This song reminds me of their 2nd album. Queen II is a fantastic album. Lots of good vs. evil epics. "Ogre Battle," "March of the Black Queen" ... btw, I never recommended it because I knew you'd find it on your own.
The fact that you get this and Bohemian Rhapsody on the same album is just insane. These guys were astonishingly talented, and didn’t mind showing it off.
@@DEAKY3GAVUEL Yes, they went the way of Genesis after Hacket leaving, Journey after Perry arriving, in the pop hopper. Not really sure why, would love to hear the back story.
This video almost made me cry. I was 15 at the time this album came out in 1975. My Dad was in his 50s, a chorister at the local church choir and primarily into sacred music but one day I came home from school early and caught him listening to this. He was totally enthralled by the counter harmonies and arrangements. He passed recently but the memory of him being caught up in contemprsry music, just for a moment, has never left me.
This is what they used to do, so when you're done with this album, get thee hence to Queen I, then Queen II, where more of this stuff awaits you...Great reaction for an epic track !😺
FYI saw the tour that supported this album..Freddie would do the middle section live SOLO using 3 tape echo machines and harmonize with himself, live !!
I love how Freddie’s vocals masterfully interpreted every Queen song no matter which member wrote it. He always made it clear that he was not the “leader”, but the lead singer but he was the heart of Queen.
this song is underrated because back in the 70s record companies would only pick 2-3 songs off an album to push and it was time for the next album.....Queen made quality albums, almost every song is great!
Great tune! I could write so much about this tune but it would overload the server. The vocal section is so amazing and in tune. So incredibly clever. The same line repeated three times and timed perfectly. Brian May had the initial idea of repeating an instrument exactly but at a different time interval during the guitar section of Brighton Rock. He expanded the idea to repeating the line two times and using vocals and lyrics for this track. Brian May’s best song, by far!
You'll love this 'making of' clip from the BBC 'Classic Albums' documentary. They do the full album. :) th-cam.com/video/JOTf8GbD-oE/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=ST-Entertainment
This song brings back a lot 0f memories. I was 15. Dad just died. Me alone in my room with headphones on listening and trying to figure out what it all meant.
I've been a Queen fan since I was in Elementary School. This is still my favourite Queen song. Their best track ever. It IS the best song on the album, Bohemian Rhapsody notwithstanding. But side 2 of this album is one of the greatest album sides ever.
This was " anything you can do I can do better" from Freddie to Brian. The thoughtful and musical use of echo started on the first Queen album, and developed from there. But if you want to know where this came from it has much more in common with Queen 2 than with Sheer heart Attack. And ever since I heard the album, this was always the standout track, not Bohemian Rhapsody.
I was fortunate enough to see them perform this track live. A brilliant piece by Brian May. A great ascending bassline by John Deacon, finished off by Roger Taylor, who was always amazing.Freddie’s voice, and his arrangement on the canon, was innovative at the time. It wasn’t accapella- they were loops, repeated, to build the layers. ,
This is really a hit or miss song. Usually people either absolutely love it or absolutely hate it (mostly because it is so different from most popular music). Occasionally, you can get a hater to listen to it a few times & bring them over to appreciation. 😀
I was able to see Queen on this tour & still relish the memory. By far the best opening to a concert ever. The Prophet’s Song remains my favorite Queen song. Taking nothing from the talent that was Freddie, but have always been drawn to Brian May’s compositions. So glad you discovered it.
This is a true classic....one you really need to have headphones on to really appreciate the "stereo" effect. I remember the first time i heard this and it blew me away. The whole album is a gem.
A number of us have said we can't wait 'til you get to this song, knowing that you would have this exact reaction, which was priceless to watch, by the way. When I saw them on their tour for this album they DIDN'T play this song. Very disappointing. But on their next tour ('A Day At The Races') they DID do it. The vocal interlude was just Freddie and an Echoplex used in the same way that Brian uses it in "Brighton Rock" in concert. Simply stunning! Undeniably one of Queen's best songs. So glad to finally see your reaction to it. Very satisfying.
Pretty much my reaction when I first heard this (years ago). What I’d like to know is how do you have dreams like this and remember everything when you wake up, and turn it into something like this? I can’t remember squat when I’m up first thing.
