covering *gasp* Bohemian Rhapsody...

[todegard]

There's no rule. Don't let anyone tell you there is. If you want to do it, you go for it.
The song isn't hard do play. The vocals are the challenge.
If you're a cover band, you could do like Queen and have the choir section on tape.
If it's an originals band, my tip is doing it your way. Be original.

Tommy

 

[lfmn16]

There's no rule. Don't let anyone tell you there is. If you want to do it, you go for it.
The song isn't hard do play. The vocals are the challenge.
If you're a cover band, you could do like Queen and have the choir section on tape.
If it's an originals band, my tip is doing it your way. Be original.

Tommy

+1

My only rule is "don't sound bad." You'll never sound like Queen, just don't suck. As long as you do a good job, you'll be fine. I think that some people on this forum think that audiences are much more discriminating than they actually are.

 

[twocargar]

What about the Far Corporation doing Stairway to Heaven?

 

[bound'n'blocked]

I was working sound for an all girl band called "Mustang Sally" once who did Bohemian Rhapsody and it was insane. They did the entire thing, middle operatic part and all and it absolutely killed. Crowd totally dug it. There are a few youtube vids of it around.

LOL, one of the few songs you can slow dance AND fast dance to!

BnB

 

[powderfinger]

We are an original band... and an idea I've come up with is to possibly.... instead of having vocals.... possibly pulling a Jeff Beck, and having the guitarist play the melody (ie words) on guitar. This is going to take some time, and effort... and brain storming, but I wanna make it happen.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

The reason Stairway shouldn't be covered is that it would, quite simply, be a dance floor killer. Actually, a good amount of the Zepplin catalog, particuarly their later stuff, isn't great setlist material for a cover band.

Freebird, on the other hand, is an awesome tune for covering, particuarly if you have good players in the band and can nail it.

 

[Sheldon681]

Another great version by a 4-piece.... Bohemian Rhapsody - Signal Hill - YouTube

 

[RDUB]

Did it in a 5 piece band back in the late 70's. Always brought the house down. Great lead singer, and 4 of us singing well arranged backups.

 

[CrashMiller]

Frank Zappa broke the rules, and had a great (and equally bizarre) cover of Stairway.

I wish "Come Together" and "War Pigs" were added to the rules. I've heard so many bands cover them badly that I barely like the originals anymore.

 

[Unrepresented]

One of our competitors does it (or did it, at least)

I will not comment on it, just share the link:

BROTHER - Queen - Boheimian Rhapsody.MPG - YouTube

Whether they could pull off Bohemian Rhapsody is up for debate. Whether their lead vocalist could pull off those jeans (~1.46) is clearly not debatable.