Lyrics
/ Q /Queen / Barcelona(1988)
Freddie Mercury
Barcelona 1988
=========
This album constitutes a unique combination of rock and opera. When Freddie
Mercury was interviewed on Spanish television for the Spanish Arts programme
'Informe Semanal' in 1986 he astounded the interviewer by announcing that he was
actually in Barcelona because he wanted to meet Montserrat Caball‚.
The message was heard and nine months later, in March 1987 thanks to efforts
on Pino Sagliocco, Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caball‚ met at the Ritz Hotel
in Barcelona for lunch. Freddie had flown in specially with composer/arranger
Mike Moran and his manager Jim Beach. He had already recorded two songs which
he had specially written for Montserrat Caball‚. He played these songs to her
over lunch and they immediately agreed to record an album together. Th rest of
the afternoon was spent with Freddie Mercury and Montserrat singing at the piano
with Mike Moran in the garden room of the Ritz Hotel. That following Sunday
Montserrat Caball‚ surprised her audience (including Freddie Mercury) by
performing one of the songs 'Exercises in Free Love' as the final encore at her
sold out recital in Covent Garden, London.
Over dinner at Freddie's house in London after that recital, Montserrat
Caball‚ asked him to write a song about her home town Barcelona. The resulting
song 'Barcelona' was recorded in April 1987 and First performed at the Ku Club
in Ibiza 29th May 1987 for inclusion as the finale for the worldwide TV show
Ibiza 92'.
The enormously emotional reception that the song received from the Spanish
crowd spurred Freddie and Montserrat to push on with their project and
'Barcelona' has now fittingly become the title track for this unique album.
FREDDIE MERCURY
Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar.
On moving back to England he eventually went to Ealing College of Art where he
gained a diploma in graphic art. During those college years he met Brian May and
Roger Taylor, eventually joining the group they had started - which was then
completed by John Deacon. Freddie designed the now-famous Queen crest, an
intertwining of the group member's star signs including his own Virgo, and Queen
was born. As Queen's lead singer he has captivated audiences worldwide over the
last 17 years both with recorded and live performances and has performed in 27
countries around the world to live audiences in excess of ten million.
It was not until April 1985 that Freddie Mercury released his first solo album
'Mr. Bad Guy'. There had been one other solo single the previous September,
'Love Kills' - the song from the soundtrack of the 1984 version of Fritz Lang's
classic film, Metropolis.
'Mr. Bad Guy' was softer and in some ways more melodic than Queen material, it
emphasised a side of Freddie that perhaps few would guess at, but which had
always been part of his personality. Certainly the variety of flavours embodied
in the album gave just some ideas of the many musical tatstes that fascinate him
from Brazilian rythyms to symphonic orchestral pieces.
The visual aspects of Freddie's work and the musical have always been
inextricably bound together. The videos of the first three singles from 'Mr.
Bad Guy' plus the subsequent one 'Time' (a track for the stage musical of the
same name, and filmed on the spectacular stage set) and his cover version of the
Platters 30 year old hit 'The Great Pretender' all emphasise his theatrical
genius. He was unique. A flamboyant blend of supreme musical talent and
consummate showmanship. Freddie died at his house in London in November 1991.
He was undoubtedly one of the great creative forces of modern rock music.
MONTSERRAT CABALLE
When listening to the extraordinary vocal technique of Montserrat Caball‚ it is
difficult to believe that she sang for some years before her exceptional
qualities were recognised. However on April 20th 1965 she received the true
recognition due to her when she sang Lucrezia Borgia by Donizetti in Carnegie
Hall. Although virtually unknown in the US beforehand, when the evening was
over she was a star. This huge success resulted in the immediate invitation to
sing at the Metropoliton Opera House, where she made her equally stunning debut
as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust.
Her performances have taken her to the greatest opera houses of the world like
La Scala, Vienna and Paris.
Montserrat Caball‚ has alternated her operatic performances with recitals and
concerts appearing frequently in the great halls of the world. She has sung as
soloist with the world's most prestigious orchestras and conductors such as
Claudio Abbado, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Riccardo Muti and Sir Georg
Solti.
Her repertoire includes well over 100 operas, and she has made over 80
recordings including complete operas, recitals and concerts for all the leading
record companies, and as well she has appeared in many telecasts. Recipient of
many awards and honours, she was given the highest title of the Spanish
government, The Order of Do¤a Isabel La Catўlica, and France honoured her with
the Cross of Commander of Arts and Letters.
