Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Cabellá - Barcelona REACTION

[@user-yv5dx5ey7c]

Two of the most beautiful voices joined in perfect harmony. You can see the respect and friendship they have for each other.

[@raimundasmickevicius3279]

30 years later and it still gives goosebumps. Also very glad you are back!

[@kim6414]

Same here such a beautiful song and amazing singing

[@JonInCanada1]

I was in Barcelona at La Nit when they sang it live.

[@LeroyBrown84]

@@JonInCanada1 That was not realy live... but okay... I'm still jealous! 😉🥂

[@JonInCanada1]

@@LeroyBrown84 This video was not live, but La Nit, which was performed in Barcelona was.

[@LeroyBrown84]

@@JonInCanada1 Sorry, but they never sang it live. Please listen.

[@andreakormosnekacso4804]

Freddie Mercury was so much more than a rock singer, he was a brilliant musician, an excellent singer, songwriter, storyteller. He had an eclectic musical taste and the range to sing operatic songs. Montserrat Caballé was one of the most famous opera divas of the last century, she was famous for her very high soft notes. Freddie and Montserrat became good friends very quickly, they adored each other and Montserrat was brave enough to take the risk to sing with a rock star, because she recognized the Musician in Freddie instantly. There are 2 more songs at La Nit 88. The Golden Boy (that is even more dramatic) and How Can I Go On, worth to check them out. Freddie and his friend Mike Moran completed a full album with beautiful melodies for this golden duo. You mentioned Pavarotti, Freddie was a huge fan of Pavarotti before he fell in love with Montserrat's voice.

[@StevanOvich61]

Will never see the likes of him again ....

[@willmartin2078]

Love this song, this was the theme tune for the 1992 Olympics and one of Freddie Mercury's last ever songs before he died of AIDS, RIP Freddie, never forgotten, forever loved ❤

[@fryke]

Definitely not one of his last. Queen had two more album releases (The Miracle & Innuendo) after this collab was released in 1988 before he died and worked on further material that made it to Made In Heaven after his death.

[@bluebell3720]

@@fryke maybe they meant performed

[@fryke]

@@bluebell3720 Probably not, since Freddie didn't sing live after 1986. (His appearances with Montserrat were all Playback only.)

[@zeeldaazoonk]

Sorry but her name is Caballé

[@makenziexd986]

His last song was 1991 the year he died it was called, "those were the days of our lives". He knew it was going to be his last song I think. I think it was made a couple months before he died in August. He died in November, RIP Freddie Mercury.

[@garyoliver5712]

This song was written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran for entry in the competition for the theme song of the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona and it was performed without Freddie, who died in 1991. Montserrat Cabella, who lived in Barcelona saw an interview of Freddie Mercury on TV where he said he liked her voice. So she contacted him about doing this song. They became friends and recorded an entire album in 1988, when songs needed to be submitted to the Olympic planning committee.

[@ursabobsage351]

They wrote this for her hometown, not the Olympics. It was chosen by the Olympics though to be the theme song. It was written in ‘87.

[@garyoliver5712]

@@ursabobsage351 This is from a page on the BBC's website: "They became friends and Caballe called on Freddie when the search was on for a song to commemorate the Olympic Games in Barcelona. As she recalls “he was a big opera fan and had come to see me in Barcelona. And when the mayor asked for a song to commemorate the Olympic Games we thought of him. He came to see me in Covent Garden. We worked on some ideas, he sat at the piano and we ended up improvising all through the night, but it was worth it.” So, they wrote the song for the Olympics.

[@ursabobsage351]

The song was performed by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe, who Freddie declared to be one of the most beautiful women he ever met. Caballe requested that Freddie write a song about her hometown, and he did so, in Barcelona, a song about meeting a lover in a breathtakingly beautiful city. Mercury had befriended the operatic soprano Montserrat Caballe and had long admired her music. In 1987 and 1988 they recorded a whole album of pop-operatic material. >> From SongFacts (I can look it up too.)

