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Monday, June 17, 2013

Queen & David Bowie "Under Pressure" Isolated Vocals

Here's an isolated vocal track from the Queen and David Bowie 1981 hit "Under Pressure," a song that continues to be played and covered even today. As with most isolated tracks from this period, it's pretty interesting in what it reveals.

1. The reverb is very long, delayed, and kinda mid-rangy. It does sound like the high and low end has been filtered, which is why it fits into the track without being too noticeable (unless it's isolated like here).

2. This doesn't sound like there were too many takes recorded. Of course, Bowie was famous for only doing a single take on most of his records. There are some flat notes by Freddie Mercury, especially at the end of phrases, but they're not noticeable in the track with rest of the instruments (That's a good lesson for producers who beat up their vocalists).

3. There's a modulation effect on the vocals to widen them out. This might've been a Harmonizer, as this was a trick used with the device.

4. Listen how the effects are taken off the vocals during the bridge (1:43) so they're up closer in your face.




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5 comments:

Rand Bliss said...

Imperfect legends? Legends nonetheless. Who sings as well and is as instantly recognizable today as these two giants of music? We're not worthy...

Gian Nicola Beraldo said...

So beside Ian Gillan in "Child in time", Freddy did sing the A4 at 440 Hz.. amazing.. what a voice. (2:09 more or less

Gian Nicola Beraldo said...

SORRY: I meant "A5 880hz"

Unknown said...

Great track, as always.

Isn't there a 3rd singer in the backing vocals at 2:53 ? The voice sounds very different from David's or Freddies'.

Pierre.

Adriano said...

What would be the effect used for the glissando "why" from 1'59" to 2'10"? I sounds like a looping pitch shifter of some sort...

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