as if you enjoyed this song, you excitement is contagious! Freddie's singing is exquisite. This song lies in a very difficult place to sing. It is a popular song for female vocalist to cover because it has a high tessitura, but the low notes can be a challenge. In most male covers the song is usually transposed, but again then the low notes might become too low. In the live versions of the song, Freddie usually added more piano flourishes which I really enjoy.
I’m really glad you picked up on certain details. Aretha Franklin was one of Freddie’s favourite singers (You’ve got a friend was played at his funeral I believe, but don’t quote me on that) and parts of the I Want To Break Free video from 1984 have been inspired by Debussy’s “Apres midi d’un faune”. Freddie was certainly aware of the connections you’re making.
Many observe that this is not representative of the blues genre. Freddie often did things “tongue in cheek” & to me the “blues” reflects mood/mindset rather than genre.
As for it being dramatic…well it’s Freddie. And when we have love sick moods it’s usually all drama now isn’t it? lol
They each respected each others songs. The writer had ultimate say on how a song should be recorded. 😮
“It’s clearly for the piano & it lives & breathes at the piano”
Well said. The piano was extension of Freddie & whenever he sat down the piano on stage it was special.
Having said that there are plenty of blue notes in this song.
@@psychonaut689 agreed, although I’m no expert!
I was waiting from the beggining for this one. My Melancholy Blues is a beautiful gem. Thanks!. Great analysis as usual!
A couple of lines that I've always liked: when he sings "I want to be intoxicated by that special brew" he's probably referring to Carlsberg Special Brew, a very strong lager, also that he sings "bwew" rather than "brew" - a very fey English pronunciation, the people who speak like this tend not to drink that. Also the line "I'm in the news" almost sounds like "I'm in the nude"... getting "used to this new exposure" - very neat: he's winking at us, this is what Freddie does so well.
Freddie truly was winking at us… one of the things I love most about him 😉
Amy, watched all your Queen reviews. Seems to me that you're slowly but surely falling hook line & sinker for Freddie and the bands hypnotic and incredible music ❤❤❤. Looking forward to the next half 👍
LOL, the way you were swaying and moving to the music made me think the Juilliard School had courses in Burlesque! 😅😂
I want to honour Brian May on this one; for getting out of the way and letting this happen. Some musicians wouldn't have it.
So beautiful and full of genuine warmth and grace is this song.
"A stage presentation of an intimate scene" was an exceptional observation. It encapsulated the performance perfectly. It was like a Broadway scene interpretation of the actual event. To me, it described the feeling as opposed to feeling the feeling, sort of like scratching an itchy foot through your shoe.
I would recommend the incredible song "Nevermore" from Queen 2
Wonderful! So glad you reacted to this special song of Freddie's. When I bought the album on its release in 1977, my mom said the chorus reminded her of "Sally" by Gracie Fields.
The piece does seem to take a nod to Gershwin indeed. Loved this album closer.
yes! especially the piano intro
@@danb2TJ understood, for the second half of each verse reminds me of things Gershwin would do as a writer, which is why I noted ir.
Melancholy blues , thank you Amy.
❤ Hi Amy, didn't see this one comming, but here we are...
I allways thought of this song in a more observing manner... watching someone in a bar, sitting alone being sad or melancholic, and interpreting what he feels, what he has gone through... not his emotions, but my emotions watching him... not knowing what was going on but filling up the gaps by emagining his soul...
And than make a song about it...
Stuff that only a few of us can do....
Great to hear this one and I love your analysis I think you are spot on. Just a beautiful song.
I always loved this track. In fact, I remember learning to play it on piano when I was a teenager. Kind of a "party piece." Regarding the tone of the piece that you were speaking of - I find this to be yet another example of what Freddie Mercury does so well. The songs that are written especially stylized genre (Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon, Seaside Rendez-Vous, Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy, and so on. And especially Bohemian Rhapsody). It always has a level of parody; tongue-in-cheek, a sidelong wink. But he nails those styles so precisely and composes them with such skill that, despite the parody, they don;t come off like a joke. We know it's parody, but we take it completely seriously in musical terms. There's always something audacious about Freddie Mercury. That's how I'd describe this song, and others, in a nutshell.
There are many good live versions of this, i.e. Long beach 1977 and Houston 77
What a cool piece of art is this? I think you used the right word sayng 'Queen-esque' style.. a real personalistic style that went on till their end with few songs per albums that speak so much about the unique style that this band propoused in their 20 years long carreer and that never stop also with the changing of the times and the changing of all the muscic in general. Basically you can find something like this in every album by Queen, in 1974 like in 1991, with not change in the style.. that's just unique and magnifique.. and basically tahth's why i love Queen so much.. just because they are not a band, they are a Rock genre..
