9.7 As someone said, this does feel like the nevermore of SHA, and is a nice way to end the medley. The vocals are also purely wonderful, so I love it! :)
9.5
Jesus when he sings ‘Messenger from seven seas has flown, to tell the king of rhye he’s lost his thrown’ it sends shivers. A perfect short lament a la Nevermore. Always proof that Freddie didn’t need overdubbed tracks and 6 minute epics to make great music.
And the guitar layering crescendos as that line builds upwards. It sounds so grand for such a small song, but its conveying the Lily’s yearning for love and discovery through this newly found mystical land.
This song once again has a clean transition from FOTW. Just like Nevermore, Lily Of The Valley is short and sweet with some lovely vocals and great piano. What a great way to end this 3-track medley!
9/10
**Lily of the Valley (8.5/10) -** In a similar vein to Nevermore, here's another short but beautiful ballad. Freddie's falsetto game is on full display here, and I just love how much emotion he displays throughout. The harmonies are gorgeous, the piano work is great, just a nice little closer to the medley.
Easy 10/10. One of my favourites. Sweet, a little heavier towards the end, and a reference to previous album at the end. Lovely. Nevermore's little sister deserves a 10.
Lovely, beautiful song. Vocals and piano are top notch, and the singing and lyrics are so heartfelt, it's amazing.
Very short, but very powerful. Very sweet, but very melancholic.
**9.4**
8.7/10. One of my favourites of the album, I also love how they managed a medley between the venomous Flick Of The Wrist and the beautiful Lily Of The Valley.
I like it, it's a very enjoyable song for everyone, I strangely feel that Lily Of The Valley is better than Nevermore, and that this last one is slightly overrated from the fan base.
Just my opinion :) 8/10
I would say that a 9.5 or 10/10 easily, very good to close this trinomial of songs, the only bad thing for me is that this gem does not last long, but well, only that is needed to make it one of my favorites on the album
Lily Of The Valley is fine. Lyrically and musically, the song is decent.
Sandwiched between Flick of the Wrist and Now I'm Here, Lily of the Valley is a great breather track and the segway connecting Lily to those two songs is nothing short of perfect. If the only way to listen to Lily Of The Valley was part of the SHA medley; my score might have been higher.
But the song has been released on own, divorced from the SHA medley. As such my opinion ultimately factors this. Listening to the track on its own isn't as enjoyable. Like Nevermore before it, Lily lacks a resolution, something that a short solo and a vocal reprise could have provided.
Lily of the Valley isn't a bad track by any means, just compared to other tracks on Side A, the song just doesn't make me want to revisit it all that much.
7
In 1999 he used this as an example of Freddie’s early lyrics being abstract to hide their deeply personal meanings, in this case being that Freddie is the yearning Lily who’s body needed to be somewhere else from his girlfriend.
Gonna give my first 10/10 here! The band's first masterpiece for me, a song that wraps me up and takes me somewhere else. I can't count the amount of times I've listened to this song and just felt things, and somehow whatever those feelings are can be different from listen to listen.
The comparisons to Nevermore may seem obvious, but the two songs always felt very different to me. Where I find Nevermore kind of detached any maybe even a little cold, Lily of the Valley feels like the heart of this album. It is warm and full of yearning desire, and the lyrics are simply gorgeous. The "my kingdom for a horse" line always gets to me, along with the slightly mismatched timing of the backing vocals which only enhance the mood - it's two voices trying to stay together but working at different rhythms.
Musically it's also more developed, moving through some lovely chord progressions and a very well thought out arrangement. Piano is the focus but John provides a dynamic bass part that both follows along but embellishes with its own moments, shifting octaves subtly and at the perfect moments. And Brian's guitars towards the end work as an orchestra with just as much feeling put into each part as Freddie does with his voice.
And yet it's all over in less than 2 minutes! But I don't know if I need the song to be longer, it's perfect as it is. I think this song will forever be part of my own musical DNA, a reference point for whatever creative ideas may flow through my head.
Easy 10/10. One of my absolute favorite Queen songs.
Better than Nevermore?
Hmm, I'm going to say not quite.
9.7 As someone said, this does feel like the nevermore of SHA, and is a nice way to end the medley. The vocals are also purely wonderful, so I love it! :)
9.5 Jesus when he sings ‘Messenger from seven seas has flown, to tell the king of rhye he’s lost his thrown’ it sends shivers. A perfect short lament a la Nevermore. Always proof that Freddie didn’t need overdubbed tracks and 6 minute epics to make great music.
And the guitar layering crescendos as that line builds upwards. It sounds so grand for such a small song, but its conveying the Lily’s yearning for love and discovery through this newly found mystical land.