Not was it just “a dream”, it was a *fever dream* Brian had when he was very very sick in 1974. But from what I have learned of Brian, “idea dreams” are a fairly common occurrence for him - I know he had such an idea dream during the worst of the Covid restrictions : he was dreaming of ways to reconfigure the ventilation system in the Apollo Hammersmith (once known as the Odeon- Hammersmith) concert venue to make it safer to have audiences. So he and a small, hand-selected team of trusted scientists and techs were granted permission by the venue to see if Brian’s idea-dream translated to real world terms. ( I believe they DID learn some things that made having events at least *somewhat* safer … and opened more avenues of research). According to some random article I once saw, this kind of inspired “idea dreaming” that becomes a work of scientific or artistic merit in the real world is the hallmark of genius-level IQ - which definitely describes our Rockstar Astrophysicist, Dr. Sir Brian Harold May!
In the intro, Brian May plays, along with the acoustic guitar, a toy version of a Japanese string instrument called a koto, which someone gave him when he was in Japan.
Thanks, Just! This song has been referred to as "Brian May's Bo Rap" - I think it's actually even more incredibly complicated...I believe Brian said that he was inspired by a dream... obvious "biblical" references... You totally needed those headphones! appreciate your reaction... (p.s. hope you had lyrics.. also, this goes straight into "Love of My Life".. Queen albums had NO space between songs... no matter how different) p.s. have you listened to Brian's "'39"? just what you would expect from an astrophysicist.. lol
This is a mighty song.... eclipses much of the rubbish people are suggesting you listen to from the 80's onwards.... all of Queen's albums up to the game are brilliant.
I am glad that you liked this masterpiece! Being overshadowed by Bohemian Rhapsody, this was not heard or played as much. IMO, this song is better but Bo Rhap is a masterpiece all its own. That is one reason why it is worth playing whole albums, to get to the deep cuts, especially with Queen.
The band initially wanted this to be the first single off the album, not Bo Rap. Remember this pre digital, so all the vocals in the acapella section would have been done again and again
This song is seldom properly appreciated and little mentioned. It's one of Queen's greatest tracks, and for me, right up there in this album alongside Bohemian Rhapsody and '39. Queen at their proggiest - so innovative, varied, masterful. There you go JP, now you know. Just another reason this is their best album.
Well, Somebody to Love is peerless, but the rest of it doesn't stack up to the best of Opera for me. All of their albums are uneven - I don't see a perfect one among them. Taste is taste though, enjoy! @@Owlstretchingtime78
This track is usually overlooked in favor of Bohemian Rhapsody, it is equally epic. This album has been my favorite of Queen's since it was released in 1975.
'Prophet's Song' VS. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was a major issue for Queen, et. al. BohRhap was the most obvious attention-getter. Wasn't it ? 🙂 'Prophet's Song' will always be the best, the most important (may I say?). Brian May's song took the back seat to Freddie's BohRhap, yes. Thank goodness -- because it was the ingenuity of 'BoRhap' that globally brought the masses to Queen. @JustJP I'm loving your reactions and am soooo invested in your Queen 'Rabbit Hole' !!!
Hearing something like this was so unbelievable back then. Imagine this after the first side. If this is a favorite of yours you will really like Queen 2. This would have been just one of the breathtaking stand outs on Queen 2 I think I have mentioned or people have mentioned a technique that Brian used with multiple delays. Back then they were tape echoes. He would set the time of the delay to come back far enough behind that it could harmonize with the note he was currently playing. He used two tape echoes for three part harmony. He does this in the song Brighton Rock and would use for his extended guitar solo portions at live concerts. And here they used it with Freddie’s vocal.
A reactor with great taste!!!! In my opinion this one has the edge over Bohemian Rhapsody. So many great song on one album. Thanks for that super review! ❤👏🏻👏🏻
For me this album is the true follow-up to Queen I and II for similarity of songs. Sheer Heart Attack is a bit different although there are some rather good songs here as well.
Best Queen Songs for me : The Prophet's Song, Father to Son, Who wants to live forever. Would have told ya, didn't know your channel before. Did a Video about this Song as a total noob with the first free Version of Windows Movie Maker back in the Day... 😉
One small detail that I appreciate is that every time you have the lines like "listen to the wise MAN!" or "listen to the good PLAN!," the accented word is over a different chord every single time.