[@garyoliver5712]

@@ursabobsage351 So which is correct - BBC or Soundfacts? I tried to verify when the call for songs was made for the 1992 Olympics but I can't find any documentation of that in English or Spanish. It is interesting that in the 1988 La Nit music video of the song Barcelona is shot at the Magic Fountain, there is a 1992 sign, so clearly they were looking to the Olympic games in 1988. Barcelona was chosen to host the 1992 Olympics on October 17, 1986 (Wiki), so it is plausible that the song written in 1987 was intended to be used in the Olympics. There were two songs selected - Barcelona and Amigos Para Siempre.

[@ursabobsage351]

I’m really not sure. I have always read that she asked Freddie to write a song about Barcelona, and that it was adopted later for the Olympics. I have never heard or read that they were asked to write it specifically for the Olympics. But, I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t in on the negotiations, lol. We may never know the true facts of how it came about.

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

Montserrat Caballe it´s one of the most GOAT in Opera. And stablished a great friendship with Freddie.

[@robpalwrites]

I'm always reminded of this masterpiece whenever someone says Barcelona. It was launched alongside the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and it never fails to move me to tears 😢

[@lena-mariaglouis-charles7036]

This brings tears and goosebumps every time I watch/ listen to it. They were both magnificent - and they adored each other. "HOW CAN I GO ON" is another duet with these two that You definitely need to check out - it'll turn on the waterworks for sure! (Her last name is pronounced Kahb-ah-YAY...). Great reaction, my Friend!💕

[@ChrisT-O]

They made a complete album together, called Barcelona. My favorite song of this is "The golden Boy", but every song of this album is amazing and out of this world. RIP Freddie and Monserrat

[@winterlady]

That is the power of music right there. It’s unmatched.

[@sherryheim5504]

Freddie loved opera and Montserrat was his favorite singer, she was also the number 1 operatic soprano in the world. Freddie mentioned in an interview once that he would love to be able to sing with her. Somehow she got the message and contacted him and said let's meet. Freddie really just wanted her to sing one of his songs but she suggested that they do an album so Freddie, somewhat intimidated, got to work and created this album. It is beautiful. There is a recording called "Exercises IN Free Love" that Freddie made as a demo to send to Montserrat to see if she liked the song and would like to sing it at one of the cuts on the album. On that demo (there are no lyrics yet) you can hear Freddie singing Montserrat's soprano part, it is chilling and hard to believe that it is Freddie or any male for that matter singing that demo. You should definitely listen or react to it.

[@libbysingscontrezzo8419]

Mohn suh Raht Cah bah Yay She was an extraordinary Spanish opera singer famous for the beauty of her voice, her top-notch vocal technique, and her amazing and unending breath control

[@KSDVLmom]

Everytime I see hear this is like we are getting a glimpse into what Freddie Mercury Heaven is

[@davidjhall5315]

One of his best. Just beautiful.

[@geordigirl40]

This song gets me each time I hear it, absolutely beautiful, her voice was amazing, and they both sang with each other as opposed to against each other

[@Danielik25]

The Barcelona albume is a masterpiece, one of the Freddie ´s finest work

[@mrsb1212]

Two true Divas ❤️❤️‍🔥

[@joanmayfield4791]

Thank you to Freddie for leaving us his music!

[@ertjiesb4158]

They were good friends and genuinely loved and respected each other. Both singing together again, I'm sure, probably entertaining the angels.

[@tylersdog]

You nailed it: they complement each other perfectly. Marvellous.

[@ancatdal]

This song does often bring a tear or two to my eyes, just from the beauty of it. It's moves me differently than a lot of other music; it's just stunningly beautiful sounds that goes straight into your soul.

[@TheRealSweetcherryo]

Everything you said is exactly how this should make you feel 🩵 ...this is my favorite piece of music, and it always brings chills and tears... and I am a big rocker lol !!!!