Excellently stated and observed about Queen. They’re definitely not a copycat band. True to themselves and their passion for music.
Love your comment ! I agree completely 🌷
@@dianecourtney2724 thanks X🙂🙂
Just a lovely track love you
Hi 👋 Mrs. Amy, I could listen to this song fifteen times and not be bored of it. They’re absolute genius, everybody knows it. It’s a postcard or a movie in our mind: am I the only one who listening to the song gently floating, imagined a smoky Jazz club an old pianist playing for the young woman in front of him with a rose in her hand that somebody (older than her) gave her?
If you liked it you should listen to the beautiful and funny “ Dreamer’s Ball”!!
Fingers crossed for Dreamer’s Ball!
@@ellet6560
I agree 100%..
I'm still disappointed because “the channel” didn't have the reaction (in terms of technical and artistic musical analysis) of "the prophet song"... here around we say "talking to the daughter-in-law so that the mother-in-law will understand" 😜
Oh yes! My favorite DB performance is Live in Paris, 1979.@@ellet6560
I enjoyed this, lesson
My fav since years. 🙋♂️🙋♂️😍
Intimate is the key word of this song: to me it seems as if the listener is sitting on one of the chairs after the party, when everyone has already left, the last glass in hand, and secretly "steals" this moment
This sounds like some torch song from some movie from '30's or '40's or as Amy put it "Broadway Blues", perhaps by the Gershwins. Easy to imagine this as a standard in piano bars. I can think of someone like the late Bobby Short playing it in his set at The Carlyle. So many of Queen's songs seem like they were meant for Broadway.
Agree! The piano intro reminds me Gershwin. I think maybe Amy doesn't know that jazz style
What I love about this song, is that if all you heard was the piano playing without any singing, you would know it was played by Freddie. You wouldn't need to be an expert to do it.
That was part of his uniqueness: he was so distinctive at everything he did!
It is easy to imagine to hear a different version of this song with Mays layered guitars added... why they decided to NOT use guitars in this song speaks volumes of their willingness to take chances, and not stick to the "formula" that had been so successful..., great video...I hadnt heard this song before, and enjoyed every bit of your analysis! Keep up the good work!
Loved your reaction. When i first heard this song i imagined watching freddie performing this in a smoky lounge with the lights dimmed down low and a champagne glass on top of the piano, men in suits and hats courting cabaret women one of whom has one of those long cigarette holders with a red scarf around her neck. This song fits that image somehow, to me anyways.
I think and feel that Freddie Will be pleasent to meet you...and you also🎉 Goo job Vlad😊
As a bi man, this has always been my favorite Mercury composition.
The sad twink Heartbreaker getting his heart broken by some other Heartbreaker for the first time. Even if he wasn't writing this from a gay perspective, I feel it a lot more on this track than on some of his other ballads.
It just really feels like one of the queen tracks that literally no one else could have written, but at the same time feels so timeless, like it's always been there.
Always loved that bass tone too, it reminds you that it's still Queen. Love the way it doesn't quit walk, but more glides under and over the track.
I think Freddie must have been clearly influenced by the soundtrack from the movie Cabaret featuring Liza Minnelli. It was one of the few records he had in his collection at the time the band was just starting out. Liza Minnelli also sang we Are The Champions at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.
I also believe that the German accents from the movie were the primary influence for Freddie's mock German accent for a couple of lines in the song millionaire Waltz .
At a Queen fanclub day, Freddie's butler - Peter Freestone - told us Freddie wrote this song deep in the night. Freddie woke him up because he wanted some tea but couldn't figure out how the microwave works. Funny huh? Such a brilliant and talented person and then trying to make tea with a microwave 🤣
..... probably couldn't tie his own shoelaces.....!!!
Freestone only started working for him in 1979, long after this song had been written and recorded.
@@basstian Peter has more of those strong stories, some about the cats too. He's very entertaining, this might have happened later, since there were microwaves in 1977 but not in common use yet 😁
@@Single-PringleMicrowaves predate both Freestone and Mercury, but my point is there's no way he was there when the song was written. He may have heard some anecdotes from those who, unlike him, were present. He was certainly there for songs written from Hot Space onwards, but not earlier than that. If he told that story, it may have been about another tune, or it may have been about something he didn't personally witness.