I remember listening to this album for the first time. (Not sure when, probably late 80's or early 90's) I remember thinking how loaded this album is. Lots of songs that got significant time on the radio. However, I had not heard the Prophet's Song before and like you I was blown away and not sure why this song isn't even more popular than it is as it is absolutely legendary.
Hi Justin. Dave from London, with Friday On My Mind. So many to choose from, but if I had to pick my all-time favourite Queen song, this would probably be it. Yes, it rocks and there's a portentous feel to it, but the innovation and imagination for its time (or any time) is off the scale (several scales maybe?). The vocal harmonies were just so influential, even to this day.
I know you did March of the Black Queen a few years ago but Queen II would be a great album to put on your list. It has one of my all time favorites, White Queen, although to be honest the live version from Hammersmith Odeon is even better. As good as NATO is, I have always preferred their first three albums.
A Night at the Opera was the first album I bought for myself and when I got it home my mother, aunt, and grandma, who were very traditional, Catholic ladies wanted to know why I was excited to hear it. I put on side 2 so we could get to Bohemian Rhapsody and this came on. That may have been a mistake... As a side note, when I graduated high school, the grad committee chose a song to represent each grad and since I wanted to be a science fiction writer this was the one they picked for me.
A lot of us will have had the same reaction as you when the needle dropped on this one. I put it alongside Kashmir and Stargazer, all three songs belonging to a similar period in time and in my musical adventure, and Queen were never quite this epic again. which is a shame.
All due respect to "Bohemian Rhapsody," this has always been my favorite song from Night at the Opera and a strong contender for the best overall Queen song.
When I saw your post of this title, I rushed to watch it! Couldn't wait for your response and reaction to it! It's such a different track, and really very awesome! You should check out the live version by Queen Extravaganza for a few years ago, with Marc Martel, it's awesome with all the harmonies sung without overdubbing. Really cool! I always enjoy your enjoyment!
That was pretty much the same reaction I had nearly fifty years ago lying on the floor in my parents' den. Every minute or so I asked myself (the Universe), "How is it possible that it just keeps getting better?" Like others, it seems obvious to suggest that Queen II be your next album. Yes, March of the Black Queen is epic and a favorite of mine, but White Queen is hauntingly ethereal and Father to Son has a mighty fine May solo. Yeah, you'll like that one...
@@Owlstretchingtime78 of course they could,they are a very talented bunch of guys. I like that Roger done the vocals on Drowse,I just love that song. Love ur song choices too. I love u don't fool me too. It was a very sad day 😥when Freddie left the planet 🌍 hope he is at peace along with the other legends thats left us,to many to mention here but Lemmy was another of my loves.🙏🕊
Not released as a single, so along with '39' was only something those of us who bought and listened to the album got to enjoy (Or in my case, Mum bought the album, I later "borrowed it" on a regular basis).
By chance (considering your t-shirt), the first notes are those of a koto, a Japanese instrument played by Brian which was given to him in Japan where the group had a lot of success. Thank you for your reaction and your enthusiasm for Queen !
Sorry, my fault, it is even my number one favourite Queen song of all times. And look what else is one that record side! True Prog. True May. My hint as the perfect run-up song after this one comes also from May, New World Record, Song: "It's Late" No acapella, though. Enjoy :)
Glad to see you finally got to "it", amazing that they could talk the record execs into putting a work like this on vinyl. Belongs in the prog hall of fame, and yet they are known for their pop hits and stadium anthems. And I highly recommend Japan if you haven't gone, major cultural experience and great eye candy. My wife was a navy brat and she was born there.
Oh goody! I've been waiting to see your reaction to this amazing recording and you didn't disappoint me.This song puts Bohemian Rhapsody to shame. I bought this album when it first came out, and to me this was far and away the standout track of the album. Following this track the rest of the album paled in comparison. Thanks for your video.
Justin, I'm wondering: You are aware that the acapella section starts with Freddie singing all alone and that everything he sings has two time delays connected to it, right? Which creates the effect of three voices singing in harmony with each other. Very cleverly done! 😍
I'm fairly sure that I've seen The Prophet's Song recommended here before - in many fans' top 10 lists I would think though it wasn't a single and was obviously overshadowed by Bohemian Rhapsody. 'Album' fans would definitely mention it as one of their best and now you know why.