1992 sees her perfoming as much as ever. A Zarzuela Gala at the New
Auditorium of Sevilla EXPO 92', two concerts with Mstislav Rostropovich at the
Festival d'Evian, a recital at the R O H, Covent Garden and a new production of
Il Viaggio a Reims to celebrate Rossini's anniversary, the final performance
Gala on July 24th 1992 in the existing theatre of the Glyndebourne Festival
Opera prior to its rebuilding. She is participating in the Opening Ceremony of
the Olympic and paraplegic Games in Barelona 92', a gala concert of the
Centennial for the Grand Regatta Columbus in Liverpool and the opera Semiramide
at the Zurich Opera among others.
@"Barcelona" (Mercury/Moran)
I has this perfect dream
Un sue¤o me envolviў
This dream was me and you
Tal vez est s aquЎ
I want all the world to see
Un instinto me guiaba
A miracle sensation
My guide and inspiration
Now my deam is slowly coming true
The wind is a gentle breeze
El me hablў de ti
The bells are ringing out
El canto vuela
They're calling us together
Guiding us forever
Wish my dream would never go away
Barcelona!
It was the first time that we met
Barcelona!
How can I forget
The moment that you stepped in the room
You took my breath away
Barcelona!
La mЈsica vibrў
Barcelona!
Yella nos uniў
And if god is willing
We will meet again
Someday
Let the songs begin
D‚jalo macer
Let the music play
Ahhhhhhh...
Make the voices sing
Nace un gran amor
Start the celebration
Ven a mi
And cry!
Grita!
Come alive
Viva!
And shake the foundations from the skies
Shaking all our lives
Barcelona!
Such a beautiful horizon
Like a jewel in the sun
Por ti ser‚ gaviota de tu bella mar
Barcelona!
Abre tus puertas al mundo
If god is willing
If god is willing
If god is willing
Friends to the end
Viva!
Barcelona!
@"La Japonaise" (Mercury/Moran)
I feel the power of the stranger inside me
A force of magic surrounds me
This fountain within me is overflowing
Peaceful and inviting
Beautiful and enticing
Rising sun bless me morning with a smile
A magic pearl from the seas
Born in a willow breaze
Loyal friend my guardian angel in the sky
You've served me well all these years
Greeting with both hands trusting with no fears
Till the end
When everything is golden and everything is oh
And everything is oh
My only living treasure on this eartg
When everything is golden
Everything and everyone is oh
@"The Fallen Priest" (Mercury/Moran/Rice)
Free me, free yourself
A life of sacrifice controlled me
But those promises I made
No longer hold me
Mercurial more wayward by the hour
The shackles fall away I'm in your power
Free me, and free yourself
Come to me and let me lead you
I beg you, I beseech you to let go
My heaven is yours
And heaven is all I know
We are mortal
In the hands of God who roll the dice
Searching for an earthly paradise
So hard to find
We are mortal
Victims of our weaknesses and passion
We are reaching for the heights
(I am falling from the heights)
But I promise I would serve
I should be a rock against depravity and sin
Oh no sin no sin
Free yourself, let your life begin
Oh
To yourself be true
I am a man of God
I should not be here with you
Free me we are mortal ah
Come a little closer to the fire
To love and live that one desire
Denial of that love is treason
The love that we make
The force of our lives and it's reason
We are mortal
In the hands of Gods who roll the dice
Searching for an earthly paradise
So hard to find
We are mortal
Victims of our weaknessess and passion.
(I am falling, I am falling we, we are mortal)
Why do I believe in you
You're destroying my world
Hold nothing back
Give me all there is
I want it all
This is all there is
Prisoners of each others love
Prisoners of each others love
@"Ensue¤o" (Mercury/Moran/Caball‚)
En mi sue¤o te vЎ
Tu luz llegaba de tan lejos
Tu voz penetra en mi
Vibra en ti
Vibra en mi
Suavemente me llevaba a ti
OЎ el sonido
Tu voz dulcemente
Me decЎa: "Ven"
"Ven junto a mi"
Volver a vivir
Saber que mi sue¤o no est solo. Alienta en ti
TЈ y yo cantando los dos
Yo so¤aba en ser tu mismo mar, tu mar,
Es peunte de uniўn
De nuestras almas
Vuelan, nos llaman
Al son de eternidad
@"The Golden Boy" (Mercury/Moran/Rice)
The boy had a way with words, he sang, he moved with grace
He entertained so naturally, no gesture out of place
His road in life was clearly ddrawn, he didn't hesistate
He played, they saw, he conquered as the master of his fate.
