Queen - "You Take My Breath Away" (Studio Version) Reaction

The harmonizing was amazing!!
Taken from A Day At The Races, 1976 and Forever, 2014

[@picturedlife1]

Roger Taylor said people sometimes see Freddie only as a great showman, but miss the fact that he was an incredibly skilled and gifted MUSICIAN.

[@johnfallona4348]

Freddy definitely did all the vocals in this song. He multitracked himself with the harmonies as he did with the beginning of Bo Rap and a couple of other songs.

[@TSquared2001]

Makes deconstructing this a fun task.

[@lusmas99]

I'm glad you're reacting to Studio versions (my favorite). Live versions display Queen's showmanship and Studio version displays their craftsmanship and genius.

[@tl3924]

No rock legends make this kind of music. Like angels singing. Only QUEEN👑

[@TSquared2001]

Nope. Not in today's landscape.

[@angelmoore5687]

Your right I cry every time cause I know we'll never see talent like this again 💔

[@karolyn8644]

I was pleased that you mentioned the vibrato. Yes, so rare & fine. Scientists who study such things have concluded that Freddie's vocal chords vibrated faster than Pavarotti's did. He also made use of some extra folds in his vocal chords that account for the unique timbre you hear.

[@GinMae]

One of the things is the "breathliness" of his voice - he lets you hear him taking those "breaths" - because it's so appropriate..

[@Henso618]

You're absolutely right!

[@laurelsoderholm9480]

This man listening has a great ear. He appreciates this fabulous piece! I’ve listened to this piece a million times at it shows the depth of emotions this Freddy has in his soul. It is mind blowing

[@kirkhassett8726]

Yes, this particular track is entirely Freddie’s multitracked vocals. I love the fact that the sheer perfection of the harmony arrangement here, is so much that you have to keep backing up the song, just to take in all the beauty. Just like I did way back in 1976, when I was given both A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races as a Christmas gift…but you have to let it finish! The outro is a harmonic wash of sound that begins with “I Love You” and melts into “Take My Breath Away”. I know you’ll find it when you come back to the song. 😉

[@rhondasilberberg6119]

I may be mistaken but I think the harmonizing is all Freddie, overdubbed.

[@itoaraziofficial5048]

You are 100% correct. All him. Amazing.

[@johnnosiennek7066]

Multitracks are all Freddie...... Rumour has it 20 plus multitracks for this intro alone

[@catenystrom6506]

It's something with Queen, sometimes live is better, like "Somebody to Love" and "Save Me", but in others, the studio recording catches all the notes just right.....Freddie was a genius.

[@Henso618]

Yes he was!

[@merqury5]

I thought you would prefer this version. I think maybe this song has the most intricate chords and swoops of all Queen harmonizing. Part of why this sounds so good is that Freddies particular voice had a tendency to phase with itself when they multi tracked. So the timber of the choire keeps changing and has a unique sound. Building choires like that takes proper music harmonic understanding and along with producer Roy T Baker they made something real special. The guitar parts were all guitar yes, and there is a single bass guitar underscoring it all. Brian used a special amp made by Deacon of battery driven car stereo coupled to a crappy hi-fi speaker. The germanium electronics and Brian smashing his guitar signal through it made it possible with EQ and feedback to emulate bow instrument sounds like that cello. Now there's the lyrics, this is a rough song to be in heart ache to.

[@Henso618]

merqury5 Unique was definition the word for this!! The Harmonies and changes were dope!

[@pavlagebouska3341]

Happy Birthday! I can see Freddie gave you a nice gift although he's been dead for so many years. Some people can't do that much while being alive.😊

[@Henso618]

Pavla Gebouska Absolutely!😁Thanks a lot

[@singlepringle7485]

This is one of my favorites also indeed! The beauty of Queen songs is that the more you really listen to a song, the more layers you discover. After all these years listening to them I'm still mesmorized :)

[@Henso618]

Its amazing!

