Barcelona (Album)
Occupation
- Freddie Mercury: Vocals, Arrangement
- Montserrat Caballé: Voice
- Mike Moran: Keyboard, Arrangement
- John Deacon: Bass in How Can I Go On?
- Homi Kanga: violin in Barcelona
- Laurie Lewis: violin in Barcelona
- Deborah Ann Johnston: Cello in Barcelona
- Barry Castle: Horn in Barcelona
- Frank Ricotti: Percussion in Barcelona
- Madeline Bell, Debbie Bishop, Lance Ellington, Miriam Stockley, Peter Straker, Mark Williamson, Carol Woods: Backing vocals in The Golden Boy
Barcelona is a 1988 released album of Freddie Mercury, lead singer of British rock band Queen, and the Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballé. It is Mercury's second and at the same time last independently -established by Queen album. It is named after the 1987 appeared as a single title song Barcelona. During the 1992 Summer Olympics, a half year after Mercury's death, the album was released again with a different cover. This new edition proved to be commercially successful than the original edition. As a single CD album in Europe will no longer be reissued. In 2000 it appeared as part of the Freddie Mercury The Solo Collection box sets or solo.
To mark the 25th anniversary appeared on September 3, 2012 Barcelona - The Special Edition.
Prehistory
Mercury, who had always been very interested in Classical Music and Opera, visited in 1981, the London Royal Opera House, especially to Luciano Pavarotti in the play Un Ballo in Maschera to look by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.
Caballé also had a role in this performance. After the concert, Mercury was inspired by the Spanish opera singer; both her voice and her appearance had fascinated him. Thereupon, the British rock star bought some plates of Montserrat Caballé.
When Mercury was asked in 1986 in a Spanish radio show which voice intrigued him most, he said surprisingly: " Montserrat Caballé ". Caballé had exactly followed this interview, and then sat her brother - at the same time her manager - with Mercury's manager Jim Beach in connection to suggest to take a classic theme song for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Mercury took the offer.
Mercury was tasked with the support of Mike Moran to write some pieces to include it as a demo and then to present them in a subsequent meeting Caballé.
When the first pieces were done to some extent, to Mercury and Caballé met in a hotel in Barcelona to meet and listen to the newly composed pieces. The songs were at that moment still in a very early stage; no one knew, for example, the melody for now might be used for an opening anthem for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. You just knew that the song " Barcelona ", should read. After the demos Caballé had all listened, and had expressed their opinion of each individual, Mercury suggested to her to make an album directly. Caballé agreed.
Mercury wrote the pieces. As Caballé shortly afterwards in London gave a concert, the Mercury wanted to look at the audience, she spontaneously called him on the stage and they brought together Exercises In Free Love (later Ensueno ) on a piece which Cabelle very well rehearsed to Mercury's surprise had. Thus, the public learned of the project. After this concert Caballé Mercury visited at home, in the Garden Lodge. The two hit it off splendidly and worked together in one night many of their songs further.
Mercury wrote more pieces and perfecting the existing ones. For Ensueno he asked Caballé, contribute the text.
The recordings
When all the pieces were finished elaborated Mercury was faced with the problem that Caballé was scheduled for a long time in advance. It was difficult to find more than two days in the month in which it was not busy. Therefore, Mercury and Moran took the songs completely on ( with his voice, but without the Montserrat ) and then sent to Caballé. This they listened to and then went to her a few days off to London to record their voice.
Shortly before the release of the album came Mercury and Caballé at La Nit occasion of the arrival of the Olympic flag in Barcelona.
Title list
The title of Barcelona is distinguished by a longer intro of the published 1987 ( about 4:25 minutes long ) single version.
Description of individual titles
Barcelona was listed with many other songs on the arrival of the Olympic flag in 1988 by Mercury and Caballe in playback. Mercury at that time had allegedly vocal problems. It was planned that both should perform the song at the Olympic opening ceremony four years later. Mercury's death in 1991 prevented this. The song describes the reverence felt by Mercury for Caballé. He was the only song that was released outside the United Koenig Empire as a single. The single was released as the first before the appearance of the album in 1987 and again in 1992 after Mercury's death.
La Japonaise In this song, Freddie Mercury expresses his admiration for everything Japanese. The text has been translated into Japanese and written specially for the two singers in phonetics.
Ensueno This song, originally called Exercises in Free Love, was translated into Spanish by Caballé. This is the only song in the Mercury in its natural tone of voice, the baritone, sings.
The Golden Boy One of gospel songs on the album. He was one of three British singles.
Overture Picante This song is the overture of the album - in the style of a potpourri overture. So here the main melodies of the album were (as normally occurs in operas and operettas usual) " mixed together ".
How Can I Go On? This song was created with the participation of Freddie's fellow band members John Deacon. He was one of three British singles.