Posted on 08/25/2015 5:46:21 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
I remember exactly where I was when I first heard “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The radio–a Juliette multi-band on my dresser–was tuned to Winnipeg’s CFRW on a weekday winter’s evening. The DJ–I wish I remember who–came on and said “This next one is kind of weird. You’ve probably never heard anything like it, so sit back and take a listen.”
After the first two lines, my young teenaged brain locked up, a metaphorical beachball spinning somewhere slightly beyond the auditory cortex. Something didn’t compute. What IS this? Is it a joke? Some novelty song? A rock opera? They can’t be serious, right?
Queen, however, was deadly serious. But no one–and I mean no one–could have ever predicted that this goofy multi-movement mini-symphony would became one of the most beloved classics of all time.
How did this happen? The BBC takes a look.
Forty years after it was recorded, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody still sounds bonkers. That it continues to reign as a work of wigged-out genius rather than a dated gimmick testifies to its go-for-broke attitude – one that has resonated across generations.
Hear it now, and you’re immediately transported to Wayne and Garth’s car in Wayne’s World, head-banging and slapping the dashboard as Brian May’s power chords kick in. Or you’re bellowing “Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?” along with Freddie Mercury in your best opera-diva voice.
The prog-rock pocket operetta has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. It’s one of the biggest-selling rock singles of all time. It was a top 10 hit twice, 15 years apart, even though it was – at nearly six minutes long – twice the length of the typical hit single.
Anyone who had listened to Queen’s second album (still my favorite despite the fact it contains no “hits”) would not have been surprised by Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen II had all the opera elements there, Bohemian Rhapsody just put them together into one “mini-opera” song.
Sins against the established religion.
Think about it.
“Bismallah, We will not let you go!”
(Once you recite the bismallah, you are in for life)
Queen’s performance at Live Aid is one of the greatest live performances of all time, with the 80,000 people swaying in the background. I’ve always thought of them as one of the most creative of all musical groups.
The day I arrived in England for work was the day it was announced he had AIDS. He died the next day. It was somehow kept secret from the media. Those who know the English newspapers know how tough that must have been.
lifted from Praetorius at 4:34.
One aspires to death, the other to life. I choose life.
The problem with Queen II (my favorite as well) is the March of the Black Queen, Ogre Battle and the Faeri Feller’s Master Stroke could not be played live due to the over production. A band I was in played a stripped down Ogre Battle. Underneath is still a great rock song.
Never did like it.
Changed the channel.
News of the World ... Party on Gamecock!
Like "I Am the Walrus". As Lennon was writing it he told his friend Pete Shotton, "Let the f*ckers try to figure this one out."
I always took it as a story of a homosexual killing his sodomy partner then visiting his mother before he split.
This was an issue with Bohemian Rhapsody too. I saw Queen live three times after "Night at the Opera' came out and each time the first half of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was played canned from tape and the band didn't step in live until May's blistering guitar solo.
Hummm, that's the same thing Ten Bears said to Josey Wales.
According to brianmay.com, on the “This Day in Queen History” section, Bohemian Rhapsody began to be recorded on 8/24/75...forty years ago yesterday.
By the time I saw Queen in concert, they had figured things out and only the middle portion was on tape, with the band playing all the rest of it live. Man, that was a great show, with Thin Lizzy opening.
There are two songs I believe you should add to your list.
Classical Gas - Eric Clapton; a guitar solo.
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty.
Yes. Stinkingly bad song.
Probably due to the fact that Freddie's parents were Zoroastrians from Persia, who faced persecution from the Muslims there.
Party on tumblindice!
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