[@kennethhargrove3597]

Just like the intro to Bohemian Rhapsody, this is all multi-tracked Freddie. Just Freddie.

[@goldktgal]

Freddie was, like the rest of the Queen members, a musical genius.

[@theroyalviewer357]

I strongly suggest the song 'Good Old-fashioned Lover Boy' (studio version) from the same album. There are LOADS of choirs and it's a wicked song as well - you'll love it.

[@hollyodell4012]

Love that one too🙂

[@monkeymom7734]

It was interesting to watch you listen so intently. This was the song I walked down the aisle to at my wedding 32 years ago today. My husband suggested it. He passed away 13 years ago, so this song has incredible meaning to me. Thanks for making others aware of this gem.

[@lorilxn1597]

He's a genius, that's how he comes up with it

[@kathyt5294]

Happy Birthday Darling!! I sat through this whole video repeatedly saying: "I told you Tra!!" I knew you would love this one! :) I sincerely hope all your deepest birthday wishes come true - you are truly a lovely human being! Love you!

[@Henso618]

Kathy T Thank you do much Kathy! I hope you enjoyed your birthday!! Love ya!

[@sodapop83]

i told you... i'm crying anytime im hearing this song... like a painting you can't get out of your yor head.... hauting

[@Henso618]

Its so crazy!

[@dana_brooke_27]

He takes my breath away the way he sings this. His voice is so breathy and beautiful. The harmonizing is angelic.

[@Wesker1984]

With Queen, you just consider their studio work and their live performances as two seperate art forms.

[@strawbrryfld1]

🤓I’m an original Queen nerd and they’ve been my favorite since Keep Yourself Alive hit the airwaves I was 8. It does my heart good to see the new listeners you are attracting. And when you consider the tape had to be baked yes literally baked before the information was lost. Bohemian rhapsody had so many tracks the band said you could see through the two inch recording tape. Freddie knew how many tracks he had recorded could remember each harmony and tell the engineer where the tracks were on the recording board.He was amazing.

[@melvinvandegraaf2738]

Damn! You missed the last part of the song, man. You stopped the video to soon, thus you actually missed the most beautiful part of the song. The agony!!!

[@OlJackBurton]

?

[@melvinvandegraaf2738]

@@OlJackBurton When the sound of the piano dies away, there follows a haunting sounding noise, which turns out to be Freddies voice singing: You take my breath away" Beautiful!

[@michaelburkey1968]

It's on a loop too so the harmonies repeat and culminate into one big chord at the end.

[@Henso618]

Aww😫😫

[@mahihedisafina7510]

yeass.. you missed the end part and i think that was the great part also

[@freddieskillerqueen9693]

Happy Birthday!!!! I knew that you would LOVE the studio version of this song better than the live version because of the way Queen was harmonizing their voices. I loved your reaction. Please continue reacting to Queen.

[@Henso618]

Freddies Killerqueen It Was Awesome! Thank you!

[@bluebell3720]

Only Freddie singing on this double tracking!

[@bastardsecretaryfromhell3504]

Happy Birthday! Great reaction. For me the part when Freddie sings RIGHT UNTIL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH is like the sun starts shining. So beautiful!

[@Henso618]

Bastard Secretary From Hell That was definitely amazing! Thank you!

[@hollyodell4012]

I know what you mean, that's the classical music influence I think. The harmonizing builds up to a dissonant chord with this tension and suspense in it, and then, on the word "earth", transitions down into a major chord, it beautifully resolves the musical crisis, the tension disappears and it *is* like the sun has broken through the clouds 🙂

[@user-me6un7ih3r]

I'm just sittning here with a big GRIN glued to my face after seeing this 😁 and that look into the camera at 7:12 is just priceless and says it all! I love it! 👍😄👍 and what a perfect birthday gift it made, you are most welcome 😉 Thank YOU for doing this and loving it as much as I (and many others) thought you would 💞

[@Henso618]

Eva Sellden You Are right!! I absolutely loved it! The Harmonies were just amazing! Thank you so much for watching with me!