Easily my favorite Queen song. Everyone was slackjawed in disbelief upon first witnessing this, their magnum opus. Its relative obscurity is a mystery. Quite like the Rolling Stones' "Continental Drift". Or Joanne Shenandoah's "Prophesy Song".
If there was any question as to the talent in the group, this one pull all the stops. I liked JPs reaction, "Why didn't anyone tell me about this song?"
Now you know. Now you know. Now you know. So glad you discovered this epic. Sorry it took you so long to find it! Still, idk about best track - Death on Two Legs is always going to hold that crown for me.
Something about this song reminds me of a minstral-type song, typical of Jethro Tull. Maybe it's the arrangement. Can you imagine: Jethro Tull meets Yes and the product of the meeting is this?? Thom in Toronto, Canada ♥️🇨🇦
If you like this song then you really should listen to “39” next. I have always felt that there isn’t a bad song on this album. I also think that this could easily be rated the best album Queen made.
I love how totally unaware Justin was at the start of the video of this being one of Queen's most epic songs!
😁👍
We didn’t know either when we first heard it… why should he? That the beauty of it, blam!
It's like an unwritten rule among a Queen Fans, we don't talk about "The Prophet Song", you must discover it for yourself. 😜
@@jon-paulfilkins7820
Shhh… you know the rules.
“Where did THIS song come from?” reminds me you haven’t listened to Queen II yet.
He HAS listened to March of the Black Queen, at least.
Ogre Battle
'Father To Son'.
The most criminally underrated song in history. Queen's most epic song. I'll die on this hill.
Brighton Rock and March of the Black Queen are two other hidden classics.
These are indeed as the say facts 😁
I just suggested “Liar” and “White Man”.
It's amazing how a 50 year old album can still fascinate a new listener. Some songs though just transcend time.
One of the greatest head phone songs of all time.
One the most under-rated tracks of all time.
My absolute fave of theirs.
This song reminds me of their 2nd album. Queen II is a fantastic album. Lots of good vs. evil epics. "Ogre Battle," "March of the Black Queen" ... btw, I never recommended it because I knew you'd find it on your own.
💯
The fact that you get this and Bohemian Rhapsody on the same album is just insane. These guys were astonishingly talented, and didn’t mind showing it off.
You get these two masterpieces but other 7/8 poppy ass songs
This and Brighton Rock are the two big Queen tracks for me. One is a vocal multi-tracking epic and the other, a guitar multi-tracking epic.
@@DEAKY3GAVUEL Yes, they went the way of Genesis after Hacket leaving, Journey after Perry arriving, in the pop hopper. Not really sure why, would love to hear the back story.
@@DEAKY3GAVUEL Hence why A Day At The Races and Queen II are objectively better albums
@@TisTheDamnStickSeasonThey are better albums, but 7/8 poppy ass songs? Give me a break!
This video almost made me cry. I was 15 at the time this album came out in 1975. My Dad was in his 50s, a chorister at the local church choir and primarily into sacred music but one day I came home from school early and caught him listening to this. He was totally enthralled by the counter harmonies and arrangements. He passed recently but the memory of him being caught up in contemprsry music, just for a moment, has never left me.
I'm sorry to hear about that Bob, ive gone through the same recently. Hold onto those lovely memories, and he'll always be near
This is what they used to do, so when you're done with this album, get thee hence to Queen I, then Queen II, where more of this stuff awaits you...Great reaction for an epic track !😺
FYI saw the tour that supported this album..Freddie would do the middle section live SOLO using 3 tape echo machines and harmonize with himself, live !!
That’s a great effort to do on stage
Oh and then it's slowly transferring into Love of my Life.... my God, it's beautiful
Sample "Death on two legs "Another banger with a personal message.
I love how Freddie’s vocals masterfully interpreted every Queen song no matter which member wrote it. He always made it clear that he was not the “leader”, but the lead singer but he was the heart of Queen.
