Description
Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé
“Barcelona” is a single released by Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury and operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé. A part of their collaborative album Barcelona, it also appeared on Queen’s Greatest Hits III.
The song reflects Mercury’s love of opera with his high notes and Caballé’s operatic vocals, backed by a full orchestra. Originally released in 1987, it was one of the biggest hits of Mercury’s solo career, reaching number eight in the UK Singles Chart. After Mercury’s death in 1991, it was featured at the 1992 Summer Olympics, after which the track climbed even higher, peaking at number two in the UK, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
This special edition of the “Barcelona” album was reworked in 2012 to replace the previous instrumental tracks with new, live symphonic orchestration and percussion, rather than synthesisers and drum machines used on the original album.
Specially arranged by Queen orchestral arranger Stuart Morley, the 80-piece Prague FILMharmonic Orchestra now performs the symphonic score, while Rufus Taylor — the son of Queen’s Roger Taylor — plays drums on ‘The Golden Boy’ and ‘How Can I Go On’, a track that also features John Deacon’s bass guitar. The special edition of the “Barcelona” album is now waiting to be rediscovered by fans of Freddie and Montserrat.
Video: Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé – Barcelona 1987
Tracklist:
| A1 | Barcelona | 5:38 | |
| A2 | La Japonaise | 4:49 | |
| A3 | The Fallen Priest | 5:45 | |
| A4 | Ensueño | 4:20 | |
| B1 | The Golden Boy | 6:04 | |
| B2 | Guide Me Home | 2:41 | |
| B3 | How Can I Go On | 3:59 | |
| B4 | Overture Piccante | 6:40 |