[@parkviewmo]

Happy birthday, dear one! Your reactions are just so very good! This one beautiful song!

[@Henso618]

Hey thanks a lot!!

[@christopherwilliams5939]

This is one of my favourite Queen songs. It’s hauntingly beautiful.

[@cristiona22]

When you have four brilliant musicians and three of the four are great singers - this is the result.

[@joem2087]

Happy Birthday dude, your gift this year is learning the Pure Genius that is Freddie And Queen, something money cant buy✌🏿

[@Henso618]

Thanks a lot!

[@Chinachik]

Awesome! Some beautifully intricate harmony for you on your birthday! :) I knew you'd love it. Have an awesome birthday, T!

[@Henso618]

RM Worthington I know right! So awesome..

[@deborahcornell171]

You earlier listened to a live version but you missed the live version that is really special to so many fans, Hyde Park '76. It's only 3 minutes, but so tender & powerful. We'd love to see you react to it! And Happy Happy Birthday! You're a beautiful person who deserves all good things in life.

[@OlJackBurton]

"You gotta listen to this one..."

[@mrsfahrenheit]

Deborah Cornell oh yeah. The hyde park one is super special🙏🏻!! These magical vibes though

[@Henso618]

Cool thank you!

[@karamardiganian3305]

I love this song. Awesome reaction, as always. ✌💙

[@Henso618]

kara Mardiganian Thanks a lot

[@karamardiganian3305]

@@Henso618 💙

[@rosemarie575]

Dimash and Queen, damn, you have exceptional taste in music my friend

[@Henso618]

Lol thanks!

[@picturedlife1]

Congrats, brother, you're digging deeper into some real Queen music.

[@Henso618]

Oh yeah!

[@ericborland3292]

To see queen live know and then will never have an equal . I had great privilege of seeing them live twice and I had seen a lot of bands live but queen had ability to draw a crowd into their music. The world lost a true artist of the highest quality

[@aldebarankanon5870]

React to you take my breath away from Hyde park 1976 live it’s as good or better than the studio version. Do it!!!!!

[@Oesterreicher94]

Yes, please, do it. I know it would be the same song a third time, but it's so good and different enough to react to it, imo. Happy Birthday and all the best! :)

[@freddieskillerqueen9693]

@Aurioria Aldebaran what a great suggestion. I LOVE that version of "You Take My Breath Away" Live at Hyde Park. It is my favorite version. Freddie Mercurys voice is so BEAUTIFUL in that version.

[@claraluna7436]

@TraENT Yes! Please react to this one!!! It's when this song was still in the works, but Freddie decided to sing it to his audience anyways! It is literally breath taking!!

[@Oesterreicher94]

And be sure to listen to this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3Oln5huh5tprtE It's the best version, audio quality wise. The other available versions of the Hyde Park performance are distorted (more).

[@Oesterreicher94]

@CMProductions Which version? The song was probably written in 1976.

[@karamardiganian3305]

You should react to 👑 March of the Black Queen & The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke, please. ✌💙

[@kwj171068]

+Kara Mardiganian I have already suggested March of the Black queen but as of yet nothing.

[@jeaniebottoms7202]

I totally agree with your opinion about the studio versions of many of their songs. Those boys could SANG!

[@GinMae]

Happy Birthday, Traent - you have brought me a lot of joy - hope you have much in your life and with your folks, as well!

[@Henso618]

Thank you so much!

[@perpetualcomedy7897]

Another great video love queen since I was young. Happy Birthday bro enjoy it 🎉🎉🎉

[@Henso618]

Perpetual Comedy Thanks a lot bro. I ate good!

[@stevepoppiti309]

Remember queen songs are almost never over when you think it is, there was still more

[@taunoctua245]

Yes, that is all guitar, The Brian May Red special. The most iconic guitar sound IMO.

