Release date: 10
October 1988
Produced by Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran and David Richards
All songs composed by: Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran
except lyrics on 'Ensueno' by Montserrat Caballé and lyrics on
'The Fallen Priest' and 'The Golden Boy' by Tim Rice
Assistant engineers: Richard Dodd, John Brough and
Andy Mason
Musical associate: Fevin Townsend
Songs arranged by Mike Moran and Freddie Mercury
All keyboards: Mike Moran
Bass guitar on 'How Can I Go On by John Deacon
Assisted on 'Barcelona' by:
Homi Kanga, Violin; Laurie Lewis, Violin; Deborah Ann
Johnston, Cello; Barry Castle, Horn; Frank Ricoffi, Percussion.
Assisted on 'The Golden Boy' by:
Backing vocals: Madeline Bell, Debbie Bishop, Lance
Ellington, Miriam Stockley, Peter Straker, Mark Williamson, Carol
Woods.
Recorded at:
The Townhouse Studios, London, Mountain Studios,
Montreux
Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Townhouse Studios
John Deacon appears courtesy of EMI Records Ltd.
Special thanks to Jim Beach and Carlos Caballé
Thanks to: Mary Austin, Joe Fannelli, Peter Freestone, Terry
Giddings, Jim Hutton, John Libson, Roxy Meade, Julie Golver,
Susan Vila, Montse Caballé, Reuel Sherwood, Montsita and Ana,
Bernabé Senior and Junior, Isabel Caballé, Carlos Suŕrez, Fefa
Cirera, Pilar Cicera, Brigette and Carlitos.
And thank you Pino Sagliocco for your special contribution in
instigating this project and for all your help and enthusiam
Design by: Richard Gray
Cover Photography by: Peter Hince and Terry O'Neill
Highest chart pos.
15
Weeks on chart: 8
This album constitutes a unique combination of rock and opera.
When Freddie Mercury was interviewed on Spanish television for
the Spanish Arts programme 'Informe Semanal' in 1986 he astounded
the interviewer by announcing that he was actually in Barcelona
because he wanted to meet Montserrat Caballé. The message was
heard and nine months later, in March 1987 thanks to efforts on
Pino Sagliocco, Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé met at
the Ritz Hotel in Barcelona for lunch. Freddie had flown in
specially with composer/arranger Mike Moran and his manager Jim
Beach. He had already recorded two songs which he had specially
written for Montserrat Caballé. He played these songs to her
over lunch and they immediately agreed to record an album
together. Th rest of the afternoon was spent with Freddie Mercury
and Montserrat singing at the piano with Mike Moran in the garden
room of the Ritz Hotel. That following Sunday Montserrat Caballé
surprised her audience (including Freddie Mercury) by performing
one of the songs 'Exercises in Free Love' as the final encore at
her sold out recital in Covent Garden, London. Over dinner at
Freddie's house in London after that recital, Montserrat Caballé
asked him to write a song about her home town Barcelona. The
resulting song 'Barcelona' was recorded in April 1987 and First
performed at the Ku Club in Ibiza 29th May 1987 for inclusion as
the finale for the worldwide TV show Ibiza 92'. The enormously
emotional reception that the song received from the Spanish crowd
spurred Freddie and Montserrat to push on with their project and
'Barcelona' has now fittingly become the title track for this
unique album.
FREDDIE MERCURY was born in Zanzibar. On
moving back to England he eventually went to Ealing College of
Art where he gained a diploma in graphic art. During those
college years he met Brian May and Roger Taylor, eventually
joining the group they had started - which was then completed by
John Deacon. Freddie designed the now-famous Queen crest, an
intertwining of the group member's star signs including his own
Virgo, and Queen was born. As Queen's lead singer he has
captivated audiences worldwide over the last 17 years both with
recorded and live performances and has performed in 27 countries
around the world to live audiences in excess of ten million. It
was not until April 1985 that Freddie Mercury released his first
solo album 'Mr. Bad Guy'. There had been one other solo single
the previous September, 'Love Kills' - the song from the
soundtrack of the 1984 version of Fritz Lang's classic film,
Metropolis. 'Mr. Bad Guy' was softer and in some ways more
melodic than Queen material, it emphasised a side of Freddie that
perhaps few would guess at, but which had always been part of his
personality. Certainly the variety of flavours embodied in the
album gave just some ideas of the many musical tatstes that
fascinate him from Brazilian rythyms to symphonic orchestral
pieces. The visual aspects of Freddie's work and the musical have
always been inextricably bound together. The videos of the first
three singles from 'Mr. Bad Guy' plus the subsequent one 'Time'
(a track for the stage musical of the same name, and filmed on
the spectacular stage set) and his cover version of the Platters
30 year old hit 'The Great Pretender' all emphasise his
theatrical genius. He was unique. A flamboyant blend of supreme
musical talent and consummate showmanship. Freddie died at his
house in London in November 1991. He was undoubtedly one of the
great creative forces of modern rock music.
