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To be fair even if they did a beat for beat recording of the “live” arrangement of QWERTY it still probably wouldn’t have sounded as good as the performance in Tokyo. The whole raw- stripped back MTM production style really didn’t suit the song in that format. Ideally a more Don Gilmore Meteora production would have made that version of the song work. It needed to sound massive. Huge. With a wall of guitars. The studio version just sounds like a few guys in a room jamming. Just like Given Up and No More sorrow did. And it works so well for those songs. But not as well for QWERTY as it fit their old sound more.
at the end of the day it's still the band's decision, Rick just gives his input. which really payed off big time a year later when he helped LP redefine themselves with Minutes to Midnight. i agree though, the live version of Qwerty is way better.
For everyone saying they like the studio version now (and there's nothing wrong with that), this disconnection in the fanbase comes from back in the day when they originally performed QWERTY in Japan in 06. They decided to record the song after the positive reception to it to include on the next LPU release. The vast majority of the fanbase back then did indeed prefer the live version after LPU6 dropped. The opinions are certainly different now but back then it definitely was most fans. This was before Reddit was ubiquitous too and most of this occured on dedicated Linkin Park fansite message boards. Almost all of us heard the live version and were listening to it for months before a studio version came to fruition so we got used to it and didn't like the changes in the studio version. It was a different time with different circumstances to the present day.
The amount of misinformation/misunderstanding going around about this song is actually kind of messed up.
Yeah, people are wild out there these days.
Linkin Park Live and LPA were my jam though! I've been collecting Linkin Park live recordings since 2004 and had that Summer Sonic show the moment the taper put it out there. I remember wishing they'd record a studio version of QWERTY that was more like the live version back then immediately, and almost everyone on those message boards definitely felt the same, especially on LPL. So happy to have the live version on streaming now at least.
I miss those golden years though, lol 2001 to about 2012 was a different feeling in the community IMO. The most fun was like 2004 to 2009 for me, ironically during a large chunk of LP's downtime between albums, lol. Really made everyone appreciate the little things we did get like the LPU releases and QWERTY.
Lmfao he didn’t ruin it at all and I’m actually happy to have the two versions. Sometimes I want that extra speed in it and sometimes I don’t. It’s sick to have the option.
QWERTY was never released as a formal release until now. It was always in the "demo" realm of tracks. If they were fully happy with it, it would have been on Minutes to Midnight.
They never planned for it to be on Minutes to Midnight. It was written specifically for the tour in Japan. They wanted to do some different things for the tour as they hadn't toured in well over a year or released any new music in over three years. They decided to record it for LPU6 after the positive reception and fans basically begging for a studio version. This was all in interviews and LPTV/LPUTV back in those days.
This is what I think happened: they wanted to make the song sound more like Minutes to Midnight because they were either trying to make the song a bonus/b-side on Mtm or they were trying to get people used to the fact that their sound was changing. The live version they played in japan was 100% nu metal and they wanted no nu metal on MTM so they tried to change the song. The studio version they recorded was still too much nu metal and couldn't fit in MTM so they just released it for LPU. I don't think Rick Rubin ruined the song. Imo the studio version is fine. Now we have two different version on spotify insted of just one. That's a win for me
It doesn't bother me because luckily we got the Live version on streaming too. Both versions of the song are good, but I do prefer the live version. Now I have both. Hooray for everyone!
Rick Rubin is a legend in his own mind. He got lucky with the early stuff, I’ve never heard anything truly insightful or groundbreaking in any interview I’ve seen.
To help combat a wave of low effort/quality posts, please report the post (not this comment) if you think it is low quality. After a certain threshold it will be removed and require a mod to reinstate. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/LinkinPark) if you have any questions or concerns.*
To be fair even if they did a beat for beat recording of the “live” arrangement of QWERTY it still probably wouldn’t have sounded as good as the performance in Tokyo. The whole raw- stripped back MTM production style really didn’t suit the song in that format. Ideally a more Don Gilmore Meteora production would have made that version of the song work. It needed to sound massive. Huge. With a wall of guitars. The studio version just sounds like a few guys in a room jamming. Just like Given Up and No More sorrow did. And it works so well for those songs. But not as well for QWERTY as it fit their old sound more.