When I was 13 this Album came out and this song and I’m in Love with my Car were it for me. The second side of the album was in heavy rotation
Justin, your facial expressions are the best thing about this channel. This is SUCH a great song. Brings me back to being a kid.
this song is underrated because back in the 70s record companies would only pick 2-3 songs off an album to push and it was time for the next album.....Queen made quality albums, almost every song is great!
Great tune! I could write so much about this tune but it would overload the server. The vocal section is so amazing and in tune. So incredibly clever. The same line repeated three times and timed perfectly. Brian May had the initial idea of repeating an instrument exactly but at a different time interval during the guitar section of Brighton Rock. He expanded the idea to repeating the line two times and using vocals and lyrics for this track. Brian May’s best song, by far!
You'll love this 'making of' clip from the BBC 'Classic Albums' documentary. They do the full album. :)
th-cam.com/video/JOTf8GbD-oE/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=ST-Entertainment
This song brings back a lot 0f memories. I was 15. Dad just died. Me alone in my room with headphones on listening and trying to figure out what it all meant.
Ohhhh I loved this reaction! I’m still giggling. You were unprepared for the sonic onslaught that is this song. 😅
I wish I had never heard this song..... so I could hear it again for the first time.
There is always demenia ✨
This song is so underrated. Freddie’s canon in the middle freaking amazing. Thanks for doing this.
It's the song I keep recommending people, yet everyone just keeps raving about Bohemian Rhapsody
My High School Chorus teacher did this with the class before us...we missed out. This is such a classic tune! Thanks for dusting this one off.
I've been a Queen fan since I was in Elementary School. This is still my favourite Queen song. Their best track ever. It IS the best song on the album, Bohemian Rhapsody notwithstanding. But side 2 of this album is one of the greatest album sides ever.
This was " anything you can do I can do better" from Freddie to Brian. The thoughtful and musical use of echo started on the first Queen album, and developed from there. But if you want to know where this came from it has much more in common with Queen 2 than with Sheer heart Attack. And ever since I heard the album, this was always the standout track, not Bohemian Rhapsody.
This song is a masterpiece
This is Freddie going 'how about we try this' OK that works ❤❤❤❤
I was fortunate enough to see them perform this track live. A brilliant piece by Brian May. A great ascending bassline by John Deacon, finished off by Roger Taylor, who was always amazing.Freddie’s voice, and his arrangement on the canon, was innovative at the time. It wasn’t accapella- they were loops, repeated, to build the layers. ,
This is really a hit or miss song. Usually people either absolutely love it or absolutely hate it (mostly because it is so different from most popular music). Occasionally, you can get a hater to listen to it a few times & bring them over to appreciation. 😀
I was able to see Queen on this tour & still relish the memory. By far the best opening to a concert ever. The Prophet’s Song remains my favorite Queen song. Taking nothing from the talent that was Freddie, but have always been drawn to Brian May’s compositions. So glad you discovered it.
This is a true classic....one you really need to have headphones on to really appreciate the "stereo" effect. I remember the first time i heard this and it blew me away. The whole album is a gem.
A number of us have said we can't wait 'til you get to this song, knowing that you would have this exact reaction, which was priceless to watch, by the way.
When I saw them on their tour for this album they DIDN'T play this song. Very disappointing. But on their next tour ('A Day At The Races') they DID do it. The vocal interlude was just Freddie and an Echoplex used in the same way that Brian uses it in "Brighton Rock" in concert. Simply stunning!
Undeniably one of Queen's best songs. So glad to finally see your reaction to it. Very satisfying.
Thank you sir for allowing me to go on this journey with you. I feel like I'm 9 again hearing this for the first time in my life in my Dads combi van.
Much appreciated Nicholas, ty for listening with me😊
My favorite Queen album! My favorite Queen song!
I mentioned about the prophet's song ages ago and especially when it ends to listen to the next song love of my life
More people should have let him know!
Sometimes it's nice to not have something over-hyped beforehand and you get a nice surprise...
Yeah, this is definitely one of my favorites, too. It's just a very fascinating song and it sounds great. I love it.
you can never have too many freddies in your ear!
Nice 👍
Pretty much my reaction when I first heard this (years ago).
What I’d like to know is how do you have dreams like this and remember everything when you wake up, and turn it into something like this? I can’t remember squat when I’m up first thing.
Not was it just “a dream”, it was a *fever dream* Brian had when he was very very sick in 1974.