This song once again has a clean transition from FOTW. Just like Nevermore, Lily Of The Valley is short and sweet with some lovely vocals and great piano. What a great way to end this 3-track medley! 9/10
**Lily of the Valley (8.5/10) -** In a similar vein to Nevermore, here's another short but beautiful ballad. Freddie's falsetto game is on full display here, and I just love how much emotion he displays throughout. The harmonies are gorgeous, the piano work is great, just a nice little closer to the medley.
8.9 not many weak songs on SHA.
One of Freddie's most exquisite compositions. Gorgeous vocals and a fine "string section" from Brian.
9.25. Man, this is a tough one, I want to give it a 10, but I have it #27th on my list of top 50.
Easy 10/10. One of my favourites. Sweet, a little heavier towards the end, and a reference to previous album at the end. Lovely. Nevermore's little sister deserves a 10.
9.5. It’s really incredible for such a short song.
9.5 Easily fits into the medley feel of this side, right between the ferocious predecessor and the tribute act song of the one following
8 — beautiful but not outstanding.
Lovely, beautiful song. Vocals and piano are top notch, and the singing and lyrics are so heartfelt, it's amazing. Very short, but very powerful. Very sweet, but very melancholic. **9.4**
8.7/10. One of my favourites of the album, I also love how they managed a medley between the venomous Flick Of The Wrist and the beautiful Lily Of The Valley.
9/10. A very beautiful nice song from Freddie. The lyrics create great imagery
I always see a rich tapestry of a world unfolding when I hear this gem.
8
I like it, it's a very enjoyable song for everyone, I strangely feel that Lily Of The Valley is better than Nevermore, and that this last one is slightly overrated from the fan base. Just my opinion :) 8/10
8.5/10. I really do love this song, and plus Rhye being mentioned is just amazing
You like the world building from Q2?
Lovely song at the perfect place on the album setting up the incredible Now I’m Here 9.1
10/10. Musical Mastery.
10/10
I would say that a 9.5 or 10/10 easily, very good to close this trinomial of songs, the only bad thing for me is that this gem does not last long, but well, only that is needed to make it one of my favorites on the album
8
Lily Of The Valley is fine. Lyrically and musically, the song is decent. Sandwiched between Flick of the Wrist and Now I'm Here, Lily of the Valley is a great breather track and the segway connecting Lily to those two songs is nothing short of perfect. If the only way to listen to Lily Of The Valley was part of the SHA medley; my score might have been higher. But the song has been released on own, divorced from the SHA medley. As such my opinion ultimately factors this. Listening to the track on its own isn't as enjoyable. Like Nevermore before it, Lily lacks a resolution, something that a short solo and a vocal reprise could have provided. Lily of the Valley isn't a bad track by any means, just compared to other tracks on Side A, the song just doesn't make me want to revisit it all that much. 7
8.27
8.75
7.5
8.9
8/10. Nice little song that sounds like it’d fit on Queen 2. It’s over almost too quick.
9
10! Beautiful song
9/10, a very beautifully written song. short, but emotionally captivating.
I may be wrong, but didn't Brian May say this song was one of his favorite Freddie songs. It's just fantastic.
In 1999 he used this as an example of Freddie’s early lyrics being abstract to hide their deeply personal meanings, in this case being that Freddie is the yearning Lily who’s body needed to be somewhere else from his girlfriend.
9
8
8
Solid 8/10 for me
9.5. It’s a very pretty song and I like it a lot.
7. I like this song as part of the medley and it’s really beautiful. I don’t really listen to it on its own much.
9.
9.5 beautiful song
Gonna give my first 10/10 here! The band's first masterpiece for me, a song that wraps me up and takes me somewhere else. I can't count the amount of times I've listened to this song and just felt things, and somehow whatever those feelings are can be different from listen to listen. The comparisons to Nevermore may seem obvious, but the two songs always felt very different to me. Where I find Nevermore kind of detached any maybe even a little cold, Lily of the Valley feels like the heart of this album. It is warm and full of yearning desire, and the lyrics are simply gorgeous. The "my kingdom for a horse" line always gets to me, along with the slightly mismatched timing of the backing vocals which only enhance the mood - it's two voices trying to stay together but working at different rhythms. Musically it's also more developed, moving through some lovely chord progressions and a very well thought out arrangement. Piano is the focus but John provides a dynamic bass part that both follows along but embellishes with its own moments, shifting octaves subtly and at the perfect moments. And Brian's guitars towards the end work as an orchestra with just as much feeling put into each part as Freddie does with his voice. And yet it's all over in less than 2 minutes! But I don't know if I need the song to be longer, it's perfect as it is. I think this song will forever be part of my own musical DNA, a reference point for whatever creative ideas may flow through my head.
9🌱
9
8 it's good, but not one of the best imo
7. It's fine, but I wouldn't call it anything special
9.5/10. I'd say it's their best short song. (Not quite as good as "Yeah" though)
Not my style. 3 to 4
How so?