Download Mix Six “Higher and Higher” HERE
I don’t know about you, but for some reason the contrast of full-on crunching guitars, monster drumming, and just full throttle rock with a guy who sings like his b*lls are in a vice sounds so good! Maybe it’s that the screamers are dime a dozen when it comes to lead singers, and when you get some guy who maybe sounds like the castrato of 16th century Europe, it’s just one of those unexpected things that makes us sit up and pay attention. So, with that said, this week’s Mix Six is dedicated to those guys aren’t afraid to belt it in a high voice!
“Somebody to Love” Queen While this isn’t really a full-on rocker, Freddie Mercury’s voice with the “Queen Chorus” has such passion, that it’s really almost impossible not to love this song. And if you are one of those people who can’t open your heart to this gem, then go away!
“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” The Darkness A Queen rip-off band, but one that rips-off Queen with such pitch perfect pouting and preening, that they’ve become something like a minor favorite in our house. And if it wasn’t for Jefito, I wouldn’t have my new favorite Xmas song by The Darkness: “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End).” (Click the link for the video)
“The Suffering” Coheed and Cambria The first time I heard this song, I was convinced it was a woman singing. And then I thought, “Okay, it’s a woman on the “Hey! Hey!” parts, and on co-vocals.” A few Google searches later, I found out Sarah Jacobs is the person singing with lead singer Claudio Sanchez. Nevertheless, this song is chocked full of hooks that is can be described as a melodic form of prog-rock.
“Dreamline” Rush One day I’ll mix my favorite Rush songs, but this one would certainly be in the mix. Hell, the first time I heard this song, it had me with the chorus:
When we are young
Wandering the face of the Earth
Wondering what our dreams might be worth
Learning that we’re only immortal
For a limited time
“Good Times, Bad Times” Led Zeppelin Ah the mighty Zep! This song has so many wonderful things going on that I’ll just focus on one: John Bonham’s drumming. This is a bit music geeky, but listen to the triplets on the bass/kick drum he’s able to do in the second verse. No, that’s not a double bass he’s using. It’s a tricky technique done on one bass pedal that requires a lot of control. And, yes, it’s not easy.
“Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” Neil Young and Crazy Horse Just loud, distorted, ear-bleeding rock in one of its purest forms.
Do you feel the power now brothers and sisters? Yeeeeesssssss!
–PK
11 thoughts on “Mix Six “Higher and Higher””
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The Darkness is looking for a new lead singer. Maybe you should give it a shot!
Love Queen, Rush and Led Zeppelin. The others I’ve never heard of, but listened to what you suggested. Interesting about the drumming part of Led. Who knew until a drummer pointed stuff out 😉
Love this mix. Too good! Too bad about their balls, though. 😉
Ml: I probably wouldn\’t have noticed the drumming either. But since I\’ve been playing drum, I tend to be very aware of this stuff.
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Jefito: Jeff, at the station, told me about the lead singer being kicked out of The Darkness for (gasp!) a drug problem. I\’ve never heard of that happening in the music industry .
J: Balls or not (and for these guys, I would have to say \”not\”), they made millions off their voices. And, for some, they lost millions, too. :-0
Great mix. It doesn’t get any better than those backing vocals in “Somebody To Love.”
Whenever I think of high male voices, I immediately think Bronski Beat, Erasure, Yes, and Supertramp. But I don’t think any of those fit in your mix! 😉
I have always liked Queen, I remember being fascinated by the album cover that had the “fat bottomed girls” on bicycles. At least, I think it did, I’m not hallucinating, am I? Well, it was the seventies, so who knows.
I know some of the songs, yeah they are great. Once again the muscial genius comes out and waa-laaa you open our eyes to new and cool stuff.
Jason: I haven\’t heard that song in a long time and I just started listening to some Queen again, so I had to put that one in for the \”chills\” factor.
Gina: I was going to put \”And You and I\” by Yes in there, but Neil Young beat them. And the Queen album that had \”fat bottomed girls\” on the bicycles was Jazz — but the picture was on the inside jacket.
You can see it here: http://www.collectable-records.ru/images/GROUPS/Queen/Jazz/poster.jpg
I believe in thing called loved….yeah! That song loves to get itself stuck in my head! I have to hear it now! 🙂
Another awesome mix!!
Beenzzzz: There was something about The Darkness that was a nice, refreshing reminder of the age of Queen.
Shelliza: Thanks for the “warm fuzzies” on the mix. It was a fun one to do. 🙂