[@ianstrange5674]

Crispy vibrato!!!😀 Freddie's vocal harmonies on this track really are breathtaking.😎 Brian May's guitar "violin" is also incredible. I've loved this track since I first heard it in 1976, but after watching the reactions of first time listeners like yourself, I've come to appreciate it so much more.

[@Henso618]

So crispy!!

[@nicolaswiemer2562]

You should check the Montreal 1981 concert! Perfect show, IMO! Specially Keep Yourself Alive, Now I’m Here and Dragon Attack, extraordinary perfomances with a lot of rock’n roll!

[@tanaforet8684]

Nicolas Wiemer AMEN! Totally agree! My favorite for the energy, the performance, the rock and the jam that it is! Can’t get through one day without at least watching ONE of the videos from the Montreal concert!

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

Bro..... I'm telling you, you got to do queen keep yourself alive.

[@Henso618]

Steve buckskinner 54 im on it bro

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

@@Henso618 Awesome! Thanks man!

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

@@Henso618 Scratch that last comment I made. I deleted it. It wasn't the full song. You can see a great performance of that song live in Houston. 40th anniversary edition.

[@tanaforet8684]

Steve buckskinner 54 absolutely agree! Keep yourself Alive Montreal 81 is my favorite jam and favorite version. The whole band rocks and jams so hard.....they are complete, utter geniuses and ultimate performers❤️

[@sunlightfire5925]

I believe I read an article awhile back that discussed how scientists who studied Freddie's voice found he had an irregular vibrato that made it more distinctive to the listener, which made his vocals not only more recognizable, but also more appealing to the human ear. That's pretty cool!

[@ian00001]

I love the live version, but this time the studio version comes out on top.

[@hollyodell4012]

He does sound great in the live version, but then you miss out on all the harmonizing, and it's just so, so good, goosebump-inducing.

[@FMLuFiN]

Yeaah you made it!! Glad you enjoyed it! And happy birthday!!!

[@Henso618]

Thank you!

[@youandwhosearmy6339]

Your analysis is the BEST my friend. any friend of Queen music is a friend of mine too . All the the best from the UK

[@kelly4250]

Thank you for the reactions-this is one of my TOP favorite Queen songs and it’s so underrated!!! Happy belated b-day!!

[@mrsfahrenheit]

I love how you feel the music man😱.. please check also the studio version for „Who wants to live forever“ because Brian actually sings in this as well☺️ Uh and please react to their song „39 (official video)“. It is a very beautiful sci fi story telling song with country vibes (didn’t know how to explain it better😅) written by Brian May who also does lead vocals in this with the others harmonizing and Roger killing some high notes. it’s gold! Please check it out!!

[@Henso618]

I'll check it out!! Thank you so much!

[@Darnaguen]

Yesss! '39 is amazing and Brian's singing is always underappreciated.

[@mrsfahrenheit]

TraENT no problem:)

[@mrsfahrenheit]

Darnaguen ur right ☺️

[@johnnie3Chords]

Happy Belated Birthday! 🙂

[@Henso618]

Thanks a lot!

[@volkerurbschat1486]

Happy Birthday!

[@Henso618]

Thank you!

[@robbinpatterson3056]

I love watching your posts. So glad I found you. Looking forward to more!

[@Henso618]

Robbin Patterson Thank you!

[@jencreamer3486]

Happy belated birthday! I adore this song. So glad you fell in love with it!

[@Henso618]

Thank you!

[@linzyaz920]

Finally. Someone who is as obsessed with Queen as much as I am. Lol. There will never be anything like Freddie. 💖🎶 Try studio version of "I wanna break free."