The girl had an iron soul no-one could recognise
Material ambition that her gentleness disguised
She gave herself to him certain of his fame
Wanted him for luxury, for limelight and his name.
And then he sang to her
I love you for your silence
I love you for your peace
The still and calm releases
That sweep into my soul
That slowly take control
I love you for your passion
I love you for your fire
The violent desire
That burns me in its flame
A love I dare not name
His rise was irresistable - he grew into the part
His explanation simply that he suffered for his art
No base considerations of some glittering reward
The prize was knowing that his work was noticed and adored
I love you for your silence
I love you for your peace
The still and calm releases
That sweep into my soul
That slowly take control
Yes he told the truth
Accepting every honour with a masterly display
Of well rehearsed reluctance to be singled out this way
He started to believe that he was all they said and more
While she forgot - she forgot the reasons she had wanted him before
I love you for your passion
I love you for your fire
The violent desire
That burns me in its flame
A love I dare not name
The still and calm releases
That sweep into my soul
That slowly take control
And when at last they fell apart she wished that she could be
The hardened heart of yesterday, as cynical as he.
By changing for the better, she had changed things for the worse.
The words that made them happy once now echoed ... echoed as a curse.
@"Guide Me Home" (Mercury/Moran)
Now the wind has lost my sail
Now the scent has left my trial
Who will find me
Take care and side with me
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong...
Once more
Where is my star in heaven's bough
WHere is my strength, I need it now
Who can save me
Lead me to my destiny
Guide me home
Safely to my home
Once more
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Once more
But how can I go on?
How can I go on this way...
@"How Can I Go On" (Mercury/Moran)
When all the salt is taken from the sea
I stand dethroned
I'm naked and I bleed
But when your finger points so savagely,
Is anybody there to believe in me
To hear my plea and take care of me?
How can I go on
From day to day
Who can make me strong in every way
Where can I be safe
Where can I belong
In this great big world of sadness
How can I forget
Those beautiful dreams that we shared
They're lost and they're no where to be found
How can I go on?
Sometimes I tremble in the dark
I cannot see
When people frighten me
I try to hide myself so far from the crowd
Is anybody there to comfort me
Lord... take care of me.
How can I go on
From day to day
Who can make me strong in every way
Where can I be safe
Where can I belong
In this great big world of sadness
How can I forget
Those beautiful dreams that we shared
They're lost and they're no where to be found
How can I go on?
Produced by Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran
and David Richards
All songs composed by Freddie Mercury
and Mike Moran except lyrics on
'Ensue¤o' by Montserrat Caball‚ and
lyrics on 'The Fallen Priest' and 'The
Golden Boy' by Time Rice
Assistant engineers: Richard Dodd, John Brough
and Andy Mason
Musical associate: Fevin Townsend
Songs arranged by Mike Moran and Freddie Mercury
All keyboards: Mike Moran
Bass guitar on 'How Can I Go On'
by John Deacon
Assisted pn 'Barcelona' by:
Homi Kanga, Violin; Laurie Lewis, Violin;
Deborah Ann Johnston, Cello;
Barry Castle, Horn; Frank Ricoffi, Percussion.
Assisted on 'The Golden Boy' by:
Backing vocals:
Madeline Bell, Debbie Bishop,
Lance Ellington, Miriam Stockley,
Peter Straker, Mark Williamson,
Carol Woods.
Recorded at:
The Townhouse Studios, London
Mountain Studios, Montreux
Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at
The Townhouse Studios
John Deacon appears courtesy of
EMI Records Ltd.
Special thanks to Jim Beach and Carlos Caball‚
Thanks to:
Mary Austin, Joe Fannelli, Peter Freestone,
Terry Giddings, Jim Hutton, John Libson,
Roxy Meade, Julie Golver, Susan Vila,
Montse Caball‚, Reuel Sherwood, Montsita
and Ana, Bernab‚ Senior and Junior,
Isabel Caball‚, Carlos Su rez, Fefa Cirera,
Pilar Cicera, Brigette and Carlitos.
And thank you Pino Sagliocco for your special
contribution in instigating this project and
for all your help and enthusiam
Design by: Richard Gray
Cover Photography by: Peter Hince