Customer Reviews

Mr Bad Guy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 1985 solo album by Freddie Mercury is a tribute to Mercury's talent. This mid-1980's album is different to the grand old rock opera era of the 1970's, but still has much to recommend it.

It has a strong hi tech -disco favour, which Queen specialized in during the 80's , including feel good dance songs, such as `Let's Turn It On', `I Was Born To Love You', `Foolin' Around', and `My Love Is Dangerous'.

There is the beautiful contemplative `There must be more to life than this' and `Made In Heaven' and the rollicking title track Mr. Bad Guy, together with rock ballad `Man Made Paradise'.

This album generated interest among Queen fans before it was released, with speculation of what Mercury's solo effort would entail, after a taste with the fantastic `Love Kills', the previous year.

Freddie's solo album doesn't rate with the best of Queen, particularly in the arrangements, which sound overly synthesized and under-powered. And whatever your opinion of Roger Taylor's drumming, it's far better than the tinny, cringe-worthy drum machine in evidence here. However, Freddie was always the band's most consistently compelling songwriter, and he doesn't disappoint. "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" and "There Must Be More to Life than This" are as simple and affecting as anything from Queen's glory years, and "I Was Born To Love You" captures some of the infectiousness of Freddie's "Rhapsodic" heyday. This is a disc worth having, but I can't help but wonder what the hyper-powered musicianship of the rest of Queen could have done to augment these tunes.

Having been a great Queen fan since the early 70s I didn't buy any of the band's solo work when released... what a mistake!
I recently have been playing and very much enjoying all the Queen albums again and missing the Greatest singer ever (Mr. Mercury of course!) I finally bought it and my only regret is that I waited so long since my favorite songs of Queen's repertoire were written by Freddie Mercury!

The album is great. I love every single song and the vocals are to die for!

I have to admit that I didn't even miss the "Queen sound", that's how good Freddie is on this album as always!

My favorite tracks on this album are: "I Was Born to Love You", "There Must Be More to Life Than This", "Living on My Own" and the amazing "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow".
I still miss Freddie Mercury so much!

A voice sadly missed but captured at Freddies best. A must have for any lover of the legend that was Freddie Mercury.

I love this album so much!! Freddie does what he does best and sings from his heart with the greatest delivery. "Love me like there's no tomorrow" is one of my favorites. This album is much recommended to any Queen fan. He is/was so great. I love you Freddie!!!!

This cd is the best cd I have ever heard in my life! All the songs are catchy. There is not one bad song!! Freddie Mercury definately has the best voice ever! Also, he is such a talented songwriter! I don't know how anyone could write songs with such clever lyrics and catchy melodies! Fans should get this cd one way or another!

Side One: Let's Turn It On; Made In Heaven; I Was Born To Love You; Foolin' Around; Your Kind Of Lover

Side Two: Mr. Bad Guy; Man Made Paradise; There Must Be More To Life Than This; Living On My Own; My Love Is Dangerous; Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow

I was surprised to find that I liked this album. I don't like most of the versions of these songs found on "The Great Pretender," but I actually have really enjoyed the versions here. I usually wouldn't do a song-by-song breakdown, but I'm going to here.

Let's Turn it On- Not a good way to start the album. This is a very dancy song that drags on.

Made in Heaven- Good song. I prefer the version that can be found on the Queen album "Made in Heaven."

I Was Born to Love You- See the previous track.

Foolin' Around- This song is so fun to listen to. I prefer this more relaxed version to the remix on "The Great Pretender," but both are good.

Your Kind of Lover- I was pleasantly surprised by this version of the song. He really shows some talent here. This version is better than the one on "The Great Pretender."

Mr. Bad Guy- This one is okay. I don't care too much for the synths. And the closing doesn't fit for me. The version on "The Great Pretender" is much more rock 'n' roll.

There Must Be More To Life Than This- This is a nice piano song. The most careful of listeners will detect that Roger Taylor appears to be the drummer, which would make sense, since this song was originally slated for the Queen album "The Works."

Living on my Own- This is the only version of this song that I've ever liked. It's dancy, but not as techno as the other versions that are out there. Great vocals.

My Love is Dangerous- I always hated the rock version of this song from "The Great Pretender." Now that I listen to this reggae version, it makes a little more sense to me. It's still not great, though.

Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow- Another nice piano song. This would have fit in well with "The Works" or "A Kind of Magic." This is pretty classic Freddie.

Overall, I'd say this album is worth having if you're into Queen. It's a nice listen, even though it's not one of the better albums in the world.

Absolutely awesome,this album screams "I Was Made By Freddie Mercury",it's all you need to enjoy Freddie at his best.It opens with "Let's Turn It On" where Freddie's magnum voice hit's the high C's,then it moves to the melodramatic "Made In Heaven",uplifting "I Was Born To Love You",exotic [] "Foolin' Around","Your Kind Of Lover" which is influenced with a hot spanish rhythm,the self mocking "Mr.Bad Guy",enigmatic "Man Made Paradise",beautiful "There Must Be More To Life Than This"...and finally the "Living On My Own"...Freddie said about this song "It's totally me"...what more can I say?.Album closes with honest and sad "My Love Is Dangerous" and melancholic yet very beautiful "Love Me Like There Is No Tomorrow"...absolute must have for every Queen fan.

Here's the deal:This album originally came out when I was around 12 years old.I was somewhat of a Queen fan,and had always thought Freddie unique so I was curious what he would do on his own.

First,compared to the music of the day at the time,this album is weak.I knew as soon as I heard it,even at my young age,that it was dated,it was outdated before it even came out!The production is very dry and unimaginitive,the drums and synths weak and often cheesy.

At the time I was surprised that given the bombast of Queen's music,Freddie's solo was fairly uninspiring dance music.

According to Freddie's longtime personal assistant,Mr.Bad Guy was just something Freddie did to be creative and satisfy himself,he wasn't expecting it to be a big hit.In my opinion he should have involved some other songwriters on this album.I often wonder what Freddie would have sounded like if he worked with some REAL R&B/Dance music producers.

Perhaps this is an example of having too MUCH freedom,as Freddie was better when he had the Queen member's input on his songs.

That being said,I do like this album,only because I love Freddie Mercury's voice.The only reason any of this can work is because Freddie gives his all,there is no denying the power of his unique voice.Perhaps another part of it is this album brings back memories of my youth,so I can forgive it's shortcomings.

Some of my favorites are Made in Heaven,Mr.Bad Guy which has a great cinematic bass line,Man Made Paradise is a nice pop song with multiple stylistic changes and a melancholy ending,and Living On My Own.

For all my critiques of this album,I also have to say,once again perhaps due to nostalgia,that I absolutely prefer this album to the remix.While some of the tracks were interesting and certainly more palatable to the audiences of the '90s,I don't feel they added enough to make me switch.And some of the remixes were dreadful,replacing the moody orchestral synth of "Mr.Bad Guy"with stupid rock riffs?No thank you.

To me it's all about Freddie's voice,it's loud,aggressive,arrogant,sexual,over the top......and it's like candy to me.