[@carrielaliberte3255]

Watching you and your captivated expression... phew, Thank you ❤ I feel the same. These two were so incredible together! 💕 Freddie, love always, Monserrat new love. Rip to these two beautiful souls! ❤️

[@danbalderson4977]

Freddie was my mum's favourite; hadn't heard this particular song in years and it did bring a tear to my eye. If I might offer yet another Queen song to consider: mum's favourite was "Seven seas of Rhye".

[@tonybutler8811]

Another great song from Freddie. And both of them together blows the building away. There is an album of them with this song on, well worth a listen. And your right Jay it’s magical

[@matthewjohnson7626]

The only time in my life I saw my grandad shed a tear was listening to this song. Love the variety of music you’re reacting too, keep it up!

[@lisaargyrou1488]

wow"!!!beautiful sweet Freddie! RIP to both legends

[@jacquelinejensen6716]

They met in Barcelona and she took Freddie's breath away because he had always wanted to sing with her❤

[@marvalstith2749]

Been loving this for a couple years now. Really pleased watching you react. They are an especially beautiful duo. "Barcelona" is their album....all. the tracks are wonderful. React to "How Can I Go On", "The Fallen Priest", The Golden Boy. They became heart felt friends...two excellent music lovers who cherished the magnificence on one another. Thanks for the attention to Montserrat Caballe' and Freddie Mercury.❤.

[@StevanOvich61]

I've been to these fountains in Barcelona. It's a bit out of the city, but it's definitely worth a visit. They sync them with music and this song is part of the show ...

[@GinMae]

Thanks, JV! They were so in love - they did an entire album - I hope you also listen to some of the others... especially "How can I go on" and "The Golden Boy" - just a genius collaboration between two major talents!

[@worldtraveler3773]

Mike Moran is a conductor (not Brian May) Check out Freddie's solo Exercises in free love. His voice will blow your mind, it was his impersonation of Montserrat"s vocal style

[@juliebevan6689]

Freddie was an amazing singer and artists .even live .love him 💕

[@bettybaby63]

So wonderful. Two kindred spirits. You smiled the whole way through.

[@nrsvlda70]

They did an album together; there are several others songs they performed live… you’d enjoy them! Great reaction, thanks!

[@cradlegrl]

This song always makes me cry. It is beautiful and 2 of the best singers are gone. But at least we have the videos to watch!❤

[@Marchant2]

This is a thoroughly gorgeous musical experience.

[@shirleyhenderson9978]

I never tire of seeing this ,such a good reaction👏

[@Melissa02891]

How can I go on is my favorite Freddie Mercury and Monseratte Cabellé song, loved your reaction!

[@davidclarkson6029]

I love you respect this so much..Montserrat was the most perfect voice Freddie ever heard..he was in love with her voice..

[@kildogery]

I've heard it a million times and still felt a tear drip off my chin at the end.

[@DrewWasMe]

Magic. Talent, true talent, can bring the most diverse people together and create something so unexpected and beautiful in a single moment that it becomes part of our shared history. Great job, JayveeTV.

[@joaofreitas9651]

Maravilhoso!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mercury e Montserrat !!!!!!!!

[@dkristine6569]

OMG, you are BACK!!!! So glad!!!!!!!!

[@NomN83]

Freddys idol when he was a teenager was Cabella.. ofc when he got older to! And his biggest dream was to do a song with her. he asked and he asked for this to happen wich wasnt easy, but he finally got his time with her and did this wonderful song! This was one of his greatest moments in his life!