MONTSERRAT CABALLE When listening to the extraordinary vocal technique of Montserrat Caballé it is difficult to believe that she sang for some years before her exceptional qualities were recognised. However on April 20th 1965 she received the true recognition due to her when she sang Lucrezia Borgia by Donizetti in Carnegie Hall. Although virtually unknown in the US beforehand, when the evening was over she was a star. This huge success resulted in the immediate invitation to sing at the Metropoliton Opera House, where she made her equally stunning debut as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust. Her performances have taken her to the greatest opera houses of the world like La Scala, Vienna and Paris. Montserrat Caballé has alternated her operatic performances with recitals and concerts appearing frequently in the great halls of the world. She has sung as soloist with the world's most prestigious orchestras and conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Riccardo Muti and Sir Georg Solti. Her repertoire includes well over 100 operas, and she has made over 80 recordings including complete operas, recitals and concerts for all the leading record companies, and as well she has appeared in many telecasts. Recipient of many awards and honours, she was given the highest title of the Spanish government, The Order of Dona Isabel La Catolica, and France honoured her with the Cross of Commander of Arts and Letters. 1992 sees her perfoming as much as ever. A Zarzuela Gala at the New Auditorium of Sevilla EXPO 92', two concerts with Mstislav Rostropovich at the Festival d'Evian, a recital at the R O H, Covent Garden and a new production of Il Viaggio a Reims to celebrate Rossini's anniversary, the final performance Gala on July 24th 1992 in the existing theatre of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera prior to its rebuilding. She is participating in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic and paraplegic Games in Barelona 92', a gala concert of the Centennial for the Grand Regatta Columbus in Liverpool and the opera Semiramide at the Zurich Opera among others.
Barcelona Barcelona
Barcelona Barcelona
Viva
I had this perfect dream
-Un sueno me envolvio
This dream was me and you
-Tal vez estas aqui
I want all the world to see
-Un instinto me guiaba
A miracle sensation
My guide and inspiration
Now my dream is slowly coming true
The wind is a gentle breeze
-El me hablo de ti
The bells are ringing out
-El canto vuela
They're calling us together
Guiding us forever
Wish my dream would never go away
Barcelona - It was the first time that we met
Barcelona - How can I forget
The moment that you stepped into the room you took my breath away
Barcelona - La musica vibra
Barcelona - Y ella nos unio
And if God willing we will meet again someday
Let the songs begin
-Dejalo nacer
Let the music play
-Ahhhhhhhh...
Make the voices sing
-Nace un gran amor
Start the celebration
-Ven a mi
And cry
-Grita
Come alive
-Vive
And shake the foundations from the skies
Ah, Ah, Shaking all our lives
Barcelona - Such a beautiful horizon
Barcelona - Like a jewel in the sun
Por ti sere gaviota de tu bella mar
Barcelona - Suenan las campanas
Barcelona - Abre tus puertas al mundo
If God is willing
-If God is willing
If God is willing
Friends until the end
Viva - Barcelona
Subalashii asaga akelu
Yoakega yobikakelu
Kokorono izumiga wakidelu
Yumeno yo
I feel the power of a stranger inside me
A force of magic surrounds me
This fountain within me is overflowing
Peaceful and inviting
Beautiful and enticing
Yoake kisetsu yume kibo
Umito hikariga yondeilu
Rising sun will bless my morning with a smile
A magic pearl from the seas
Born in a willow breeze
Loyal friend my guardian angel in the sky
You've served me well all these years
Greeting with both hands trusting with no fears
Till the end
Toikuino anatani miselalete
Amalinimo utsukushii yumenoyo
Itsumademo ii
Aino hikali kiboto yume
When everything is golden and everything is oh
Fuji no yuki, Kyoto no ame, Tokyo no yolu
And everything is ah
Fire and beauty
My only living treasure on this earth
(kibo hikali yume)
Asaga hohoemikakelu
Itsumo kimi dakewa kokolonotomo
Toikimino omokage shinonde
Amalinimo utsukushii yumenoyo
When everything is golden
And everything and everyone is ah
Yoake, kisetsu, yume, kibo
Yoake, kisetsu, yume, kibo
Yoake, kisetsu, yume, kibo
Yoake, kisetsu, yume, kibo
A life of sacrifice controlled me
But those promises I made
No longer hold me
Mercurial, more wayward by the hour
The shackles fall away I'm in your power
Free me (I'm a man of God) free yourself
Come to me (it should not be) and let me lead you
I beg you, I beseech you to let go
My heaven is yours
And heaven is all I know
We are mortal
In the hands of Gods who roll the dice
Searching for an earthly paradise
So hard to find
We are mortal
Victims of our weaknesses and passion
We are reaching from the heights
(I am falling, I am falling, falling from the heights)
But I promised I would serve
I should be a rock against depravity and sin
Oh, no sin, no sin
Free yourself, let your life begin
To yourself be true
I am a man of God
I should not be here with you
Free me, we are mortal, ah