But from what I have learned of Brian, “idea dreams” are a fairly common occurrence for him - I know he had such an idea dream during the worst of the Covid restrictions : he was dreaming of ways to reconfigure the ventilation system in the Apollo Hammersmith (once known as the Odeon- Hammersmith) concert venue to make it safer to have audiences. So he and a small, hand-selected team of trusted scientists and techs were granted permission by the venue to see if Brian’s idea-dream translated to real world terms. ( I believe they DID learn some things that made having events at least *somewhat* safer … and opened more avenues of research).
According to some random article I once saw, this kind of inspired “idea dreaming” that becomes a work of scientific or artistic merit in the real world is the hallmark of genius-level IQ - which definitely describes our Rockstar Astrophysicist, Dr. Sir Brian Harold May!
In the intro, Brian May plays, along with the acoustic guitar, a toy version of a Japanese string instrument called a koto, which someone gave him when he was in Japan.
Yes, but I didn’t know that to be honest.
On their next album there is the great and emotional and positive song Teo Toriate, partly sung in Japanese
Thanks, Just! This song has been referred to as "Brian May's Bo Rap" - I think it's actually even more incredibly complicated...I believe Brian said that he was inspired by a dream... obvious "biblical" references... You totally needed those headphones! appreciate your reaction... (p.s. hope you had lyrics.. also, this goes straight into "Love of My Life".. Queen albums had NO space between songs... no matter how different) p.s. have you listened to Brian's "'39"? just what you would expect from an astrophysicist.. lol
Queen II, March Of The Black Queen, Ogra Battle, etc.
This song is one of the main reasons Queen is is in the top 5 bands of all time.
You made my week JP. What a great reaction. I laughed so hard!
I was thinking the same thing when I heard it. "This is awesome, why have I never heard of this one before?"
This song kicked my ass, then went around the block and kicked everyone's ass. Epic is the right word.
This is a mighty song.... eclipses much of the rubbish people are suggesting you listen to from the 80's onwards.... all of Queen's albums up to the game are brilliant.
I am glad that you liked this masterpiece! Being overshadowed by Bohemian Rhapsody, this was not heard or played as much. IMO, this song is better but Bo Rhap is a masterpiece all its own. That is one reason why it is worth playing whole albums, to get to the deep cuts, especially with Queen.
The band initially wanted this to be the first single off the album, not Bo Rap. Remember this pre digital, so all the vocals in the acapella section would have been done again and again
This song is seldom properly appreciated and little mentioned. It's one of Queen's greatest tracks, and for me, right up there in this album alongside Bohemian Rhapsody and '39. Queen at their proggiest - so innovative, varied, masterful. There you go JP, now you know. Just another reason this is their best album.
An amazing album, although i prefer their follow up!
Well, Somebody to Love is peerless, but the rest of it doesn't stack up to the best of Opera for me. All of their albums are uneven - I don't see a perfect one among them. Taste is taste though, enjoy! @@Owlstretchingtime78
This is Queen’s most epic song. I’ll die on this hill. Fight me.
I'd fight alongside ya :)
This track is usually overlooked in favor of Bohemian Rhapsody, it is equally epic. This album has been my favorite of Queen's since it was released in 1975.
I sometimes forget how great this song is. I agree with the commenter that said you need to do their first two albums!
'Prophet's Song' VS. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was a major issue for Queen, et. al. BohRhap was the most obvious attention-getter. Wasn't it ? 🙂 'Prophet's Song' will always be the best, the most important (may I say?). Brian May's song took the back seat to Freddie's BohRhap, yes. Thank goodness -- because it was the ingenuity of 'BoRhap' that globally brought the masses to Queen. @JustJP I'm loving your reactions and am soooo invested in your Queen 'Rabbit Hole' !!!
Hearing something like this was so unbelievable back then. Imagine this after the first side. If this is a favorite of yours you will really like Queen 2. This would have been just one of the breathtaking stand outs on Queen 2
I think I have mentioned or people have mentioned a technique that Brian used with multiple delays. Back then they were tape echoes. He would set the time of the delay to come back far enough behind that it could harmonize with the note he was currently playing. He used two tape echoes for three part harmony. He does this in the song Brighton Rock and would use for his extended guitar solo portions at live concerts. And here they used it with Freddie’s vocal.