[@lesaahrenstein6360]

This is a link to Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe. She is a well-known Italian opera singer. Freddie was a long time fan of Opera. In particular he felt Montserrat had the best singing voice of any opera star. She was from Barcelona. The song had to be completed by 1988 to be considered for the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. Freddie told her 2 two years prior to his death that he would not be there to sing it with her because he had AIDS. From what I have pieced together she was the first person that he told even though his bandmates were seeing symptoms in him. The gentleman conducting the orchestra is Mike Moran and not Brian May ( you my be reacting to a different performance of Barcelona) have a different clip than the one most people react to. Not that that matters they're both awesome in and of themselves. But in the other one the conductor does look like Brian May because of the hairstyle and it's at night). So it could be the same gentleman conducting the orchestra but during the day you can tell it's not Brian May.. People get confused because they have similar hair styles. After Freddy had passed other singers contacted her to see if they would collaborate with her. She said that that was something special between her and Freddy and she was not ever going to repeat it . There are several videos on KZbin of interviews with her and all . The song is actually about him meeting her for the first time. This is the link to Barcelona kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2LJmoKAeb10Y6c This is the link to their performance of Golden Boy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYHMq6yGad1mZqs This is the link to their performance of how can I go on. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaSxoJhujJedisU

[@joyceharkin3641]

Thank you for that info - like many others, I had thought it was Brian May conducting with the light sabre.It's the hair!

[@lesliesylvan]

So glad you were able to get this published! Bravo!!

[@kathleenpudwill7049]

Their album is awesome!!!

[@kellypierce81]

Musical perfection!

[@gmdhargreaves]

Amazing Freddie was just a genius

[@SoftKitteh]

Mont-ser-rat Cab-eye-ay (pronunciation) was the pirma soprano in the operatic world at the time (now also deceased). The conductor might be sporting a Brian May hairdo, but it was actually Mike Moran. This was recorded in a competition to see which song would be the official sound of the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Freddie died before that, but this was the song that won. Good choice, I think.

[@petesmart1983]

Montserrat cabella is one of greatest female sopranos , i know everyone will mention freddie but she was also a massive star similar to female pavoritti

[@superrodds]

Greatest frontman ever

[@albertscanlon2005]

Hi Jay..yes it was Brian May..good call- great to see you again- love your genuine joy and happiness for each review. Its a great performance..no sorry it's a great magical performance from two wonderful entertaining artisits. Did not realise how well this sounded. So versatile was Freddie Mercury. She had a wonderful voice for sure did Montserrat Cabella

[@naturally953]

A brilliant performance!

[@lulunz6809]

This was a perfect reaction to an amazing duet. Thank you. x

[@becbrown212]

O Mio Babbino Caro by Montserrat Caballe is pure magic. Just close your eyes and fall into her voice.

[@DiscoTimelordASD]

This was when my teen self moved to opera and musicals. This moved me to tears.

[@laurafernandezcalero6652]

Montserrat Caballé|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| was a lyrical Spanish opera singer with soprano range. Considered one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, she was especially admired for her vocal technique and her interpretations of the bel canto repertoire. Freddie deeply admired Montserrat after seeing an opera starring her, he tried many times to get in touch to sing together without success and in the end he personally called her on the phone and that was how a great friendship arose until Freddie's death. The concert and the song that you just saw were recorded in Ibiza in 1988, it was a resounding success and later with this song the Barcelona Olympic Games began in 1992.

[@Joshualuv13]

Voices of a thousand angels ..

[@bpfromowc]

It still brings a tear to my eye, decades after i first heard it. Great reaction, welcome back lad. ✌️

[@moyashisoba]

Seeing your reaction in your face is such a beautiful thing. Thanks for the smile.

[@HighHoeKermit]

Jay, react to "Hi Ren" - by Ren, an unsigned and (until recently) fairly unknown artist from the UK. The song is blowing up and people are reacting to it left, right and centre. I have watched many reactions to it so far but I'd love to see yours. The reactions to it seem to get a lot of attention, so it could be good for you. I personally think it's quite the masterpiece that will shock and amaze you as much as Bohemian Rhapsody did.

[@karenward267]

Two beautiful voices. They became very good friends.