[@johnandrews3151]

The technology in the 70's would not allow most artists to be able to perform their songs as they sounded in the studio. So they didn't even try but instead they would put their own spin on it in concert. That is why most concert versions sound so much different in comparison. Queen's albums from the 70's are fire and you should also hear the album cuts that were not done for the concerts. Let me recommend the cut called White Man and Tie Your Mother Down from the album A Day At The Races (1976) and I'm In Love With My Car and The Prophet's Song from A Night At The Opera (1975). All of their albums up until Jazz (1978) are great from beginning to end. For some odd reason, the album Jazz fell short in spite of having two moderately successful singles. And don't miss the song called Flash from the movie soundtrack Flash Gordon (1980) which was their first movie soundtrack and the first time the group used synthesizers in their music. Queen was the first group since the Beatles to use harmony as a musical hook to draw the listeners in.

[@Henso618]

John Andrews Gotcha!!

[@alicja253]

I think you should react to ,,The Millionaire Waltz" by Queen ☺️ I have a strong feeling that you will love it!

[@hollyodell4012]

That's another one with the harmonies! And the bassline is awesome, the harmonizing guitars, in 3/4 time, the shifting movements, and then he brings it all together at the end. You can hear the classical music influence, but Freddie gives it this sexy, cheeky, modern edge, it's like a classical waltz/rock fusion, and the creativity of it is surprisingly delightful, I get such a kick out of it. He was a brilliant, imaginative guy. Listening to his music can inspire you to throw all the rules out the window and think and experiment in new, unusual directions.

[@taunoctua245]

The other lost gem of Day at the Races.

[@lisaargyrou1488]

Wow 🥰 beautiful Freddie ❤️

[@mirtadiazpaz5805]

Queen Forever ❤❤❤

[@davidlittlewood1428]

glad you found queen mate you know your music

[@highjim7778]

fast version of we will rock you (live) is E P I C!

[@jackiebeams5381]

LOVED your reaction. Thank you for that and Happy B-day! (May be belated but Happy Birthday, nonetheless)

[@Henso618]

Jackie Beams Hey Thank You So Much!!

[@MarcoGoethe1984]

My fav song

[@karamardiganian3305]

Oh, Happy Birthday💙

[@Henso618]

kara Mardiganian I appreciate it thanks!

[@karamardiganian3305]

@@Henso618 you're welcome. Hope u have a great day. ✌️💙

[@catenystrom6506]

Happy Birthday!!! Please review "Save Me" live Montreal '81, THAT is my gift to you...well, it'll be Queen's gift to you :)

[@Henso618]

Cool!

[@couplakooks]

It really and truly is exceptional, even for Queen 💘

[@OlJackBurton]

You should react to the studio version of Love Of My Life which employs similar vocal harmonizing effects as the studio version of You Take My Breath Away along with much more falsetto than the live version. Just remember that the official video on Queen's official channel is actually the more popular (27+ million views) live version. There is a more recent video on the same channel for the studio version with much less views...

[@grantbennett333]

FREDDIE Mercury Queen. Falsetto soprano. = *Exercises in free love*

[@emilyc9240]

I love the Beatles vibe at the beginning! Such a great singer

[@irinaetmamienova]

You have to react to the song "it's a hard life"

[@irissilberman1735]

oh, and btw, it's all Freddie singing the vocals

[@johnnie3Chords]

Action This Day or Staying Power live at Milton Keynes if you want to hear how tight Queen were live !

[@lorilxn1597]

You should listen straight through instead of stopping all of the time. Beautiful song from one of the greatest bands ever

[@larryfried7742]

You hit the nail on the head "Genius" describes it all

[@tanterliser]

God touched Freddie!

[@_Soph.]

thank you! One of their most beautiful songs!! But the live version is better i think - just freddie and a piano!

[@robbystafford5773]

All guitars they didn’t use synthesizers til the hot space album

[@lucasnewells3667]

Robby stafford the game album first synthesizers

[@johnrutherford6877]

@@lucasnewells3667 you beat me to it

[@jackiebeams5381]

@@johnrutherford6877 haha he beat me to it too

[@johnrutherford6877]

@@jackiebeams5381 either your fast or your last. He was fast, we were last.