"The Dude abides", Queen's epic tune, the legends still ride! Peace & Love, Now you know!
Honestly, I did not see your dude reference before I commented… weird coiwinkidink.
A reactor with great taste!!!! In my opinion this one has the edge over Bohemian Rhapsody. So many great song on one album. Thanks for that super review! ❤👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks Irene!
For me this album is the true follow-up to Queen I and II for similarity of songs. Sheer Heart Attack is a bit different although there are some rather good songs here as well.
My absolute favorite Queen song. Like you say, it's something of a well-hidden secret, which is weird since it's on an absolutely huge album.
Best Queen Songs for me : The Prophet's Song, Father to Son, Who wants to live forever. Would have told ya, didn't know your channel before. Did a Video about this Song as a total noob with the first free Version of Windows Movie Maker back in the Day... 😉
One small detail that I appreciate is that every time you have the lines like "listen to the wise MAN!" or "listen to the good PLAN!," the accented word is over a different chord every single time.
This, Masterpiece…………..!!!
I remember listening to this album for the first time. (Not sure when, probably late 80's or early 90's) I remember thinking how loaded this album is. Lots of songs that got significant time on the radio. However, I had not heard the Prophet's Song before and like you I was blown away and not sure why this song isn't even more popular than it is as it is absolutely legendary.
Glad you liked this one. This generally lives in the shadow of Behemian Rhapsody, but its my favourite on the album.
The same theme in a great way we also heard on Laughing Stock by talktalk. Both epic in completely different musical ways
A thumbs up just for mentioning 'Laughing Stock'. 👍
Hi Justin. Dave from London, with Friday On My Mind. So many to choose from, but if I had to pick my all-time favourite Queen song, this would probably be it. Yes, it rocks and there's a portentous feel to it, but the innovation and imagination for its time (or any time) is off the scale (several scales maybe?). The vocal harmonies were just so influential, even to this day.
Yes a Friday treat!!
I know you did March of the Black Queen a few years ago but Queen II would be a great album to put on your list. It has one of my all time favorites, White Queen, although to be honest the live version from Hammersmith Odeon is even better. As good as NATO is, I have always preferred their first three albums.
A Night at the Opera was the first album I bought for myself and when I got it home my mother, aunt, and grandma, who were very traditional, Catholic ladies wanted to know why I was excited to hear it. I put on side 2 so we could get to Bohemian Rhapsody and this came on. That may have been a mistake...
As a side note, when I graduated high school, the grad committee chose a song to represent each grad and since I wanted to be a science fiction writer this was the one they picked for me.
I actually have been BEGGING!!! The next song is Love of My Life. If you want more of this, GO DO QUEEN ONE AND TWO!!!! I did TOLD YOU SO!!!
The middle section was Freddie harmonising with himself live using a delay machine
A lot of us will have had the same reaction as you when the needle dropped on this one. I put it alongside Kashmir and Stargazer, all three songs belonging to a similar period in time and in my musical adventure, and Queen were never quite this epic again. which is a shame.
All due respect to "Bohemian Rhapsody," this has always been my favorite song from Night at the Opera and a strong contender for the best overall Queen song.
When I saw your post of this title, I rushed to watch it! Couldn't wait for your response and reaction to it! It's such a different track, and really very awesome!
You should check out the live version by Queen Extravaganza for a few years ago, with Marc Martel, it's awesome with all the harmonies sung without overdubbing. Really cool! I always enjoy your enjoyment!
That was pretty much the same reaction I had nearly fifty years ago lying on the floor in my parents' den. Every minute or so I asked myself (the Universe), "How is it possible that it just keeps getting better?"
Like others, it seems obvious to suggest that Queen II be your next album. Yes, March of the Black Queen is epic and a favorite of mine, but White Queen is hauntingly ethereal and Father to Son has a mighty fine May solo. Yeah, you'll like that one...