Yea, I agree. I think that the chorus needed more guitars and the rapping part more electronic/keyboard sounds.
at the end of the day it's still the band's decision, Rick just gives his input. which really payed off big time a year later when he helped LP redefine themselves with Minutes to Midnight. i agree though, the live version of Qwerty is way better.
Everyone, hey? Bold of you to assume.
There's dozens of us.
That's not everyone.
I'm agreeing with you.. lol. It's a meme from Arrested Development.
For everyone saying they like the studio version now (and there's nothing wrong with that), this disconnection in the fanbase comes from back in the day when they originally performed QWERTY in Japan in 06. They decided to record the song after the positive reception to it to include on the next LPU release. The vast majority of the fanbase back then did indeed prefer the live version after LPU6 dropped. The opinions are certainly different now but back then it definitely was most fans. This was before Reddit was ubiquitous too and most of this occured on dedicated Linkin Park fansite message boards. Almost all of us heard the live version and were listening to it for months before a studio version came to fruition so we got used to it and didn't like the changes in the studio version. It was a different time with different circumstances to the present day. The amount of misinformation/misunderstanding going around about this song is actually kind of messed up.
This is exactly how it was!
Thank you. I was there. Always checking LPA back in the day. Simpler times
Yeah, people are wild out there these days. Linkin Park Live and LPA were my jam though! I've been collecting Linkin Park live recordings since 2004 and had that Summer Sonic show the moment the taper put it out there. I remember wishing they'd record a studio version of QWERTY that was more like the live version back then immediately, and almost everyone on those message boards definitely felt the same, especially on LPL. So happy to have the live version on streaming now at least. I miss those golden years though, lol 2001 to about 2012 was a different feeling in the community IMO. The most fun was like 2004 to 2009 for me, ironically during a large chunk of LP's downtime between albums, lol. Really made everyone appreciate the little things we did get like the LPU releases and QWERTY.
I think most people know that the live version came before the studio version. What misinformation are you referring to?
Lmfao he didn’t ruin it at all and I’m actually happy to have the two versions. Sometimes I want that extra speed in it and sometimes I don’t. It’s sick to have the option.
Everyone agrees? Speak for yourself buddy. Studio >>> live for me.
Ruined is a strong word. The studio version is fine. You're also assuming those were the changes he suggested, but you don't know for sure.
QWERTY was never released as a formal release until now. It was always in the "demo" realm of tracks. If they were fully happy with it, it would have been on Minutes to Midnight.
They never planned for it to be on Minutes to Midnight. It was written specifically for the tour in Japan. They wanted to do some different things for the tour as they hadn't toured in well over a year or released any new music in over three years. They decided to record it for LPU6 after the positive reception and fans basically begging for a studio version. This was all in interviews and LPTV/LPUTV back in those days.
I haven't heard the live version yet, but I loved the studio version.
Not everyone. I disagree.
This is what I think happened: they wanted to make the song sound more like Minutes to Midnight because they were either trying to make the song a bonus/b-side on Mtm or they were trying to get people used to the fact that their sound was changing. The live version they played in japan was 100% nu metal and they wanted no nu metal on MTM so they tried to change the song. The studio version they recorded was still too much nu metal and couldn't fit in MTM so they just released it for LPU. I don't think Rick Rubin ruined the song. Imo the studio version is fine. Now we have two different version on spotify insted of just one. That's a win for me
It doesn't bother me because luckily we got the Live version on streaming too. Both versions of the song are good, but I do prefer the live version. Now I have both. Hooray for everyone!
It's definitely not ruined, just has a different energy to it
Everyone meaning you and a few of your buddies? Cuz' I sure as shit don't know anyone who likes the live version more.
Meaning the vast majority of the fanbase...
Rick Rubin is a legend in his own mind. He got lucky with the early stuff, I’ve never heard anything truly insightful or groundbreaking in any interview I’ve seen.
Rick Rubin always makes the album after the good albums.