@@basstian ah! we agree. The timeline is sus. It might be another song, or what you say - something he heard. When he told the story it was already several decades ago. Although the time is off, he was totally enjoying telling the story. He's a very entertaining story teller 😁
THANK YOU
It does feel like youre listening to Freddie sitting at a table at a piano bar. I kind of like better the live at the BBC version. It feels just a bit closer to you ear. This is a song that is not known by the mass but that definitely supplies another dimension of this band that has so many faces.
One of my favorite songs ❤.
My favourite Queen song
It's Freddie's Ella Fitzgerald moment, I've always heard that and would have loved to hear her sing it.
This was a great, winding down way of ending this album. Images of Freddie in some smoky club with Roger using brushes on the drums and the odd interjection from John. Brian taking the night off! Unsurprisingly mellow for the subject matter, but with a slightly playful, (wink to one side), sound coming from Freddie, in that he's giving his own interpretation of what he wants to express as a blues song. Never taken too seriously, but also with enough to be convincing, if you so choose to go along with it. Working on so many levels. It glides along perfectly and, as with so many other Queen songs, is over all too soon. It could have done with another minute or so on the end of it, but there you are.
Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday comes to mind with a little of Marlene Dietrich vibe.
IT'S LATE NEXT PLEASEEEEEEEE
It's been already🎉
She hasn't done "Its Late" and now its too late as she's moving on to Jazz.@@pedroascensao1554
can't wait for '39
Well, doesn't Queen deserve more than 50 songs to react to?
YES 🥰
Well she startwd cause we were celebrating Queens 50 anniversary of the second album of queen ( my favourite)
Most times, in my point of view, every album there is a corresponding or alternative song to one Freddie song by Brian. In this case, hopefully it's in your future list on the next Jazz album with Dreamer's Ball in which Brian plays so many layers of guitar solos with settings to simulate many musical instruments, but Freddie is the singer.
On a previous song on this album that you did, it's not Freddie but John who has a corresponding/alternative song by Brian on the future album, The Game where Brian wrote it, and plays the piano intro, with Freddie singing. Save me.
These are only my opinions of these two song combos.
And the one album that was skipped, an entire album side is Freddie, and all but one song on the other side is Brian.
I'm slightly disappointed that "It's Late" wasn't one of the songs from "News of the World" that was featured. But oh well, can't have them all. 🙂
Amy, I challenge you to perform a full harp cover of this song! 😁😁😁
Vlad, check out the track lists on the
Queen compilation albums “Deep Cuts 1-3.” These were selected by Brian and Roger as being the best of the best Queen tunes that were not the commonly known radio tunes.
They truly demonstrate the astonishing depth and breadth of talent and musicality of all of the Queenies as songwriters and performers.
Highly recommended, especially
because of the careful curation by Brian and Roger.
Why has no one mentioned that seductive bass!!!
True story. I missed one question on the English part of the SAT. I had no idea what melancholy meant at the moment. Now I was, accidentally, frying on acid. As I walked out trying to remember what it meant, the guy who asked me the night before, just after I took the acid, if I was taking the SAT in the morning and drove me was playing this song.😂
Sounds like a classic "jazz nocturne", Strange it just fades, maybe they just played with the tape running and decided it was perfect.
It's a torch song in the style of Harold Alden or Cole Porter.
Two of the greatest 😊
I have been waiting for this song for so long. Tq Amy. ❤❤❤.
This just isn't a Blues. Don't get fooled by the titled. This is a Jazzy Broadway ballad. It's theater.
Queen had a knack for using words in an atypical way, like calling their epic Rock song a Rhapsody and calling a whole album without any Jazz songs on it "Jazz".
Well Bo Rap is a rhapsody!
@@bluebell3720 Maybe, but that word is typically used for pieces like this: ua-cam.com/video/4MU_lmwIPwM/v-deo.html
I’m sure I heard an interview with Brian where he said the meaning of JAZZ was in the sense of “All That Jazz” for those not familiar with that term it means roughly “And all the stuff associated with something that is too long to list here the equivalent of et al and etc”. This could be backed up with the last song “More OF That Jazz” - which is literally more of that stuff. They had their new influences which included their new swampy blues/jazz sounds
I'm thoroughly enjoying your Queen odyssey, a shame that you missed out "Its Late" from the News of the World section its the best song on the album for me.
I highly recommend you to have a listen of the bands Queensrÿche and Fates Warning, both pionners of progressive metal in the 80's/90's.
Queensrÿche - I Dream in Infrared
Fates Warning - At Fates Hands
You won't be disapointed!
You can hear the a couple of same chord voicing in Bohemian Rhapsody. What are they? Such as the ending 6:20
The cut off is weird in this song. deserved to have a bit more fade out.