| Barcelona | |||||
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| Studio album by Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé | |||||
| Released | October 10 1988 | ||||
| Recorded | 1987-1988 at Townhouse and Mountain Studios | ||||
| Genre | Rock, Classical Crossover | ||||
| Length | 39:56 | ||||
| Label | Polydor, Hollywood | ||||
| Producer | Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran and David Richards | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Freddie Mercury chronology | |||||
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Barcelona is an album recorded by Freddie Mercury, the front-man of the popular British rock band Queen, and operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé. The album was recorded in 1987 and 1988, and released in 1988. After Barcelona was selected to be the next Olympic city, Freddie was approached to write a song as a theme for the forthcoming games. The idea was to create a duet with Montserrat, as she is from that city. During the initial meetings, Freddie and Montserrat had developed a respect for each others music and voices. They soon decided to work on an album together, with Mercury and Mike Moran taking the creative lead as songwriters.[1] Some opera fans thought the music was too pop influenced. Similarly, some rock fans found it to be far too operatic.
Contents |
Track listing
All songs by Freddie Mercury & Mike Moran, except where noted. Side 1
- "Barcelona" – 5:37
- "La Japonaise" – 4:49
- "The Fallen Priest" (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 5:46
- "Ensueño" (Mercury/Moran/Caballé) – 4:27
Side 2
- "The Golden Boy" (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 6:04
- "Guide Me Home" (Webber/Mercury/Moran) – 4:10
- "How Can I Go On" – 3:51
- "Overture Piccante" – 6:40
Track information
Barcelona
The song was composed by Mercury and includes violins by Homi Kanga and Laurie Lewis, cello by Deborah Ann Johnston, horn by Barry Castle and percussion by Frank Ricotti. It was written to be the theme song of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, but was replaced due to Freddie's death. It was however performed live at the opening by Montserrat, with Freddie's voice recordings. Russell Watson covers it on his album The Voice.
La Japonaise
The song was recorded on 9 November 1987 (an early demo comes from 1 September). Mercury wrote all the lyrics including the ones in Japanese, and sang some parts in falsetto which were kept on the final version.
The Fallen Priest
Originally a virtuoso piano piece by Mike Moran with some high vocals from Mercury, it was named "Rachmaninov's Revenge" (demos come from January 26 and February 19 respectively). Then it was named "The Duet" and finally "The Fallen Priest" when Tim Rice wrote the lyrics for it. Elaine Paige was living with Rice at the time and she was working on an album of Queen covers, which was released a decade later and included Mike Moran conducting the orchestra and making arrangements as well as playing piano and keyboards.
Ensueno
When Mercury first met Caballé on March 1987, he brought in a piece he and Mike Moran had composed called "Exercises In Free Love," to which Caballé added lyrics and became "Ensueño" later on. She asked him to sing it in his baritone voice.
The Golden Boy
This song also included lyrics from Tim Rice as well and was recorded on December 1 1987 (early demos come from May 2 and November 9). The celebrity gospel choir featured Madeline Bell, Debbie Bishop, Lance Ellington, Miriam Stockley, Peter Straker, Mark Williamson and Carol Woods. Peter Straker was Mercury's friend who helped him out with some lyrics of "I'm Going Slightly Mad," and Miriam Stockley sang later on with Brian May.
Guide Me Home
Originally titled "Freddie's Overture", it was one of the last numbers to be written (early 1988).
How Can I Go On
This song comes from spring 1987. On the album it's beginning is seamlessly merged with the end of the previous track. It features John Deacon playing bass.
Overture Piccante
The last track on the album mixes parts of other tracks into a new piece.
Personnel
- Freddie Mercury: Vocals, producer, arranger.
- Montserrat Caballé: Vocals.
- Mike Moran: all keyboards; production, arrangements.
- David Richards: production.
- John Deacon: Bass guitar ("How Can I Go On").
- Homi Kanga: Violin ("Barcelona").
- Laurie Lewis: Violin ("Barcelona").
- Deborah Ann Johnston: Cello ("Barcelona").
- Barry Castle: Horn ("Barcelona").
- Frank Ricotti: Percussion ("Barcelona").
- Madeline Bell: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
- Debbie Bishop: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
- Lance Ellington: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
- Miriam Stockley: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
- Peter Straker: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
- Mark Williamson: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
- Carol Woods: Backing vocals ("The Golden Boy").
Charts
Album
Album Barcelona
| Country | Charts | Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988: | 1992 reissue: | Certification | |||
| Peak position | Weeks | Peak position | Weeks | ||
| Austria | 24 | 6 | – | ||
| Germany | 41 | 18 | – | ||
| Japan | 93 | 1 | |||
| Netherlands | 9 | 22 | |||
| Sweden | 37 | 1 | |||
| Switzerland | 18 | 5 | platinum[2] | ||
| United Kingdom | 25 | 15 | 8 | silver[3] | |
| USA | 6 | – | |||
Singles
Single Barcelona (1987/1992)
| Country | Charts | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | |
| 1987: | ||
| United Kingdom | 8 | 9 |
| Sweden | 15 | |
| Netherlands | 34 | 3 |
| 1992 reissue: | ||
| Netherlands | 2 | 10 |
| United Kingdom | 2 | 8 |
| Switzerland | 8 | 13 |
| Sweden | 12 | |
| Australia | 42 | 3 |
Single The Golden Boy (1988)
| Country | Charts | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | |
| United Kingdom | 80 | |
Single How Can I Go On (1989)
| Country | Charts | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | |
| United Kingdom | 95 | |
External links
References
- ^ Freestone, Peter (1999), Freddie Mercury: An Intimate Memoir By the Man Who Knew Him Best, London: Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711978010
- ^ swisscharts.com.
- ^ BPI. Certified Awards.