[@jackiebeams5381]

@@johnrutherford6877 well I look at it as you came in second and me a close third. Glass half full kinda guy here.

[@philosopher0076]

Happy Birthday. You share it with Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix.

[@Henso618]

Thank you!

[@sodapop83]

so much emotions....

[@sodapop83]

Happy birthday to all saggies!

[@Henso618]

Flowing Flo Hey Flo! Thanks!

[@robbinpatterson3056]

Oh! Just heard its your birthday! Happy birthday!!!

[@Henso618]

Robbin Patterson Thanks😁

[@michaelburkey1968]

I was going to recommend Prophet Song, but at this point, if you are doing studio stuff, you may as well just do the entire "A Night at the Opera" album, there are so many surprises. You could do all of their albums up to "A Day at the Races" but damn that's a lot of video.

[@masterplots]

Happy belated birthday, TraENT.

[@Henso618]

Thank you!

[@delainepep22]

All of Freddie. Overdubs they did that a lot back in the day. He did most of the vocals on Bohemian Rapsody

[@TSquared2001]

Queen, the Four Freshman and the Beach Boys are forerunners of this. The analysis of this has to be arresting.

[@linneaborgstrom2149]

Please react to ‘Who wants to live forever’ live at Wembley 86!!!!!!

[@irissilberman1735]

Happy Birthday TraENT !!!

[@Henso618]

Iris Silberman Hey Thanks

[@animationlynx5054]

Welcome to the queen family 💕love that man sad his no longer with us

[@tsukigalleta]

The most fitting name for this song, don't you think?

[@Henso618]

Absolutely!

[@sherryheim5504]

John is playing an upright Bass in part of this song which is what you were remarking about and wondering if it was guitar.

[@dianefowler8779]

Now go back to Hyde Park 1976, LIVE. You are a friend of Freddie's and go to visit him. Invites you to sit next to him at the piano so he can tell you a story. He begins with soft, gentle piano notes, and his voice soft and sweet, tells you that she takes his breath away, gives him shivers deep inside, that he would be ready to die for one of her kisses. He expresses his longing and loneliness, and you can see it all in his face and feel it all in your heart and soul. Meanwhile the piano notes have been intertwining with his beautiful. He is looking down and hunching his shoulders, so deep is his emotion.The strength and depth of the piano builds as he says he would go to the ends of the earth to find her, then back to gently, he said, to tell her, "I love you." By the time he finishes, your heart is breaking; you want to hug and comfort him in his pain, while you are silently praying "Dear God, please let her love him as much as she loves her, and make her worthy of his love." Amen! This is my best argument for live performances whenever possible. The studio version is beautiful, but your intimate session with Freddie needs no background singers or other instruments.

[@MargotRecabarren]

Diane Fowler ... I’m totally agree with you dear Diane.... what a masterpiece with the Freddie’s brand!!! No one like him to made all of us goosebumps .... just take the breath away..!!!

[@Semajsenrab72]

Happy birthday mate

[@Henso618]

Hey thanks!

[@Noblemiss]

what your hearing is Barbershop chords, nasty and yet beautiful with an overtone. Oh and you missed the last part of the song, it goes silent and then comes back with something incredible.

[@MR-so1pf]

Happy Birthday, TraENT!!! Now you need to re-listen to the whole song. You missed the ending.

[@Henso618]

I heard! Sry about that and thank you!

[@marvalstith2749]

Freddie was a romantic like no other.

[@marlahudgins7038]

I like the studio versio better too

[@johnnie3Chords]

You missed the vocal crescendo at the end ! 😃

[@Henso618]

Im so sorry!

[@cyrus6581]

Happy birthday

[@cyrus6581]

Happy birthday brother

[@Henso618]

Cy Rus Hey Thanks