Come a little closer to the fire
Than to love and live that one desire
Denial of that love is treason
The love that we make
The force of our lives and it's reason
We are mortal
In the hands of Gods who roll the dice
Searching for an earthly paradise
So hard to find
We are mortal
Victims of our weaknesses and passion
(I am falling, I am falling, we we are mortal)
Why do I believe in you
You're destroying my world
Hold nothing back
Give me all there is
I want it all
We are locked in each other's arms
This is where we stand
This is all there is
Prisoners of each others love
Yes we want it all
En mi sueno te vi
Tu luz llegaba de tan lejos
Tu voz penetra en mi
Vibra en ti
Vibra en mi
Suavemente me llevaba a ti
Oi el sonido
Tu voz dulcemente
Me decia "Ven"
"Ven junto a mi"
Volver a vivir
Saber que mi sueno no esta solo
Alienta en ti
Tu y yo cantados los dos
Yo sonaba en ser tu mismo mar, tu mar,
Es puente de union
De nuestras almas
Vuelan, nos llaman
Al son de la eternidad
The boy had a way with words, he sang, he moved with grace
He entertained so naturally, no gesture out of place
His road in life was clearly drawn, he didn't hesitate
He played, they saw, he conquered as the master of
As the master of his fate
The girl had an iron soul no-one could recognize
Material ambition that her gentleness disguised
She gave herself to him certain of his fame
Wanted him for luxury for limelight and his name
And then he sang to her
I love you for your silence
I love you for your peace
The still and calm releases
That sweep into my soul
That slowly take control
I love you for your passion
I love you for your fire
The violent desire
That burns me in it's flame
A love I dare not name
His rise was irresistible - yeah, he grew into the part
His explanation simply that he suffered for his art
No base considerations of some glittering reward
The prize was knowing that (his work) his work was noticed and
adored
I love you (yes I love you) for your silence (for your silence)
I love you for your peace
The still and calm releases
That sweep into my soul
And slowly slowly takes control
He told the truth
Yes, he told the truth (and he told the truth)
Accepting every honour with (with) a masterly display (display)
Of well rehearsed reluctance to be singled out this way
He started to believe that he was all they said and more (and
more)
She forgot - she forgot the reasons (reasons) she had wanted him
before - yeah
I love you for your passion (for your passion)
I love you for your fire
The violent desire
Burns me in it's flame (burns me)
A love I dare I dare not name
The still and calm releases (releases)
That sweep into my soul (sweep into my soul)
That slowly (slowly) slowly (slowly) slowly (slowly)
slowly (slowly) slowly (slowly) slowly (slowly) slowly take
control
And when at last they fell apart she wished that she could be
The hardened heart of yesterday, as cynical as he
By changing for the better she had changed things for the worse
The words that made them happy once now echoed ... echoed as a
curse
Now the wind has lost my sail
Now the scent has left my trail
Who will find me
Take care and side with me
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong
Once more
Where is my star in heaven's bough
Where is my strength I need it now
Who can save me
Lead me to my destiny
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong
Once more
Who will find me
Take care and side with me
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong
Once more
When all the salt is taken from the sea
I stand dethroned
I'm naked and I bleed
But when your finger points so savegely
Is anybody there to believe in me
To hear my plea and take care of me?
How can I go on
From day to day
Who can make me strong in every way
Where can I be safe
Where can I belong
In this great big world of sadness
How can I forget
Those beautiful dreams that we shared
They're lost and they're nowhere to be found
How can I go on?
Sometimes I start to tremble in the dark
I cannot see
When people frighten me
I try to hide myself so far from the crowd
Is anybody there to comfort me
Precious Lord hear my plea - yeah
Lord ... take care of me
How can I go on (how can I go on)
From day to day (from day to day)
Who can make me strong (who can make me strong)
In every way (in every way)
Where can I be safe (where can I be safe)
Where can I belong (where can I beelong)
In this great big world (in this great big world of sadness)
How can I forget (how can I forget)
Those beautiful dreams that we shared (those beautiful dreams
that we shared)
They're lost and nowhere to be found
How can I go on?
How can I go on
How can I go on go on go on go on yeah yeah yeah
Ah Ah Ah Ah
Shaking all our lives
Guide me back
Once more
To yourself be true
eurt eb dog fo nam {Man of god be true}
nam a ma i nam a ma i {I am a man I am a man}
Yoake kisetsu yume kibo
Umito hikariga youdeilu
Yes he told the truth (and he told the truth)
I love you for your silence
I love you for your peace (I love peace)
Sweep into my soul
Oooh - Slowly take control
Sing it sing it sing it sing it sing it sing it sing it sing it
We are mortal
In the hands of gods who roll the dice
We are mortal
Victims of our weaknesses