Ive got a night at the opera and a day at the races on vinyl up on my wall. Love this song it gives me serious goosebumps... Love Queen ❤
Although this is the best track from both albums, i actually favour 'A Day At The Races'. Where do you stand? 👍
@@Owlstretchingtime78 yeah me too,I love Drowse,You take my breath away its on another level,love it ✌
@@jackieblu7111 Great songs, but i'm a stickler for 'The Millionaire Waltz' and 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy'. Queen could do it all! 🎯 ✌️
@@Owlstretchingtime78 of course they could,they are a very talented bunch of guys. I like that Roger done the vocals on Drowse,I just love that song. Love ur song choices too. I love u don't fool me too. It was a very sad day 😥when Freddie left the planet 🌍 hope he is at peace along with the other legends thats left us,to many to mention here but Lemmy was another of my loves.🙏🕊
Not released as a single, so along with '39' was only something those of us who bought and listened to the album got to enjoy (Or in my case, Mum bought the album, I later "borrowed it" on a regular basis).
Everyone (rightly) raves about Bohemian Rhapsody but in my opinion this blows it out of the water.
By chance (considering your t-shirt), the first notes are those of a koto, a Japanese instrument played by Brian which was given to him in Japan where the group had a lot of success. Thank you for your reaction and your enthusiasm for Queen !
PROG! And I love this song. Such a wild album. Enjoyed seeing your reactions. Thx jp . .
Sorry, my fault, it is even my number one favourite Queen song of all times.
And look what else is one that record side!
True Prog. True May.
My hint as the perfect run-up song after this one comes also from May, New World Record, Song: "It's Late" No acapella, though.
Enjoy :)
Glad to see you finally got to "it", amazing that they could talk the record execs into putting a work like this on vinyl. Belongs in the prog hall of fame, and yet they are known for their pop hits and stadium anthems. And I highly recommend Japan if you haven't gone, major cultural experience and great eye candy. My wife was a navy brat and she was born there.
I like this song one hell of a song nice one Brian May 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁🥁🎹🎹🎹🎤🎸🎸
Kind of like the Queen songs Sheer Heart Attack, Liar, Stone Cold Crazy, Flick of the Wrist, and Now I'm Here.
Oh goody! I've been waiting to see your reaction to this amazing recording and you didn't disappoint me.This song puts Bohemian Rhapsody to shame. I bought this album when it first came out, and to me this was far and away the standout track of the album. Following this track the rest of the album paled in comparison. Thanks for your video.
Masterpiece. Now do Queen II! 🙃
Justin, I'm wondering: You are aware that the acapella section starts with Freddie singing all alone and that everything he sings has two time delays connected to it, right? Which creates the effect of three voices singing in harmony with each other.
Very cleverly done! 😍
I'm fairly sure that I've seen The Prophet's Song recommended here before - in many fans' top 10 lists I would think though it wasn't a single and was obviously overshadowed by Bohemian Rhapsody. 'Album' fans would definitely mention it as one of their best and now you know why.
Proggy went a-courtin' and Queen did ride..
Maybe Innuendo song and Was It All Worth it (Freddie Mercury's farewell song) are other great songs with this feelings.
Easily my favorite Queen song. Everyone was slackjawed in disbelief upon first witnessing this, their magnum opus. Its relative obscurity is a mystery. Quite like the Rolling Stones' "Continental Drift". Or Joanne Shenandoah's "Prophesy Song".
Queen’s Masterwork, seen them perform it live in 1977 it was epic..
If there was any question as to the talent in the group, this one pull all the stops. I liked JPs reaction, "Why didn't anyone tell me about this song?"
Now you know. Now you know. Now you know. So glad you discovered this epic. Sorry it took you so long to find it!
Still, idk about best track - Death on Two Legs is always going to hold that crown for me.
Something about this song reminds me of a minstral-type song, typical of Jethro Tull. Maybe it's the arrangement.
Can you imagine: Jethro Tull meets Yes and the product of the meeting is this??
Thom in Toronto, Canada ♥️🇨🇦
This song makes me think of Queen and Queen alone!
If you like this song then you really should listen to “39” next. I have always felt that there isn’t a bad song on this album. I also think that this could easily be rated the best album Queen made.
A self indulgent masterpiece never quite knew what to make of it love you
It's obvious you did know what to make of it you called it a masterpiece 🤔
Justin the March of the black Queen is next!
Already done that (but not the whole album)
Where did this come from? Listen to their first teo albums. For example, the song Liar.