Cover of Freddie Mercury & Monserrat Caballé Barcelona
claudio123

• Rating:

For fans of freddie mercury, lovers of opera rock and experimental music, and listeners seeking unique vocal collaborations.
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THE REVIEW

Let me start by saying: listening to this album, especially at first glance, is anything but easy, mainly because it is a completely different genre from Queen's albums and Mercury's other solo works.

In fact, this is a too redundant work, where the mere 8 songs have significant lengths, and at times very, very boring (see: "Ensueno," "Guide Me Home," "Overture Piccante"). Something less boring comes with "The Fallen Priest," and at this point, I can move on to the album's positive aspects.

The idea of "La Japonaise" with verses sung in Japanese is definitely original, and the title track is powerful, although, heard too many times, it can become "heavy." The two remaining tracks deserve a separate mention: "How Can I Go On" is surely one of the most emotional songs written by Freddie Mercury; what is regrettable is that the album, not having had much luck, led this song to fade into obscurity. However, the real masterpiece that adds a vote to the album is "The Golden Boy": a multifaceted song with a spectacular performance by Freddie both solo and in dialogue with the choir, even Caballé makes a good contribution to this piece, after having "ruined" a good part of the other songs.

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Summary by Bot

The 'Barcelona' album by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé is a significant departure from Mercury's usual work, with long and sometimes challenging songs. While some tracks can feel redundant or boring, others like 'How Can I Go On' and 'The Golden Boy' shine with emotional depth and impressive vocal performances. The album's originality and powerful moments make it a noteworthy listen despite its mixed reception.

Tracklist Videos

01   Barcelona (05:38)

02   La Japonaise (04:49)

03   The Fallen Priest (05:46)

04   Ensueño (04:21)

05   The Golden Boy (06:04)

06   Guide Me Home (02:49)

07   How Can I Go On (03:51)

08   Overture Piccante (06:39)

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) was a British singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of Queen and for a solo career that included the album “Mr. Bad Guy” and the crossover project “Barcelona” with Montserrat Caballé.
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