[@bluebell3720]

this is the first opera cross over 86 Freddie said she was the best voice he had ever heard 87 she contacted him wanting to meet so they did in Barcalona he was doing his second solo album with Mike Moran so he had no intention of working with her at that time long story...Freddie agreed to doing a song but didn't straight away but she kept asking when would it be ready so he worked on it and it was simply inspired by their first meeting in Barcalona her brother was an organiser for the Olympics so when he heard it he said he would put it forward for the olympics between agreeing to do a song and recording it he found out he had Aids he did tell her and she did understand but was excited when her brother suggested putting it forward she got excited about performing it with im so he had to tell her bluntly that he wouldn't be here for the 1992 olympics he passed in nov 91

[@BlondeReaganite]

If there is a definition of the most beautiful song in the world..this is it.. An experience was the perfect way to describe it Javon 👍👏👏

[@cutex24]

I like to think that this is them giving a wonderful concert in Heaven!

[@susanmacdonald4288]

Damn...I actually got chills. That was magnificent!

[@PHILPOP2]

Never gets old. Brings me back to my youth.

[@SPOPictures]

one of the best opera singers and the best rock singer of all time sing the anthem of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Freddie composed the song in a single night. it was his dream to sing with her. Unfortunately she died in 2018

[@user-fq2ux7wu3q]

Another fabulous reaction from you. It was obvious how much you were affected by this beauty! 😍

[@yutehube4468]

Montserrat Cabellá once said that Freddie was at the level of an opera singer himself.

[@traciasmith1542]

even after all these years, tears flow, when genius meets genius, we all are blessed.

[@Pilutta100]

Wonderful reaction, thank you. Watching ppl react to such extraordinary artists. Hugs from Sweden.

[@Hexcaliblur83]

It is quite literally, the perfect union of Opera and Rock.. 💯❤️

[@richardgale4827]

MC was an opera singer as drawn by Disney... and she was wonderful. Since first hearing this when it came out, I started buying opera CDs (especially if she was involved).

[@manninghr1]

So pleased you expereinced this one my friend.

[@sandiwinters1437]

You said it ... "MAGICAL"!

[@heidiquint2691]

I feel peace and love watching this.

[@karenj3611]

Barcelona is just the appetizer, The Golden Boy is the main course. Bon Appetit!

[@kelst75]

I never tire of watching this.

[@louisat470]

There is a version of this I watch again and again because its incredible- and it is a battle on the voice kids uk!

[@terrigabriel582]

They Got " How can I Go On" 👍 PS Your Looking Great, Bluked up a Lot. !!!💪

[@Organicme1]

Bravo!! TY for a wonderful reaction to a beautiful song!

[@awiezandrija587]

Love your reaction.❤️🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾❤️

[@Leigh53-k6h]

A thing of beauty and a work of art!

[@leahdoerr731]

Hello from Cody Wyoming! You're awesome! Please please keep reacting...😊

[@heidiquint2691]

This brought magic to the stage!

[@robertkempin]

Listen to them sing "HOW CAN I GO ON"

[@jome7382]

Give me chills every time I hear this ❤️

[@ladyfatassii901]

Beautiful voices together

[@rw4487]

Freddie loved her she passed in 2018

[@MGrayl-ib5fo]

SO glad you got to this one!

[@MGrayl-ib5fo]

"Monster rat" LMAO

[@deniseleger2683]

Such a beautiful performance 😊 thanks 😊

[@dianasims1381]

I really enjoyed watching you ,, listen to this. This always makes me cry ☺️🌸

[@patriciaewing8164]

You now have to listen to the golden boy and how do I go on 😁 this makes me cry 😢on numerous occasions listening to reactions.. absolutely love this 👍🏻😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@goosegirl3424]

One of the best duets and duos ever!!! Just beautiful!!! I'm a huge duet fan....I know you love George Michael- his duet with Mary J Blige is brilliant- it was my sister's wedding first dance. Also, for more unusual collabs, Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry '7 Seconds’, Marc Almond & Gene Pitney ‘Something’s Got A Hold On My Heart’, Prince & Sheena Easton ‘U Got The Look’.

[@dittzlender]

Hugs from BRAZIL

[@boqndimitrov8693]

the two greats together.

[@NDRP-uh6fs]

Next one 'How can I go on' They do another great job